From Grove to Coast: A Perfect Day at Miami's Best Beaches

The ebb and flow of the tide sweeps in and out of an atoll pool, where mangrove roots intertwine among hidden waterways and sheltered coves, and a 19th-century lighthouse keeps watch over a mile of unspoiled shoreline. What ties these places together? They're all part of a stretch of the South Florida coast just minutes from Four Seasons Coconut Grove residences. Life here comes with the ease of tailored services, a signature restaurant, and resort-style amenities that make every day feel both effortless. 

Half an hour from the property, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park anchors a landscape of remarkable variety as part of Florida's 175-park system, named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. It's an honor that the state has earned more times than any other, and a spirit reflected in nearby Miami-Dade's beloved green spaces — like Matheson Hammock and others — where locals linger, families gather, and visitors return for the simple pleasure of being outdoors. 

A short jaunt from Four Seasons Coconut Grove, this stretch of coastline unfolds like nature's gallery, each park offering a different perspective: the calm of Matheson Hammock's tidal pool and marina; the palm-fringed and mangrove-lined shoreline of Crandon; the sweeping views from Bill Baggs Cape Florida's historic lighthouse. Taken together, they paint a dynamic portrait of South Florida's coastal heritage, each adding its own defining detail.

Matheson Hammock Park Beach | 9610 Old Cutler Road, Miami
Matheson Hammock Park takes its name from the rare tropical hardwood hammock that thrives here, a live oak, and other native trees growing on slightly higher ground than the surrounding wetlands. This natural “island” shelters wildlife, cools the air, and offers a glimpse of the coastal landscape that historically defined much of South Florida. The mangrove shoreline attracts wading birds and creates a quiet, nature-immersed feel. Within the park, a purpose-built atoll pool is replenished by the sea, its waters protected from waves — ideal for family-friendly swimming. The nearby marina brings a hum of activity with boats crossing the broad expanse of Biscayne Bay, blending the park's deep-rooted heritage with the ease of waterside recreation.

Crandon Park Beach | 6747 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne
Crandon Park stretches across the northern edge of Key Biscayne, originally a historic coconut plantation that's now celebrated as a serene, palm-fringed coastal retreat. A two‑mile beach leads into calm shallows, thanks to an ever‑shifting offshore sandbar. These enclosed inlets offer encounters with marine life, starfish, parrotfish, and even pufferfish, for those wading or swimming at low tide. 

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center at the park's northern end is a gateway to discovery. Here, guided eco‑adventures invite families to wander through easy-to-explore seagrass habitats, to gently net and release creatures like starfish and sea urchins while learning about the ecosystem first‑hand. 

Visitors describe Crandon Park as a quiet, relaxing destination, less crowded and refreshing with clear, tranquil waters that feel more Caribbean than urban Florida. 

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park | 1200 S. Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne
At the southern tip of Key Biscayne, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park invites a sense of discovery and stillness. Arrive early enough, and you may have the beach entirely to yourself. A rugged shoreline extends for more than a mile of Atlantic sand that's repeatedly ranked among the nation's top beaches. 

Climbing the nearly 200‑year‑old Cape Florida Lighthouse — Miami‑Dade's oldest standing structure — presents an irresistible draw. Its wrap-around balcony wows with a vista of Stiltsville, Biscayne Bay, and the glint of Miami's skyline.  

Trails that curve beneath coastal hammocks invite exploration on foot or by bike, winding through native foliage rich with flora and fauna.  

Here, restoration and history converge: the park safeguards rare ecosystems and cultural memories, from migratory‑bird habitats to its role in the Saltwater Underground Railroad, a departure point in the early 1800s for freedom seekers bound for the Bahamas. 

From thoughtful amenities to carefully considered details in every residence, Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove feels like its own destination. Yet when the mood strikes, the Florida coast offers a collection of rich experiences just minutes away, parks where history, nature, and the coast come together in ways as memorable and meaningful as home. To make one of these unique Miami residences yours, contact our team to learn more.