Sombrero Beach in Marathon, Florida, may be the quintessential example of a multi-use beach. Am I talking swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, picnicking, volleyball, barbecuing, and climbing on playground playground equipment? Well, all those things can be done at this beach, but that’s not what I was referring to.

Sombrero is a multi-use beach because humans are not the only ones that use it. Between April and October each year, Loggerhead turtles crawl up onto the beach at night to lay their eggs in the sand. During these months, city workers remove tables and park benches from the beach, nesting areas are roped off, and local officials and volunteers patrol the beach at least once a day to ensure nests are not disturbed. The rest of the year belongs entirely to humans and their canine friends, who are welcome as long as they are leashed (the dogs, not the humans).

With soft white sand, gentle waters, and no crowds, Sombrero Beach is a favorite with locals and visitors.

Sombrero Beach is popular with vacationers and locals alike for a number of reasons. First, it is located about two miles down a residential street leading to the Atlantic Ocean side of Marathon, away from the main highway and traffic noise. On the west-facing portion of the beach, a wide ribbon of soft white sand fronts emerald waters that stay shallow for some distance before dropping off to deeper water, inviting use by both swimmers and families with toddlers. A rocky shelf along the left side of the beach attracts sea urchins, sponges, and tropical, making it an ideal snorkeling spot.

The south-facing portion of Sombrero Beach is perfect for romantic walks or viewing spectacular sunsets

At the southernmost point the beach takes a right turn. Graceful coconut palms line this part of the beach; the tips of their giant fronds drape the sand, providing welcome shade in the intense sunshine. A pier juts into the water beyond black boulders that line the shore, providing a perfect place to watch the setting sun.

Other facilities include picnic pavilions and tables, volleyball courts, barbecue pits, showers, changing areas, restrooms, and ample parking. An adjacent park has playground equipment for the kids. There is no fee to use the park or beach, and hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to sunset. Sombrero Beach is located at mile marker 50 in the Florida Keys, in the city of Marathon.

via Beach Travel Guide » Blog Archive Sombrero Beach Park, Marathon, Florida Keys – Beach Travel Guide.

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Dubbed “Kincaid,” the turtle has reached celebrity status, as the release will be televised live on the national “Fox and Friends” show on the Fox network. The turtle’s walk-in appointment turned into a stay of several months while staff veterinarians treated the lumbering reptile for an internal bacterial infection.

A regimen of antibiotics and vitamins was combined with a diet of raw squid. “He’s getting fat and he’s ready to go,” hospital Executive Director Ryan Butts said. At first thinking Kincaid was merely lost, the staff initially waited several hours before treating the turtle when he showed up at the dock of the world’s only licensed veterinary facility that treats turtles exclusively.

The federally protected endangered species is known for their large heads and powerful jaws, which allow them to feed on hard-shelled prey such as conch. The species also feeds on fish, crustaceans and other mollusks and marine animals. Adults grow to an average weight of about 200 pounds. The top shell, or carapace, is slightly heart-shaped, with a reddish-brown color. The outside and under-shell is generally a pale yellowish color.

Nesting season runs from about May through August, with nesting occurring primarily at night. Loggerheads are known to nest up to seven times within a nesting season.

tohara@keysnews.com

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