Things to Do in Miami That Don't Involve Drinking: 3 Picks

Looking for things to do in Miami that don't involve drinking? Three of my favorite answers are a Sunday morning at the Pinecrest Farmers Market and Gardens, a shady walk through Simpson Park Hammock in Brickell, and a free day at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). And there's a library card trick that can get your family into a long list of local museums for free.

These picks come from local creator Paula of @keepingitpaula, who joined me at Pinecrest Gardens for Part 6 of my Instagram series, "Miami locals share 3 things to do that aren't eating or drinking." Below I've added the practical stuff: hours, prices, parking, and a few tips from a fellow local.

If you're new to the series, catch up with Episode 1 with photographer David Gary Lloyd and Episode 2 with Sebastian from Turn Back the Clock. Every guest gets the same challenge: name three things you love doing in Miami that don't happen at a bar or a restaurant table.

1. Pinecrest Farmers Market and Pinecrest Gardens

This one is close to my heart because it's just down the road from Coral Gables. Every Sunday, local artisans, produce growers and prepared-food vendors set up in the parking lots at Pinecrest Gardens. Paula likes to make a morning of it: browse the stalls, grab a fresh coconut, admire the orchids, then wander into the botanical garden itself.

Where: Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, FL 33156
When: Sundays, rain or shine. The official listing gives the hours as both 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 9 AM to 2 PM, so check before you go. The garden itself is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Price: The market is free to browse. Entering the garden costs $8 general admission (ages 2 to 64) and $5 for seniors 65 and up. Kids under 2 get in free.
Parking: Free on site
Good for: slow Sunday mornings, families (kids and pets are welcome at the market), and anyone who loves plants

Local tip: Come early for the free community vinyasa yoga class from 8:30 to 9:30 AM, sponsored by Baptist Health. Then shop the market and walk the garden while it's still cool. Dogs are allowed in the garden on Sundays, so your pup can come too.

2. Simpson Park Hammock in Brickell

It's still hard for me to believe this place exists in the middle of Brickell's high-rises. Simpson Park, officially Simpson Rockland Hammock Preserve Park, protects a piece of the original Brickell Hammock, a tropical hardwood forest. Once you're under the canopy on the winding trails, the city noise fades out. Paula loves the quiet here, and the koi ponds are a favorite stop.

Where: 55 SW 17th Road, Miami, FL 33129
Hours: Daily, 8 AM to 3 PM
Price: Free to visit. The city lists no admission fee.
Free nature walks: Naturalists lead half-mile walks on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM and 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Each walk takes up to 20 people, first come, first served.
Parking: The park has its own lot, but parking in the surrounding Brickell streets is tight. Arrive early on weekends.
Good for: a reset during the workday, nature lovers, and anyone who needs some quiet

Local tip: Dogs aren't allowed, and the trail closes temporarily in heavy rain or strong wind. Heads up for October 2026: the city says the trail is closed October 10 to 26 while it prepares the park's free Halloween event (October 22 and 23, 6 to 10 PM). Before you go, call 305-533-3577 to confirm it's open.

3. Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

PAMM is one of my favorite places in the city. I've written about a couple of its exhibits before, including Yayoi Kusama's Love Is Calling. It sits right on Biscayne Bay, so you get art inside and some of the best bay views in downtown outside, and you don't have to spend a lot.

Where: 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132, between the Arsht Center and the Kaseya Center
Hours: Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM; Friday through Monday 11 AM to 6 PM; closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Price: $18 for adults and $14 for seniors, students and youth ages 7 to 18. Children 6 and under get in free.
Free days: Admission is free all day on the second Saturday of every month (Free Second Saturdays, with family art-making from 11 AM to 3 PM). Entry is also free on Thursdays after 5 PM.
Always free with ID: health care workers and first responders, active U.S. military and veterans, and Florida educators. Visitors with disabilities and their caregivers also get in free.
Good for: date days, rainy days, families on Second Saturdays, and art lovers on a budget

Parking reality check: One of our followers flagged this in the comments, and it's a real issue. The museum's garage costs a flat $18 and space is limited, and on free days it fills up fast. PAMM also lists the Omni garage at 1645 Biscayne Blvd. and several public lots nearby. My advice is to skip the car: park near a Metromover station and ride to Museum Park station, steps from PAMM. Tickets can sell out, so reserve online before you go.

Bonus Local Hack: Free Museum Passes From the Miami-Dade Public Library

This is my favorite tip of the whole series. With a Miami-Dade Public Library System Museum Pass, your library card can get a family of up to four into local attractions for free. Participating spots include PAMM, the Coral Gables Museum, Frost Science, The Bass, Jungle Island, Miami Children's Museum, Fruit & Spice Park and HistoryMiami's Museum of Miami.

How it works: Check out a pass in person at your branch. You can't reserve one, and it's first come, first served.
Rules: You can have one pass at a time. It's valid for seven days, covers one visit, and can't be renewed or replaced if lost.
Fine print: Blackout dates and special-exhibit fees may apply, and each branch has a limited number of passes. Some attractions show as unavailable at times, so check the library's page first.

FAQ: Things to Do in Miami Without Drinking

What are some free things to do in Miami that don't involve drinking?

Simpson Park Hammock is free and has free weekend nature walks. PAMM is free every second Saturday and on Thursdays after 5 PM, and browsing the Pinecrest Farmers Market costs nothing. A library Museum Pass gets you into even more attractions.

When is PAMM free?

PAMM is free all day on the second Saturday of each month and on Thursdays after 5 PM. It's always free for children 6 and under and, with ID, for first responders, health care workers, veterans, active military and Florida educators.

Is the Pinecrest Farmers Market free?

Yes, the Sunday market is free to browse and parking is free. Entering Pinecrest Gardens costs $8 general admission or $5 for seniors 65 and up.

Can you get free museum passes with a Miami-Dade library card?

Yes. The Miami-Dade Public Library System lends Museum Passes for a family of up to four. They're checked out in person, first come, first served, and are valid for seven days.

Save This for Your Next Alcohol-Free Weekend

A big thank you to Paula for sharing her favorite spots. Follow her at @keepingitpaula for more South Florida finds. If this helped, save the reel and follow @coralgableslove on Instagram so you don't miss Part 7. And if you're a Miami local with three favorite things to do that don't involve a bar or a restaurant, send me a DM. You could be next!