Sombrero Beach

Sombrero Beach is a public sandy beach on Marathon’s Atlantic side, with a shady city park just behind the shore. It works well for a beach-and-picnic stop: there are restrooms, showers, picnic pavilions, a playground and volleyball courts. The usable shoreline is modest, so arrive early on holidays or in high season if you want a little more room.

Parking sits beside the park, and a wide, flat path leads from the facilities toward the beach. The City says its 2001 redevelopment added accessibility improvements. There are no RV or bus spaces, and visitors often report tight parking when the beach is busy. Leashed dogs are allowed; keep them on leash and clean up after them.

People come to swim, wade, sunbathe and play volleyball, with picnic shade and a playground close by. Reviews disagree about water clarity and the amount of seaweed: some visits are clear and clean, while others find the shore cloudy, weedy or smelly. Treat clear water as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

Loggerhead turtles nest here, mostly at night from April through October. The City limits activity around active nests, which usually take up less than a tenth of the available beach. Give marked areas space and follow the posted protections.

For a photo, include palms and beach grass at the edge of the sand instead of pointing straight at open water. That foreground gives the shoreline a sense of place, and the palms stand out against the pale beach.