Best spot on the the beach

[C3Redman]

Can someone direct me to the best area on the beach to hang out during the day? Preferrably where younger college students hang out and party on weekends. Someone told me around Nikki Beach but im not too familiar with that part of the beach. I usually go near the Tides on Collins Ave. Thank youuuu!!

[Doug]

Nikki Beach is right about even with First Street, near the southern tip of South Beach. That's a nice stretch of beach, which attracts more of a locals crowd. As you move north, the crowd can vary from day to day. Pretty much anything in front of Lummus Park is popular, but once you move past 15th Street, you start getting into the hotel corridor, so the crowd turns a little older and you'll see more of that kind of crowd. So generally, I just walk up and down from first to 15th and back, just looking for the happening spot!

[Christy]

Avoid the beach from 1st-4th on the weekend because it's mostly families from Hialeah. I happen to like the 17th St beach> The beach area from 7th-10th is pretty happening.

[Gus]

For me, the best spot on the beach has always been between 15th and 13th Street:

- During the week, there is usually free parking on 14th Street, east of Meridian Avenue
- The beach is not too crowded
- There is a nice mix of locals and visitors
- T-Mex Taco shop and Le Sandwichiere are nearby
- There is a bathroom nearby
- There is a market on 14th and Washington to get something to drink

This area is also near the Tides Hotel, so it's where you're already going.

It's hard to say where you' will find the college student crowd. Most of the people who are visiting and in that demographic go to whichever part of the beach that is closest to their hotel.

There's nothing wrong with picking up your towel and moving to a new spot on the beach, to get a change of scenery.

If you play volleyball, you can hang out at the volleyball courts at 8th and Ocean Drive and ask to join a game... I see a lot of young people there. Here's a link to the website.

[Blackford Oakes]

If forced to pick one, my vote would be the dunes area, a few paces west from the lighthouse at Bill Baggs.

[dylan]

Although it is farther north Hollywood beach is nice. lots of places to park as far as meters, some free parking areas, and a huge mix of all sorts of people. You have tons or bars and restaurants right by the beach on the boardwalk, and it is a very clean beach. If not I would also consider Nikki Beach.

[Blackford Oakes]

Although it is farther north Hollywood beach is nice. lots of places to park as far as meters, some free parking areas, and a huge mix of all sorts of people. You have tons or bars and restaurants right by the beach on the boardwalk, and it is a very clean beach. If not I would also consider Nikki Beach.

It has been mentioned here already to avoid SoFi area beaches. I get that about the inland traffic to this area on weekends.
I gravitate towards as close to the rocks I can get to...however, if we didn't bring provisions, the staff at Nikki Beach services beachgoers. That's a huge plus, as well has having the liquor joint at Portofino nearby if I run out of suds.

[dylan]

Yes I have visited that liquor store a few times on my beach adventures. And I also try to get right up near the rocks.

[Matt Meltzer]

There's really no "happening, college-age student" beach area in Miami Beach, like what you'd find in Cocoa. Avoid 8th street or anywhere around it, that's probably the trashiest part. South of 5th is very local during the week, but not particularly young. All Hispanic families on the weekend. Bill Baggs is a beautiful beach, but not terribly exciting. Lots of families there too.

Ft. Lauderdale Beach is really the only beach I've been to in South Florida where one finds a good amount of younger people. But even then, on the weekends it gets very family-saturated too.