Miami has excellent family hotels, but we scoured the city looking for the select few hotels that not only offer great features for kids but also have a safe, convenient location, rooms large enough to sleep a family (and with cribs available), affordable kids' dining alternatives, and a safe, comfortable atmosphere for young children. Here are our picks for Northern Beaches.
Unlike at most other Miami hotels, the Kids Club at the Trump is free. The large, family-size rooms all have kitchenettes, and many suites also include washer/dryers. The grotto-style pool comes with a broad shallow area that's great for little swimmers. Plus, there's always Globie -- the hotel mascot -- who entertains kids around the pool.
Since more than two-thirds of the Acqualina is dedicated to family residences -- not hotel rooms -- the hotel comes with a relaxed, kid-focused air. All standard rooms come with elegant sofas that pull out to queen beds. The hotel's kids' program, AcquaMarine -- open Wednesday through Sunday for children ages 4 to 12 -- focuses on all things oceanic, from the Coast Guard to science projects about waves. The kids' room features a complete computer gaming center.
Kids gone wild, with parents (usually) in tow. The Newport Beachside is a lot like a cruise on land, with organized kids' activities all day long, entertainment at night, and tykes dominating the landscape. Plus, the hotel has two video-game rooms, a make-your-own-album CD creator, and family-appropriate movie nights.