TravelGuides

(TGA) - Hi,

We've been to Hawaii for beaches, and Mexico for beaches. When we go to Key West, are there sand beaches good for swimming?

Thanks
-------------- Reply --------------
There are beaches, but nothing as good as Hawaii. Key West beaches tend to be pebbly, and the ocean bottom can be rocky.
-------------- Reply --------------
Yesthere are beaches but will pale in comparison to Hawaii and Mexico for sure!
-------------- Reply --------------
Does not anyone live near a Borders Books or any other major book retail outlets where they sell travel books? Simple - do not go to key west for beaches. key west does not need no stinking beaches.
-------------- Reply --------------
The middle Keys have a couple of nice swimming beaches, of course nothing expanse like.

Bahia Honda, Sombrero Beach are sandy and Key Colony has a small private sandy beach.

Or, look up to the mainland FL. South Beach is a great beach, the Gulf Coast and I love Ponte Vedra Beach.
-------------- Reply --------------
Smathers is probably the best swimming beach with sand but Fort Zach is the prettiest, rocky but beautiful and some sandy/ie. lounging areas
-------------- Reply --------------
My favorit beach in the Keys is Bahia Honda. It is beautiful and never to crowded.

In Key West I like Ft. Zack, pleamty of sand to catch some rays and a nice area for swiming. The only draw back is that there can be small rocks and pebbles at the waters edge.
-------------- Reply --------------
Ft Zach State Park, pics V

http://www.fortzacharytaylor.com/

$2.50 per person, walk or bike
Edited: 4:00 pm, yesterday
-------------- Reply --------------
Dont be fooled by the fort zach promo photos. They were taken after a ton of sand was dumped there which has now largely washed away. The surroundings are lovely, but the beach is more coral rock then sand.

If you want nice beaches, look for another location. If you want history, fun, beautiful water, great restaurants, friendly locals and a few average beaches, come on down!
-------------- Reply --------------
the beach itself at Smathers isn't all that different from what we have here in Santa Monica (or Miami for that matter), just smaller. They got volleyball and all that stuff.

But the water situation is very different. You won't be able to run to the water and dive in, frolick in the surf or body board. The biggest waves you'll see are about 1 foot on the ocean side, if there isn't a storm brewing in the Atlantic.

In many of the beaches the water is too shallow. In fact at the beach side place we stayed at on Grassy Key, when the tide went out you could walk out about 100 yards, sit down, and enjoy a cool beer!

When the tide came in the water was very murky, with lots of sea grass, sea weeds and such.
-------------- Reply --------------