Matheson Hammock Park
Coral Gables, FL
Matheson Hammock Park's atoll pool is a manmade lagoon flushed naturally by the tide, calm and shallow enough that it's become one of Miami's most trusted spots for young kids to swim in open water. The park's 630 acres of tropical hammock and mangrove surround the pool, along with a marina for anyone continuing out onto Biscayne Bay.
The calm, shallow atoll pool is a genuine standout for families with young kids, a rare kind of swimming spot this close to the city, though the no pets policy in the main park is a real limitation for anyone traveling with a dog.
How we score beachesGo at low tide if the atoll pool's water clarity matters to you, incoming tide stirs up more sediment than a falling one. This is a different, better-swimming-focused place than the nearby R. Hardy Matheson Preserve, don't confuse the two despite the similar name.
The parking fee runs around 5 dollars on weekdays, higher on weekends and holidays; rates vary by source so check current signage.
Paved paths lead from the lots to the atoll pool, flat and easy for most visitors.
Pets aren't allowed in the main park area, though dogs are permitted in West Matheson Hammock Park, a separate section.
Winter and spring bring South Florida's driest, mildest weather and the biggest crowds. Summer's heat and hurricane season, June through November, thin things out despite the warmest water of the year.
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