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ML SELECTS Beaches & Water Crandon Park Beach Words by Angela Betancourt Home to the Nasdaq-100 Tournament and the Lighthouse Run, Key Biscayne is known to many as an island paradise that provides its residents and visitors with an extensive variety of recreational and entertainment activities. Perhaps one of the Key’s most recognizable traits is the lagoon style and pristine water of Crandon Park Beach. Enjoyed by millions of residents and tourists each year, Crandon Park Beach takes up the north and eastern shore of Key Biscayne and located not too far away is Cape Florida State Park; protecting the natural beauty and wildlife that inhabits Key Biscayne. The combination of beach and pick water ML nature make Crandon Park Beach a top pick for relaxation and fun. Since both are open 365 days a year and the weather is favorable the majority of time, it is no surprise that the sands often fill up quickly. If you live in the mainland, an early morning ride across the Rickenbacker Causeway will give you a good chance at securing a spot in the sand. There are concession stands, multiple picnic areas with tables and grills and plenty of parking. So … hit the beach! Crandon Park Beach, 4000 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, (305) 361-5421. BEACH LARRY AND PENNY THOMPSON PARK 12451 SW 184th St. | South Miami (305) 232-1049 | miamidade.gov/parks MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK 9610 Old Cutler Rd. | S. Coral Gables (305) 665-5475 NORTH SHORES STATE RECREATION AREA Collins Ave. from 78th St. to 87th Terrace | North Miami Beach (305) 993-2032 OLETA RIVER STATE RECREATION AREA 3400 NE 163 St. | N. Miami Beach (305) 919-1846 | floridastateparks.org SOUTH POINTE PARK 1 Washington Ave. | Miami Beach HOURS | PARKING Sunrise to Sunset. Public Parking. FACILITIES | ACTIVITIES The area features a lake with a beach, campgrounds, picnic facilities, hiking, biking and running trails, fitness course, waterslides, playground, showers and restrooms. Sunrise to sunset. Fee: $5 per vehicle. The park has lifeguards, concessions, picnic areas, restaurants, nature trails, fishing, marinas, restrooms and showers. Sunrise to sunset. There’s swimming, picnic tables, pavilions, barbeque grills, playground, trails, volleyball, restrooms, and showers. 8am to sunset. Fee: Car with 2-8 people $6, single occupant vehicles $4. Beach open 5am to 12 am/ facilities open till sunset. Metered parking. They have nature and bicycle trails, air-conditioned cabin, kayak, canoe, and bike rentals, fishing, concessions, showers, and restrooms. This area has lifeguards on duty, and is great for surfing. It features a pier, restaurants, concessions, picnic areas, fountains, playground, exercise equipment, and is great for people watching. VENETIAN POOL 2701 DeSoto Blvd. | Coral Gables (305) 460-5306 | venetianpool.com VIRGINIA KEY BEACH Off the Rickenbacker Causeway | Key Biscayne (305) 755-7800 | virginiakeybeachpark.net Summer hours: Monday-Friday: 11am-7:30pm Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4:30pm. Fee: Adult admission $10.50, Children 3-12 old $6.00. No one under 3 allowed in the pool. Sunrise to sunset. $5 vehicle entrance fee. Boasting over 800,000 gallons of water to swim in, this place offers swimming lessons, a café, gardens, and has a Visitor’s Center. Lifeguards are on duty in this great area to enjoy snorkeling, volleyball, nature trails, picnic areas, and concessions--showers and restrooms area also on-site. SBF FACTOR The large rock mountain has three waterslides carved into them, and ejects you into a refreshing pool. Visit the amazing man-made atoll pool (lagoon- like body of water enclosed typically by a coral island and reef). Just south of Surfside, you get the beach in its natural setting. This beautiful stretch is a rare Miami Beach preserve that is free from the shadows and noise of high-rises; quite often it’s practically free of people. The largest urban park in Florida, it is 1,200 feet of sandy beach along the mangrove-lined Oleta River. This is a wonderful place to relax--check out the local surfing scene or watch the cruise ships glide by. Or you can play in the fountains, and fish off the jetty. Formed from a coral rock quarry in 1923, the pool has a couple of waterfalls, coral caves, grottos, an island, and is surrounded by a Venetian-style building with a cobblestone bridge. It’s a must-see site. This historic site (once the only beach in Miami-Dade where African-Americans could legally visit) features a 77-acre park that offers a secluded beach. 106 MiAMi LiViNG