Bahia Honda State Park…

Bahia Honda State Park is an amazing slice of paradise in the Florida Keys! There you can enjoy: award winning beaches, fishing, hiking, snorkeling, boating, camping, snorkeling tours, nature trails and more.

Beaches:
Visit Sandspur…the award winner and the largest, Calusa…the smallest and gulfside, and
Loggerhead…shallow with an awesome sandbar nearby, great for kids and beginner snorkelers.

You can enjoy swimming, fishing, picnicking, snorkeling and kayaking right off these natural beaches. These pristine beauties with their soft sand and crystal clear waters are just the ticket for a day or a week of relaxation and fun!

Snorkeling:
If you are looking for great snorkeling on your Florida Keys vacation, then you are in the right place. Some of the best snorkeling in the Keys can be found right off the beaches here. Loggerhead Beach, as I mentioned earlier is a favorite because of its wonderful shallow waters and a great sandbar just a few feet from the beach.

Bahia Honda State Park also offers a snorkeling tour to Looe Key Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Looe Key was named after the H.M.S. Looe that sank in 1744 and remains on the ocean floor today. The variety of coral structures and tropical marine life will thrill even the most experienced snorkelers and divers.

Snorkeling is great for kids of all ages as long as they can swim. My kids learned early and it opened their eyes to a whole new world, one right under their boogie boards!

Camping:
Bahia Honda State Park  offers tent and RV campsites. You can also rent a cabin which is nice for those of us who like a little more luxury than a tent (that would be me).  Don’t let me discourage you though; even I have slept in a tent! It’s something you must experience at least once in a lifetime.

Another option for your tropical sleepover is the marina. Boaters can dock in one of the slips and enjoy all of the amenities of the park. And if you don’t bring a boat of your own, there are many boat rentals available in the Big Pine Key. Reservations can be made 11 months in advance. It’s a good idea to call as far ahead as you can, as the cabins and beach view campsites are always been popular.

Nature:
Visit the Sand and Sea Nature Center to learn about the habitat on the island. You can tour the small aquarium, become a junior park ranger, join a park ranger for a Nature and History Quest or a campfire circle, and even learn the history of the Overseas Railroad.

Take a walk through the Silver Palm or Calusa Trail and you just may spot the protected Key Deer, and from the top of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge; Manatee, Dolphin, Rays and Turtles. Beautiful spot for a romantic sunset!

Also, be on the lookout for shore birds and migrating birds like the Great White Herons, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Osprey, and the rare white-crowned pigeon. My favorite time on the beach is at sunset, watching the shore birds feeding on the shallow sand flats. Do you want to de-stress? Then, this will do the job!

The Bahia Honda State Park concession offers kayak and snorkeling equipment rental. They also have snacks, sandwiches, souvenirs, groceries and marine supplies.

If you want to venture out from your stay at the park, the area of Big Pine Key has plenty to offer. There are grocery stores, gift shops, boat rentals, tackle shops, outdoor outfitters, dive shops, restaurants, tiki bars and pubs.

A fave spot: the No Name Pub and fishing at the No Name Bridge.  My family and I had a blast on our visit there!

Visit Florida State Parks to learn more about this jewel in the Florida Keys.