Fontainebleau Miami Beach Family Activities

Fontainebleau's 10 pools, along with the spectacular beachfront locale, is the main attraction for families. The pools are the hub of activity during the day (even more so than the beach) and this outdoor space is enormous, with meandering pathways, and water in every direction. You could easily spend the day here without getting bored. You can see they went to great lengths in the renovation to preserve the "scene" without alienating families with kids; and they did a decent job. Don't expect much modesty, though; you'll l see lots of young women lounging around in mini-bikinis and heels; but you'll also see plenty of families with children playing alongside couples and (a few) movie stars.

The kids will love the family area. There are several small dipping pools for little ones, along an interactive children's water play area with a beach-style entry, a small waterslide, spray canopy, water cannons and a zero-entry wading pool. If you don't mind shelling out the cash, there are cabanas and loungers in this area as well, so you can sit and watch the kids.

You'll have access to food and beverage service from anywhere in the pool area, and there are plenty of items that will appeal to the kids. But the service can be painfully slow on the weekends, and you will pay handsomely for it. If you really want to splurge, there are cabanas with flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, wireless Internet and butler service. They have curtains you can close, a sectional couch, and a chair and table.

On weekends, the pool draws a young local crowd looking to see and be seen. The music turns up, and the bars and restaurants get noisy and occasionally even a little rowdy. But there is so much outdoor space here, it's easy to avoid these little pockets. If it's not your scene, this might be a good time to take advantage of the in-room babysitting services, which are available seven days a week. In any case, the people watching is great fun here!

The beach is just steps from the pool area, and is a much quieter hang out spot. This is where I wanted to spend my days. You can't beat Fontainebleau's piece of beachfront real estate and the resort's stretch of property is well-maintained and well-staffed. You can get umbrellas, chairs and cabanas on the beach, and there are windsurfer and jet ski rentals. There is a boardwalk perfect for walking, jogging or pushing a stroller. We walked nearly three miles south and back, and it's especially beautiful first thing in the morning before the masses arrive. There is plenty of space for the kids to run and play on the beach itself, the water is warm and clean, and it's not as crowded as the pool. There is a gate that locks behind you, so you'll need your room key to return to the hotel.

When the kids get tired of hanging out at the pool and beach, consider signing them up for a day or two in the FB KIDS program. It's a fully supervised program for children ages 4 to 12, with many typical activities like scavenger hunts, sports, and jewelry-making, as well as some more interesting choices like mosaics, and candy-making with a Fontainebleau chef. You can choose from a full or half day; and they also offer a four-hour parents' night out on Friday and Saturday nights, dinner included. The FB club room, where most of the activities take place, is sort of hidden away on the lower level of the Tresor Tower, and it's smallish (at least when considering the scale of the hotel), but it's cheerful, and the counselors are very friendly and engaging.