Matheson Hammock Park
This tropical park and marina offers a fun and family-friendly atoll swimming pool, a breezy beach for watersports and mangrove and palm-lined nature trails.
Matheson Hammock Park is a waterfront urban park bordered by the beautiful Biscayne Bay and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The lush, scenic park features a man-made atoll pool filled with fresh seawater from the tides of the bay. Find a state-of-the-art marina, shallow waters for kitesurfing and paddleboarding and a long, winding bike path dotted with palms, mangroves and ficus trees. Enjoy a taste of “Old Florida” at the park’s restaurant or bring your own picnic to the park’s pavilions.
Explore the scenic oasis of Matheson Hammock Park’s foreshore and find a shady spot on the sand beneath a palm tree to relax for the afternoon. Kids will love the enclosed seawater atoll pool and its warm, shallow waters. Lifeguards patrol the lagoon during park opening hours. Rent a kitesurfer, kayak or paddleboard from the park’s concession stands and head out into the ocean.
Walk or cycle through Matheson Hammock Park’s scenic nature trails. Cook lunch on the pavilion’s charcoal grills and enjoy eating by the tranquil lake.
Learn to sail with a local expert from the Castle Harbor Sailing School or rent a boat and head out on a fishing trip. Collect everything you need from the on-site fishing tackle shop.
Book a table at the park’s seafood restaurant, located within a historic waterfront pavilion. The restaurant also offers casual snacks throughout the day. Take in breathtaking views of the Miami skyline and Key Biscayne as the sun sets over the bay.
Matheson Hammock Park is located a short distance south of Coral Cables, near to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The park is accessible sunrise to sunset but the park’s restaurant is open until late in the evening, except Mondays. The park is free to enter but parking on-site will incur a small fee. Bring plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent when visiting in the warmer months.