TagFlorida Keys

Smathers Beach

Pathway to the Ocean - Smathers Beach - Key West

Smathers Beach is the largest beach on Key West it is approximately half a mile long and is located on the south side of the island. The most notable event to take place on this beach was on September 2, 2013, when long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad arrived on Smathers Beach after swimming 110 miles from Havana, Cuba. It was the first time a person had ever swam from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

Palm Trees - Smathers Beach - Key West copy

Smathers is a beautiful beach but it’s not what most people are looking for when they are booking an island getaway. This beach was man made many years ago and is still maintained with sand from the Bahamas.

Higgs Beach

Sunrise - Key West - Higgs Beach - 4-16-2014 02

After doing some research I have found that Higgs Beach is actually owned by Monroe County. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean next to the Casa Marina Resort.

I have spent many mornings walking Higgs Beach at dawn to look for Sea Turtles.  I volunteered for the Sea Turtle Rescue Organization for a few years in Key West.  Usually because of the other amenities on the beach and the large numbers of people hanging out we rarely found a turtle nest.  But……..it,s clear turquoise waters and its beautiful sandy beaches and its tropical vegetation, Higgs Beach is one of the most inviting public beach parks in Florida because of its diverse array of activities and offerings.  Within the Park, you will find: a Civil War Era Fort listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Salute! On the Beach, and reportedly, the largest African Refugee Burial Ground in this hemisphere as well as one of the largest Aids Memorials in the Country.

Sunrise - Key West - Higgs Beach 05 Sunrise - Key West - Higgs Beach 06(1)

Higgs Beach is truly unique because it allows you access to the only shore-accessible underwater marine park in the United States and is also the end of the Florida Overseas Heritage Trail, one of only 31 nationally designated All American Highways in the United States.

Sunrise - Key West - Higgs Beach 02

Activities available to park users include swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, beach volleyball and a playground.  Additionally, the historic civil war era fort known as the West Martello has served as the home of the Key West Garden Club for over 50 years and offers free self-guided tours of almost 2 acres of beautiful gardens with an ocean breeze and view.  For animal lovers, the Park hosts a large and actively utilized dog park with separate runs for small and large dogs.

Some content is from the official Monroe County Website.

Sunset LOVE

As some of you know I tend to love my sunsets but I don’t always get that perfect photo I am looking for. Over the years I think that I have gotten better at the job. After living in Key West for 3 years and taking thousands of photos these are some of my favorites.

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The one thing that I have always tried to capture was after the sun has set and it looks like the sky is on fire. Its always on the horizon and just a little bit of color back lighting the clouds.