Kids' activities in Coral Gables: city playgrounds, library story times, the Venetian Pool, museum Family Days and rainy-day picks, with hours and ages.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Sources: the City of Coral Gables parks amenities list (PDF), Venetian Pool page and camps page; the Miami-Dade Public Library; and the attractions linked below. War Memorial Youth Center: 305-460-5600.
Coral Gables is a city of small neighborhood parks, and 14 of them have playgrounds on the city’s amenities list. Add a historic spring-fed pool, a county library branch with weekly story times and two museums, and there is something for most ages and most weather.
Quick picks
- Toddlers: library story times on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Playgrounds: Salvadore Park has three play areas on the city’s list.
- Hot day: the Venetian Pool, for ages 3 and up.
- Rainy day: the library, the Coral Gables Museum or the free Lowe Art Museum.
Playgrounds
From the city’s parks amenities list (PDF):
| Park | Address | Playgrounds listed |
|---|---|---|
| Salvadore Park | 1120 Andalusia Ave. | 3 |
| Coral Bay Park | 1590 Campamento Ave. | 2 |
| Sunrise Harbor Park | 25 E. Sunrise Ave. | 2 |
| Majorca Park | 937 Majorca Ave. | 1 |
| Jaycee Park | 1230 Hardee Road | 1 |
| Phillips Park | 90 Menores Ave. | 1 |
| Catalonia Park | 807 Catalonia Ave. | 1 |
| William H. Kerdyk Jr. and Family Park | 6611 Yumuri St. | 1 |
| James H. Smith Park | 6540 Marlin Drive | 1 |
| James T. Barker Park | 1047 Venetia Ave. | 1 |
| Maggiore Park | 5028 Maggiore St. | 1 |
| Pierce Park | 101 Oak Ave. | 1 |
| Rotary Centennial Park | 512 Ponce de Leon Blvd. | 1 |
| Betsy Adams and the Coral Gables Garden Club Park | 4650 Alhambra Circle | 1 |
Catalonia Park is the one with two giant concrete turtles under its oak trees. In December the city also opens Holiday Park, a seasonal playground in front of City Hall; see holiday lights and Christmas events.
Story times and the library
Coral Gables Branch Library, 3443 Segovia St., part of the Miami-Dade Public Library System. Open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 305-442-8706.
- Family Storytime, ages 0 to 5: Wednesdays, 3 to 4 p.m., on the dates the library lists.
- Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing for Toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years: Fridays at 11:30 a.m.
- Homework Help and Tutoring: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dates change; check the branch calendar before you go. The library also posts a picture-story guide to help children with sensory or other needs prepare for a visit.
Swimming
Venetian Pool, 2701 De Soto Blvd. The 1923 spring-fed pool has two waterfalls and cave-like grottoes. Children must be at least 3 years old and 38 inches tall. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekends; closed Mondays. Residents get lower rates with proof of residency. Book online through the city’s Venetian Pool page; 305-460-5306.
We found no splash pad on the city’s parks pages. Matheson Hammock Park, 9610 Old Cutler Road, has a beach and an atoll pool flushed by the tide on Biscayne Bay, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with a parking fee.
Rainy-day picks
- Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave.: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, closed Monday. Family Day is the third Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (museum hours).
- Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive, University of Miami: free admission with a reserved ticket (Lowe); open Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the city’s listing; 305-284-3535.
- Coral Gables Branch Library: story times, books and computers, as above.
- Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, stages children’s programs as well as musicals, according to the city’s listing.
Outdoors
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Its family events include the Bunny Hoppening at Easter and the Halloween Shadow Trail (Fairchild events).
- War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive: the city’s recreation hub for youth programs, sports and camps; 305-460-5600.
Camps and days off school
The city’s Club PLAY All Day holiday camp for grades K-5 runs 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the War Memorial Youth Center on school days off, and its summer camps run from June. Families of children with disabilities can ask the PLAY for All team for an accommodation plan: PlayForAll@coralgables.com. See spring break and summer camps and pools.
Frequently asked questions
When is story time at the library? Wednesdays at 3 p.m. for ages 0-5; Fridays at 11:30 a.m. for toddlers.
Which parks have playgrounds? Salvadore, Coral Bay, Sunrise Harbor, Majorca, Jaycee, Phillips and others on the city’s list.
How old do kids have to be for the Venetian Pool? At least 3 and 38 inches tall.
What can kids do on a rainy day? The library, the Coral Gables Museum or the Lowe Art Museum.
Is there a splash pad? None on the city’s parks pages.
What this means for you
- Bring proof of age to the Venetian Pool.
- Check the library calendar before a story time trip.
- Mark the third Saturday of the month for the museum’s Family Day.
Related: free things to do, parks and trails, Halloween events and schools.
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