Using a suburb of Miami as our base of operations, we headed out for a day to experience one of the city’s beaches.
Google Maps provided options, and we sifted through all the nude beaches, nude gay beaches, party beaches, and others to find the most “family friendly” choice. We aimed for relaxation and wanted to experience a tropical beach without distraction. Maybe do some worldbuilding for the book and whatnot.
Crandon Park fit the bill, and it delivered.
The beach sprawled. Clumps of palm trees stood scattered all around, under which beachgoers sheltered from the harsh midday sun. Lifeguard huts, interesting pieces of architecture in their own right, created a laid-back atmosphere, though no guardians occupied them.
The water glittered transparently at the shore and deepened to blue as it stretched toward the horizon. Patches of dark eelgrass broke up the underwater scene and swayed their slimy fingers at us. We avoided those areas.
This beach eschewed crashing waves in favor of a placid undulation. I think we missed the sound and motion of surf, but we took advantage of the lolling water and sat neck-deep in it for quite a while, without having to worry about taking a breaker to the face. Very relaxing.
As we reclined on the beach, the park’s wildlife astonished us. White ibises, iguanas, brown anoles, woodpeckers, Muscovy ducks, seagulls, and other fauna appeared and vanished. Ants were the only unwelcome guests, because they waged war on our feet.
On the whole, though, Crandon Park relaxed and rejuvenated us. The most stressful event of the day was the momentary anxiety that a woodpecker would loose a coconut on our heads while we sat at a picnic table under a palm. If only I could say the same about every day.
We left the park in the late afternoon, once the majestic mass of inland clouds revealed itself as a storm head.
If Crandon Park indicates the quality of other Miami beaches, we look forward to visiting them next time we travel to the area.