JulieArmstrong

We will be spending a little over a week at Hawks Cay this March. While it looks great, the beach is just a manmade lagoon. I'd like to have a few beach days and am wondering if there are any islands accessible by boat that have nice beaches.
We plan on spending a day at Bahia Honda and I'd love to add another beach to my list of places to go during this vacation. Thanks!!!

susan

Since the keys are coral, all the beaches there are man-made with imported sand. Thus there are no beaches on the "islands." Bahia Honda is by far the best beach in the keys.

Pro

There are two beaches located in Islamorada & Marathon that can be accessible by boat. You got to remember tho, these beaches are of coral rock & are man-made with the sand being imported from other places. They both have nice little beach areas & are very nice for sunbathing. Please don't forget you beach shoes or tennies!
Anne's Beach is located in Islamorada (Lower Matecumbe - M.M.73.8) & Sombrero Beach ( MM - 50) is located in Marathon. None of these beaches have concessions, boat ramps, camping or equipment rentals. the telephone number for Anne's Beach: (305)-292-4560 & Sombrero Beach: (305) 292-4560. The activities are: fishing, swimming, snorkeling & picnic areas & you can bring your pet. There is a small playground within the grounds of Sombrero Beach.

JulieArmstrong

I'll check those 2 beaches out while I'm there. Someone else just mentioned Sombrero to me today.
What I actually had in mind though is to sail out a bit and see what I might find a bit off of the keys. Any ideas?
We usually go to the Caribbean due to my obsession with the beach but the time at Hawks Cay comes courtesy of a friend who is an owner there and was a deal too good to turn down!

susan

Another thought: have you considered a trip to Dry Tortugas? You can take a seaplane - or a boat - out of Key West. I wish I could give you a personal recommendation, but I haven't gotten there yet. Eveyone who goes there seems to love it!

Pro

All I can tell you at this point is, the reef goes out about 5 miles then you hit deep ocean. In the middle keys there are several small uninhabited islands surrounded by calm, shallow grass beds. You can find sea shells, go rock hopping, explore the marine life in tidal pools among the island's mangroves, have a picnic lunch, or just get away from it all. I'm not sure this is what you are after, but one sure reminder, please be careful where you drop your anchor!