All About Beautiful South Beach

South Beach is one of Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s most iconic destinations, offering a mix of relaxation, recreation and culture.

From taking a stroll on Beachwalk to people-watching in the park and soaking up a sunset view from the pier, there’s no shortage of things to do in South Beach – both on and off the sand.

Whether you’re snapping photos on Ocean Drive or taking a dip in the blue waters, South Beach is packed with activities and stunning scenery.

Family-Friendly Areas And Beach Activities

The iconic Lummus Park borders a 10-block stretch of South Beach (5th street to 14th place), offering grounds for a variety of beachside activities.

Perfectly positioned between the sand and bustling Ocean Drive, Lummus Park serves as a central hub, offering an array of amenities and public facilities.

The South Beach park’s two playgrounds are designed for different age groups (one for ages 2 to 5 and another for up to age 12), and parents can enjoy the sea breeze while the little ones have some fun.

Over at the southernmost tip of South Beach, South Pointe Park has its own beach, a 450-foot fishing pier, waterfront walking trails and much more.

While parents prepare a picnic or barbecue in the park’s designated areas, kids can enjoy the neighboring splash pad equipped with motion-activated features and water cannons.

For a post-picnic or playtime treat, head to the nearby South Pointe Café for a smoothie, juice, coffee or ice cream.

Beachside Exercise And Water Sports

Stretching from 1st to 87th streets, Beachwalk is a 9-mile pedestrian promenade bordering the shoreline. The trail was converted from its original wooden South Beach boardwalk to a wider, ADA-accessible paver pathway.

Along the way, pedestrians can expect to find restrooms, water fountains, playgrounds, parking and more. If you don’t want to go on foot, Miami Beach’s Citi Bike program has over 160 bike rental stations across the city, available 24 hours a day.

In the Lummus Park area, veer off Beachwalk to find 18 beach volleyball courts, an outdoor barbell gym and a variety of other workout amenities.

The park’s two signature installations, the Leopard Tree and MyBeast, are functional structures that blend art with exercise components. The installations feature a range of equipment, including box jumps, sliding push-up handles and pull-up bars.

On 3rd Street, step into the sand for a donation-based beach yoga class, offered twice daily, 365 days a year. For a beach day adventure, head to one of BouYah Watersports’ locations, where jet skis, kayaks, paddle boards and parasail rentals await.

Photo Opportunities

No visit to South Beach is complete without a few solo or group photos with the destination’s renowned surroundings as a backdrop.

One of South Beach’s most iconic photo-ops, the lifeguard towers, were designed by queer architect William Lane. Largely influenced by Miami’s Art Deco style and the city’s LGBTQ community, the towers vary in design elements and colors, standing as unique works of art atop the sand.

Over at the southernmost point, South Pointe Park’s pier and jetty are great photo opportunities. The jetty and 450-foot pier offer an unparalleled, unobstructed view of the water with the city skyline as a backdrop.

If your dog has tagged along for a beach day, South Pointe’s Bark Park has its own pup photo-op.

The bark park’s “On Doodie” Lifeguard Tower features a little on-ramp for the dogs, alongside mounted life preservers that your furry friend’s head can pop through for an adorable photo.

11th/12th Street Beach

Long known as South Beach’s LGBTQ hub, the beach between 11th and 12th streets has been dubbed “The Gay Beach.”

The stretch of beach features one of William Lane’s Miami Beach lifeguard towers, with a stunning pride flag façade. This beach has been the home of large LGBTQ events, including Miami Beach Pride.

Across the street, beachgoers can find two celebrated LGBTQ community establishments – Palace Bar & Restaurant and Twist – offering brunch, happy hour and fabulous drag queen performances.

Snacks On The Actual Beach

For a completely worry-free beach day, set up camp in one of the areas with full service to the sand.

A variety of hotels on the beach like the Marriott Stanton South Beach, offer food and beverage service for those renting chairs, umbrellas and cabanas.

If you’d rather handle your own setup, but would still like food and drinks brought to you, Lolo’s Surf Cantina has a dedicated beach service menu of food, beverages and cocktails.

Facilities And Rentals

Operating a large portion of Miami Beach’s lounge furniture rentals, Boucher Brothers has you covered with everything from chairs and umbrellas to lounges and queen-sized cabanas. Rentals can be secured at one of the Boucher Brothers’ beach huts on a first-come, first-served basis.

When in need of a quick rinse, beachgoers can find public restrooms, beach wash stations and water fountains in Lummus Park, located on South Beach’s 6th, 10th and 14th streets.

South Pointe beach offers umbrella and chair rentals, as well as restrooms and outdoor showers. Throughout the park, guests can expect a variety of food and refreshment locations for a pick-me-up.

Pet-Friendly Beach

In South Beach, dogs are allowed to roam off leash at the 21st Street beach between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. from November through March, and between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. from April through October.

South Beach also offers five enclosed Bark Parks with benches, drinking fountains with doggy water spigots and waste containers.