Beaches

Do any of the Keys have great beaches? We normally stay at Clearwater Beach but would like to try the Keys.

Beaches

Go to Bahia Honda at about MM 38.

It%26#39;s the nicest beach beach in the Keys.

Beaches

The Keys are not known for (wide) beaches, due to the off shore coral reef, which diminishes wave action.

Bahia Honda is very pretty. The best beach in KW is Fort Zachery Taylor State Park Beach, past the gate at Truman Annex. For a few $ entry fee at the rangers booth, they provide showers, picnic tables %26amp; parking. The Keys are more known for wonderful snorkeling, boating, great fishing, romantic sunsets, fresh fish at some great restaurants, %26amp; a lot of interesting history, than for great beaches. The wide beaches are North of The Keys.

Marathon has Sombrero Beach. I think it%26#39;s nice. Not big like Clearwater area.

http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches/

some Keys beach photos.

The reason that Key West and most of the Keys lacks natural beaches is because of the barrrier reef approximately six miles off shore. You%26#39;ll find near shore waters tend to be very tranquil because the waves break on the reefs. Without the natural wave action at the shoreline, beaches aren%26#39;t formed.

I always hear about Smathers Beach on Key West. What is that like?

Smathers beach is an average narrowish, pebbly strip of sand along South Roosevelt Blvd. It%26#39;s nothing to write home about, but it is adequate for someone who wants to hang out at a beach. I%26#39;ve seen a program on the Travel Channel that lists Smathers as one of the top 10 beaches in Florida. That is a total crock. It isn%26#39;t even the best beach in KW. That one would be Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

Sim, thanks. I saw that too on the Travel channel. I will keep a lookout for the ZT beach.

While the beaches here don%26#39;t quite measure up to those in Hawaii, Mainland Florida, Tahiti or Corpus Christi... They DO beat the hell out of the beaches in Oklahoma, Montana, Missouri, Colorado and Nevada. Just so ya know!

ps, Smathers DOES have some of the best vendors along S. Roosevelt!

Thanks for all the replies! We still can%26#39;t decide where to stay but we are leaning towards Ft. Myers and making a day trip to check out the keys!

long hair