Sleep with the fishes
In Florida, camping is a sticky, mosquito-laden experience. Stagnant 80-degree nights, only made hotter by the intense burn of citronella candles, are what greet the South Floridian camper most of the year. Many campgrounds in the urban sprawl are within earshot of the nearest thoroughfare, so even seclusion is hard to come by when pitching a tent in the “wilderness.” But less than an hour away from Key West, one of the most beautiful, remote camping spots in South Florida awaits you, at Bahia Honda.
Nearly all of South Florida’s waterfront land is overdeveloped. Condominiums, mansions, hotels, and restaurants dominate the shoreline from Palm Beach to Miami. Sure, there are some parks, but they are perpetually filled with humanity. The average public green space has a handful of picnic pavilions, the stray charcoal grill, weathered dunes, and a beach that’s been dredged many times over. On the other hand, there’s Bahia Honda, the sparkling emerald of the Keys; it’s not only one of the few undisturbed beachfronts in the region, but also one of the only beaches on which you can spend the night.
Info
Address 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043, +1 305.872.3210, www.bahiahondapark.com | Hours Daily 8am–sunset| Tip Forty minutes west of the park, on Big Pine Key, sits an unusual drinking establishment for locals and tourists alike. From the outside, No Name Pub (30813 Watson Blvd) looks like a standard bar, but its interior is completely blanketed in dollar bills, either stuck to or hanging from all the walls and ceilings.
For the outdoorsy types, there are traditional campgrounds perfect for setting up a tent and roughing it for a few days. But for those not as inclined to forgo creature comforts, there are six cabins situated along a cove on the southern half of the Key. For less than $200 a night, you can drive your car into the carport and stay in your own beach house, complete with central air-conditioning, hot water, bedrooms (with beds!), and bathrooms (with toilets!). From this convenient home base, you can explore the island’s pristine beaches and diverse flora and fauna. If you’re lucky, you’ll even catch a glimpse of the magnificent Miami blue butterfly.
The only hitch is that the cabins are in such high demand they’re generally booked at least one year in advance; sometimes paradise requires a little planning.
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