Smathers Beach is perhaps the only beach in the entire Florida Keys that fulfills what most visitors expect a beach in Florida to look like. The Florida Keys have no natural beaches, so you won't find the broad expanses of white sand edging up against bustling boardwalk scenes. That is, unless you come to Key West and visit Smathers Beach. The folks of Key West have gone to lots of trouble to create this beach, which does have a boardwalk, or rather a very wide sidewalk, but it serves the same purpose. You'll find food vendors and boogie board rentals, sea kayaking excursion outfitters and volleyball nets here, and of course people soaking up the sun on the beach. All this for free! Parking will require you to feed a meter, if you want to park along the beach. There is free parking across S. Roosevelt Boulevard if you don't mind walking a little. Open sunrise to 11 pm.