The decision to buy a new home is one of the most exciting ones you'll ever make. And when you're moving with a family, you've got the kiddos to consider. At the top of the list when looking for a family friendly home is, what's the neighborhood like? Are there many family-friendly activities and parks? And what amenities does the condo building have? Do the condos have a children's room or teen room? Kiddie pools? How about some spaces dedicated for parents?

Talking about Edgewater, this residential neighborhood has been climbing popularity charts in recent years, and fast, especially with young families. Edgewater has emerged as one of the most desirable residential destinations in Miami, with new luxury construction and branded condo developers eyeing this bayfront area, which comes dotted with cafés, restaurants, convenience stores, and parks.

So, which are the most family-friendly condos in Edgewater? Condo BlackBook has created the following point system to rank the most family-friendly condos in Miami neighborhoods, awarding them a point each for all the following family friendly amenities:

Point Ranking Legend 

Bonus Points

Additionally, some condos may get Bonus Points for outstanding family-friendly amenities, such as golf simulators, bowling alleys, or other luxuries that help Mom and Dad make the kiddos and themselves happy! 

But before we dive into the list, let's take a look at what makes Miami's Edgewater neighborhood so great for families:

Why Choose Edgewater?

Sitting comfortably on Biscayne Bay, this centrally-located neighborhood boasts of a great walkscore of 80 (from the Paraiso District) and a higher than average public transit score of 54. It is just minutes from great shopping at Midtown, the world-class art scene of Wynwood, and luxury shopping in the Design District. A few minutes south, and you will find yourself in the culturally engaging avenues of Downtown Miami, known for being home to the famous Museum Park, Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), AmericanAirlines Arena, and Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

This bayfront neighborhood also has incredible access to Miami Beach - in fact, Edgewater has three points of access to get the to beach:

• The Venetian Causeway - This gem of a drive will take you straight into South Beach in about 10 minutes. There is a toll, however for cars.
• Julia Tuttle Causeway - Just north of Edgewater, you can easily hop on 195 to take the Julia Tuttle Causeway over Biscayne Bay to mid-Miami Beach. 
• MacArthur Causeway - Just a few minutes south of Edgewater, you pick up 395 on the MacArthur Causeway east, which will take you to 5th Street in South Beach and the tony South of Fifth neighborhood with its amazing restaurants and parks.

Edgewater also has something most Miami neighborhoods don't - it comes anchored by the 8-acre, waterfront, dog-friendly Margaret Pace Park, which is known for its great activity areas – a large playground, basketball and tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, two dogs parks (one for the big dogs and another for the little pooches) public art, and a meandering Baywalk that has a direct pathway to Sea Isle Marina and leads all the way to Downtown. The neighborhood also packs in a delightful number of restaurants, cafés and eateries, many of which are Miami's best.

Top 3 Family-Friendly Condos in Edgewater

So, based on our CondoBlackBook.com Family-Friendly Condo Ranking legend above, here are the top 3 Most Family Friendly Condo Buildings in Edgewater, Miami.

#3 Aria on the Bay

Avg. sales price: $783/sq. ft.

The glamorous curvilinear form of this 53-story building stands distinctively above the Margaret Pace Park. Designed by Arquitectonica, its 648 luxury residences are styled to feature unobstructed views, open layouts, and finishes for refined living.

Bonus Points: 2

Aria on the Bay gets 2 Bonus Points for the following extra family-friendly amenities:

• Private Spa, including massage
• Outdoor Fire Pit & BBQ Area

#2 Paramount Bay

Avg. sales price: $833/sq. ft.

This waterfront condo tower is part of the famous 'Mary Square' from the movie 'There's Something About Mary'. Designed by international music sensation Lenny Kravitz, its indoor and outdoor spaces are styled to exude the refined cool of a city apartment and casual beach home. The grand, 47-story building comes designed by Miami's own Arquitectonica and each of its 346-luxury residences open up to splendid water views.

Bonus Points: 4

Paramount Bay gets 4 Bonus Points for the following family-friendly amenities:

• Two-story, 6,000 sq. ft. spa with Decleor products and fitness center
• Pool deck with fire pit
• Full service bar with private lounge
• Edgewater Square in-house restaurants and cafés

#1 Gran Paraiso 

Avg. sales price: $1,112/sq. ft.

This 54-story, ultra-luxury tower is part of the four-condo, bayfront, 5-acre Paraiso complex. The distinctive, bubble-façade building comes designed by Arquitectonica, with bespoke interiors by Italian designer Piero Lissoni and gardens by the award-winning Enzo Enea.

Each of the 319, flow-through. luxury residences feature sophisticated interiors that offer unparalleled elegance without ever being overwhelming in signature Lissoni style. The entire complex has been fashioned to deliver the 'ultimate country club lifestyle with views beyond your imagination.'

Bonus Points: 7

Gran Paraiso gets a whopping 7 Bonus Points for the following family-friendly amenities:

• Indoor sports facilities – bowling lanes + high-def golf simulator 
• Beach club with private beach access  
• Marina with exclusive boat slips and on-demand rental service for boats and personal watercraft
• Children's fishing club room
• Wine cellar, tasting salon and cigar lounge with private humidors for Mom and Dad
• Expansive spa with Hammam and Zen-inspired Watsu pool
• Waterfront restaurant by James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz

Best Preconstruction Family-Friendly Condo in Edgewater

Missoni Baia

Avg. sales price: $861/sq. ft.

This brand-backed addition to Edgewater's tranquil waterfront is set to rise 57 stories with a total of 249 luxury residences. A first in residential development by the Italian fashion house of Missoni, all of its common places will benefit from the iconic splashes of color the luxury brand is known for. Designed by Asymptote Architecture and Revuelta Architecture International, its interiors come styled by Paris Forino Interior Design with landscaping by Enea Garden Design. Missoni Baia is set for completion next year. 

Bonus Points - 3

Missoni Baia gets 3 Bonus Points for the following family-friendly amenities:

• Multiple exclusive, residential lounges and private dining rooms
• Outdoor barbecue and cabana bar
• Residents-only Spa, including hair and nail salon
  
  

How Safe is Edgewater?

One of the safer neighborhoods in Miami, Edgewater reports a lower crime rate than most areas. No wonder it ranks as #3 for the Best Neighborhoods to Raise A Family in Miami and #11 for the Best Places to Raise A Family in Miami-Dade County according to niche.com. This Bayside residential neighborhood is also ranked #4 for the Best Neighborhoods to live in Miami with an A-grade for 'Health & Fitness', 'Outdoor Activities', and of course, the 'Good for Families' segment.

Top Schools In and Close to Edgewater

Since Edgewater is mostly residential, there's only a handful of schools within the neighborhood, of which the BridgePrep Academy Charter School ranks well. However, moving north is where you will find top-ranking charter schools like DASH - Design & Architecture Senior High School in the Design District, Miami Arts Charter School in Wynwood, and the private, K-12 Cushman School in MiMO – but all just a 5-10 minute drive from Edgewater.

The Mater Academy of International Studies on Miami Beach is also a well-known charter school. For more information, click these links for CBB's lists of the best pre-schools and private schools in Miami.

Best Shopping in Edgewater

Moving into Edgewater, you can expect to find more neighborhood shopping options. For groceries, there is a nice Publix at 18th and Biscayne, a Walgreens, the Quantum Market in the Quantum on the Bay condos for basic necessities, along with many other such stores peppered across the neighborhood. There are two Starbucks - one at NE 30th Street and another down at Publix. You will also find a handful of pharmacies and boutiques in Edgewater. There are also plans for another major grocery store chain to be built in the neighborhood as part of a development proposed by Crescent Heights. 

Those looking for some serious shopping options will need to venture out of the neighborhood -- though not very far. About 10 minutes away across the Venetian Causeway to South Beach, you'll have a variety of grocery stores, including Fresh Market, Trader Joe's and another Publix. The Shops at Midtown just next door feature all your basics such as Target, Marshalls, Ross, plus more Starbucks, restaurants, and cafés. A few blocks further, and you reach the edgier and higher-end shopping venues of Wynwood and Design District, respectively.

See a family-friendly condo you'd like to buy? Or looking for more options? Call or email us here and have an expert help you find the perfect match for you and your family!

Cover photo courtesy of Missoni Baia