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All 309 Key West Attractions »

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Southard St on Truman Annex, Key West, FL 33041
305-292-6713
Ranked #19 of 87 attractions in Key West
4.5 of 5 stars 583 Reviews
Type: Beaches, Historic Sites, State Parks
Activities: Fishing, Watching sunrise/sunset
Traveler Description: Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is the best beach in Key West. (If you are looking for prestine, white sand, you don't want Key West...)  The beach is... more »
Useful Information: Activities for young children, Activities for older children
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583 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
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    200
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    17
    4
Date Rating
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 25, 2012 NEW

There was ample shade, and the beach was not too crowded to relax comfortably. The sand is a bit rocky, and depending on how sensitive your feet are, you may need water shoes to enter the water (the rocks are not sharp, just somewhat gravelly and can be awkward to navigate right at the water line). There is a quick... More

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Ramsey, Indiana
Contributor
16 reviews 16 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 25, 2012 NEW

This was recommended to us as more of a family friendly beach in Key West. The park was beautiful, and the beach was pretty, as well. The snorkeling was great here. The kids saw all kinds of fish. It made for a fun afternoon! More

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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 24, 2012 NEW

There is not much to the fort other than the walls and canons, but it is a piece of history. Standing on the roof you can see into the surounding water and part of the town. Some parts are still being preserved, but still it allows for some great photography, and to get a look into the past. I went... More

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Atlanta
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 23, 2012 NEW

Loved the place. Great for photos (bring a flash). Easy parking and very interesting. More

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Jacksonville, Florida
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 23, 2012 NEW

What a great way to spend the afternoon. It's an excellently maintained state park and clearly is the best beach on the island. The snorkeling was fun And we saw some unique fish. The concession stand is expensive but the food is good. We definitely recommend this park! More

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Seattle, Washington
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 22, 2012 NEW

Okay, I know it's only 10 bucks to get in but I still wouldn't go here, if we did our trip over again. Instead, I'd go to Higgs Beach, which is free and pretty much the same. Also, there's a free garden in an old fort right next to Higgs Beach that was fun to walk through. More

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Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2012 NEW

There is yoga on the beach in the mornings. Only downside is the beach has a lot of coral and can be rough on the feet. Highly recommend visiting the fort for some history and appreciation of what we have. More

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Columbus, Ohio
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 20, 2012

Just being in a place from over 100 years ago was great. The beach there was a lot of fun too. More

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Bratislava, Slovakia
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 20, 2012

Had I gone with a car, had some BBQ equipment, better weather (i.e. calmer water) this would be a better review - I went by foot, alone, it was rather rough water, had just one rucksack with no food, BBQ stuff etc... so I was a bit limited - but that is my issue, not the Park's :) Food and... More

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Canton, Michigan
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 19, 2012

Very beautiful beach, and from what we were told by locals, it is the cleanest and nicest of all the beaches in Key West. Only down side is it is very rocky,other than that, Fort Zachary beach is the best. If you are going to walk, it is a bit of a hike, but you could rent a bike or... More

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