Fort Zachary Taylor Beach

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is home to the island’s only “natural” beach, formed of coral pebbles that crunch – satisfyingly – underfoot. No one can resist the calm, Caribbean blue waters: schools of parrotfish and yellow snapper dip in and out of the shallows; hulking loggerhead turtles, clawless spiny lobsters and sleek bottlenose dolphins can be spotted further out to sea. Once upon a time, Key West was known as the Shipwreck Capital. The treacherously shallow reefs here today sank scores of unsuspecting ships, later looted for gold and treasure by the island’s salvagers. Recommended by local insider Alli Griffiths