Miami · With kids

Aquarium, planetarium and a three-level shark tank in one downtown building. Best for ages four to twelve; the top-floor tank holds toddlers longer than you expect.

Cageless, enormous and almost entirely outdoors — go at opening or not at all. Ages three to ten, and hire the wheeled cart for small legs.

On Key Biscayne, sheltered by a sandbar, so the water stays flat and knee-deep a long way out. Toddlers upwards, with lifeguards and shade.

Operators along the Tamiami Trail run half-hour boat runs; Shark Valley swaps noise for a tram and a bike loop past alligators. Ages six upwards.

Summer afternoons bring 33°C and a reliable thunderstorm around four — do outdoor things before noon. Restaurants seat families early and high chairs are standard.