Key West Beaches Have Something for Everyone
Welcome to Key West Sign. Photo by Balint Roxana/Wirestock.
Key West Beaches are something very special. And those pristine beaches are, without doubt, the main reason Key West is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States.
You can experience everything from a relaxing beach day in untouched Florida nature, to a day of snorkeling, shelling, or even an active day enjoying the water-sports activities available.
Anne’s Beach – One of the best beaches on Islamorada
Anne’s Beach is another one of the Key West Beaches you should check out. Located in Islamorada, Anne’s Beach is a calm and relaxing spot because there are little to no waves and offers plenty of shallow swimming areas for kids and dogs. Anne’s Beach is another one of the dog friendly Key West beaches as long as your dog is on a leash. There are plenty of pavilions and picnic tables along the 1.300-foot-long boardwalk.
Bahia Honda State Park – One of the Key West
Beaches on Big Pine Key
Aerial view of Bahia Honda State Park with old Bridge. Photo by jovannig.
If you are planning a visit to the Florida Keys, one of the Key West Beaches you don’t want to miss is Bahia Honda State Park, located on Big Pine Key. Be sure to go early, because the park is so popular it reaches capacity regularly and will stop allowing visitors in for the day when that happens. This is a great beach for wildlife watching, drawing bird watchers, snorkelers, shelling enthusiasts, and kayakers. Bahia Honda is also a popular destination for hiking, boasting the Bahia Honda Bridge Trail and the Bahia Honda Butterfly trail.
Calusa Beach – One of the Best Beaches in the Keys for Families
Calusa Beach is located on the gulf side of Bahia Honda State Park near Big Pine Key and Marathon. The beach is nearly untouched and provides calm, shallow waters, which makes it a great choice for families. There is a magnificent coral reef for snorkeling and plenty of covered areas for picnicking out of the sun.
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach – Located on Key West
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach is one of the most popular Key West Beaches because it is located on Key West and there is so much to do. You can bask on the white sand and take in the turquoise waters and stunning view. Or there is plenty of history to take in when you are visiting Key West beaches. Visit Fort West Martello, a civil war era estate that is listed on the national register of historic places, for a day walking through Florida history. Or you can plan a day of outdoor activities including tennis, volleyball, and even pickleball.
Dog Beach – One of the Dog-Friendly Key West Beaches
Jack russell terrier dog playing on a beach.
By otsphoto
One of the most popular Key West beaches is Dog Beach because it is absolutely beautiful and it is dog-friendly. You are welcome to take your dog for a walk on the beach and enjoy pet-friendly swimming and sunning. You can also bring your dog to Louie’s Backyard, a dog-friendly café and bar where you can enjoy excellent beachside dining with your pup.
Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas National Park – One of the Most Historic Key West Beaches
No visit to the keys is complete without a visit to the Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas National Park. There you can tour Fort Jefferson, a massive yet still unfinished fortress that was thirty years in the making. Here you will also find one of the most scenic Key West beaches offering areas of privacy and seclusion, excellent birding, snorkeling, shelling, and plenty of camping
Higgs Beach – A Great Beach Choice for Adventuring in the Keys
Higgs Beach is a fantastic beach to visit if you are looking for an active day on the water. Located on Key West, Higgs Beach is extremely popular because there is so much to do, and it is also one of Key West’s dog-friendly beaches. Higgs Beach offers tennis, volleyball, great snorkeling, bicycle paths, and lots of areas to swim.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo – A Great Choice for Wildlife Peepers
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is extremely popular for its magnificent Florida wildlife, specifically Florida sea life. This is the nation’s first undersea park with over 178 nautical miles of living coral reef. This beach is extremely popular for snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing. You can also take a glass-bottom boat tour, which is wheel-chair accessible. There are lots of places for picnicking, places for canoeing and kayaking, playgrounds for the kids, and, of course, lots of places to swim.
Smathers Beach
Hammock hangs between palm trees at sunrise. By Jo
Smathers Beach is located on Key West’s southern shore and is one mile of peacefulbeachfront. The wave-action is low, which makes this a great spot for relaxing in peace and quiet. There is still plenty to do whether you are looking for water-sports, snorkeling, kayaking, tennis, or volleyball. There are food trucks and vendor stands along the beach to help satisfy the appetite you will work up during your visit.
Sombrero Beach – One of the Best Spots for Turtle Watching in the Keys
Sombrero Beach is in Marathon Key and is one of the best places to observe Loggerhead Turtles in the country. The beach is completely handicap accessible and offers pavilions for picnicking as well as public restrooms and showers. Sombrero Beach offers kayaking, snorkeling, shelling, and, of course, exceptional sea turtle peeping.