Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Located in Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park - also known locally as Fort Taylor and Fort Zach - is a state park that has an unnamed yet immensely popular beach. This park is also known as Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach, Rocky Beach, Fort Zach Beach, and Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. This beach also has light brown sand, some rocky portions, and a sloping incline. A grove of trees is also present near the beach. Rocky jetties are also present on both of the beach’s ends. The Gulf of Mexico also meets the main part of the Atlantic Ocean near this beach.

 The beach at Fort Zachary Taylor historic State Park does not have lifeguards, however, the beach and the area around it have many amenities including restrooms, showers, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, concession stands, and canoe and kayak launching facilities. In addition, beach-chairs, beach umbrellas, and snorkeling gear rental facilities are also provided near this beach. 

The beach in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, picnicking, biking, kitesurfing, windsurfing, fishing, wildlife watching, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, surf-skiing, and boating. The water near the beach is generally calm and has a gradual depth, making it ideal for beginner swimmers, kayakers, canoers, and paddleboarders. In addition, the clear water here is also slightly deeper than other Key West Beaches, which offers a relatively better snorkeling and diving experience. The water near this beach has reefs, which can be explored by divers and snorkelers. You can see many kinds of wonderful aquatic creatures here including parrotfish, lobster, tarpon, and snappers. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, we recommend wearing water shoes as the water here has a rocky bottom. If you are planning to fish in the water near the beach, we recommend that you follow the local fishing regulations. The beach in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Getting to the beach in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is easy - the state park is present near 601 Howard England Way, where parking lots are also available. However, it is important to note that you need to pay a small fee for accessing Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park has a 19th-century fort named Fort Zachary Taylor (also known as Fort Taylor), which is a part of the United States’ National Register of Historic Places. The fort’s premises offer a unique insight into the military history of Southern Florida and this fort also has one of the largest collections of Civil War-era armaments in the United States. The state park also hosts many interesting events throughout the year including multiple exciting American Civil War battle re-enactments, a pirate festival, boat races, and concerts. The state park, which is the southernmost state park of the continental United States, also has a beach which offers a fun fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, and kayaking experience.

There are many great attractions near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. The Hemingway Home & Museum is set in the former home of the acclaimed writer Ernest Hemingway, who lived here between 1931 and 1940. This beautiful 19th-century house and the lush sprawling gardens around it are immensely popular among visitors and aspiring writers. In addition, the museum premises are also home to around 40 cats, many of which are the descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s pet cat. Harry S. Truman Little White House was initially constructed in the 19th century as a military installation. This house was later used as a seasonal vacation home and office by Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. Truman spent 175 days of his presidency in this house, which is a part of the United States’ National Register of Historic Places. Today, visitors can explore this house’s premises through guided tours and see the quarters where the former president and his family worked and lived.  If you are looking for another attraction near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum is an interesting museum which highlights the story of the local marine salvage industry, which was once a flourishing industry in Key West. The museum is set in a replicated model of a 19th century wrecker’s warehouse - wreckers were people who were generally engaged in salvaging vessels which were damaged or shipwrecked along the Florida Reef, along with rescuing sailors of the damaged vessels. This museum offers a unique insight into the lives of the people who undertook this profitable yet hazardous occupation. In addition, the museum also exhibits artifacts recovered from the salvage operation of a ship named the Isaac Allerton, which sank in 1856. The museum also has an observation tower which offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Key West shoreline and the Atlantic Ocean.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Azur is an upscale restaurant which serves amazing Mediterranean-inspired gourmet dishes. In addition, the restaurant also has an outdoor dining area.  Lobster Shack Key West is an immensely popular restaurant which serves excellent lobster rolls, lobster sandwiches, and freshly prepared seafood salads. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Pepe’s Cafe Key West serves excellent breakfast dishes, sandwiches, soups, chili, seafood, burgers, steaks, and salads.

If you are looking for a hotel near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Ocean Key Resort & Spa offers many amenities including a spa, a pool, a lounge, a restaurant, and a boutique. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Grand Key - Key West which offers many amenities including a restaurant, a pool with a poolside bar, a sundeck, and a waterfall. The hotel also offers free shuttle service to a nearby airport, a nearby beach, and local Key West landmarks. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, the 2-Star Seashell Motel offers many amenities including bike rental facility, a garden, and a coin-operated laundry.