 In 1890 Bahia Honda Key was the southern terminus for Miami-Dade county which stretched as far north as present day St. Lucie River.The natural, white sand beach was rated the #1 beach in 1992 in the United States by "Dr. Beach" Stephen Leatherman (the first Florida beach to be so honored), making it popular for swimming.A nature trail near the park's oceanside beach skirts a tidal lagoon before passing through a coastal hardwood hammock.