Key Biscayne

There are wonderful beaches and the additional charm of being sandwiched between 2 large parks.


From sandy beaches to the resort of Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne delivers all the beauty of South Florida on a tiny sliver of land. There are wonderful beaches and the additional charm of being sandwiched between 2 large parks. Crandon Park in the north and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in the south. It provides a neighboring tidal coral reef and the only federally recognized underwater archeological trail in the United States.

Key Biscayne is just six miles from downtown Miami. The Miami-Dade Transit Authority offers bus, light rail, passenger, and paratransit facilities. A good choice is to take the Metrobus via Route 102 (Route B) which includes Main Biscayne and many of its attractions. 

The Parks Department of Miami-Dade County celebrates the history of the city with a number of tours, including the Key Biscayne Heritage Cycle Trips. These tours, part of the EcoAdventures initiative in Miami Parks and Recreation, are part of the island's subtropical natural heritage at Bear Cut Marine Preserve and Crandon Beach. These trips are also exploring the social past of the island.

Hidden within Crandon Park was Miami's first zoo.  Today, it is a very wild botanical garden with abandoned cages, water features, coral walls, and free-roaming peacocks and iguanas. Join them to take a walk-through of idyllic nature. The present garden was mainly made up by volunteers. Joy for the whole family is to be found in the amusement center of the garden, where children and their families will ride the carousel of Allan Herschel in the authentic 1950s.

See the sunset and the fantastic city views of the Rusty Pelican, recently reopened after a refurbishment, re-emerging as a buzzing, contemporary hotspot. Perched on the edge of the island, this upscale restaurant promises views of the dazzling Bay of Biscay and the twinkling Miami skyline. The modern American menu includes local fish, and the brunch options include tomatillo and jalapeno.

Another option, Boater's Grill, tucked into No Name Cove in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, is a favorite among locals who cruise their sailboats into the cove and then dine on shore. Enjoy an ultra-casual, peaceful atmosphere with a bottle of prosecco, some smoked salmon dip, and an adobo of spicy fish.

On the island, there are two hotels. There's the Ritz–Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, and the Silver Sands Beach Resort, an old-fashioned cabana-style motel with kitchenettes. 

Stop at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Centre, offering hands-on aquatic discovery of dunes, beaches, coastal hammocks, and fossil-rock reefs, Key Biscayne's own underwater petrified forest.

Are you planning to take part in any more traditional Florida sports? Play tennis at the Crandon Park Tennis Center, or enjoy a game of golf at Crandon Park. Water-sport enthusiasts will hit the gentle, turquoise Atlantic Ocean waves thanks to Miami Kiteboarding, which leases kiteboarding equipment, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks in Crandon Park.