Historic Virginia Key Beach Park

This historic Virginia Key Beach Park began in 1896 when Miami was founded. It basically became a segregated Park for "colored only" in the 1950s. Many Caribbean, South American, and Cuban people cherished this Park for its beautiful beach. It is 2.5 miles long. However, in 1982, the park was closed by the City of Miami citing rising costs and expenses. It still remains closed but you can rent the colorful little huts today for $65 a day. First come, first served. There are restrooms, vending machines, BBQ grills, picnic tables and children's playground. There is a lot of space to use. You need to catch a boat at the Miami River to get to this beautiful place. This is mostly a beach walk that is along the shoreline and completely exposed to the sun. The beach itself boasts some incredible views and ample chances to spot wildlife, especially birds. Most commonly seen are sea gulls, pelicans, egrets, and herons lining the shore. Bring your bug spray during the warm months.

My partner and I were here for an event and the park is incredible. Very very beautiful beach, lovely little trails to walk on and very picturesque. I would advise if you're planning on hanging out on the beach and you want to have snacks or a picnic of any sort, be aware there are racoons that do come out in the daytime and they will take your things and come right up to you. They're not afraid of people at all. So just keep that in mind

I really loved Virginia Keys Beach, the history is amazing and really important. Staff were absolutely lovely, even the Miami Police were very approachable. We had a wonderful day and definitely recommend anyone and everyone to go and spend the day here.

This park needs some love. I came here tonplay disc gold. This was disappointing as several holes cannot be reached without going through restricted areas or down their mini railroad. One hole tee is blocked by a tree so you cannot through. Tee pads are too small. Several holes require you to throw through trees. Afterwards I went to the poorly maintained brach. Covered in dried up seaweed. There is a beach closed sign by one area but it is falling down. The park looks decent. This could be simply amazing with some attention.

I love this beach is quite and the staff are really nice they help you to follow the rules and find the best place for what you need. We always go to have fun with the family. They have tables and barbecues for you to use. The beach is always calm and great to relax I love it because is shallow and you have trees right in the sand which help you with the hot and sun in Miami. They also have plenty of restrooms that make it easier with kids.

Quiet and relax place. Awesome hidden gem in Miami.

Nice beach, some pebbles when you step in, but then sandy. Many picnic tables near the beach. Lifeguard houses at south and north ends of the beach. North part of the beach is dedicated to windsurfing. I was there in the mid of working day and the place was empty, only one family was picnicking and few persons were windsurfing. Beware, there are raccoons in the area, watch your food. There are rest rooms. No restaurants, so bring your own food. Notable, any glass containers are strictly prohibited in the park

I've been to a lot of beaches, but this one is a little more special. It's usually not terribly crowded during the week (I have never been there on the weekends). I also would not try to be in that area when the kids get out of school. A lot of the parents park in the beach parking area waiting for their children. Aside from that, it's a great beach to visit. Beautiful white sand, blue water as far as the eye can see. You can walk quite a way out in the water before your head is submerged. There are a few food trucks that sell a variety of options (the trucks are loud, which sort of take away from the tranquility), regardless the beauty of the beach makes up for it and it is nice to have that option. It's a great place to go unwind for few hours. Keep in mind that there are no lifeguards there, so it's swim at your own risk.

my experience was great, I came here to go horseback riding on the beach and while waiting they talked about the history of the beach and I loved every moment of it. I will most definitely come back!! They are so sweet. I 100% recommend!!!

This is our little go to spot! It's never too crowded, at least during the weekdays, weekends it's a different story. The water is low, calm and beautiful. We love seeing all the marine animals and nature at its fullest. Very well kept and calm. At times you might find more algae than you would hope, and rocks, but don't allow that to ruin your moment.

We recently spent did some beaching at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. Tip: There's lots of parking here at this small beach park. In fact, there's probably more space for cars in the lot than there is for people on the beach ;-) You can wade a short way out from the shore into the water. If you do this, keep an eye peeled for jet skiers on top of the water and seaweed on the bottom.

This historic Virginia Key Beach Park began in 1896 when Miami was founded. It basically became a segregated Park for "colored only" in the 1950s. Many Caribbean, South American, and Cuban people cherished this Park for its beautiful beach. It is 2.5 miles long. However, in 1982, the park was closed by the City of Miami citing rising costs and expenses. It still remains closed but you can rent the colorful little huts today for $65 a day. First come, first served. There are restrooms, vending machines, BBQ grills, picnic tables and children's playground. There is a lot of space to use. You need to catch a boat at the Miami River to get to this beautiful place. This is mostly a beach walk that is along the shoreline and completely exposed to the sun. The beach itself boasts some incredible views and ample chances to spot wildlife, especially birds. Most commonly seen are sea gulls, pelicans, egrets, and herons lining the shore. Bring your bug spray during the warm months.

This park is huge! Has a bunch of space to do whatever you want. We went to the 1 beach for about 2 hours and it was empty and nice! Walked around and realized how big it was and took a 45 min walk. We wanted to fly drones here but you can't unless you have a permit.

It was my first visiting Virginia Key Beach Park yesterday for Vegandale. I had a great time and there were a lot of vendors and the music was great. I wish the parking lot was more organized. The signs for where prepaid parking was not clear but we made it. The park was clean and the safe was all around to help if you had questions. I will go back in the future to see more next time.

Long stretch of beach and easy to find a quiet spot away from all the touristy spots in Miami. The water was calm and there are plenty of benches and tiki huts

One of my favorite spots in Miami. If you're looking for a relaxing day at the beach, Virginia key is the beach to go to! Very calm, clean, quiet beach. The water is shallow and clear. It's never too packed. There's lots of benches scattered around where you can sit and put your stuff! I love this beach.

Excellent park for a day away from the craziness that Miami has to offer! This park has beaches, a center to rent paddle boards and kayaks, a space for events and concerts, and most importantly for me a mountain bike trail. The park is beautiful, but the mountain bike trail is one of the best in Florida. This trail features good options for both beginners, intermediate, and advanced riders ! You can relax on the trails or push it to the limit on the gnarly black and double black diamond trails. If you want to change it up, get exposed to some of the nature Miami had to offer and ride some mountain bike, this is the place !

There's so much history here. This is a historical natural beach. There's a short sandy shoreline and the water has a lot of seaweed. So you might be slightly intimidated by the feeling beneath your feet but it's so worth it. The water was so warm and lovely. You've gotta pay to park/enter the beach. One more fact! This used to be a 'Colored Only" beach back in the day. They have an area where you can indulge in natural clay. It's great for the skin! They do tours. Definitely check it out. Learn some history. Enjoy the water. Give gratitude at how far we've come. Everyone is welcome! This is definitely way more calm and family oriented vibes than the other, more popular, beaches. I really want to go back. It allows me to get the presence of the ancestors and gives me a sense of peace and gratitude! This was a refuge for Black and Brown people during segregation. I felt very grounded there. Check out more of my foodie & travel recs on insta @saltandsavor

Great ambiance. Impeccable service. Drinks are superbe. Did I mention the ambiance Definitely recommended.

Beautiful beach less than 15 minutes from Miami city center - gorgeous, clear water; shallow and perfect for children or snorkeling! Lots of soft sand, seashells, and beautiful natural areas.

Every crevice of this sanctuary nestled in mangroves displaying the rustic side of Old Florida is easily remembered during each drive into this spot. The $8.00 entrance fee is well worth the scenically lush flora surrounding this outer cusp island with unfiltered beauty that's unlike most accessible waterfront spots in South Florida. During the mid 1900's, this was actually designated a colored beach as this barrier island was trenched opened by the hurricanes a hundred years prior causing its separation from Fischer Island. People come here searching for a quieter atmosphere with a private feel as plenty of outdoor activities are encouraged throughout the grounds. It's beach entrance has a rocky entrance so water shoes are certainly a must. There's an area for windsurfing separate from the swimming beach which is a great safety precaution. The bike path is lined in largely lush trees offering shade in a gracious form. It's a perfect launching spot for your paddleboard or kayak so mount your car & come explore Florida the way it was intended to enjoy. Florida, you're something else. #PuroRelax

Arlyn Perez recommended the proper portion of VKBP, where we were able to have both the ceremony & reception walking distance from each other. She and the other young lady we met displayed so much kindness, patience, authenticity and professionalism towards us the day we booked our micro-wedding. They answered all questions we had thoroughly (and we had many). We were grateful to have the gorgeous view of the water + the ability to put on a proper reception without the various restrictions other beaches presented to us quite rudely. As someone who was born and raised in Miami, who often hosted beach 'getties' growing up, I highly recommend VKBP to anyone who wants to be able to put together a complete package that feels true to the soul!

I have come to Virginia King Beach Park for several years for a beach day. This was my first time coming to the beach park for an event. The staff and the police officers that were helping with the event was very nice and very informative. I just wish parking was a little bit closer to the event, especially due to the hot sweltering weather. While at the festival, there was constant staff around making sure the areas were clean, and each vendor had what they needed. The space where the event was held, her more than enough room to accommodate the large crowd. I will definitely come back again to Virginia Key beach park for an event knowing how smooth my experience was this time.

I can't believe in the ten years that I've lived in Miami, Florida, I've never been to Virginia Key Beach. I've been to Key Biscayne but never here. I was blown away by how big this property is. Sooo much history. When you walk into the front office to sign in, you will be asked to take your temperature and to sanitize your hands. My friend Kechi works here, and she gave Gregg and I an amazing tour. I didn't knownthisbwss right here. I love how they preserved a fee monuments and places around the property to keep it look like it did in the 1940's or 50"s. The tram and carousel rides are closed due to Covid. Im definitely going back so I can ride both. Lol.

Virginia Key is never a bad idea! There are 2 parks in the island but they both connect so if you don't mind walking it doesn't matter where you park! I park in the historic Virginia key park because it's free during the week!

This place is great for family barbecues if there weren't that often so many obnoxious ones. Too often blasting speakers. It can be worse than the boats competing at the sandbar. The beach is nice and close to the grill area. I've been here also twice for a festival for which this area is great for.

This park has so much potential. Lots of wide open space that is not being utilized. I remember going to a Renaissance Festival here a while back and it being fairly large and spaced out. There aren't many water front parks that have the space for parties and large gathering like this one but it's just not well maintained. It just looks like run down. This park does have one of the few disc golf courses in Dade but it's also not really well maintained. There are few of any markers so good luck playing the short nine whole course

They have really let this place go. The beach had all kinds of seaweed in July, and the place was not the cleanest. I don't know what they are doing with all the money they make from the daily admissions, but they aren't spending it on the grounds! Also, with all the sand flies, the clay squishing through my toes, and the fact that this is far too shallow with tons of water weeds, just doesn't make for a fun beach day.

I visited on a Thursday and what the Floridians would say was a cold snap day, at a freezing 72!! So I had the beach all to myself, which was heavenly for me. I walked all along the beach admiring the gorgeous clear fresh water and even had a sneaky dip. I also walked up to the bridge, went under it and walked as far as the private doc area of the school that is located there. If you like un spoilt beaches, with driftwood and shells, then this will be your fever, aka jam!. To be noted they have rustic benches and bbq stations dotted all along and a lot of them are in shaded encloves, making for a perfect spot for a private soiree or party with plenty of privacy. I think I have found a new favourite spot. There is a big car park here which has just been freshly tarmacked. On the other side of this there is a broadwalk that leads inland and into the mangroves. I did not see any birds or alligators this time, but it was pleasant enough experience to appreciate Florida's foliage. There is also a huge lawned park with a Huge mound to the side of it. On closer inspection it is the world's largest sandcastle that was sculptured back in 2015 and surprisingly is still standing. (Read below for info about what it represents.) The History of this Historical beach - The story begins in 1896. This was the year the Miami was founded with approx one-third of the signatures of the city charter being black men.  Segregation became reality n systematically excluded all people of colour beaches. By 1920, as the city grew, many of these beaches were developed into parks n public swimming facilities exclusively for the white population.  D.A. Dorsey, an African American millionaire, purchased what is now known as Fisher Island so that blacks could have a beach of their own.  But due to increasing property taxes, Mr. Dorsey was obligated to sell the property.  As a result, the black community was left without a beach to enjoy. There were unofficial exceptions, areas which by mutual understanding were exclusive to the African American population.  One such place was a very special beach located on Virginia Key, known as "Bears Cut" which at that time could only be reached from Miami by boat.  This property became an official "coloured only" site as a direct response to a bold protest, led by the late Judge Thomas.  Under Thomas' leadership, black men defiantly entered the water with the intention of being arrested at exclusively white Baker's Haulover Beach in North Dade County.  County authorities however, to avoid costly embarrassment, took no legal action against the protesters.  Instead they acquiesced to the protesters' demands for an officially designated swimming area for African Americans.  Although only accessible by boat from a downtown dock on the Miami River, "Virginia Beach, a Dade County Park for the exclusive use of Negroes," was opened on August 1, 1945. _______ The sandcastle - This massive sandcastle is noted on the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest sandcastle on the entire planet! The sculpture includes buildings from around the world. There was the Taj Mahal from India, the Eiffel Tower from Paris, Rome, leaning tower of Pisa, statue of liberty, The castle appeared to have an international theme, which added to the mystery. Who's building sandcastles with the Taj Mahal on a southeast Florida island? Turkish Airlines, that's who. In 2015 the airline sponsored this creation by award-winning sandcastle sculptor Ted Siebert, in honor of its new Miami-Istanbul flight. It took more than 1800 tons of sand to build, and it stands at 45 feet and 10 inches tall. A team of 19 artists were on hand to craft this impressive achievement. It is a magnificent sight, and amazingly, still standing proud after all this time despite being exposed to tropical rains and sun. Just incredible.

Some interesting moments in timeline of Virginia Key Beach In 1945 Virginia Key Beach Park opened as Miami-Dade County's "Colored Only" beach, then in 1947 the Rickenbacker Causeway is built connecting mainland Miami with Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. In 2002 Virginia Key Beach Park is placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2015 was 70th Anniversary of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and the Guinness World Records Tallest Sand Castle 45.85' is constructed on the Historic Beach Park as part of a promotion by Turkish Airlines. In 2017 a replica of the Historic Mini Train Ticket Booth and Beach Shack were constructed. We just drove they the area, checked the sand castle, the area of the musical venues and cabins. It is not very big. There is plenty of parking, and the grass area is pretty large, ideal for sports.

Calm area, clean and not too busy beach. Ideal for family picnic or just chill with friends.

My fiancé and I wanted to see a beach and this was the closest one to where we were located. Small park and has not a lot of beach area. There looked like areas for family picnics and such as well. There was something about a historic railroad and train also but we didn't see it.

Virgina Key Beach Park is considered historic because in 1945 it was designated a "colored" only beach. This was done to appease the African American GI's who had just come back from saving the world from the Germans only to find that they could not even use the beach in their home country. Virginia Key Beach Park was created for the exclusive use of the black community while Crandon Park on Key Biscayne was designated for whites. Even though Virginia Key Beach Park contained a miniature railway and a carousel the beach was only a half mile long compared to Crandon Park being almost ten times larger. Segregation of the beach ended in the 1960's and Virgina Key Beach started to slide into a decline. In the 1980's the park was closed by the city who cited the high cost to maintain it. Through the years the beach was eroded by hurricanes and the buildings were vandalized. Activists got together and expressed their desire to have Miami's only public park on the Atlantic Ocean reopened. A Virginia Key Beach Park Trust was created and they worked on restoring the park which re-opened the park to the public in 2008. In 2002 the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Today you can visit this historic beach for an $8 cash only entrance fee on the weekends or $6 weekdays. Your kids can still ride on the antique carousel or play on the expansive playground. There is a restroom and vending machines in the park. A concession stand operates on a limited seasonal schedule. There are picnic tables, grills, hiking trails, mountain bike trail, wetlands, and ocean front cabin rentals. The worlds largest sandcastle built by Turkish Airlines is great for pictures as is the beautiful view from the beach. I came on a rainy Saturday afternoon to march with Lummi Nation from the Pacific Northwest. They were in town to ask for Tokitae/ Lolita who resides across the street in the Miami Seaquarium in the smallest orca tank in North America to be given back to them as she was stolen from their ancestral water. It is a short walk to the Miami Seaquarium from the park. It is well worth the entrance fee to the park to be able to enjoy some of the best beach front amenities Miami has to offer.

what a beautiful place PERIOD. getting to go see a music festival there? MAGICAL. i went to the HOC (house of creatives) festival & this location could not have been more perfect. Absolutely gorgeous, breezy & perfect! Would love to go back & explore sometime too!

I think this is a great beach for families, with playground, bathrooms and picnic areas. This is a great place for families with kids because the water it's not too deep, it has plenty of trees for shade and good beach access. My kids and I don't think will go back because it's really not the type of beach we like to go to. We like it more when they are open, that's why I said is good for families with kids. They have a good size parking lot and their entrance fee was $8 which I think was good price to maintain all the amenities of this park. Creo que es una buena playa y familiar, con parques, baños y áreas de picnic. Este es un gran lugar para familias con niños porque el agua no es demasiado profunda, tiene un montón de árboles para sombra y buen acceso a la playa. Mis hijos y yo no creo que volveremos porque realmente no es el tipo de playa que nos gusta ir. Nos gusta más cuando son más abiertas, por eso dije que es bueno para familias con niños. Tienen un buen estacionamiento y su tarifa de entrada era de $ 8, que creo que es un buen precio para mantener todas las comodidades de este parque.

I came here over the weekend and had a lovely experience! My boyfriend brought me here for a show that was going on that essentially lasted all day, from 2pm to 2am. At first on our drive over to the area, we got a little lost but the security guards at the gate were understanding and helped point us in the right direction. We did have to pay for parking which was $10 but it's for sure worth it since you're able to explore so much in this area. My boyfriend and I will definitely be returning as there's so much to see in this area general! I might even consider having a little get together down here since the area is so beautiful. Bbqs with friends are fun especially if it's right on the beach. Anyways, the people who were in charge of the party did a fantastic job! There was plenty of food and drink. They had handmade pizzas made fresh to order as well as avocado toast for $5. They also had bars scattered throughout the event and if you felt like distancing yourself from the music, all you had to do was just walk out towards the beach and you'd be able to have sometime on your own with your significant other or friends. I'll definitely be returning here!

WARNING: if you are prone to getting bit by sand fleas or ants DO NOT visit Virginia Key Beach. This beach is infested! Our family goes to many other beaches in the area and have never been bit like we were at this beach! We ALL were attacked. If you set down food or a container w/food down it will be covered in ants within minutes. Historic Virginia Key Beach is definitely not a place I would recommend to go lay out or to enjoy the water. First off there are no waves, water has lots of seaweed, water is very murky, people drive their jet skies right up to beach front, many large groups who bring big speakers and turn the volume all the way up, there is little breeze and as I stated above the ants n sand flees are HORRIBLE. For a entry fee you would think the public grounds would be well maintained. So much potential but lacking in so many ways! Grounds are ran down, overgrown, and lots of trash thrown around. Train is not operational- Park hands out fliers asking for donations to restore the train. Pros: there are lots of picnic areas and grills available if you were able to actually enjoy them.

dirt and difficult to get in to. also very little sand and gross water with stuff that hurts your feet

Spent Saturday afternoon enjoying the beach and water at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. Quality Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is a large recreational area with picnic areas, some trails for walking and hiking, and a small beach area. I spent the afternoon hanging out in the main beach area, which was pretty desolate. The water was very clean and the ocean floor was soft and easy to walk on. Quantity The beach area at Virginia Key is not very large and the vast majority of people there were utilizing the picnic areas. The picnic areas fill up fast and definitely require reservations for the bigger sections. Value On the weekend it costs $8.00 for a car to enter ($6.00 on a weekday). It is definitely more money than it is worth for such a small beach. Ambiance Virginia Key is part of Key Biscayne and is found on the other side of the Rickenbacker Causeway and opposite the UM Marine School. The park is split into two main sections, which the second sector smaller and more hidden away. Both areas follow the same basic layout with picnic areas, then some greenery splitting away from the beach. The beach area is long, but very thin. The beach is not really as clean as you would hope, but the water is crystal clear. The picnic area has some coverings, a playground area, and a bunch of grills. I really would not recommend Virginia Key unless you are planning to utilize both the picnic area and the beach. Crowd The beach was pretty desolate, most of the people visiting the park were in the picnic area. There were two giant parties and a few other families with children. It was good as the beach was very private, but the music from the parties was blasting. If it was quiet it would have been serene, but loud party tunes ruins the feeling. Service The only person I ran into from the beach was the person collecting the money. It is disappointing that no one was really keeping the beach clean considering the expensive entrance fee. Parking Parking is not really a problem, as the spots vastly outnumber the crowds. Unless it was a concert or event you don't have to worry about a spot. Extra Maybe if you came early, before the large parties arrive, Virginia Key Beach would be a nice place to visit. However, the loud and obnoxious music ruin the serene and beautiful views. The water is clean, but the beach really was not. In terms of beaches in South Florida it definitely falls in the bottom tier.

Great family beach has private areas and at end beach has lifeguard with bbq puts and bathrooms. Great for kids and get togethers.

My wife and I come to this beach one to two times per week, mostly on weekdays. We love it here. It's quiet, not too many people and most of the time, we have the beach all to ourselves. We absolutely love it here. During the week, no loud music blasting, like I've read from other reviewers. I'm guessing that happens mostly on the weekends. I'd like to give it a terrible review, to keep this hidden gem all to ourselves, but it's simply one of the nicer beaches we have come across and it would be a shame not to share. We've lived in Miami most of our lives and have only recently come to find this beach. Absolutely love it.

Although I've been to Virginia Key on several occasions for various events this review is about the 2017 Love Burn festival, which mimics the larger Burning Man at Black Rock City, Nevada, and tried to espouse many of the same principles like: radical inclusion, gifting, decommodifiaction, just to name a few---it managed that on some levels. While my experience of this event lasted only 4 hour on its debut night, it was enough to feature nearly all the exhibits of which there were many: the theme of the event was a throwback rave scene complete with Pacman computer games, laser painting, and ample tents playing techno with people in black light costumes and body paint, artists exhibiting surreal paintings, which were for sale (a no-no at Bman). On the other hand there were free drinks and we had a couple of ever clear shots---one was called apple Pie, the other slipped my mind. After the shots sunk in, you could relax on a bean bag or one of the many hammocks that were just hanging around. The place was experiential complete with an orgy tent and music was everywhere. I would definitely like to camp out and try it next year.

It's a beautiful place for photos and videos and only down part is you can't get close enough to the statues

Nice beach! The best time to come is early in the morning- in my opinion. Great place to spend an active day! In the morning lots of bikers and runners are all over the surrounding area and park. It might be a turn off to many people that this a 'natural' beach. Which means there is a lot of seaweed and some rocks. But it's a great beach to hang out and have a peaceful time. Or to pack a picnic and a big blanket and enjoy the day.

Ive been to this park twice, once for a protest against Miami Sea Aquarium, and another for a SPARTAN hurricane heat. During the most recent visit (HH), I actually got to see more of the park, but I'm not sure what there really is to do here or what would bring me here if it wasn't part of an event. I did see the Sand Castle and I did see there was a mini train track, also what appears to be Frisbee golf course, but other than that...not sure... I had a good time doing PT and getting bit by mosquitos...hopefully I don't have ZIKA...parking is $5.

Dear Virginia Key Beach Park, I have always known this park. From my days as a MAST Academy student, when we used to do beach cleanups for Community Service and skip classes on your sand, until now, when I still frequent your shores for a quick lunch break escape or a quiet afternoon at a great beach park. For 2 years I have worked with you to plan our annual employee BBQ. And every year, we have the most amazing time ever. Your park has gone under tons of renovations because it has now been named a Historical Landmark for Miami, being that this was the first and only Colored Beach in South Florida, opening in 1945. The park has been given a new facade, with a new giant playground, a concession stand with yummy snacks (hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, water, soda, etc), a train and carousel for the kids to ride, and of course the beach area, which was given new sand and lengthened/widened a bit. I've come here on the weekends, and though it does get packed, its still quiet enough to enjoy a really nice day with the family. For events such as BBQs, birthdays, etc, the park has an amazing pavilion for rental (I think its $200 for the day), which is very large and fits a lot of people. The pavilion can also be rented with electricity, which helps when you want to have some music. I believe they have rules in regards to bringing bouncy houses and things of that nature, but otherwise pretty much everything is game. I love this park because of the new changes... Before it was a bit dirtier and definitely needed some kind of help to make it the hang out that its become. There is also this very cool walkway/boardwalk thing, that lets you walk the perimeter of the park, with natural foliage surrounding. Oh and there is plenty of parking there. The best part is, it's totally FREE! Sincerely, Sabrina*

Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is a pretty nice and popular place to check out and do some recreational activities, have a group picnic, or simply hang out along the beaches. Noticed quite a few folks on jet skis going around the island. Parking is plentiful but costs $6 on the weekdays and $8 on weekends, which I think it a bit much, in my personal opinion. The park is located on Key Biscayne (just southeast of Downtown Miami) but does require you to take a toll road (Toll-By-Plate or SunPASS). There's a lot overall that the park offers (besides gorgeous views), but I would prefer to go during the times that it's not so crowded. As mentioned, parking costs a bit too much.

Virginia key has the potential to be a great park. It has a hidden beach that you would never knew existed unless you accidentally stumbled upon it, at least thats how found. On the weekends make sure you come early because it gets packed... I MEAN PACKED! Now I personally dont go to this park for its beach. I go here for the true hidden gem, which is it's amazing mountain bike trails. These trails are handmade by the local legend who goes by the nickname "Frenchie". He along with other locals that are prevalent in the biking scene created this fantastic course which holds trails for bikers of all ages. The park is pretty clean for the most part and its a pretty cool place to take the kids, especially with the Museum of Science and the Miami Seaquarium located so close by. Pros: Plenty of parking available mountain biking restrooms bbq areas beach it's location Cons: disgusting bathrooms which never have toilet paper parking though plentiful tends to be harder to come by especially during holiday weekends It's located right next to an industrial plant which I believe creates compost so there may be some questionable health risks.

Virginia Key is a beautiful place to enjoy some sun, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding or just some relaxing time by the water. If you are looking for a huge, expansive beach - look elsewhere. The actual beach on Virginia Key is not as large or sandy as South Beach or Bill Baggs deeper on Key Biscayne. That being said, the view is gorgeous here! Whether you are at the benches and grills near the front or the kayak rental area near the back, you are guaranteed a beautiful view with warm Florida waters. There is nice snorkeling near Virginia Key if you are willing to swim out a ways, it's worth it! Do yourself a favor and make a day of it, come for paddle boarding, stay for swimming and take a drive into Key Biscayne for a late lunch or early dinner.

Came here for the first time after looking at the pics and comments...not worth it...very dirty n noisy waste of $10 entrance fee

Not a fan of the beach it's a bit murky and the sand is not really sand but the mountain bike area is great. I'm not an expert and I was able to use a lot for the trails. I did not see a place to rent bikes but it was def well set up and I will be back.

I had heard about the "colored beach", as Virginia Key Beach was referred to in the days of segregation, and being someone that is interested in history and what drives human behavior to treat some folks differently to the point of them not being able to share the land, visiting was on my radar. I was prepared to take in the story of this beach so I convinced my friend to head on out, on a day in which the weather was somewhat temperamental. Since my friend enjoys history as well, it didn't take much to convince him. We ate on Key Biscayne and then headed on over. Admission was $8 per vehicle, which I found extremely steep, as even a national treasure like The Everglades that goes on for miles and miles has a lower entrance fee. Nonetheless, we were hoping this would be an educational trip and no price is too big to pay if you're gaining some knowledge, we reasoned. As we entered, I saw a huge castle sculpture and both my friend and I wondered what it was. We excitedly exited the vehicle and approached. A few people were climbing the castle for pictures, and when we saw grains of sand rolling off due to the damage from climbing, that is when we realized it was an actual sand castle. A sign confirmed that at over 45 feet, it is the largest sand castle in the world, and yes, it has its own entry in the Guinness Book of World Records! Considering we always are known for dubious things and stupid shenanigans that are a source of embarrassment (we even have a name for it...Floridabulous, look it up), it was nice to see our city had something interesting and innocent to be proud of and kids could enjoy, too! We kept walking and saw some little paths that lead to the beach. Lots of picnic tables and people cooking barbecue on the grills along the paths, but there was an awful amount of noise pollution, each table blasting either Reggaeton, Salsa, or some other Spanish language tune. Is it really necessary to blast music and try to compete and outdo your neighbor's boom box? We got to the shoreline and kept walking. They had some pretty shells, but the water looked sort of dirty and the place was just too crowded. We wanted to check out the walking trails and in the meantime, we left the beach area, hoping to find some educational signs, exhibits, or a museum/visitor center that explained the history behind the beach. Unfortunately, there was none. Other than a sign that mentioned a brief tidbit of history, there was nothing else to see or read. Honestly, it was disappointing. They could have done so much more to educate people, show pictures of the people when the beach was segregated, common recreational activities...anything! Speaking of disappointment, the walking trails were also pretty disappointing and brief. No sign of wildlife either. We did walk about a mile or two along the shoreline past the beach itself, but we were looking forward to some winding trails in the forest area. As others mention, there is a historic carousel, which would be fun for kids, but it was closing when we got there and then they shuttered it all up. I saw the train tracks for the kiddie train ride but no wagon. Perhaps the train only operates early during the day or for special events (like birthdays), or they just discontinued the rides. Their website is of no help in mentioning hours, prices, or anything. I may return in the future if there's an interesting music festival or other event going on, but as far as beaches and waterfront views go, you can find much better beaches and prettier views elsewhere in South Florida -- and they'd probably be less noisy, less crowded, or both.

Virginia Key Beach Park is great for the park aspect, but lacks considerably when it comes to the beach component. Let's start with what makes this place an attraction, the park. There's a large grass field that's great for frisbee, soccer (aka futbol), occasional drive-up movie nights, etc. at the front of the park, just after you enter. Past the field is a large parking lot to accommodate the weekend crowds. East of the parking lot is where you'll find numerous grills, picnic tables, and trash cans, under the trees, which are great for get togethers and large gatherings. Nearby (100-150ft), you'll find public restrooms, vending machines, a covered area, and a large playground (with motorized merry-go-round). Behind the playground, you'll find a disc golf course (9 holes) that wraps around a small pond and loops around the north end of the park. An area most people aren't aware of is north of the disc golf course. The park actually appears to end at the merry-go-round, but if you continue along the dirt road, you'll find more picnic areas and a hut that rents kayaks and paddle boards. Because this area is less known, you can often avoid the crowds here. As for the beach at Virginia Key park, due to strong ocean currents (and extreme tidal shifts) between Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, there are countless jetties along the beach to prevent/reduce sand erosion. As you can imagine, these jetties interfere with the view and make walking the beach a chore. Because of the strong currents and tidal shifts, swimming is discouraged for small children and weak swimmers, making this more of a suntan beach (which is not my cup of tea). Long story short, this park has a lot to offer, but I wouldn't come here if you're looking for calm waters and long walks on the beach.

Beautiful park but people come with huge speakers and they are so loud plus jet sky come to drink beer and pick up people terrible

Came out here for the mountain biking trails and a little hiking around. Found a beautiful little get away with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay and the sounds of the ocean and wildlife all around. I have not been here since, well lets just say, man has this place grown up. Beautiful park areas leading to nice beach areas. Plenty of areas to explore and some private little beach spots if your adventurous enough to hunt for them. The MTB trails are very well maintained and well suited for beginners and intermediate riders. They also offer a great cardio workout for those that feel they are more advanced. Nothing on these trails was intimidating and I never felt out of control or even overly challenged. They are a lot of fun though, a lot of hills and banked turns laid out so speed can be maintained. The only negative here is the odor from the waste water treatment plant and that's only when you are down wind from it. If it wasn't for that this would have gotten a 5 star rating. I will return and soon. A lot more riding and hiking to do. Possibly some kayaking and might even bring the boat down this way for a picnic. Meet me here for a beer, I'm buying. Cheers.

Me thinks not! . From broken glass, rotten food, broken dirty shoes. and garbage all together on the sand. The water dirty as can be. So disappointed :( we haven't gotten around to go to the beach for almost a year and finally the weather is gorgeous but this beach is not. It's a shame because they have a playground, picnic tables, a merry go round, and restroom accessibility. If it wasn't for the dirtiness this place has potential. However, with all the amenities mentioned above I still don't feel like laying out to tan or bathe in dirt ugh. Parking is close to the beach so carrying all the junk will be easy lol. I will post pictures.

There aren't enough outside showers, the bottom of the sea is muddy and full of tall grass, the sand had broken pieces of glass, very unpleasant .

Five Solid stars !!! Virginia Key is one of the parks in Miami with the most history. This place has everything, from quiet secluded beaches to kids parks, to natural areas and the newly added Virginia Key trails, make this one of the public spaces in Miami that offer the most to visitors. A visit to Virginia key is a cultural experience within itself, multiple cultures represented in family gatherings, bbq or just a lazy day on the beach. You can also launch a windsurfer out of here and enjoy the open ocean side of Key Biscayne... a bit more challenging, windy and deeper waters, so be careful out there.