Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
North of the busy South Beach blocks, Miami Beach becomes quieter and more residential. North Beach, Surfside and Bal Harbour offer wide, less crowded sand, oceanfront parks and a more local feel, and just beyond them Haulover Park sits between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
What to see
Haulover Beach is a long, lifeguarded public beach with plenty of parking, picnic areas and a marina for fishing and boat charters. Its northern section is one of the best-known clothing-optional beaches in the US; the rest of the beach is a regular family beach. The inlet area is popular with kiteboarders, and a kite-flying field sits on the park's bay side. Read our Haulover Beach guide for rules, safety and parking, and our guide to clothing-optional beaches near Miami.
South of Haulover, Bal Harbour Shops is one of Miami's most upscale open-air malls, and North Beach Oceanside Park offers shaded picnic spots and a beachfront walk.
Where to stay
This end of Miami Beach has larger resort hotels, family-friendly condo rentals and generally better value than South Beach, with easy beach access and less nightlife noise.
Getting there
Collins Avenue runs the full length of Miami Beach; Haulover is about 20 to 30 minutes' drive north of South Beach. Buses run along Collins Avenue, and there is paid parking at Haulover Park.
