Beaches in Key West

by Mikey West

The beaches found in Key West are hardly Florida’s finest. No one is likely to think the promised sand has been reached. The real beaches are at Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach and Daytona Beach. The nearest thing to a good beach is a good 45 minutes drive up the Keys to Bahia Honda State Park Beach.

The beaches are tiny, the sand is not exactly fine, there are rocks everywhere, the slope is very slight, and the waves are non-existent. Despite these drawbacks, two of the Key West beaches should do. Smathers Beach or Fort Zachary Taylor Beach should be good enough.

The most-famous Key West beach is Smathers Beach, which is the biggest and the most-popular. It is the beach with the most sand. Frequently you have seaweed on the sand. There is great snorkeling in the clear ocean. If you go in the water, there is a rough coral reef footing. Along with the sand and sea, you get parking, some picnic tables, restrooms, showers and concession stands. You can sit on a rented beach chair and relax. Water sports equipment is available for sailing or windsurfing. If you want another type of ride, jump in a boat or attempt parasailing.

It is a challenge to find Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. It is tucked away inside Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. The beach has a lovely natural appearance. There is not much sand, but there are plenty of rocks, coral and pine trees. Less natural, but very functional, items include rest rooms, showers, picnic tables, grills, and even a refreshment stand. You can rent kayaks or snorkeling equipment. There is a short nature trail. From this location you are able to see cruise ships entering and leaving the harbor.

Rest Beach is smaller then Smathers Beach and offers fewer things, but it does have sand. Beyond that, there are a few tables and a yoga deck. For your restroom needs you will need to walk to Higgs Beach. The attraction Rest Beach shares with Higgs Beach is a long fishing pier, known as the White Street Pier. It provides some good fishing and easy snorkeling without a boat.

Like Rest Beach, Higgs Beach is smaller than Smathers Beach. Higgs Beach is on the other side of the street from the Astro Park children’s park. Along with the restrooms and shower are a few picnic tables and limited concessions. Fine dining is available at the restaurant on the beach. Beach chairs and snorkeling equipment are offered in case you want to rent them.

Dog Beach is rocky rather than sandy, but the dogs allowed there do not seem to mind in the least. They enjoy the beach and the ocean. This is a fabulous beach if you happen to have a dog along with you. If not, go elsewhere.

There are only two other beaches open to the public. There are no facilities at either, so for the most part they are used by the residents, not the tourists. South Beach is the larger one and Simonton Street Beach is the smaller one. It is best to walk if you plan to visit either.

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