I have been in Miami quite awhile now and I have to say I have not visited this beach as much as I…read morepossibly should have. I have recently been a few times this past month. Each time has been early morning till midafternoon, mid-week and the time I spent there was extremely pleasant. The beach was clean, the water was clean, parking was plentiful and free.

Pros: the parking is incredibly convenient if you arrive early or on a weekday and find a spot…read more There are also bathrooms that are an easy walk from the beach and the beach is right next to the parking lot, so it's an easy walk. You can also bring your dog. Cons: the water isn't as nice as the coast and you don't get the waves because it's in the bay. (On the other hand, this area would be better for paddleboarding.) You can also hear the cars going by because of the proximity to the causeway, so it isn't as relaxing as some other beaches.

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 ;-)

Nixon Beach (Sandbar) is a popular boating destination spot which is situated approximately a…read morequarter mile south west of Key Biscayne. It's a great place to anchor up for the afternoon and enjoy the weather, scenery and the people you happen to be with. At low tide the water is about waist deep and it's clear blue. It can be a little breezy at times which can cause the boat to rock a bit, but if your use to that then you won't have any problems. You can snorkel and paddle board here and the waters are usually very calm. On the weekends if the weather is nice, it will be packed with day trip boaters, so get here early to secure a nice spot. Now the historical footnote. The sandbar is named after Richard Nixon, the thirty seventh President of The United States. I do vaguely remember him as the President, so I'm aging myself here He vacationed frequently in Key Biscayne during the 1960s and had many political benefactors in the Miami area. Back then, Key Biscayne was more or less a sleepy area with one luxury hotel and a lot of small old Florida style single homes. In 1969, shortly after Nixon became President, he purchased three of these homes on Bay Lane, at well below market prices from Florida Senator George Smathers. The houses were in a compound that had a private beach. The Secret Service & US military had to construct a helipad to accommodate Marine One. The cost of the helipad and security upgrades to the residences was estimated at about 400k. Nixon made fifty trips there during the course of his Presidency (no, there wasn't an audio taping system in the place). Now here is the kicker, after resigning in 1974 he sold the properties, which included the helipad, at a huge profit (no, not a crook ) and was accused of benefiting from taxpayers expense. For you movie buffs Scarface was also filmed on Key Biscayne. The residences were torn down in '04 when a local real estate bought them and built a modern mansion. In addition to taking in the beautiful natural views, you can also admire the multi multi million dollar mansions that are now on Key Biscayne. Mr. Nixon probably should have held on to those properties a little bit longer.

If you haven't pulled up in your boat here during the peak summer months blasting your music then…read morewho are you? This is a major spot for boaters searching for a nearby spot to enjoy shallow waters amongst one of the most populated and lively water spots in miami. You can't swim over here so obviously a boat is required but be prepared for a plentiful bunch of party people. With a loaded cooler and plenty of music, you'll fit in just too. It's not for the faint of heart and unless it's on a weekday, I wouldn't label it kid-friendly on most summer weekends. It's not a far drive so arriving here doesn't take much fuel if you're coming from a nearby marina. Don't forget your sunscreen because it's crucial for those days where there's not a cloud in sight.

North Shore Open Space Park was originally established in the 1950s when the city purchased and…read moredemolished a series of dilapidated villas on the site. It is one of Miami's largest parks, and it runs from 78th Street to 87th Terrace. Over the years, the 28 acre site was left to nature. In 2017 the city approved a 6 million dollar renovation of the park with Calvin, Giordarno & Associates as the project manager and West 8 heading the re-design. The renovation strived to preserve the parks plants, including large palm trees and sea grapes and the parks natural dune ecosystem which protects the park from rising sea levels. The goal was to improve the beauty and functionality of the park. Today you can enjoy enjoy beach access with lifeguards on duty and plenty of room to spread out as you soak up the sun. North Shore Open Space Park also has a outdoor showers, restroom, dog park, picnic tables and grills, sand volley ball court, three pavilions for picnics with grills which can be rented, swings and a play area, and trails with an outdoor fitness challenge course with self-powered workout stations. Parking can be found in the municipal lot across the street on 83rd street and along Harding Ave. I really enjoyed walking the trails in the the park and it is a lot quieter than nearby South Beach which you can reach via an paved 8 mile bike trail.

Pros: plenty of parking, the bathrooms are decent (but wear sandals!!), the gazebos have been…read morenicely renovated. I really like the new large benches Cons: the beach could be cleaner, but at least it's a chill atmosphere and a doggie area.

Key Biscayne isn't just a place--it's a thread running through my life. I first set foot here in…read more1987, when my cousin brought me over the Rickenbacker Causeway after I'd relocated to Los Angeles. That first trip etched itself into memory: the ocean opening wide, the palms swaying like they knew something I didn't, and the sense that I'd stumbled into Miami's quieter, more soulful heart. Later, the island became more than a postcard view. I was accepted into Mast Academy, Miami's marine-focused magnet school perched on Virginia Key--the last stop before the bridge drops you into Biscayne's island calm. But even before that, in the late '90s, my summers belonged here thanks to the M.U.S.T. Program through the Miami Museum of Science. We weren't just kids in a classroom; we were explorers, studying the bay itself under the guidance of the legendary marine biologist Alberto Ramirez. Those days--trawling through seagrass beds, learning how the tides shaped everything, watching science come alive in the salt air--remain some of my most precious memories. Ramirez wasn't just a teacher, he was a lighthouse of his own: steady, guiding, and impossible to forget. Key Biscayne's history runs as deep as its waters. The Tequesta people fished these shores centuries before Europeans arrived. Spanish sailors marked the cape on their maps in the 1500s, and in the 1800s, the Cape Florida Lighthouse stood as both beacon and battleground, attacked during the Seminole Wars, burned, rebuilt, and still standing proud at 95 feet tall. In the 20th century, the island was a coconut plantation, then a playground for the wealthy--and later home to Nixon's so-called "Florida White House," where the nation's business was mixed with scandal under the same tropical sun. Cross the Rickenbacker Causeway and Miami's skyline fades behind you. The pace slows. Families pedal beneath seagrape trees, fishermen lean against seawalls telling stories, and kids chase lizards in Crandon Park while pelicans dive for fish. At the southern tip, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park stretches open like a piece of paradise. Climb the lighthouse and you see turquoise water forever--the same horizon that's been calling people here for centuries. For me, it's all intertwined: the 1987 trip that introduced me, the pride of Mast Academy, the summers of the M.U.S.T. Program, the salt on my skin, the lessons from Ramirez that shaped how I see the world. Key Biscayne is not just a park, not just a beach, not just an island. It's history, it's education, it's memory--woven together with the kind of magic that sticks with you for life.

Fabulous relaxing time here in Key Biscayne! State Park is naturally beautiful with vistas that…read morewill soothe you. Fishing, picnicking, light house is breathtaking. Walk for miles.

José Martí is considered to be a Cuban national hero. Many parks and monuments throughout South…read moreFlorida are named in his honor. He was a poet, revolutionary philosopher, journalist, translator, professor, publisher, and author of "Cultivo Una Rosa Blanca" . He dedicated his life to the promotion of liberty and political independence for Cuba. His death during a battle against Spanish troops at the Battle of Dos Ríos was used to rally people to the cause of the independence of Cuba from Spain. The land the park is on has a lot of history. This area was used by the Tequesta people around 400 AD. In 1982 while developing the park, underneath I-95, an ancient Tequesta camp was discovered. Pottery shards, shell tools, arow heads, and a woman's grave were excavated. In 1959 Fidel Castro took over Cuba transforming it into a communist state. Refugees began fleeing the island for Miami. In 1980, 4,000 Cuban political refugees who fled Cuba during the Mariel boat lift took refuge in a tent city here for two months. On October 27, 1984 the park opened and was dedicated to José Martí. The park is located directly on the historic Miami River where today you can enjoy stunning views as the boats sail by. Park amenities include a public pool, playground, outdoor fitness equipment, basketball court, picnic tables, and a community center offering summer and winter camps, and youth and teen programs. The park also has a bust of José Martí donated to the city by Cuba in the 1950s. José Martí park is part of the Miami River Greenway, a 6.2 mile trail that begins at Bayfront Park and ends at NW 24th Ave. The trail links neighborhoods, businesses, cultural attractions, historic sites, and nine public parks along both banks of the Miami River.

Wow, what a spot. Located right on the river - so you can watch all the boats sail by. Awesome…read morespot.!!! Here is some info about this wonderful area - Named after the Cuban patriot and poet who devoted his life to the idea of liberating his country, Jose Marti Park is a 1.7 acre green space along the Miami River, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Miami. Popular with locals and visitors of all ages looking for a quick escape, the park features a public riverwalk that runs the length of its grounds with benches where you can read a book and watch boats float by. Recreational Activities Among the park's recreational features are indoor and outdoor basketball courts, an indoor gym, recreation building and picnic tables. Younger visitors can play in the park's large playground, which features a variety of structures for climbing, swinging and sliding, plus a covered play area and a grassy field for kickball and other games. Pool & Water Aerobics A six-lane, 25-meter pool at Jose Marti Park is the ideal spot for lap swimmers, with some or all lanes dedicated to lap swimming at various times throughout the week. There's also a learn to swim program and water aerobics classes. Yoga & Community Activities In need of a little centering after a hectic day? Drop in for free yoga classes held Tuesdays on a first-come, first-serve basis. The park also offers other community-based activities like after-school programs and summer camps.

Surfside is a charming tiny Miami Beach town of only one square mile nestled between Miami Beach…read moreand Bal Harbour along the Atlantic Ocean. While the town has unique shops and restaurants, family-friendly parks, and special events they may be the proudest of their beach. At the beach entrance at 95th Street you can find Ké, the Mother Turtle art sculpture which is the mascot for the town. Public parking is located on the street and at lots a couple of blocks from the beach. The white sand beaches of Surfside Beach are postcard perfect and an attractive alternative for those looking for a less crowded Miami beach. You can swim with confidence under the watchful eye of lifeguards or stroll and bike along the Surfside walking bath that runs parallel to the beach. When you finish your day in the sun there is a number of cafes a block away where you can end your day with a delightful meal. If you are looking for a serene atmosphere, coupled with convenient amenities and nearby attractions, this hidden gem is worth exploring.

Pretty clean. Good place to go if you desire a spot that's not crowded. There is space that's not…read morein front of the hotels. I didn't see a place for water sports rentals or beach chair rentals. (But that doesn't mean it wasn't there).

Nice shady park. Not a big park but big enough to walk through and have a picnic on the grass and…read morehang out. Parking is hard to find if you don't get there early.

VERY RELAXING....FRESH ENVIROMENT. PLENTY of parking space. Historical place. Open 24 hours 7…read moredays a week a week. Perfect place for romance proposal. Family oriented.