traveldk.com

This new $47-million theme park is conveniently located in the heart of Miami.

An excellent stretch of beach, popular not only with windsurfers but also with families appreciative of its calm, shallow waters (see Hobie Island Beach and Virginia Key Beach).

Lolita the killer whale, Flipper the movie-star dolphin, and Salty the sea lion are all on hand to thrill the kids.

A fun and wholesome day out. There’s a petting zoo with lots of baby animals and pony rides on weekends. There are also islands to search out, beaches to explore, playgrounds, and fish-filled lakes. Blacksmiths demonstrate their skills, as do other craftsmen, and the whole is delightfully uncrowded, as the park is well away from the tourist track.

This zoo is an endless delight for children. At the children’s petting zoo, there are regularly scheduled “Ecology Theater” presentations, where children can touch all sorts of exotic species and learn about the local Florida environment as well. Also near the entrance is Dr. Wilde’s World, where, among other hands-on exhibits, you can explore “The Wonders of Tropical America.” Other experiences include sniff stations, animal puzzles, and a sensory game wall.

Every Thursday at 7pm, in the plush, beautiful lobby of the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, it’s storytelling time around the fireplace. Youngsters may also enjoy a visit to the finches in their elaborate cages, as well as a stroll around the gardens and the fountains within the grounds (see Biltmore Hotel).

The Downtown museum has created a number of hands-on activities and multimedia programs, such as an exploration of the Everglades’ ecology, past and present.

The young and curious will find much to capture their attention and imagination in this multifaceted facility. There are over 140 hands-on exhibits to explore the worlds of sound, light, and gravity, not to mention the chance to hug a dinosaur. Outside – beyond the collections of fossils, mounted insects, spiders, and butterflies – lies the Wildlife Center, home to birds, tortoises, and enormous snakes. The stateof-the-art Planetarium offers laser light shows set to rock music.

If your kids are demanding designer duds, this is the top shop. Couturier masters such as Moschino and Versace have begun creating trendy threads for the preschool-to-adolescent market.

The Touch Tank is a great attraction for children, allowing them to pick up starfish, native conchs, and horseshoe crabs. Elsewhere, they even get the chance to pet a live shark. When it opened, in 1934, this was Key West’s first tourist attraction, and it continues to draw capacity crowds, not only for its hands-on features, but also for the highly entertaining and educational guided tours. Seeing the amazing and rare sawfish go to work during feeding time is not to be missed.