Horseshoe Beach
Big Pine Key, FL
A small, easy to miss stretch of sand in the lower Keys, well away from the crowds that head straight for Key West. Locals value it precisely because most visitors driving the Overseas Highway never think to stop.
Easy to miss on the drive to Key West, which is exactly why locals value it, there's little to no shade so plan sun protection accordingly.
How we score beachesThere is little to no shade, so plan your sun protection accordingly for a Keys midday visit.
Leashed dogs are allowed at Horseshoe Beach under Monroe County's standard park rules, which require owners to clean up after their pets.
The Keys stay warm nearly year round, water rarely dropping out of the 70s even in winter, though summer brings the heaviest humidity and the core of hurricane season, June through November. Winter and spring are when locals rate the conditions most comfortable.
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