{"id":1831,"date":"2013-09-25T11:54:16","date_gmt":"2013-09-25T15:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=1831"},"modified":"2013-09-25T11:54:16","modified_gmt":"2013-09-25T15:54:16","slug":"both-parents-and-their-kids-can-enjoy-outdoor-beach-fun-on-key-biscayne","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=1831","title":{"rendered":"Both parents and their kids can enjoy outdoor, beach fun on Key Biscayne"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted September 25, 2013<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By PABLO CHACON-ALVAREZ<\/p>\n

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. \u2014 Key Biscayne resident, Gabriel Martinez loves to cool off in the Ocean Club Tennis Center after his morning tennis lesson. Once he catches his breath and rehydrates he\u2019s off to meet up with his friends at the Key Biscayne Community Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no place like the Key,\u201d said Martinez, 11. \u201cIt\u2019s an island, so obviously we have the best beaches, but there\u2019s also a bunch of other stuff to do. We\u2019ve got sports, games, parks, it\u2019s awesome!\u201d<\/p>\n

Key Biscayne is an island community in Miami-Dade County in South Florida. A paradise destination lying just south of Miami Beach and southeast of downtown Miami.<\/p>\n

The seven-mile long island is connected to the mainland via the Rickenbacker Causeway, originally built in 1947. After crossing the tollbooth visitors encounter the first of two bridges, which leads to Virginia Key, a barrier island just north of Key Biscayne.<\/p>\n

Virginia Key is home to a number of attractions such as the Miami Seaquarium and the Virginia Key Beach Park. It is connected to Key Biscayne by a second shorter bridge.<\/p>\n

Unlike the typical Miami travel experience, Key Biscayne is a quiet tranquil island getaway. The village is full of family friendly activities making this the ideal destination for parents and children alike.<\/p>\n

\u201cKey Biscayne is, was, and always will be a beautiful place,\u201d said Patricia Villegas, 53. \u201cMy parents bought a place in the early ’70s and its been in the family since.\u201d<\/p>\n

After vacationing for years on the island,\u00a0Villegas realized that Key Biscayne would be the perfect place to raise her children.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe good schools and safe environment were exactly what my family needed,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Virginia Key Beach Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

Virginia Key Beach was originally only accessible by boat. Established in 1945, Virginia Beach was highly popular with locals and visitors until it was closed in 1982 due to high maintenance costs. The public park remained closed until 2008, when local citizens formed the Virginia Key Beach Park Task Force in response to plans for private development of the property.<\/p>\n

Today, Virginia Key Beach is open to the public and hosts a variety of attractions.<\/p>\n

Most people go to Virginia Key in search of its beautiful beaches. Visitors can enjoy a mile-long stretch of recently renovated shoreline with an un-obstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.<\/p>\n

While parents relax by the beach and soak in the sun, children can go swimming, enjoy the playground, take a spin on the antique carousel or ride on the miniature train.<\/p>\n

The park also has picnic areas where families can enjoy lunch together. On weekends, the Historic Concession Stand serves seaside sandwiches, salads, beverages and treats.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love coming here with the kids on weekends,\u201d said Rosario Riascos. \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect place for me to unwind, and my kids never get bored.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miami Seaquarium<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Miami Seaquarium is also located on Virginia Key and has one of the world’s largest collections of marine animals. In addition to marine mammals the Miami Seaquarium houses fish, sharks, sea turtles, birds, reptiles and manatees.<\/p>\n

The park offers daily presentations and hosts overnight camps as well as events for boy scouts and other group programs.<\/p>\n

One of the park\u2019s most popular attractions is Lolita the Killer Whale. Lolita arrived at the the Miami Seaquarium in 1970 and is currently the park\u2019s only orca. She is one of the world’s oldest captive orcas.<\/p>\n

Key Biscayne Community Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Key Biscayne Community Center located in the heart of the Village of Key Biscayne is a popular destination for adults and kids.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe coolest place on the island is definitely the Community Center,\u201d said Eduardo Chiaparra, 10. \u201cI pretty much go everyday with my friends. We play basketball, video games, run around the game room. It\u2019s a whole lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Key Biscayne Community Center is open to both residents and visitors. Opened in 2004, the Community Center provides visitors with indoor multi-use courts, indoor playgrounds, video game and computer rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and a fully equipped gym.<\/p>\n

There are also various classes and programs available to visitors of the Key Biscayne Community Center. While the kids run around having fun, parents can enjoy group spinning classes, group yoga classes or group pilates.<\/p>\n

Group classes are also available for children including arts and crafts, music and dance or athletics.<\/p>\n

The Ocean Club Tennis Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ocean Club is a gated ocean-front community in Key Biscayne. While many of its amenities are reserved strictly for the use of those who own or lease property, its tennis center is open to the public.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love taking tennis lessons at the Ocean Club,\u201d said Maxi Heinz, 10. \u201cThe coaches are great and I get to take classes with all my friends so it\u2019s super fun. I pretty much go everyday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from being able to reserve an instructor for a private tennis lesson at any time there are also various programs available to visitors of the Ocean Club Tennis Center. Every afternoon coaches hold Junior Clinics which are group tennis classes for kids. Adult Clinics are offered every evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bring my daughter here for lessons every Tuesday and Thursday,\u201d said Lesley Hernandez. \u201cWhile she\u2019s doing her clinic I take a private lesson with one of the instructors. It\u2019s a great workout.\u201d<\/p>\n

After lessons visitors can purchase drinks and snacks inside the air-conditioned club house.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up on Key Biscayne was out of this world,\u201d said Sebastian Delgado, 22. \u201cIt\u2019s a small community so everything is close by and everyone knows each other. It gives kids the freedom to do whatever they want and go wherever they want. There\u2019s not many places like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

If You Go<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rickenbacker Causeway<\/em>
\n<\/b>Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
\nToll is $1.50.<\/p>\n

Virginia Key Beach Park<\/em>
\n<\/b>Park open year round from sunrise to sunset.
\nVehicle weekday admission: $7.
\nVehicle weekend admission: $5.
\nCyclist admission: $1.
\n\u2018Biscayne Virginia Rickenbacker Central\u2019 Miniature Train Ride $1.
\n\u2018Allan Herschell\u2019 Vintage Carousel $1.
\nhttp:\/\/www.virginiakeybeachpark.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Miami Seaquarium<\/em>
\n<\/b>General Admission $39.95
\nChildren (3 to 9) $29.95
\nhttp:\/\/miamiseaquarium.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Key Biscayne Community Center<\/em>
\n<\/b>Adult Day Pass $13.
\nYouth Day Pass $9.
\nSenior Day Pass $9.
\nStudent Day Pass $10.
\nPrices of classes and programs vary depending on season.
\nhttp:\/\/www.activeislander.org<\/a>\/<\/p>\n

The Ocean Club Tennis Center<\/em>
\n<\/b>Adult Clinic $28.
\nJunior Clinic $25.
\nPrivate one hour lesson $70.
\nPrivate half hour lesson $50.
\nSemi-private (2 or 3 people) lesson $100.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Posted September 25, 2013 By PABLO CHACON-ALVAREZ KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. \u2014 Key Biscayne resident, Gabriel Martinez loves to cool off in the Ocean Club Tennis Center after his morning tennis lesson. Once he catches his breath and rehydrates he\u2019s off … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":65,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"sidebar-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1831","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1831","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1831"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1831\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1833,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1831\/revisions\/1833"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}