CHASING THE ELUSIVE UNICORN and grabbing it…if only for a night. Bahia Honda State Park, just beyond the Seven Mile Bridge and located at Mile 37 in the Florida Keys, has been on my radar for sometime. However, to actually obtain a site here is akin to winning the lottery as one must be online at exactly 11 months out from your desired dates and then be the first to grab one of the coveted 48 sites. This year the odds were in our favor and the timing worked out perfectly for us as someone cancelled their stay while we were making our way to Key West and BINGO! we were in.
Overall our impression of Bahia Honda SP was a positive one. Surrounded by water and a beautiful beach, we pulled in and set up camp for the evening. Surprisingly for such a small campground, there is a nicely appointed gift shop with trinkets, books, beachwear and hand-scooped ice cream. Also available are paddle board and kayak rentals. The water sites provide simply stunning sunsets but we found a constant daytime road noise from the Overseas Highway. Site 2, quietly tucked away in the park, gave us ample room to enjoy a peaceful evening.
Bridge remnants from Henry Flagler, an early developer of Florida rail transportation, are visible at the park. No Airstream in tow? No worries, there are a few cabins nearby. With a 3:00 p.m. check in and 12:00 noon check out, we made the most of our 21 hours at this Florida state park before heading to Key West.
Camp Dawg 