Travel 15 miles south of Miami and enter the beautiful tropical setting known as the Florida Keys. Enjoy a variety of attractions from Key Largo to Key West. Perhaps the biggest attraction of the Keys is that it is the perfect place to do absolutely nothing!
Attractions
All along the way, you will find yourself mesmerized by the beauty and wonder of the Keys. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park in Key Largo is a diver’s dream, attracting divers from around the world. Drive a few more miles to Islamorada, the perfect place to do some serious deep-sea fishing. Not a fisherman? Why not explore the waters aboard a glass-bottom board or a wave runner? Here the diving is excellent and big game fishing is always in season.
A little further south is a group of keys collectively known as Marathon. This is the perfect spot for kayaking, fishing, camping, or just relaxing. If you have ever wanted to swim with the dolphins, this is the place! Leave Marathon on the Seven Mile Bridge and enter the lower Keys.
For rest and relaxation, there is not a better spot than the lower Keys. Beginning with Big Pine Key, this may well be the most scenic area you will ever encounter. In addition to spectacular beaches, great photo opportunities, and fantastic local cuisine, look for the small and unusual Key Deer.
Key West is many things to many people. It is a paradise with a shady and intriguing history. The southern-most city has been home to pirates, wreckers, spongers, fishermen, famous authors, and an eclectic group of residents. Shop in the charming boutiques, order some conch fritters, or rent a scooter and zoom though the crowded streets. Of course, there is always the opportunity to dive or snorkel. Bait up a hook and catch a fish worthy to mount on your living room wall. But after the sun goes down is when Key West really comes to life. Thousands gather at Mallory Square nightly to watch the sun dip into the Gulf of Mexico. The celebration starts well before sunset, so plan to arrive a couple of hours early to enjoy the festivities.
Accommodations
Visitors have many choices when it comes to accommodations in the Keys. Dozens of hotels and motels dot the highway from Key Largo to Key West. Locals often rent out their homes to visiting tourists. Beachfront homes and condos can often be rented at reasonable rates. Campers, there is no shortage of outstanding state and private campgrounds to select from.
Take off your shoes and leave your footprints in the sands of the Florida Keys.