Miami Area Beaches

The best known beach in the Miami area is of course Miami Beach, America's vacation playland. Miami Beach runs from South Pointe Park north to just north of 63rd Street and Collins Avenue. Highway AIA runs the length of Miami Beach. "Miami Beach" is actually divided into several beaches:

North Shore Open Space Park/Beach - in Miami Beach
7929 Atlantic Way, Miami Beach 305-993-2032
Parking:
Lifeguard on Duty: Yes

Large, busy park and beach. Very fine sand and shallow surf. Special Features: Tables and grills for picnics and plenty of outdoor showers in the park and on the beach.

South Beach
5th through 21st st. on the Atlantic Ocean
Parking: Pay lot. Parking restricted. Municipal garage or valet parking advised.
Lifeguard on Duty: Yes, with deco-style lifeguard towers

Long and wide white sand beach. Not for surfing. Topless bathing permitted most places.

Special Features:

Playground and public toilets. Boardwalk (4th-21st st.) and Promenade (5th-16th st.) A walkway for pedestrians, skaters, cyclists, and rollerbladers. Lummus Park.

South Pointe Park to 5th Street

A popular beach with Latino families. Topless sunbathing discouraged here.

Special Features: playground, fishing pier, boardwalk, observation tower, restaurants nearby.

Other Miami area beaches include:

Haulover Beach
10800 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles. (305) 947-3525.
Parking: Parking on A1A with tunnel access to beach
Lifeguard on Duty: Yes
Wheelchair access - call

One and a half miles of white sand beach adjacent to Haulover Park north of Miami Beach. North end of the beach is for nude bathing.

Special Features: 177 acre park with shaded picnic facilities; sand dunes; concession stands; surfing.

Crandon Beach

4000 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne
(305) 361-7385, (305) 361-5421
Parking: Pay lot
Lifeguard on Duty: Yes
Wheelchair access - call

A beautiful and pristine two-mile beach with calm water. One of the most popular recreation destinations in Miami-Dade county.

Special Features: Parking, multiple picnic areas, promenade, surfing, family amusement center.

Virginia Key Beach

3701 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne
Parking: Free
Entrance Fee $3-$5.
Lifeguard on Duty: Yes

A narrow but picturesque beach, rocky.

Special Features: Shady areas available.

Bal Harbour Beach
9701 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour. (305) 866-4633
Parking: Pay lot.
Lifeguard on Duty: Yes

A wide, clean, and scenic beach with walking path and fishing jetty.

Special Features: Showering and changing rooms. Pets allowed. Family friendly.

Matheson Hammock Park Beach
9610 Old Cutler Road, Miami (305) 665-5475
Parking:
Hours: sunrise-sundown
Lifeguard on Duty:

Quiet beach with warm, calm waters. Named "best picnic spot" by Florida Parenting Magazine.

Special Features: Man-made atoll pool flushed naturally by Biscayne Bay tides. Full-service marina, snack bar, restaurant. Picnic pavilions.

Homestead Bayfront Park Beach
9698 SW North Canal Drive, Homestead (305) 230-3033.

A good family beach with an atoll pool and plenty of palm trees. Special Features: The sandy atoll pool fluctuates with the tidal action of the Atlantic. Other features: full-service marina, snack bar, barbecue grills, big rental picnic shelter, playground.

State Park Beaches

Oleta River State Recreation Area
3400 NE 163rd St. (305) 947-6357
Parking: $2.00 for one passenger; 1-8 additional passengers: $4.00; above 8 people, additional dollar
Walk-in entrance fee: $1 per person
Hours: 8 am -sundown
Lifeguard on Duty: No

1200 foot sandy beach on the banks of the Oleta River and intercoastal waterway. Part of a state park. Refuge for birds, manatees and other wildlife.

Special Features: Canoe, paddleboat, and kayak rentals. Biking trails. Picnic facilities on first-come first-serve basis or by reservation. Fishing pier.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area
1200 South Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, (305) 361-5811
Parking: Free lot
Hours: 8 am to sundown
Lifeguard on Duty: Yes

A state park with many natural amenities. Part of a large barrier island ecosystem. 1.25 miles of wide sand beach on the Atlantic.

Special Features: Historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, built 1825. Fishing at the seawall on Biscayne Bay. (Salt water fishing license required.) 18 shaded beachfront picnic pavilions. Bike, kayak, rollerblade rentals. Beach chairs and umbrella rentals. Gift shop. Overnight boat morring available.

Islands

Pelican Island

Accessible by "Pelican" pontoon boat on weekends and holidays, by reservation during the week.

A popular picnic and recreation area 400 yards across from Pelican Harbor Marina.

Special Features: Many picnic areas including 2 large pavilions each seating 100. Horseshoe and volleyball courts. Good bird and marine life viewing.

Tom Sawyer Island at Amelia Earhart Park

A children's playland accessible by swing rope. Swings, slides, towers and a farm village.

Special programs:

Sea Turtle Nesting and Relocation Program
Date and Time: June-September, Thursday and Friday nights, 9-10:30 pm
Fee: $3

Help endangered baby sea turtles swim to safety. Hatch and release programs take place on many S. Florida beaches. To volunteer, call Miami-Dade Parks Beach Operations at (305) 947-3525 or (305) 365-3018.