Veterans Memorial Park(Little Duck Key)

Located in the island city of Key West, Veterans Memorial Park has a small and narrow beach situated on the west side of the historic Seven Mile Bridge.  Veterans Memorial Park is adjacent to Bahia Honda State Park and has shallow waters making it a perfect destination for swimming.  Veterans Memorial Park is a well-known birdwatching destination – it is filled with pelicans and snowy plovers. 

Although Veterans Memorial Park does not have lifeguards, the park welcomes dogs and offers many amenities including restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and a pier. 

There are many fun activities at Veterans Memorial Park including swimming, fishing, kiteboarding, beach walking, and sunbathing. 

Getting to Veterans Memorial Park is very easy – the park has a free and small parking lot that is situated at 39900 Overseas Highway. After parking, you will need to walk a few minutes east to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Veterans Memorial Park, you can drive 25 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 Veterans Memorial Park is Duval Street’s Sunset Pier which is a part of the lively Duval Street and is a great spot for photography and picnicking. 

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within an eight-minute drive of Veterans Memorial Park. The upscale vegetarian-friendly fine dining restaurant Bel Mare serves scallops, pork belly, burritos, beets, shrimps, and wines. If you like French cuisine, Banana Café is known for its crepes, comfortable atmosphere, and artsy walls. Another good restaurant near Veterans Memorial Park 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 Veterans Memorial Park, there are many hotels within a 12-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, 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 Veterans Memorial Park, the 2-Star NYAH Key West features three pools and diving, fishing, snorkeling, and windsurfing tours.