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.

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.

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.

I have spent years listening to people tell me how terrible Miami is…read more.. I've heard it all, especially about Miami Beach. The crime, the chaos, the tourists, the traffic, the partying, the old cocaine reputation from the 1980s, and all the other things people seem to love bringing up whenever I tell them how much I love Miami. I know what Miami is. I've been coming here since I was 22 years old, so this isn't some recent love affair I developed because Miami became fashionable. I got the bug very early, and somehow it never left my soul, my mind or my heart. Miami Beach has reinvented itself over and over again. It went from a resort playground in the early 20th century, through the glamorous Art Deco era, the postwar years, the decline and drug-era reputation, and then the extraordinary preservation movement that saved much of South Beach from being demolished. The Art Deco Historic District became the first urban 20th-century historic district on the National Register in 1979, and today Miami Beach has more than 800 historic Art Deco buildings. Even now, the city continues to build its identity around that architecture while mixing it with restaurants, nightlife, art, music, fashion, luxury hotels and international tourism. And that's what people who constantly criticize Miami seem to miss when they talk about it like it's nothing but chaos. Yes, Miami Beach is still a party town. It is still loud, crowded, international, sometimes completely ridiculous and full of people doing very bad things... There is also an incredible amount of history, architecture, culture, music, food, design and sheer personality packed into this little island. Millions of people still come here every year, and tourism remains one of the major economic engines of the area. In 2025 alone, tourism generated an estimated $2.2 billion in local and state tax revenue. I've watched Miami Beach change for decades, and I still love coming here. Maybe that's why I don't get particularly interested when somebody starts telling me all the reasons I shouldn't like it. Its honestly very offputting.. I have my own relationship with this place. I've stayed here, played here, dined here.. attended the parties ... large and small listened to the music, met the people, celebrated birthdays, had incredible nights and made memories that aren't going anywhere. I don't need Miami Beach to be perfect for me to love it. I actually like that it has a personality. I like that it can be elegant one minute and completely chaotic the next. I like the energy, the people, the ridiculousness of it, the history, the ocean, the architecture and the fact that something is always happening. People can have their opinions about Miami. I'll keep coming back. And if I'm going to choose between the chaos and millions of people in Miami or the chaos and millions of people in Los Angeles, I'll take Miami every single time.

What's not to like? That being said,If you visit from anywhere north of Fort Lauderdale,you are…read moregoing to experience culture shock. Just roll with it. My earliest reference to Miami Beach was as a kid watching the Jakie Gleason show. It was announced every show that ,it was broadcast from beautiful Miami Beach. That was enough to " book mark" it in my mind. Then in 1977 on my way back from a scuba trip in the Keys,I drove up Collins Ave from South Beach all the way up to Bal Harbor. It was a shocking sight most of the way. Lined with high rises, obsolete hotels and bus stop benches full of generations of elderly that had retired and been ravaged by the then raging inflation. Yes boys and girls,if you think inflation is bad now it's nothing compared to the late 70s and early 80s . As those generations left us and Miami in general and Miami Beach in particular reached economic obsolescence,the real estate deveopers moved in and the gentrification and renewal began. What a job they've done. Now, development is always controversial for100s of reasons not the least of which is environmental concerns. As I've returned to the Miami area over the years it amazes me how dense it's become. The first time I returned to the South Beach area was 1998. The restoration of the old art deco hotel movement was in high gear, I felt like a million bucks. The boutique hotel I stayed in was fantastic, with a view from the second floor window ( that opened) onto the busy avenue below and beach beyond. The development continued and it wasn't until almost 15 years later that I returned. Overall development was now completed,Miami Beach was again a desirable destination and I was back! My intentions are to return at least one more time. It's what's great about our country. We are constantly renewing,sharing cultures and looking forward to the future. I highly recommend you... Go!

Absolutely love the customer service here!! Thank you Anthony for your service!! Beautiful beachread more

Since the sun was shining and Mom was with us, we decided to go to beach. The parking is close so…read morewe didn't have a problem walking there. We had asked one of the workers to set up a nice umbrella and two chairs. Btw, my wife was away in Chicago for the week so my Mom and I were hanging out. We only paid $20 which is less than in Miami Beach. The sand was clear and few seaweed were there. We swam and tanned for a few then headed home. It was fun and all.

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).

Got a dog in South Florida? This is where they are safest…read moreto run amok and blow off energy. Double gated entry to prevent accidental escape. Bags and garbage cans for cleanup. AstroTurf, not grass = no fleas! Water stations. Trees. Benches. Friendly people, friendly dogs. It's extraordinarily rare to see dogs get aggressive. I've been bringing my furry family over 16 years. There's no better dog park. Warning: Police patrol car parking. There's spots all around, don't wing it. Park your car legally.

Beautiful large dog park with lots of shade and seating. However NO parking and in the…read moreneighborhood there isn't street parking, you need to get lucky. Biggest problem with this park is the SMELL. So disgusting. Large playground next to the dog park.

This dog park is in north shore park and it's really spacious. But the best part of all is that…read morethere is so many trees it is shaded so perfect for dogs in Miami!

The perfect dog park for some shade after walking in the boardwalk. Clean. Plenty of new benches…read moreand play elements for the pups.