No tropical vacation is complete without a day at the beach or park!
The Islands of Marathon offer public beaches for sun bathing, swimming and kayaking. Our beaches provide public facilities and are handicap accessible. They are also turtle nesting grounds.
Marathon’s many public parks boast tennis and basketball courts, an X-treme skate park, playgrounds, shuffle board and bocce ball courts, soccer and ball fields, batting cages, picnic pavilions, walking and jogging courses … even a gorgeous amphitheatre for performances.
Public Beaches
Coco Plum Beach
Coco Plum Beach is on the Atlantic Ocean. It is more of a natural beach area with an adjacent wetland area. There are restroom facilities and a covered pavilion available. Coco Plum Beach is a turtle nesting beach also. To get there turn South on Coco Plum Drive and the beach entrance is 1.4 miles on the right hand side of the road.
The hours are from 7:00 a.m. until dusk.
Key Colony Beach East Side Park
Key Colony Beach Sunset Park
Sombrero Beach
Sombrero Beach is a beautiful park and beach. In 2001 the City of Marathon redeveloped Sombrero Beach to include total handicap accessibility. A lovely sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean frames a shady park with picnic pavilions, volleyball courts, restrooms and showers. Sombrero Beach is a turtle nesting beach. From April through October it is not unusual to have Loggerhead Turtles (primarily) coming on to the beach at night to lay their eggs. During this period there are no tables or benches on the beach so as not to interfere with turtle nesting activities. The City of Marathon is responsible for surveying the beaches during turtle nesting season. If you are interested in helping with this lovely obligation please get in touch with them. F.D.E.P. holds classes in February or March every year to be a state certified surveyor. The City of Marathon then schedules all of the surveyors for their day to walk the beach. Walking the beach first thing in the morning looking for turtle nests is an awesome experience.
The hours are from 7:00 a.m. until dusk. To get there turn South on Sombrero Beach Road and drive to the end of the road. You are there!
Veterans Memorial Park
This small waterfront park is located at the West end of the Seven Mile Bridge. It provides picnic facilities and restrooms. It is free and open to the public.
City of Marathon Parks and Recreation
Key Colony Beach Golf and Tennis
Located on 8th Street in Key Colony Beach, this park has a 9-hole executive golf course and tennis courts. It is open to the public from 7:30 am to dusk. It also has a children’s playground, basketball and bocce courts, a horseshoe area and public restrooms.
Marathon Community Park
This park is located directly on U.S. # 1 at 200 36th Street Ocean (MM 49). There are four tennis courts, a tennis wall, a combination hockey/basketball court (3 courts), two little league fields, and two soccer fields. There is also an X-treme skating park, two shuffleboard courts, two bocce ball courts, a batting cage, concession stand, amphitheater, picnic areas, and restrooms. This facility is handicap accessible. The park hours are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Marathon Dog Park
This park opened in 2009. Upgraded amenities will be added, including pavers, at the entry which will make it easier for wheelchairs. It is a little over an acre total, with a separate area for dogs under 35 pounds. It is located at 75th Street and the Overseas Highway, Oceanside. The park is open during daylight hours and there is no fee to use it.
Rotary Children’s Park
This park is located at 7575 Overseas Highway (corner of U.S. # 1 and 75th Street Ocean). It is an awesome children’s playground built through the ground roots efforts of Marathon’s Rotary Club and the entire City’s volunteer efforts. This is a 3 acre park and has a wooden playground of swing sets, lookout towers, Thomas the Train, Captain Hook’s Ship, tunnels, slides, a toy shark and a toddler only area. There is a 20 X 20 foot picnic pavilion with picnic tables, as well as picnic tables located throughout the park, and restroom facilities. This is a great place to hold a child’s birthday party. Surrounding the playground is a beautifully landscaped park. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to dusk.
State Parks
Curry Hammock State Park
Curry Hammock is made up of a group of islands in the Middle Keys, with public access to swimming, a playground, picnic tables, grills and showers on the ocean side of Little Crawl Key. The hardwood hammocks found on these tropical islands support one of the largest populations of thatch palms in the United States. Mangrove swamps, seagrass beds and wetlands provide vital habitats for tropical wildlife.
Curry Hammock is a full service camping facility and is open from 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year.
Bahia Honda State Park
Henry Flagler’s railroad to Key West turned the remote island of Bahia Honda Key into a tropical destination. Today, the island is home to one of Florida’s southernmost state parks, known for beautiful beaches, magnificent sunsets and excellent snorkeling. Visitors can picnic on the beach and take a swim or relax and enjoy the balmy sea breezes that caress the shores year-round. Anglers can fish from shore or bring a boat and launch at the boat ramp. Kayaks and snorkeling gear can be rented. Boat trips to the reef for a snorkeling excursion are available. Bahia Honda is an excellent place to see wading birds and shorebirds. The nature center introduces nature lovers to the island’s plants and animals.
Full-facility campsites and vacation cabins are available, and the park is open from 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year.
