Surfside: Beach, History and Recreation

Surfside combines an approximately one-mile public beach with historic sites, art, and community recreation facilities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Surfside, you can consider which of these aspects you’d like to shape your stay: time at the beach, a look at history and art, or exercise and sports. These different themes offer a practical basis for choosing the destination according to your plans.

Beach, seasonal nature, and public art

Surfside’s public beach is approximately one mile long. As a seasonal natural feature, loggerhead sea turtles return to Surfside each year during nesting season. The turtle theme also appears in the form of art: the Turtle Walk is a public exhibition of colorful fiberglass sea turtle sculptures created by local artists. A recurring natural feature and a public art exhibition are presented side by side. If you associate Surfside with the coast and turtles, you can factor both nesting season and the artistic theme into your travel plans.

Historic traces from different periods

The Collins Avenue Historic District was established in 2016 to recognize nine buildings on the west side of Collins Avenue and the east side of Harding Avenue, between 90th and 91st Streets. A much older historical connection leads to the Tequesta. The age of some excavated artifacts suggests that they lived in Surfside for as long as 2,000 years. The main Tequesta site in the Surfside area was on the barrier island of Miami Beach: a village that archaeologists call a “midden,” and a burial mound on the shore of Indian Creek, between what are now 91st and 95th Streets. The difference in time periods is striking: a designated building district was established in 2016, while the artifacts point to a Tequesta presence lasting as long as 2,000 years.

Recreation, sports, and water

96th Street Park is Surfside’s main recreation area. Its facilities include a multipurpose field, a multilevel building, and playground equipment. The Beach Hard Path Fitness Trail follows a paved path from 89th to 95th Street and has eight outdoor exercise stations. The Surfside Tennis Center offers a different kind of sports activity, with three lighted courts for recreational and instructional play. The exercise options therefore differ in their facilities and formats.

The Surfside Community Center has a recreational lap pool, a dive pool with a slide, a children’s activity pool, and a whirlpool. Kayak Launch is also located in 96th Street Park. It is in a natural area and wetland preserve where wildlife may be present. The park thus offers both recreational facilities and a natural area where wildlife may be encountered.

Business district and hotel stay

Surfside’s business and commercial district spans two blocks and includes restaurants, boutiques, and services. It complements the themes of beach, history, and recreation with a focus on dining, shopping, and local services.

Hotel guests also have a practical pool rule to keep in mind: guests at a hotel in Surfside may use a pool if they present valid proof of their stay. If you plan to take advantage of this option, have proof of your stay ready.

Discover more destinations: Opa-locka, Glenvar Heights, Cutler Bay, North Miami Beach, Homestead, North Miami, Coral Gables, Hialeah.

For the broader travel overview: Miami-Dade.