Bill Baggs State Park, Key Biscayne

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A hop, skip, and a jump across the bay (and a $1.25 toll) and you're on Key Biscayne. There, you should head to Bills Baggs State Park near No Name Harbor. While others often suggest Crandon Park - which you'll pass through on your way - it's pretty busy on the weekends, and not as geographically interesting as Baggs State Park. Often ranked as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the U.S., you'll get to see it from a bird´s-eye-view. Be ready to ascend the 109 steps to the Cape Florida lighthouse watchroom and enjoy the view of the beach, Miami and Biscayne Bay from the top, view a short movie, and then tour the Keeper´s Quarters. Lighthouse tours are at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays. You should plan to arrive one-half hour early to sign up, as space is limited.

Then, sample authentic Cuban Cuisine or fresh seafood at Boater´s Grill overlooking No Name Harbor. The restaurant is open seven days a week, 9am to 9pm.

To get there, take I-95 to the Rickenbacker Causeway exit and follow the signs to it. Take the road into Key Biscayne all the way to the very end past the village to Cape Florida /Bill Baggs State Park. (i.e. follow Crandon Blvd into the village and all the way through.) Pay to enter-- $3. At the stop sign past the toll booth, take a right, over to No Name Harbor, park in the lot, walk down sidewalk all the way to the right, picnic benches abound, you can see the water, vegetation, and Stiltsville, houses and structures built miles out on the water, standing on stilts!