Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is on Key Biscayne, the island across the bay from downtown Miami. It covers around 400 acres of beach, coastal hammock and mangrove, and it is home to the Cape Florida Lighthouse, built in 1825 and the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami. The park is named after Bill Baggs, a former editor of The Miami News.

The site also has an important place in American history. In the early 1820s, hundreds of Black Seminoles and people escaping slavery left from this coast for the Bahamas, and in 2004 the site was recognised as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992 destroyed many invasive trees, native plants were restored across the park, which is why the landscape today looks more like old Florida.

The park opens every day of the year from 8am until sunset, and there is a per-vehicle entry fee. The beach is the main draw for most visitors, and the park notes that it is often ranked among the top ten beaches in the country. Guided tours of the lighthouse and the keeper's cottage are offered; check the park page or ask at the entrance for current times. Visitors can also paddle from the canoe and kayak launch and explore the shoreline by boat. Note that the park has reported that beach access number 3 and the fishing piers were closed for repairs, so check the latest notice before you plan around them.

The Lighthouse Café serves casual meals and also handles equipment rentals. The park suits families, couples and anyone who wants a quieter beach day than South Beach. Allow half a day or more. Bring sun protection and water, and come early at weekends, when parking can fill.

A car or taxi is the most practical way to get here, and the per-vehicle fee is paid at the entrance. Pack a picnic or plan lunch at the café, and keep an eye on the weather, as summer afternoons in Miami often bring storms. If you have a full day, combine the park with a morning at Vizcaya on the mainland side of the bay.