Miami Beaches

By mid 1970s Miami Beach was almost beachless. Development on the island and erosion by the ocean had brought hotels and other building literally to the water’s edge. The city called for the cavalry, and between 1977 and 1981 the U.S. Army corps of engineers mounted a vast $51 million beach reconstruction operation dumping millions of tons of sand along the ocean-shore to for a 100-yard –wide stretch of beach. From Sunny Isles in the north to South Point Park, the 10-mile strips is divided into a series of beaches, each with its own character, Key Biscayne and its island neighbor, Virginia Key, offer an additional 4 miles of beach space, there is Oleta River State recreation area other of the city and the oceanfront Matheson Hammock Par in the south

Miami Beach and North Miami

South Point Park Washington Avenue. Not the best beach, but there is good fishing and snorkeling from the pier, as well as picnic areas with barbecues, footpaths, children’s playground, fitness course and scenic view of eh Port of Miami across the bay.

First Street Beach The epicenter of Miami’s surfing culture. A beach bar-restaurant pumps up to volume. Volleyball.

Lummus Park Sixth to 14th streets. On the beach side of Ocean Drive, there are windsurfing and deck-chair rentals, refreshments and palygourd.

21st Street Beach .Star on the 2-mile Miami Beach Boardwalk, this is a favorite with many members of they gay community. Unofficially, topless bathing is more or less tolerated between First Street Beach and Surfside, refreshments are available

46th Street Beach . Near Fontainebleau Hilton. A happy-go-lucky crowd of water-sports fans from Miami University makes its presence felt, refreshments available plus excellent swimming.

35th Street Beach Hemmed in by high-rise buildings, but relatively peaceful. Refreshments and good swimming

North Shore State Recreation Area .7th to 87th streets A 40-acre oasis of subtropical vegetation and sandy shores, Picnic areas with barbecues playground bike trail, fitness course fishing course, fishing and boat rental.

Surfside Beach 93rd Street. .A quite neighbor of the Bal Harbour area beaches that fill up with wealthy northeners in the winter. Fine swimming, popular with French – Canadians.

Haulover Beach . 10800 Collins Avenue. Combines beach dunes and parkland with facilities includes picnic areas, playground boat rentals tennis and golf.

Sunny Isles 157th to 197th streetsTwo miles of blustery beach, with windsurfing, jet ski and sailboat rentals. Fishing from the pier, refreshments are available .

Oleta River State Recreation Area 3400 N.E. 163rd Street On the mainland with good swimming from a man-made beach. Bike trail, canoeing, boating and picnic facilities, dolphins manatees and land mammals can also be seen.

Key Biscayne Virginia Key and South Miami

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area Key Biscayne. On the southern tip of the island this preserve has ocean beaches, a historic lighthouse, walking trails, windsurfing and bike rentals, fishing on the bayside, picnic areas and refreshments.

Crandon Park 4000 Cardon Boulevard. Parkland and beach at the northern end of Key Ciscayne, which has picnicking and refreshment facilities, playground, biking trails, fitness course and boat rentals.

Hobble Beach Rickenbcker Causeway. Windsurfers and surf boaters skim across the bay around the causeway, and picnic on narrow, pine-fringed strips and sand along the roadside. You will find picnic tables, refreshments and water sports equipment for rent

Virginia Key each. At the island’s south end, running northeast from the causeway, this area has picnic facilities with barbecues and walking trails, plus a number of secluded coves edged by woodlands.

Matheson Hammock Park .9610 Old cutler Road. A beautiful bayside beach in a country park south of Coral Gables, Picnic tables, refreshments playground walking trails fitness course, fishing . boat rental, golf tennis.