While in Miami, take the time to explore Bill Baggs State Park, located just off I-95. Here you will find a secluded beach, a variety of activities, and the Key Biscayne Lighthouse. Since I am a big lighthouse fan, my friends were kind enough to go to the park so I could enjoy the lighthouse.
The beach here has been voted one of the top 10 beaches, and you can snorkel or dive here. Again, maybe it is just me, but when we were here, the water looked pretty nasty and certainly not a place I would want to have my very expensive diving equipment in. They have benches and shelter for picnics. The benches are free, but you do need advanced reservations for renting a shelter. You can stroll around the beach or rent a variety of water toys from the rental shack. They have kayaks and hydro bikes, as well as bikes for getting around. Admission is $5 per car, and they do have bathrooms located on the premises, as well as a restaurant. You can visit their website at http://www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida/default.cfm.
The Cape Florida Light, also known as Key Biscayne Light, was built in 1825. In 1836, it came under attack by the local Seminole Indians, who killed the assistant keeper and torched the light. The lightkeeper at the time survived the attack. Threat of further Indian attacks made renovations inconsiderable for the next 10 years. After raising the height of the tower and repairs, the station was opened again in 1846. It was decommissioned in 1878 and sat languishing for decades. Eventually, the park service took it over, and finally, in 1996, after a fresh coat of paint, they opened it to the public for climbing. You can climb the 109 steps Thursday through Monday at 10am and 1pm. Make sure you arrive early, since only 10 people can climb at a time. If you're like us and arrive when it is closed, you can still enjoy the pleasant walk to the light and walk around the base.
For information on this lighthouse and others, try www.lighthousedepot.com. Here you will find a variety of lighthouse-themed merchandise, as well as information on The Lighthouse Digest, a monthly entertaining lighthouse magazine. Also, try www.floridalighthouses.com for information on all of the Florida lighthouses. And lastly, visit www.thelighthousepeople.com. Bob and Sandra Shanklin have photographed every lighthouse in the U.S. and have a wonderful collection of lighthouse books, including one on the lighthouses of Florida.