Visitors to the park can explore the various ecosystems of the Key including the dunes, mangroves, and coastal hammock and seagrass beds; and observe herons, ospreys and many brilliantly colored butterflies. The Island is also home to rare and beautiful plants like the beach peanut, Biscayne prickly ash and the coontie. The beautiful sandy beach, coastal dunes and tropical hardwood hammocks are an important nesting and feeding ground for migrating songbirds, hawks and sea turtles. Seagrass beds provide a home for mangrove snapper, parrotfish, crabs, shrimp, sea stars and puffer fish.
The Bear Cut Preserve
Located in Crandon Park is a designated natural Environment Study Area, and serves as a window to the wilderness that was once South Florida. Miami-Dade Parks’ naturalists guide visitors through the Preserve to explore the hammock, ocean and beach communities and see the amazing animals and plants that inhabit South Florida.
The Beach
Crandon Park's beautiful two-mile beach is consistently named among the top ten beaches in the nation. It is one of the most popular recreation destinations in all of Miami-Dade County, enjoyed by millions of residents and tourists each year.
The beach is celebrated for its pristine sand, calm water, winding promenade, concession stands, multiple picnic areas with tables and grills, and convenient parking for over 3,000 vehicles. Near the beach is Crandon's Family Amusement Center. Crandon's famous offshore sandbar protects swimmers from a crashing surf. The sandbar changes constantly because of seasonal squalls, storms and currents. It is enjoyed by many people who swim to it and walk or wade along its length.
Crandon's ocean and waves offer challenging sails for wind warriors. Kiteboarding equipment rentals and lessons are offered at the park's beachside water sports concessions
- To assist those who are mobility impaired, special beach wheelchairs, have been placed at beach areas.
Cabana Rentals
Located on the south end of beautiful Crandon Park amid tropical palm trees and balmy breezes, our cabanas offer a respite from the sun, sand and the hustle-and-bustle of a day at the beach.
Tennis Center
Address: 7300 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL
Crandon Tennis Center houses 29 courts, including 15 that are lighted. Lessons are offered, reservations are accepted and the courts are wheel-chair accessible.
Crandon Golf Course
Address: 6700 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL
Crandon Golf Key Biscayne is a championship 18-hole golf course. It is the perfect alternative to civilization where you can spend a day enveloped by the tropics. Crandon Golf is an explosion of color and light surrounded by water, mangroves and lush, tropical foliage. You can experience the local wildlife in its natural habitat too! Secluded and inviting, Crandon is the only public course on the Bay.
Crandon was the site of the Senior PGA Tour for the past 18 years, attracting golf's greats including Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Don Messengale, Ray Floyd and Gary Player. The course is considered one of the most beautiful and difficult par-72 courses in the state.
Crandon's seventh hole is touted as ''One of the Greatest Holes in Golf,'' a gorgeous par 4 that doglegs to the right and sends your golf ball soaring over the beautiful bay. The course has been rated in the top ten courses by Golfweek, and one of America's top 75 upscale courses by Golf Digest.
From the first hole - a dog leg par 5 that requires a drive over water and mangroves - to the last - another par 5 with water on both sides of the fairway - Crandon Golf Key Biscayne has, in many ways, become Miami-Dade's signature golf course. Play on the Bay at Crandon Golf Key Biscayne!
You can dine on the course at Fairways on the Key, the on-site restaurant at the golf course.
Crandon Marina
4000 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL
This first class marina, near spectacular fishing and artificial reefs, is part of internationally known Crandon Park. It has a dive boat operation and is across the street from miles of beautiful sandy beaches, including popular Crandon Park Visitors and Nature Center.
Crandon Park was a donation, made to the County, in 1940 by heirs of Commodore William John Matheson, a wealthy aniline dye businessman who used the land as a coconut plantation, with the condition that the land be used as a public park. In exchange for the land donation Chairman Charles H. Crandon of the County Commission, for whom the park is named, offered to have the County build a causeway that would connect Key Biscayne to the mainland.
Zoo Miami had its origins in Crandon Park’s botanical garden. The County purchased several animals in 1948, which started the Crandon Zoo. By 1965, Crandon Zoo had grown into one of the major zoos in the country, with over 1,000 animals and about 380 species. Today, with amenities such as Crandon Gardens, a nature center, marina, golf course and a tennis center, Crandon Park is visited by locals and tourists who enjoy the many recreational opportunities afforded.