Love exploring & relaxing the kids in your life? Love escaping without them? Luckily, Miami has plenty of opportunities to do both. We've got all the info on where to play, eat and explore with your kids.

HIT THE BEACH

Kids of all ages love the beach - sand, surf, sun - what's not to love? SoBe offers up its fair share of activities - sandcastle contests, volleyball tournaments (to watch and participate in), boogey boarding, surfing lessons and more. Bathrooms are convenient, prominent and fairly clean and lifeguards are attentive and plentiful. Pack a picnic lunch (we suggest a pre-beach visit to Epicure) and grab sodas and popsicles from a concession stand.

• One word to the wise - people watching is a prime-time sport around South Beach. Odds are you'll see lots of skin (topless tanning is common), many a thong bikini (men and women) and a hefty supply of public displays of affection.

If you've got kids you're worried about, stick to mid or north beach (21st street and up) or consider the hotel pool

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEASTING

Family-friendly dining is surprisingly easy to find on South Beach. The Big Pink serves up larger than life portions of pancakes, salads, sandwiches and other diner classics; Arnie & Richie's makes meatloaf and baked chicken like grandma used to; and Joe's Stone Crab offers a gourmet twist on kid-friendly dining with tot-sized portions of stone crabs, seafood and french fries.

Sweet treats are also readily available - we like The Frieze Ice Cream Factory for homemade sorbet and ice cream, Gelateria Parmalat for creamy mango and blueberry and Ghirardelli for all things chocolate.

EXPLORE NEW TERRITORY

Believe it or not, there's more to Miami than the beach. Hop in the car and head to Jungle Island (Watch Video) for an afternoon with chimpanzees, orangutans, parrots, a liger (a tiger-lion combo) and more. Kids will love feeding the parrots directly from their hands (it's scary for a second, but so cool). If animals are a hit, head a bit further out to the Miami Seaquarium where you can swim with dolphins, explore sea lions and gaze at sharks.

If it rains (which it’s likely to do at least once), keep the kids occupied with a trip to the Miami Science Museum or the Miami Children's Museum (Watch Video).

PARENTS' NIGHT OUT

All good parents need a little R&R on vacation and South Beach is standing by to make it happen. Many hotels offer on-site babysitting. If yours doesn't, log onto SitterCity.com to track one down. Leave the kids safe and sound, then head to Barton G or Macaluso’s for a meal to remember.

Ready to hit the ground running? Check our calendar for monthly highlights and daily activities. Got something to share?

Please post a comment and share your tips for family-friendly fun.