Thing to do
Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Calle Ocho, the stretch of SW 8th Street through Little Havana, is Miami's best-known Cuban street, with domino games, cafés, live music and a walk of…
South Pointe Park is a 17-acre waterfront park at the southern tip of Miami Beach, with a boardwalk, playgrounds, beach access and views over Government Cut.
Good to know
South Pointe Park covers 17 acres at the southern end of Miami Beach, bordered to the south by Government Cut. After a redesign by Hargreaves Associates of New York, completed in 2009, it has lawns, shaded paths and a wooden boardwalk of about 522 feet over Miami Beach's last natural sand dune.
The park is a good place to watch boats moving through Government Cut, to walk or jog along the water, or to spread out on the grass with a picnic. Children have a playground for ages two to five and five to twelve, next to the water, with a splash spray zone for hot days. There is also an outdoor fitness station, a bark park for dogs, seating, restrooms near the concession and direct beach access, so you can easily combine the park with a swim.
The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and entry is free. Sunrise and early morning are the quietest and coolest times, while late afternoon brings walkers, families and people gathering to watch the light change over the water. Bring sun protection, as much of the park is open lawn. Paid parking is available; on busy weekends it is worth arriving early.
South Pointe Park suits families, couples, runners and anyone who wants a calmer alternative to the busiest parts of the beach. Allow an hour or two, more if you are making a beach day of it. It is also a convenient spot to wait for a table at Joe's Stone Crab, which is a short walk away at 11 Washington Avenue.
The ocean-themed children's playground was added during the renovation, and outdoor showers are a useful extra after a swim. Because the park sits right at the end of the island, it is also a natural finishing point for a long walk south from Lummus Park along the beach, ideally timed for the late afternoon when the heat starts to ease.
The park's address is 1 Washington Avenue, at the southern end of the South Beach grid. From the Art Deco district, walk south along Ocean Drive or Washington Avenue, or use the Miami Beach trolley. The Goodtime Hotel at 601 Washington Avenue is on the way if you want a drink by the pool.
Every day from sunrise to sunset.
Yes, entry to the park is free; parking is paid.
Yes, there are playgrounds for ages two to five and five to twelve, with a splash spray zone.
There is a bark park for dogs within the park.
Yes, the park has direct beach access.
Yes, restrooms are located near the concession.
Boats and ships passing through Government Cut, the channel that runs along the park's southern edge.
Joe's Stone Crab is a short walk away at 11 Washington Avenue.
Bar
Ball & Chain is a Calle Ocho bar established in 1935, with live Latin music and jazz from the afternoon, an outdoor stage and Cuban food.
Hotel
Faena Hotel Miami Beach is a luxury oceanfront hotel on Collins Avenue with restaurants by Francis Mallmann and Paul Qui, a spa and its own theatre.
Restaurant
Joe's Stone Crab has been a Miami Beach institution since 1913, serving chilled stone crab claws with mustard sauce near the southern tip of South Beach.
Tour operator
The Miami Design Preservation League runs a daily two-hour Art Deco walking tour of South Beach from its Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive.