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Crandon Family Amusement Center Key Biscayne Review

In 1967, we took the kids to the Crandon Park. Crandon Park has a wonderful kid-friendly beach. There is also a little family park

My kids rode on the antique carousel (photo 2), which first started spinning in 1950. It has been restored and started up again in 1998 after having been idle for 20 years. They also went to the zoo area - I don't know when the Miami Zoo was moved from this location, but this area is now a 200-acre garden. In those days there was a kind of petting zoo (photo 4).

Now there is a roller rink, and a squirting fountain. You can also take a canoe ride across one of the lakes in the Central Garden and there is also a "Tropical Hayride" on weekends from 10am-1pm and enjoy a half hour of stories about Key Biscayne's colorful history while touring Crandon Park Gardens, a pirate area and an Indian village. It sounds like an ideal and low cost place for children to play.

Hours: Daily 8am-sunset(beach); Daily 10am-7pm (amusement area)
• Cost: $5 per car

Directions: Take I-95 S to Key Biscayne/Rickenbacker Causeway exit. Causeway requires $1 toll. After crossing (photo 3) at sign for Crandon Park take left turn to South Beach lot. After the toll booth, go to the far right of the parking area for the amusement center.

Phone: 305.361.5421

Website: http://www.miamidade.gov/Parks/Parks/crandon_beach.asp