Going from the hustle and bustle of Miami and the beaches of South Beach – to a corner of paradise is possible in just a few minutes. South of Miami, a short distance from the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, all you have to do is walk the 3.7 miles along the panoramic bridge Rickenbacker Causeway, cross the small island of Virginia Key, and soon after, before your eyes, the wild spectacle of the island of Key Biscayne will unfold before your eyes, boasting beautiful sunny beaches and two parks, one at the north end and the other at the south end.
Key Biscayne is a small, interesting place that can considerably enrich your visit to Miami and your Florida itinerary in general; Miami Beach is about 25 minutes away while another famous Florida key, Key West, is 3 hours and 30 minutes away. Key Biscayne is a tropical oasis where you can let yourself be struck by nature and admire all its beauty, an ideal place for those who never tire of discovering new heavenly places and love life in the open air and on the beach. There are many activities to enjoy: water tours, hiking and biking, sports activities but also shopping and, of course, lots of relaxation on the beach.
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How to get to Key Biscayne
Your airport is Miami (2100 NW 42nd Ave.). If you don’t have a car (or rental car) to reach the island you can take line 102B of the Miami Metrobus departing from Brickell heading to Key Biscayne. One of the stops that should be taken advantage of along the way is the Miami Seaquarium, a large aquarium located on the small island of Virginia Key (also worth visiting for the beach).
Key Biscayne Climate
We are in Miami-Dade County, in an area populated by about 13,000 inhabitants living in a 1.9 square mile area with lots of greenery, quiet streets and palm-fringed shorelines. Key Biscayne is an island with a peaceful atmosphere, a tropical climate characterized by hot-humid summers and warm-dry winters. Due to its favorable climate, beaches and nature, it is a popular destination for tourists and Miami area residents alike. If you’re planning a more wide-ranging East Coast itinerary, and want to get an idea of the weather conditions that await you, you can read our article entirely dedicated to Florida climate.
Things to Do in Key Biscayne: Beaches and Attractions
In Miami, we rightfully got caught up in the city’s effervescence and lived it up. Then, as if by some sort of emotional balancing act, we felt the pull of a corner of paradise at our fingertips: Key Biscayne. Here’s what to see on this little island.
Crandon Park Beach
Just before the actual town of Key Biscayne, the Rickenbacker Causeway leads us directly to Crandon Park Beach (6747 Crandon Blvd.). Once a coconut plantation, it is now a magnificent park with dunes, mangroves and palm trees that can be discovered on foot or by bicycle along the trails. There is plenty of parking space near the park, which is open from dawn to dusk. The cost of admission is $5 during the week and $7 on weekends.
- On the eastern side of the park: needless to say, the main attraction is the beach of the same name, where you can take beautiful walks on the white sand or long swims in the calm waters, where it is not uncommon to see people intent on kite boarding and kayaking activities. For greater comfort on the beach you can rent beach cabanas (tents that shelter you from the breeze). The park’s fauna includes iguanas, herons, hawks, colorful butterflies and among the marine crabs, clown fish and turtles. Right in front of the huge parking lot, there is an area with grills, for barbecues with friends and family. Also part of the park is the Mary Stone Douglas Biscayne Nature Center (6700 Crandon Blvd.), which includes several exhibition spaces, a room with audio-visual presentations, a classroom with a demonstration lab, nature trails, and the inevitable gift shop.
- On the west side of the park: fishing tours, a ramp and boat dock are available at Crandon Park Marina (4000 Crandon Blvd.). Even without these amenities, it’s definitely a pleasant place to visit and a good location to watch the sunset. Golfers will find plenty to enjoy among the 18 holes at Crandon Golf Course (6700 Crandon Blvd.), and for tennis players there are courses at 7300 Crandon Blvd.
The village of Key Biscayne
Our route south takes us to the central part of the island, where the village of Key Biscayne is located, offering activities, a variety of stores and restaurants. Every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm local produce from farmers is displayed at the Farmer’s Market (355 Glenridge Rd.).As if there was any need, in the city district, there is also a green area. It’s the Village Green Park (450 Crandon Blvd.), frequented by the community and visitors, with shaded areas, walkways, a jogging path, benches and restrooms.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
We are now ready to descend to the south end of the island to discover Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (1200 Crandon Blvd.), a natural area so named because it was once considered the southern tip of Florida. The area is also of great historical interest, as it was the scene of battles between the Seminole tribe and European settlers during the Second Seminole War.
The name Bill Baggs belonged to the publisher of The Miami News newspaper, who worked to protect this strip of land from urbanization in order to preserve its natural state. This park, established in 1967, is a natural paradise: looking up you can encounter, among other species, Canadian ducks, peregrine falcons, pelicans, herons and sparrows, all depending on the season, climate and migration periods.
The park is open from 8am to sunset. The entrance fee is $8 for vehicles with more than one passenger, $4 for a single occupant and motorcycles, $2 for bicycles and pedestrians. There is ample parking.
The lighthouse and keeper’s cottage
We enjoyed walking to the big white lighthouse (Lighthouse Historic Site), first built in 1825 as Cape Florida Light and restored several times: its role was very important, because it helped sailors to avoid crashing their boats on the Florida Reef. The lighthouse can be visited for free every day (except Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 2 p.m. How? Just be at the meeting point, located south of the Lighthouse Café, near the parking lot, a little before the scheduled opening time. There will be the ranger in front of the gate who, after a brief historical introduction, will take you to the foot of the lighthouse and open it for you.
There are quite a few stairs to climb but it’s worth it: going up to the top you can enjoy a splendid view of the beach below, the bay and Downtown Miami. You can also see Stiltsville quite well: a series of stilt houses on the sea about 1 mile from the shore with some considerable historical value (some seem to date back to the ’20s).
At the foot of the lighthouse, in the presence of the staff and during the same visiting hours, you can visit the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. It is a modest house in rustic-colonial style that today serves as a museum: however, keep in mind that both the interior and exterior furnishings are the result of a faithful reconstruction, because the original house – where Captain Dubose, the first lighthouse keeper, lived with his family – was destroyed during the attack of the Seminole Indians in 1936. The house is two stories; you can visit the living room with fireplace, bedrooms and kitchen in a separate space accessible via an exterior hallway. Under the porch in front of the front door, right in front of the sea, there are two rocking chairs, used to give an additional touch of authenticity to the house.
The beach and the paths
On the long sandy beach you can relax in the sun, enjoy a swim (without any lifeguarding service) or you can simply walk. Kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, fishing, and picnicking or barbecuing in the pavilions in front of the parking lot can be done here; you can also use the cold showers and rent beach chairs, umbrellas, and water bikes.
Those who like to walk can follow the two paths in the park: 100 feet north of the Boater’s Grill parking lot, a path starts that crosses swampy areas of mangroves, while 100 feet to the east a stretch of path near the coast begins. On the southern side of the park you’ll probably see some fishermen and, offshore, the Stiltsville platforms.
Where to eat?
There are two restaurants to choose from:
- in the park opposite the beach is the Lighthouse Cafe, with its casual and relaxed atmosphere.
- Boater’s Grill, overlooking Biscayne Bay on the other side of the park, serves Cuban cuisine.
Shopping in Key Biscayne
In the village you can do some great shopping and so we let ourselves be tempted by a few items that you can’t say no to. At The Island Shop (654 Crandon Blvd.) you can find home decorations, candles, fragrances, jewelry and other accessories. The business is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A purely feminine store is Moda Boheme (650 Crandon Blvd.) where we find jewelry, handbags, accessories, perfumes, candles, clothing for all occasions, including gypsy and hippie style but with a sophisticated touch. Inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel, the Sabbia jewelry shop (455 Grand Bay Dr.), displays expensive jewelry from all over the world: precious stones, diamonds, colored gems and charms are the protagonists of this boutique open from 10 am to 7 pm.
Places to Eat in Key Biscayne
We must point out some restaurants where you can also taste the local cuisine. Many of them are ethnic and are located on Crandon Boulevard. Kebo Restaurant (200 Crandon Blvd.), with its relaxed atmosphere, offers Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine in a classic and original style.
At the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, you will find Lightkeepers (455 Grand Bay Dr.), a restaurant with an ocean view. It is a place to relax and recharge with a menu that features Florida seafood and other local products. Brunch is served on Sunday mornings. Also at the Ritz-Carlton, Dune Burgers (455 Grand Bay Dr.) offers a simple but tasty menu of sandwiches, salads and appetizers in a panoramic setting facing the Pacific Ocean: nothing beats eating a good burger with your feet in the sand! Both venues at this luxury hotel do not require formal attire.
Places to Stay in Key Biscayne
There are not many accommodations in Key Biscayne as most tourists stay in the Miami area and from there make an excursion to this beautiful island (if you are interested in this option you can read our in-depth article on where to stay in Miami).
Listed among the luxury hotels, The Ritz-Carlton (455 Grand Bay Dr.) is located directly on the beach in a tropical setting. The hotel consists of spacious, light-colored rooms, suites, and studios (equipped with kitchenettes and kitchens) with panoramic views from different angles. Guests enjoy wi-fi, two pools, restaurants, spa, fitness center, tennis courts, meeting rooms, and recreational activities such as kayaking, sailing boat and paddle boarding.
Even the smaller but picturesque hotel Silver Sands Beach (301 Ocean Dr.) is directly on the beach and surrounded by a tropical setting. Rooms are equipped with kitchenettes while cottages come with kitchens. Guests have access to an ocean-view pool, free wi-fi, and a parking area.
A short walk from the beach, the Coral Reef at Key Biscayne (303-305 Golden Dr.) is a hotel with a pool surrounded by palm trees. Rooms and suites come with full kitchens, air conditioning and parking for each unit.
Day trips
There are basically two excursions not to be missed from Key Biscayne. To the south of the island, within the bay of the same name, the Biscayne National Park is a spectacular underwater backdrop. The establishment of this park (95% marine) protects all forms of life in the great bay including its coral reef. There is great excitement in experiencing this park in whatever way you choose to learn about it: private boat trips but also activities and guided tours organized by the rangers of the Visitor Center (9700 SW 328th St, Homestead). Tours run primarily from November through April and costs run between $30 and $40 for adults with a reduced rate for teens and seniors.
Virginia Key is a small island of 1.3 square miles (accessible from the Rickenbacker Causeway bridge) that is home to the Miami Seaquarium and the beautiful Virginia Key Beach Park (4020 Virginia Beach Dr.), a piece of paradise with idyllic shorelines, nature trails including 3.7 miles to bike, but also a play area, an antique carousel, a miniature train, covered pavilions and picnic areas. A place to spend at least a day or an afternoon.
