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Bahia Honda, one of the best Florida beaches Sandspur, and one of a kind Eco System!
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Imagine yourself waking up in the morning, getting dressed, opening your tent and you’re only a few feet away from the shore line of the Atlantic ocean, one of the best Florida beaches. You start up the camp stove to start water for coffee. You are at Bahia Honda State Park! It’s early and now that first cup of coffee is ready. You position your beach chair at your campsite, a gentle sea breeze to your face, and watch the spectacle of the sun coming up and the first hint of daylight.
It was just last night you drove from Marathon, across the 7-mile bridge, Little Duck,Missouri and Ohio Keys and turned left into Bahia Honda Sandspur, one of the best Florida beaches (mile marker 36.5). You checked in, got a map to your site, and started setting up camp. You look up and there are more stars in the sky than you thought existed. I digress.
Let me make a short comment about Mile Markers (mm)or (MM). There really is no half mm sign. This is a way to give a traveler an approximation of where a particular location is. You will know that if something is marked, as this Bahia Honda site is at mm36.5, it is approximately half way between mm36 and mm37. If a mm is listed as such, mm36.5 GS you will need to look to the Gulf side of the key. If it is listed as mm36.5 OS, then you look towards the Ocean Side for whatever it is. This is commonly, not all the time, used for mail down here. I digress again.
As the sleep mode washes away at one of the best Florida beaches, the horizon is displaying a build up of billowing clouds. Forms and shapes you only see in the pictures from outer space of different constellations and births of constellations. Breathtaking. Muted colors of multiple grays start evolving into oranges, yellows, pinks, and whites. The gentle lapping sound of the ripples of waves washing up on the beach are crashing the silence. Remember, this is just not any ordinary beach, this is Sandspur Beach, recognized as one of the BEST beaches in continental United States. Several miles long, it is waiting to turn from the brownish/gray color it is now, to become a brilliant white sand as the sun rises. Bahia Honda, 276 acres, the whole Key is the park, roughly a 6 mile trek around the perimeter. The Sandspur beach is made possible by the many gaps in the reefs offshore. This allows the water and wave action push sand further into shore and build it up. The description is not subjective of one of the best Florida beaches, Sandspur. In every sense we are talking about a superlative experience. This is an impression you will take away with you. The best part is that each morning will give way to new impressions. The horizon will be different, the local bird calls, the action of the water, the colors of the clouds, and even the color of the water will give a painter and writer pause as to which palette of paints and hues should I use or which words properly describe your senses, as one of the best Florida beaches
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To make this possible, you remember that it was a year ago that you made this reservation, for one the best Florida beaches. Every site here is booked a year in advance. You had the choice of campsites (primitive or developed) or a cabin. A tip for you is that just a mile back from where you came in, Ohio Key, is a campground called Sunshine. I’ve also stayed there when I was not so certain when I could come. I’ve spent the equivalent of months of time camping there as well. Additionally, there is the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge, just 3 miles further down from Bahia Honda. You can see it if you were standing on the south/west corner of Bahia Honda. This is if you can’t get a reservation.
As the sun rises over the horizon of one of the best Florida beaches, displaying a whole new palette of cloud formations and colors, it’s time to think about planning the day or days. Where to start?
It has always been amazing to me that 276 acres could offer so much. Even today, I prefer to wander over to the Sand and Sea Nature Center. The park rangers have a modest aquarium set up of “whose who” of the marine life around you. They also have environmental activities, usually, that you can actually participate in. Additionally, they will have various local Nature videos for insight. I use this time to help get a “feel” for what is going on, either for this season or year. Ask the park ranger what is going on, “anything unique or unusual” going on that you should see? Yes, things change. Once having done that, then you can plan your time, for one of the best Florida beaches.
There are several activities that seem to be always available. I have usually taken these in so, again, I can get a “feel” of what is happening around me. I remember the first several times coming down here I tried to go it on my own. Boy, was that a mistake! I “flew” through things I didn’t even know were there! After all it’s ONLY 276 acres, at one of the best Florida beaches! Right?
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First, check out the air conditioned Snack Bar. There are all sorts of things in there. You can get sandwiches, ice cream, cookies, drinks, souvenirs, and a limited amount of various beach supplies. Additionally, this is where rentals for snorkeling equipment, beach chairs, windsurf boards, rafts, and kayaks takes place. Finally, this is where you would pick up tickets for the snorkeling boat trip, usually done twice daily, out to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. The fact that you’ve already been to the Sand and Sea Nature Center, this will help pick out what some of these marine life forms are. Now this is a trip to a spot of the southern side of Bahia Honda to an approximate 5 square mile area. You will have approximately 1 ½ hrs of actual snorkeling time. Even for a relatively competent swimmer, this is MORE than enough time. This is a coral reef area around an old British Frigate that sunk well over a hundred years ago. This area is completely compareable to John Pennekamp (up around Key Largo) but just a smaller version.
Hiking and walking trails, at one of the best Florida beaches, are beautiful and relatively easy to do. JUST MAKE SURE YOU BRING WATER! The sun gets hot in this subtropical climate. There is a walking trail down to the south-west corner to South Sound. There are trails which will take you over the Overseas Highway (US1) to the lagoon side of Bahia Honda. Most, if not all, is a dune ecosystem. There are dunes of course but, you will also see dense tropical spreads of Sea Lavender, Bay Cedar, Silver Palms, Railroad vine, Cattails, Spider Lillies, Jamaica Morning Glories, Saw Grass, and rare West Indies Satinwood. To get the most complete, and I mean COMPLETE list of plants, animals, birds, butterfly's, and sea turtles on Bahia Honda go to this Florida Online Park Guide.
Kayaking destinations ABOUND! I will simply list some of the ones I’ve done.
1- South-west corner of Bahia Honda Sandspur, one of the best Florida beaches, South Sound, up thru a narrow tributary into the center of the Key to a lagoon. A trip along this inside shore line will boggle your mind with all sorts of marine, bird, and animal wildlife. Parts of Bahia Honda are part of the Key Deer Refuge. You never know when one will pop into sight.
2- Full perimeter tour of the out side of Bahia Honda, approximately 6 miles. Midway along the north side of the Key is a good low tide beach for resting. Depths and moods of the water change, all around the key. For example the Gulf side will run 2-10 feet rather calm, Atlantic side 5-20 feet with surf, and Bahia Honda Channel(west side) 20-30 feet with rough chop (can be tricky).
3- Other trips could be to Rachel Carson Key to the east, just off (app rox ¼ mile, or try paddling out to Little Bahia Honda on south-west side (pretty rocky key but great snorkeling)
4- For the more advanced, you can kayak over to the Missouri and Ohio Keys to the east.
5- Finally, for the more “seasoned/advanced” kayaker, you could go up north-west to No Name Key. This is approximately 2 ½ to 3 miles ONE WAY across the Bhia Honda Channel and open water. First make sure weather is clear!
Finally, Spring time, around one of the best Florida beaches, will bring about the migration of Barn Swallows, Warblers, and shore birds up north. April through October will bring the wandering sea turtles in to lay their eggs. There are STRICT protection laws with these turtles. Look but do not approach or touch.
Well, those are some of my impressions of Bahia Honda Sandspur, one of the best Florida beaches. I acquire new ones and reinforce past ones each time I go. What will your impressions be to give that one reason to come back. Contact me, tell me “what is your reason” for going to Bahia Honda.
Hope to see you there on Bahia Honda, one of the best Florida beaches. SOON! 
Spring Break Destinations! @ "Book Now! Buy Here!"
gonenative@floridakeysimpressions.com
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