If your idea of a perfect day includes warm water and room to spread out, Crandon Park Beach…read moredelivers. Stretching two miles along Biscayne Bay, the beach is known for its calm, shallow water--great for swimming, floating or letting kids play safely near shore. You would think that a beach is a beach, but South Florida beaches vary greatly. Some have buildings, some have big crowds, some are great for families, and some have a very natural setting with no buildings at all. One beach that has smaller crowds is Crandon Park's North Beach. Crandon Park Beach has two sections, North & South Beach. Crandon's two beaches are among the most popular beaches in South Florida and cover two miles along the Atlantic side of Key Biscayne The south and north ends of Key Biscayne each contain a large park. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park makes up the southern portion of the island and contains the Cape Florida Lighthouse. The lighthouse, built in 1825, is Miami Dade County's oldest structure. The northern part of the island contains a golf course, marina, tennis center, Nature Center, the Bear Cut Preserve, and Crandon Park Beach. Crandon Park Beach is much more a local's beach and much less touristy. The waves are stronger at North Beach, and you'll see kiteboarders flocking to this beach, though you can't bring your own boards.

Crandon Beach is beautiful, with soft white sand and not a whole lot of people. We couldn't…read morebelieve how lucky we were when we stumbled across this place :-) Tip: Pay attention to the signs here - we didn't see the one saying we needed to feed the parking meters, and ended up with a huge ticket :-( Over and above the parking ticket, it cost us almost fifty bucks to rent beach chairs... All told this beach is totally worth checking out, but even if you do things right, it's gonna cost you ;-)

Crandon Park is popular for its beautiful beach, rich coastal environment, unique fossilized…read moremangrove reef, protected wetlands, birding sites and extensive range of sports and outdoor activities. Crandon Park is home to various ecosystems, from dunes and mangroves to coastal hammock and seagrass beds and rare plants like the Biscayne prickly ash and beach peanut. Underwater, fossilized reefs and colorful sea life give divers and snorkelers plenty to explore. Crandon Park comprises the northern portion of Key Biscayne (almost 7 miles southeast of Miami). The key began as a coconut plantation, before being donated with the stipulation that Miami-Dade County uses the land as a public park. With its golf and tennis facilities, unique eco-adventures and breathtaking beach, Crandon Park offers something for everyone Parking: Weekdays $7 and Weekends $10

I was here as a child when it was a zoo. I'm happy to see it remains a park with beach access…read more More importantly, the beach often hosts some endangered migratory birds, Piping Plovers. These birds are adorable, but they are threatened by habitat loss. There is a volunteer who regularly checks for Piping Plovers during migration, and she looks for bands that reveal the path of the bird's migratory flight. It's important that we have places for these birds to forage, and I hope the city continues to protect this beach for that use. The bathrooms were a welcome amenity. I had problems paying the parking fee, it was a complicated process. There were about 10 peafowl (peacocks) that roamed the park, a remaining vestige of when this was a zoo. There were many wild birds throughout the park.

Nice beach to escape the craziness in Miami. Totally free with a lot of parking however on the…read moreweekends the parking still fills really fast. Nice views of port of Miami and Miami skyline if you choose to walk up the causeway. There are restrooms and food trucks

Beautiful beach to enjoy an outdoorsy day with your doggie. For the most part it's clean,…read morewell-maintained, and the water is not too deep in case your doggie likes to get in. The only thing I don't like is that there's no gate in case a dog runs towards the street or parking lot. That being said, you need to keep an eye on your dog. And beautiful place to see the sunrise or the sunset.

I absolutely love South Beach! This was my second time visiting, and it was just as much fun as I…read moreremembered. The atmosphere was so lively, and even though it was super hot, I loved every minute of it. Since the FIFA World Cup was coming up, there were decorations and displays around the area that added to the excitement. It made the whole beach feel even more energetic. There's so much to do besides just relaxing on the sand. You can walk the beachfront trails, check out the outdoor workout areas, visit the nearby restaurants and shops, or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery. The beach itself was amazing. The sand was soft, the water was warm, and it was the perfect place to spend the day. Thankfully, our hotel included complimentary beach chairs, which made the experience even better. If your hotel doesn't provide them, you can always bring your own chairs or just relax on a towel or blankets. I love the Miami vibe, and South Beach is one of my favorite places to visit. It's always a fun, energetic destination, and I can't wait to come back.

South Beach is the heart of Miami Beach and famous worldwide for its white sand, turquoise water,…read moreand lively atmosphere. The beach is wide, clean, and perfect for walking, sunbathing, or simply enjoying the ocean view. When you head toward the beach through Lummus Park, the stretch of green really welcomes you. You do have to walk quite a bit to reach the sand--it's surprisingly far from Ocean Drive. I don't think I've ever seen such a large distance between a main road and the beach before, but honestly, that's part of its charm. Palm trees, colorful lifeguard towers, and the Art Deco skyline create the classic Miami postcard scene. Whether you visit for sunrise or sunset, the vibe here is always energetic. Parking: Take my words: Park at 'Miami Beach Parking Garage [7th St]', its your best bet

The beach is busy. Crowded sand, commercial atmosphere, the weight of thousands of people who…read morewanted to see this specific tower. That's not a flaw, that's the consequence of something that works. The lifeguards are actual lifeguards, not decoration. The maintenance is real. The water is ocean water, which in Miami means warmer than most places and clearer than the harbor. The tower is the point. It's functional equipment that became a landmark because form and function aligned. You come here to see it, to photograph it, to stand in front of it and understand why it's been standing for decades. Late afternoon light works. Early morning light works. Overcast days work differently but they work. The beach itself is a public beach, which means it's not curated, not exclusive, not designed to feel special. It's designed to be usable. The tower makes it memorable. That's the whole arrangement. Four point eight stars across eight hundred eighty eight reviews. That's not accident.

Great part of south beach. Not as crazy of a crowd as 7th,…read moreyet still close enough to walk over there if you want to get ratchet for a little while. Close to wet willies and fat tuesdays.

The most bougie beach in the Miami Beach area. Seriously, walking around you can definitely tell…read morehow bougie this place is with the Ritz-Carlton and a bunch of luxury apartments. Got a recommendation from a friend to visit here and was not disappointed. Here are some of the highlights/tips: - There's not a lot of people at the beach, just hotel and local residents on their paid beach chairs and umbrellas so its very nice and quiet. - Because of the tall buildings in the back, it offers a lot of shade to the area especially during mid-afternoon in the hot Miami sun which is very nice. - You can't walk directly from the street to the beach as you have to loop around all the way to the top of Miami Beach around the Ritz-Carlton to get here so if you get dropped off by Uber or Lyft, make sure to get you dropped off at the Ritz. The walk is around 7-10 minutes and it is very worth it as you can get to see the ocean roll all the way inland. - The waves are so beautiful here and I think they are just big enough to go surfing if you may choose. Overall, love this beach and would definitely recommend going to different areas in Miami Beach to understand the different vibes of the area. It's interesting because in the Southern parts of the beach the side is finer and there's more people and families. In the middle parts has more shopping and the water is slightly more murky. And in the northern areas such as Bal Harbor there is a lot less people and the sand is more rough.

It's rarely crowded here, which is nice. Paid parking is available under the Haulover Inlet bridge…read more There's a nice beach path/trail here. My only complaint is that there are no restrooms here. Like, c'mon Bal Harbor! This is one of the richest areas in the US. You guys can totally affordable some nice beach restroom facilities.

In 1916 the Miami Beach Improvement Company, founded by John Collins, platted the Oceanfront…read moreSubdivision on a two mile isthmus. The Company named the area Miami Beach. Today the Collins Waterfront Architectural Historic District includes 110 buildings and structures near Collins Avenue. The earliest dates to 1922 and the majority were built in the late 1940's, 1950's and 1960's. Architectural styles include moderne, Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival architecture, and the local Miami Modern style called MiMo, a type of mid century modernism architecture style that developed after WWII from the 1940's to the 1960's. Its hallmark is modern simplicity of form influenced by South Florida. Many of the buildings in this district are large resort hotels. The district is defined by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and 24th Street, Indian Creek Drive, Pine Tree Drive, and the Collins Canal. One of my favorite things about Miami Beach is the Miami Beach Boardwalk, a paved pathway that runs for seven miles, the length of Miami Beach. It begins at 87th terrace and Collins Ave at the border of Surfside and takes you south through North Beach, Mid Beach, and ending at the Ocean Drive Promenade in South Beach in South Pointe Park. Along the boardwalk are parks, hotels, condos, and restaurants. On one side you have a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and on the other, a front row seat to the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach. For the convenience of those traveling the boardwalk there are benches and water stations. You also often see people setting up tents and selling things like jewelry. While the historic buildings and boardwalk are important draws for the area, the crown jewel of Miami Beach is the beach itself. Wide white sand beaches meet the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean beckoning sun worshippers, waders, and swimmers. There are many beach front parks offering amenities like lifeguards, restrooms, and volleyball courts, fitness equipment showers, and playgrounds. Pay parking is available in area lots and along the street via kiosks and apps.

My family and I came here for vacation. It was our first time visiting Miami. It's a big beach and…read morethe views were absolutely stunning! There are many restaurants right across from the beach and some souvenir shops. I was able to pick up some nice souvenirs. I totally left my heart in Miami beach. Felt so relaxing and the water is clean. We will be back for sure.

North Shore State Recreation Area is an easy 5 stars, it honestly feels brand new after the redo,…read morewith gorgeous updated paths and an incredibly scenic beachwalk/boardwalk stretch that makes every walk, bike, or skate feel like a little vacation. The whole area looks cleaner, more open, and better designed, and you can tell real thought went into the renovation (from the improved walkways to the way it connects into the longer Miami BeachWalk).

I swear, this is the EXACT beach spot where they record those hypnosis & relaxation CD's where you…read morehear the sounds of waves! During the day, this is an excellent beach if you want to tan, relax and swim, or just lay out in the sun. Waves themselves seem to be a little more active and better for surfing than South Beach proper as you're away from the jetty. There are a couple of volleyball nets, and some picnic tables on the grassy area facing Collins Avenue. You're also within walking distance of three of my favorite restaurants (Rancho Grande, Valentino Sul Mare, and Sazon). Manolos is near here, and Prima Pasta is in the area as well. I've come here plenty of times, for events ranging from my High School reunion's picnic, to just lounging and relaxing. At night is when the "magic" comes out, as this is the general area where the Full Moon Drum Circle is held. (See my review for that event here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/full-moon-drum-circle-miami-beach) Whether you're into making magic or making out, you have to check out the drum circle at least once. When I snap my fingers, you will head straight to North beach :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CyY8sFDKWg