Curry Hammock State Park
Marathon, FL
Curry Hammock State Park holds one of the last stretches of undeveloped tropical hardwood hammock left in the middle Keys, with a 1,200 foot beach on the Atlantic side that turns into a kiteboarding scene whenever the wind picks up. On calmer days it's simply a quiet spot for swimming and snorkeling, well off the more crowded stretches of the Overseas Highway.
The hammock habitat and kiteboarding scene give it a different character than most Keys beaches, though the small lot means a windy Saturday can mean circling for parking.
How we score beachesWindy days bring out the kiteboarders in numbers worth watching even if you're not one yourself, worth timing a visit around if that's of interest. The small lot fills fast on breezy weekends, so get there early or expect to circle for a spot.
The entrance fee is 5 dollars per vehicle for 2 to 8 people, 4 dollars for a single occupant, 2 dollars for pedestrians or cyclists. The lot is small and fills quickly on windy days when kiteboarders show up in force.
A short, mostly flat path leads from the lot to the beach. The hammock trails further into the park are packed dirt and somewhat uneven, better suited to a casual hike than a stroller.
Leashed dogs are welcome elsewhere in the park, but pets aren't allowed on the beach, in picnic shelters, or in the bathhouses.
Winter's steady trade winds are peak kiteboarding season here, while calmer summer days suit swimming and snorkeling better despite the heat and hurricane season, June through November. Water stays warm enough to swim nearly year round.
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