Sometimes it takes new eyes to find things that, as a local, you have missed or just forgotten about. I’m always on the lookout for places for us to get out to for an hour or 2 at the weekend. Here are a few that we have come across so far.
Blackpoint Marina
This was a regular cycling destination for us when we lived further south. We’d join the Old Cutler bike trail then the Biscayne Trail and follow it alongside the canal and on to the spit of land that goes out into Biscayne Bay. At the weekend the path is lined with families fishing and barbecuing their catch. Once or twice we have taken fishing rods – but with no success at producing a meal! You can also launch a kayak here, paddle through a mangrove channel and out in to the bay – no luck fishing from the kayak either. Sometimes the children needed a bit more incentive/bribery to get to the end of the ride. Party Cake is a family run Cuban bakery just slightly off route in Cutler Bay, great pastries and cafe con leche at a fraction of the Starbuck’s price. Good to sit on the rocks, watch pelicans diving for fish or spot manatees whilst eating an empanada or my current favourite, coconut pastelito. Or if it’s a full meal and some live music you’re after there is Blackpoint Ocean Grill at the marina.
When we first moved here I saw signs to this park and went to investigate. It covers a huge area and seemed completely neglected and deserted and I was nervous to get out of the car and explore. Then a few weeks ago I saw an announcement that it had had a bit of a revamp, so we went to check it out. There are marked trails for walking, running or cycling, a large grassy area, a playground for younger children and plenty of shelters for people to gather for picnics and BBQs once we can do all that again. And the refurb work was to the lake and beach area which is open at weekends. New sand shipped in, lifeguards, a concession stand and allocated swimming area. Currently closed are a fishing pier and 2 water slides into the lake so I’m hoping they are next in line for a face lift.
Virginia Key
Virginia Key might get missed as you head over to Key Biscayne beaches but make a stop either at the beach there, the Virginia Key Outdoor Center or our current family favourite the bike trails. The trails are free to use, just $8 at weekends to enter the Key with your car, but there is a donation box should you choose – volunteers are always there maintaining and creating new trails. There is a trail for every level, each labelled with the difficulty rating either through the trees or offering views over the water. At weekends it can get very busy but there is plenty of parking.
To make the most of our current location and get us out on the water more we recently bought an inflatable stand up paddle board, previously we have rented these and kayaks from the Virginia Key Outdoor Center. If you do rent, the Center will give you a few pointers before you head out on the water or they offer guided tours for more information on the area and wildlife that can be seen in the area. The starting point, where you launch, is a calm lagoon, a great sheltered location to find your balance, get used to paddling and even better, where the manatees hang out during the winter months. They will swim right up to you and may even give you a playful nudge. Once you’re feeling more confident you can paddle north and into the bay and look across to Fisher Island or park up for a snack on the beach and a dip in the waves.
Another area on the Key is Virginia Key Historic Beach Park. At weekends it’s $8 for the day to park and there is plenty of space. The walkways to the beach are lined with information boards with details of the history of this beach and the ecology. You also pass cute brightly coloured cabanas, each with a barbecue in front. There was a number to ring to rent them but we couldn’t tell if they were currently available. We arrived late morning on a Sunday and the beach area was very quiet but got busier later on in the afternoon. The water stays very shallow so was good for a paddle and some stand up paddling, further out we could see there was a strong current so kept ourselves closer to shore. Lots of people came to fish too, from the breakwaters and the rocks at the end of the bay. So plenty of activities to keep us busy and outside for the day.
Palmetto Bay Skate park
This is a great park for sports and has a big playground but it is the skate/scooter park that is of interest to my children. Spectators are not allowed in to the area with the ramps but there are a couple of tables just outside in some shade where I wait with the water refills and snacks. Helmets have to be worn and occasionally we’ve been asked to sign a waiver before using it – but not always. We’ve never found it to be very busy and often they have the place to themselves. We went once during the week when private schools had a day off and it was locked but the park warden/ranger (?) spotted us and kindly opened it up.
Haulover Park
I saw advertised another scootering/skate boarding/biking track which had had a facelift, so 2 of the children and I went to check it out one teacher planning day. The newly painted track is just back from the beach at Haulover Park so we packed up for a variety of activities. They enjoyed using their scooters on the tracks and plan to take bikes to try next time. When I had the idea for this trip I wasn’t aware of the Haulover inlet and the challenge for boats passing through it, nor was I aware that my son and husband had been watching Youtube videos of these boats crashing through the waves! It was a windy day as one of the many tropical storms this season was passing by to the south so we took our picnic to the tables overlooking the inlet. No boats risking it today but over on the other side we could watch plenty of surfers enjoying the big waves. We then walked along the beach, my daughter enjoyed getting thrown about in the waves for a bit and then back for a few more rounds on the pump track before heading home.
Disc golf
Turn east on 184th Street off Old Cutler Road and you enter what used to be the Burger King head office complex. Office buildings still remain but at the weekend it’s pretty quiet. There’s a short nature trail through a little wooded area, a lake which is home to a couple of crocodiles and there is a disc golf course, free to use. Don’t forget your bug spray!
Just north of Miami is this huge park, from which you can still see some of the city buildings. We took some bikes for the trails, fishing rods, the paddle board and a picnic. We parked at the furthest point from the entrance and followed the path to make our base on the sheltered beach area and pumped up the paddle board whilst the boys went off to explore the closest bike trail. It was quite a windy day so outside of the bay the current was strong. My husband risked it and paddled further north, with his fishing rod, to explore the channels and the start point, if you were to rent a kayak. My daughter and I played it safe and stayed closer to the beach area which is still a decent size. Closer to the entrance are some of the bigger and more challenging trails – not all were open on this day – which were fun to ride, but my boys are not yet willing to accept this park as an alternative to their beloved Virginia Key.
After a day of festive eating, getting out of the house for a walk on Boxing Day (26 Dec) is a tradition for many households. We normally celebrate with family back in the UK and have our usual beach or park routine but since we were here in Florida this year we wanted to find an easy trail with a watery view. We drove to Matheson Hammock and parked in the area near the entrance, which is free. A trail starts on the left hand side which essentially follows alongside the road but passes through the mangroves to Biscayne Bay taking around 20 minutes. It’s an easy path, except for negotiating the large muddy puddles, which added to the fun for us as we balanced on branches to pass – just in case, don’t wear your best shoes. At the bay we skimmed some stones, checked for fish and admired the view before heading back to the car ready to start again on the Christmas leftovers.
As temperatures start to rise it’s great to find places nearby to keep cool. Over spring break the children and I went into the Redlands to visit Blue Lagoon Farm. It is not open for public swimming everyday – they host parties and weddings too so be sure to call the owners before visiting to book your places. For $20 per adult, $10 per child under 12 you can go for a 4 hour session of swimming and jumping in the cool spring waters. Take a picnic and use the tables around the pool or sit on the rocks overlooking the waterfall. Some days are even Mermaid specials…
