Cutler Bay, on Florida's southeast coast, is close to some of the state's most diverse beaches. Sunny days in south Florida see sun worshipers spread for miles along the sands of the Atlantic Ocean. Whether your tastes run toward pristine, natural beaches or you'd rather soak up the sun in a party atmosphere, your preferred coastal pleasure is a short drive away.
Key Biscayne
- Key Biscayne, a small island in Biscayne Bay about 20 miles north of Cutler Bay and just south of Miami Beach, has two beaches in one. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, on the south end of the island, is a nature-lover's beach. Its thin strip of sand abuts against swaths of mangrove wetland lined with hiking trails. The beach is a favorite among kayakers who launch into Key Biscayne. Two restaurants serve authentic Cuban dishes, and the Cape Florida Lighthouse stands sentinel at the southern edge. To the north, Crandon Beach Park boasts a wider spread of sand, dotted with palm trees to provide shade. The park also has a golf course and tennis courts for those who want to get their game on.
South Pointe Park
- On the southern tip of Miami Beach, about a 40-minute drive from Cutler Bay, South Pointe Park offers South Beach style. People roll on beach cruisers and inline skates along paved pathways that wind around sculpted, grassy hills on the edge of the sand. A raised deck complete with orange Mid-Century Modern lounge chairs gives you the opportunity to relax and take in a sweeping view of South Beach and the aquamarine Atlantic waters. Stylish sculptures dot the park, and squiggly fountains make up a miniature water park that attracts younger visitors.
Miami Beach
- Just a few blocks north of South Pointe Park and 45 minutes from Cutler Bay, Miami Beach's chic neighborhood of South Beach comes to life in the art deco district, between 5th and 15th streets. The shoreline is bordered by Lummus Park, a pre-beach stretch of sand where you'll find studs working out on pullup bars, buff bodies playing volleyball and frequent photo shoots with gorgeous models -- all in view of the city's famous Art Deco architecture right across Ocean Drive. On the beach, gawk at all the flawless tans and stroll along the surf to spot the beach's iconic lifeguard towers. Each tower is a unique design, modeled after a lighthouse, flying saucer, surf shack, American flag and more.
John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
- About an hour up the coast from Cutler Bay, just south of Fort Lauderdale, lies John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. Surf fishing is among the most popular activities on this wide swath of sand, and saltwater anglers pull up whiting, snook and snapper. Snorkelers and scuba divers can enter the water right from the beach and swim out to an offshore reef to get close to lobsters, tropical fish and even sharks. The mangrove-lined west side of this barrier island is popular among paddlers, and two boat ramps make for easy access with kayaks and motorboats alike.
