Miami is called the Magic City for a lot of reasons: the palms, the ocean, the lifestyle, etc. As if that were not enough, there are now unicorns, rainbows and fairy forests to make the City even more Magic. Where? At the recently opened Unicorn Factory, located just three blocks from Wynwood Walls. A dreamy and colorful ode to the creatures that have enchanted young and old through generations, this is an interactive space filled with eye-catching attractions that makes visitors happier the moment they enter.
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After missing its predecessor - the Ice Cream Museum - I was over the moon, or in this case over the rainbow, when I was invited to enjoy Miami’s newest hot spot with my kids and share our experience with you. We book our visit (you have to book your timed tickets exclusively online) for a Sunday afternoon, and when we get there, at 2600 NW 5 Ave, the atmosphere outside is kind of surreal. It’s a rainy day (hey, you can’t have a rainbow without rain!), the street is empty apart from a couple of girls posing in front of a mural. In a street lined with undefined commercial spaces and parking, graffiti-covered buildings blend into each other. On the corner of NW 5th avenue with NW 26th street, the Unicorn Factory is no different from the other warehouses in the area in terms of street art but at the same time it stands out because of its subjects and its colors. Its multi-color facade is an explosion of pink with unicorns and goofy creatures, which make it impossible to drive by without noticing it and smiling.
As we walk into the lobby, we are welcomed by a giant unicorn head made of flowers and the first Instagram-ready wall art, a pair of beautiful golden angel wings. The venture into Unicorn Factory begins in a CandyLand themed room where we play at the Unicorn-inspired mini golf hole and pretend to drive a rainbow cart. Moving along into a dark corridor with neon phrases on the walls, there are different environments on both sides that are meant to be look at, touched, and, of course, snapped and uploaded straight to social media. Picture your wildest, wackiest and weirdest unicorn-filled dreams - creators Michelle Kulikov and Julia Stein brought them to life in the Unicorn Factory.
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During our visit we are treated to a playful array of interactive installations, including the fantasy casino with a rainbow, the enchanted forest, the disco ball corner, the unicorn-themed playroom, and the room with a purple throne, where you can be a Queen or a King….and have the picture to prove it! What else can you do at the Unicorn Factory? Many things, but here are our top three:
Get lost in a ball pit
Kick off your shoes, store away any personal belongings and dive into a giant ball pit that screams fun, fun and more fun! Filled with thousands of plastic balls this is a rainbow of unlimited play, where imagination can run wild, while playing hide and seek, jumping into the pool or simply throwing the balls around. If your little ones are a bit hesitant to wade or swim through the massive ball pit, they can sit on the border, pet stuffed unicorns and have fun watching you.
Ride a Unicorn
If your or your kids’ dreams involve riding a unicorn, this is the place for you. Yes, there is unicorn that you can ride! And I don’t mean a ride-a-unicorn halloween costume, I am talking about a life size unicorn painted in neon rainbow color in a night sky galaxy room.
Sweat Glitters
Gyms can be intimidating, not the Unicorn Factory’s gym. With walls are covered in graffiti-style motivational quotes, a unicorn riding a sweaty and smiling nerd (is the unicorn riding the nerd? yes!), this gym makes “fitness” look as enjoyable, colorful and fun as possible. Why be a gym rat, when you can be a gym unicorn?
Our tour ends, of course, at the gift shop where visitors can purchase a variety of kinds of unicorn, rainbow and colorful swag, as well as take the last shots.
The Unicorn Factory is open Wednesday-Monday, with tickets costing $38 per person (children 3 and under are free) or $29 per person for groups of 10 or more. Whether your kids are obsessed with unicorns, or you want to take a few pictures with fairy tale inspired backdrops, this place will transport you into a world of fantasy, wonder, and excitement.
2600 NW 5 Ave, Miami, FL 33127
786.636.6931
Disclaimer: Macaroni Kid North East Miami and Miami Beach received complimentary tickets for personal use in exchange for sharing our experience with our readers.
