Bal Harbour FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Bal Harbour, Florida.
1. Bal Harbour Beach
TRANQUIL LUXURY GETAWAY
Bal Harbour Beach offers a quiet and relaxing mile-long stretch of white sand with an exclusive feel, located between Haulover Park and Surfside. Visitors can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, and water sports along this beautifully maintained beach lined with luxury resorts and condos. The beach features a scenic Beach Walk path that runs parallel to the water, perfect for jogging, biking, or walking while admiring the powdery white sand and aquamarine ocean.
2. Haulover Beach Park
POPULAR CLOTHING-OPTIONAL BEACH
Haulover Beach Park is a 1.5-mile stretch of pristine beach located just north of Bal Harbour, known for its clothing-optional section and clear blue waters. The park offers excellent amenities including picnic areas, concession stands, and rental facilities for chairs, umbrellas, and water sports equipment. Visitors can enjoy fishing from the jetties, swimming in designated areas with lifeguards, or simply relaxing on the well-maintained sands.
3. Surfside Beach
FAMILY-FRIENDLY COASTAL GEM
Surfside Beach is a charming community beach located just south of Bal Harbour, offering a more laid-back atmosphere than its busier neighbors. The beach features a mile of pristine shoreline with clear waters, regular lifeguard service, and convenient amenities including showers and restrooms. Visitors can enjoy the walking path that connects to Bal Harbour's Beach Walk, making it perfect for morning jogs or sunset strolls along the Atlantic coast.
4. North Beach Oceanside Park
SERENE NATURAL SETTING
North Beach Oceanside Park offers a more natural beach experience with 28 acres of dunes, walking paths, and picnic areas just south of Surfside. The beach is less crowded than South Beach, providing a peaceful atmosphere for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the ocean waves. Visitors appreciate the shade from abundant palm trees and sea grape plants, making this a comfortable spot for families seeking a more relaxed beach day.
5. South Beach
ICONIC ART DECO PLAYGROUND
South Beach is Miami's most famous stretch of sand, known worldwide for its vibrant atmosphere, crystal-clear waters, and colorful lifeguard stands against the backdrop of Art Deco architecture. Visitors can enjoy swimming, volleyball, water sports, and people-watching along this lively beach that stretches from South Pointe Park to 23rd Street. The area comes alive with its energetic crowd, nearby Ocean Drive restaurants, and excellent facilities including chair rentals and outdoor workout equipment.
6. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE BEACH
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park features over a mile of Atlantic beachfront consistently ranked among the top beaches in America, located at the southern tip of Key Biscayne. The park is home to the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse, which visitors can tour for panoramic views of the Miami skyline and surrounding waters. Beyond swimming and sunbathing on the pristine beach, guests can enjoy biking, kayaking, fishing, and picnicking in this natural paradise just minutes from downtown Miami.
7. Crandon Park Beach
PALM-LINED FAMILY PARADISE
Crandon Park Beach offers two miles of pristine white sand bordered by coconut palms and calm, shallow waters perfect for families with children. The beach park provides extensive amenities including cabana rentals, picnic areas, a nature center, and various sports facilities including golf and tennis. Visitors can explore the offshore sandbar at low tide, try kiteboarding in designated areas, or simply relax in what many consider to be one of Miami's most beautiful natural beaches.
8. Virginia Key Beach Park
HISTORIC ECOLOGICAL TREASURE
Virginia Key Beach Park is a historic beach that was once Miami's designated "colored only" beach during segregation and now stands as a beautiful ecological treasure with over a mile of shoreline. The beach offers a mix of recreational activities including swimming, mountain biking trails, nature boardwalks, and picnic areas set against native vegetation. Visitors appreciate the relatively uncrowded atmosphere and the opportunity to explore both beach and maritime hammock ecosystems while enjoying views of downtown Miami and cruise ships passing through Government Cut.
9. Matheson Hammock Park
SCENIC ATOLL POOL
Matheson Hammock Park features a unique man-made atoll pool that is flushed naturally with the tides of Biscayne Bay, creating a safe and scenic swimming area for families. The park encompasses 630 acres of coastal habitat with a tropical hardwood hammock, marina, and restaurant housed in a historic coral rock building. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, or simply relaxing on the small beach area while taking in spectacular views of the Miami skyline across the bay.
10. Oleta River State Park
URBAN WATERFRONT WILDERNESS
Oleta River State Park is Florida's largest urban park featuring a small but secluded beach on Biscayne Bay, just minutes from Bal Harbour. The park offers numerous water activities including kayaking and canoeing along the mangrove-lined Oleta River, paddleboarding in the calm waters of the bay, and swimming at the beach area. Visitors can also explore miles of mountain biking trails, rent rustic cabins for overnight stays, or enjoy picnicking and wildlife viewing in this surprising wilderness within the city.