Reservations are recommended, in advance, especially during holidays. Snorkeling -- (305)872-3210, Camping or cabins -- (800)326-3521
Bahia Honda State Park is a great beach not too far from Key West. It's great for kids, has swallow water, great sane and it's simple beautiful! Whether you want to spend the day, evening or camp for a few days this is a great beach/State park to go to.
If you’re craving a nice beach, something you don’t find much of in the Keys, head to Bahia Honda for a day, overnight, or as long as you can get away with it. It has two beaches, actually, one on the ocean side, another bayside. The bayside beach is favored by families because of its calm waters and extensive facilities, including shaded picnic tables with grills, food concessions, and a nearby marina and concessions that rent kayaks, sailboards, and snorkeling equipment and offer snorkel boat excursions. Off the beach, you can stake a tent or rent a cabin, go on a fishing charter, or hike a nature trail that leads over an old railroad bridge.
Key West doesn't really have much for beaches. This surprised me when we went down there to stay at grandma's condo over Christmas. Bahia Honda was the best we found. It is actually quite lovely just not right in town. The Keys have an other-worldly beauty that the little one will probably not appreciate until he's a little older but I know he still enjoyed playing in the sand and water. We'll be back.
My husband and I took my daughter down to the Keys when she was 22 months old. We went to Bahia Honda State Park almost every day. The water was calm and very shallow. My daughter loved sitting there and playing, and I didn't have to worry about waves coming and knocking her over or anything. The beach is beautiful and peaceful. There is also a place to get something to eat and a gift shop. This is part of a restful vacation. We definitely recommend it!