Really Florida!

Posts Tagged ‘Key West’

Beaches in the Florida Keys aren’t as plentiful as you might imagine — the Keys are islands, right?  Yes, they are islands, but special ones which don’t have many beaches.

However, there are some wonderful stretches of sea and sand in the Florida Keys.  If you’re not expecting the wide beaches of NE Florida or the Panhandle, you’ll likely be pleased.

Let’s take a look at some of the beaches in the Florida Keys.

First Stop:  Harry Harris Park

Tavernier, located in the Upper Keys, has a beach at mile marker (MM) 92.5.  The beach itself is located inside Harry Harris Park.  Now remember, the beaches in the Florida Keys are small, and this is definitely…small.  But it is a beach!  If you have youngsters, this is a great beach because of the protected swimming area; no surf, and no large fish to nibble their toes.

Anne’s Beach

While there are places to play on the sand in the Florida Middle Keys, most of them are private beaches for resorts.  If you want a public beach, Anne’s Beach at mile marker (MM) 78 (kind of between the Upper and Middle Keys).  It’s not a long or wide beach, and there’s little surf, due to the calming effect of the offshore reef.  Still, the water is warm and clear and the sun shines brightly.  Anne’s Beach on Upper Matecumbe also features picnic areas and covered pavillions.

The Beach at Bahia Honda

This is a glorious Florida Keys beach, and worth the trip to the Lower Keys to see it.  It has a good-sized beach area, with plenty of room for walking.  Swimming and snorkeling are great here, and Bahia Honda is just what you’d expect from a tropical island beach — a slice of paradise.

(The photo you see here is Bahia Honda.)

The Key West Beaches

Smather’s Beach is the most famous of the Key West beaches, as well as the largest — a half mile long.  Still, there is plenty to do here.  From parasailing to snorkeling to volleyball, there is plenty going on.  And if you like just kicking back and watching the world go by, there’s a beach chair waiting!

Other beaches in Key West, Florida include Higgs Memorial, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach, as well as CB Harvey Rest Beach.

Here’s additional information on Key West beaches. 

Beach Trivia

 Well, I did warn you there there weren’t a lot of beaches in the Florida Keys, and here’s why.  The only living coral reef in the continental United States is offshore, and it protects the Keys from the wave action of the sometimes-storm Atlantic Ocean.

However, that wave action is what builds up beaches!  Add to it that the Keys are composed of limestone and coral, which aren’t the best beach-building materials, and you have few stretches of natural sand.

Still, most of the major resorts do have their own private beaches, so fear not; there just may be some sand closer than you think!