Founders' Park Beach(Founders Park Beach, Playground and Picnic Area)

Located in the small town of Islamorada, Founder’s Park Beach is a half-mile-long and narrow beach situated at the center of the island city of Key West. The beach is in front of a bay named Cotton Key Basin and is surrounded by coconut trees.  Founder’s Park Beach has beautiful beige-colored sand and has shallow waters making it a perfect destination for swimming. Founder’s Park Beach is very popular among kiteboarders, jet skiers, sailors, and paddleboarders. 

Founder’s Park Beach welcomes dogs and offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, playgrounds, barbecues, boat ramps, volleyball courts, a party scene, a pier, and a large shallow pool with beach access. 

There are many fun activities at Founder’s Park Beach including swimming, surfing, snorkeling, camping, fishing, hiking, kiteboarding, sailing, boating, jet-skiing, picnicking, and paddleboarding. 

Getting to Founder’s Park Beach is very easy – the beach’s free parking lot is situated at 86800 Overseas Highway and provides easy access to the beach. 

If you are looking for attractions near Founder’s Park Beach, you can drive 35 minutes to Key West Aquarium that is among the oldest aquariums in Florida and is home to exhibits on alligators, Atlantic shore fish, jellyfish, sharks, sea turtles, and a touch tank. The Hemingway Home and Museum is a very popular tourist attraction in Key West – it features the works from the life of American writer Ernest Hemingway and his large population of Hemingway cats. The incredible waterfront square Mallory Square is filled with tourists and is known for its restaurants, shops, and night festivals. Another great attraction near Founder’s Park Beach is Duval Street’s Sunset Pier that is a part of the lively Duval Street and is a great spot for pickicking and and taking Instagram-worthy pictures.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 10-minute drive of Founder’s Park Beach. The upscale vegetarian-friendly fine dining restaurant Bel Mare serves scallops, pork belly, burritos, beets, shrimp, and wines. If you like French cuisine, Banana Café is known for its crepes, comfortable atmosphere, and artsy walls. Another good restaurant near Founder’s Park Beach is the Latin American restaurant Paradise Restaurant featuring handmade cocktails and traditional dishes from various countries including Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Founder’s Park Beach, there are many hotels within a 15-minute drive. The 4-Star Marquesa Hotel is a Victorian-era hotel with two pools, a bar, and a restaurant. Opal Key Resort & Marine is a seaside 4-Star pet-friendly hotel offering a pool, poolside bar, open-air bar, spa, restaurant with water views, gym, and diving, fishing, and snorkeling tours. The 3-Star Hampton Inn Key West has a pool, poolside bar, and an open-air restaurant. If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel near Founder’s Park Beach, the 2-Star NYAH Key West features three pools and diving, fishing, snorkeling, and windsurfing tours.