The Neighborhood of Keystone Islands

Community Info

The neighborhood of Keystone Islands are a group of islands and inlets located east of Biscayne Boulevard, between 123rd and 135th street. This North Miami enclave was mainly built between 1940-1967, and homes were designed in various architectural styles – from Art Deco to Modern. What is the neighborhood’s main feature? The ocean. Many homes have direct access to the Intercoastal Waterway and Biscayne Bay. If you and your family love the quiet and solitude of a seaside community, but want to stay close to the amenities of a vibrant city, you have found your new home.

Here are just a few things that make the Keystone Islands neighborhood stand out:

Gated Community: The Keystone Islands has two manned gatehouses which are manned 24 hours a day, a major plus when privacy and security are in your top requirements.

Seaside Getaway: The neighborhood’s winding roads and ocean views feels more like a summer escape – only this escape is year-round. Residents get around on golf carts to do their business or visit friends, they sunbathe in their yards and do yoga at the community center. Leave your stress outside the gates.

Community Center: The neighborhood’s recreation center might be small, but don’t let that mislead you – it’s the heart of the community. Classes, meetings, basketball courts and an amazing playground for the kids make it the center of everything that happens here. It’s a short and breezy walk (or golf cart ride) from any Keystone Island home.

Location, location, location: It’s always good to have options. Keystone Islands may be hidden away behind busy Biscayne Boulevard, but busy Biscayne Boulevard gives it access to the area’s cultural and gastronomical amenities. You’re never cut-off from the outside world, just out of sight.

A short history of the Keystone Islands neighborhood:

  • Before the arrival of Europeans, the Keystone area was a large Tequesta site.
  • Indians would fish from the top of a natural limestone bridge spanning 60 feet – awesome. This bridge collapsed in 1973. Not so awesome.
  • The first families that settled the area arrived in the late 1800’s – farmers that came to grow pineapples and tomatoes.
  • Henry Flagler train came to the area in 1895, and a train depot was built in 1903.

Restaurants & Attractions

Some of our favorite places to dine around Keystone Islands:

Little Havana Restaurant: This upscale Cuban restaurant has all the fixins’ of a traditional Cuban meal. Dive into the menu and explore. We recommend you start off with something every Cuban kid grows up with – Palomilla steak, white rice, black beans and fried sweet plantains. Top it off with something sweet and invigorating – a flan and an espresso. You are now an honorary Cuban.

Evios Pizza and Grill: This popular college hangout (Johnson and Wales University is nearby) is what we would call a comfort food innovator. Amazing pizzas and grilled fare that will satisfy your hunger on many levels. May we recommend the very Keto and tastebud friendly lemon pepper chicken wings, we promise you will not be able to stop yourself from ordering a second round. So good.

Ricky Thai: We can’t stop recommending this establishment. Traditional Thai fare that is authentic – it tastes like you just walked out of a rainy street in Bangkok and took shelter in a plate of delicious. This neighborhood hole-in-the-wall will become your instant go-to for an evening treat.

Favorite things to do in and around Keystone Islands:

Arch Creek Park: This is Miami-Dade County’s only preserved archaeological site. It has a wonderful museum and nature center. Indian artifacts, fossils and bones (all discovered in the park) paint an eye-opening picture of what life was for the now extinct Tequesta Indians and the Seminoles – the original peoples that homesteaded the area. Enjoy the great nature trails in the restored hammock and learn about the early history of the area.

Ninja Lounge: Touted as Florida’s biggest indoor attraction at 250,000 square feet, we would be remiss in adding this to the list. Bounce on trampoline, swing on ropes and do some free climbing – all an active adult or child will want to do. There are also great after school programs and lessons in break dancing and martial arts.

MOCA: The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami is an award-winning museum that has featured some of the art world’s most celebrated visual artists – from local hero Purvis Young to internationally known artists Wangechi Mutu and Tracey Emin. On top of the great art, enjoy talks with artists, monthly jazz concerts and art classes with their MOCA Makers series for kids and adults.

Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park: Added here because we like ponies. This 22-acre park has beautiful trails, picnic areas and playgrounds. The onsite community center has workshops on gardening for kids as well as protecting the environment. But the most important feature of all is the horse stable where you can get a very bumpy but enjoyable pony ride for your kids. Definitely a community pleaser.

Aventura Mall: So much to do, so little time. On top of the amazing luxury shopping you can partake in, there are over 50 eateries, an AMC Theater with 21 screens and the second largest Apple store in the country. Plus – a 93-foot tubular slide designed by German artist Carsten Höller. All we can say is – go!

Keystone Islands Demographics

  • There are 2,297 people living in the Keystone Islands.
  • In 2000, 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them.
  • Median household income in the city is $36,169.

Distance to popular areas
South Beach: 10.9 miles
Design District: 7.2 miles
Midtown: 10.6 mile
Wynwood: 8.1 miles
Downtown Miami: 12.8 miles
Brickell City Center: 13.2 miles
Miami International Airport: 14.3 miles
Aventura Mall: 6.1 miles

Neighborhood Schools

Public schools
David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center
North Miami Middle School (4-6 Grade)
Alonzo And Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus (9-12 Grade)

Colleges and Universities
Johnson & Wales University
Miami-Dade College

Are you in love with the Keystone Islands?

Email or call me (305.318.8557) to learn more, talk about what’s available and hopefully visit a few of these amazing homes. I can’t wait to show you around.