Not only is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park home to one of the top 10 beaches in the U.S., but it also made our own Top 10 list because the entrance fee is minimal, and once you hike the steps of the lighthouse, the views are priceless!
Built in 1825, the park’s historic lighthouse is the oldest in Miami-Dade County. Arrive in time for a lighthouse tour at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. and explore the lighthouse tower for an hour before your tour starts. It’s only 109 steps to the top of the park’s historic lighthouse, are you ready? At the top you’ll take in views of Miami and Biscayne Bay that are more than worth the trek!
Inside the park, you’ll find dining options to keep you fueled for exploring the landscape. Lighthouse Café sits by the beach and Boater’s Grill overlooks No Name Harbor. Stop by either for a light bite and rent a beach chair or bicycle to soak up the rest of your afternoon. The cost is only $5 per vehicle, with up to 8 visitors, $3 per single-occupancy vehicle and $1 per person entering on foot or bike – perfect for any budget!
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Things to know:
Region: Southeast Florida
Getting there: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located on Key Biscayne. From Miami, take I-95 to the Rickenbacker Causeway, all the way to the end.
Dates and Times: Open 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.
Fun facts: Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Florida was a secret meeting place and port for runaway slaves and Seminole Blacks. Freedom seekers waited along its shores to rendezvous with sea captains or board dugouts for a passage to safety in the British Bahamas. Although the lighthouse was built to save lives and ships, its unflinching light brought an end to this avenue of escape. In September 2004, Cape Florida was designated as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.
Photos courtesy of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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