Best of The Florida Keys

Best of The Florida Keys

Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, The Lower Keys & Key West

Welcome to the Florida Keys

Whether you are planning your very first visit to the Florida Keys or are a returning guest, we'd like to welcome you to our paradise. The Florida Keys are a 112 mile long chain of islands that begin at the very bottom of Florida's mainland. They are often referred to as America's Caribbean.
Visitors gain access to the Florida Keys by land, sea and air. Once here slow down and take it easy. It's your vacation and you'll be living on island time.
Our islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The Keys offer some of the finest fishing and diving in the world and are the home of the only living Coral Reef in the Continental United States. For land lubbers there is also plenty do. The Keys are also the home of some of Florida's finest parks and sanctuaries and there are plenty of places to shop for island wear, home decor and much more. Of course, you can always just sit next to the water and sip on a Margarita while listening to your favorite Jimmy Buffett song.

As each of these videos show, our islands offer something for everyone. Just choose your something...

	The first of the Florida Keys,Key Largo offers some of the most spectacular scuba diving in the continental U.S. And that's just the beginning. Being the largest Key, it is home to multiple county and state parks, fantastic off shore and back country fishing, and just a stones throw from the mainland and Everglades National park. Lodging varies ranging from quaint Mom and Pop motels to resorts equipped to handle a company convention. Check out the top notch dive and snorkel listings to plan your day on the water. Most offer multiple trips to a variety of reefs and wrecks, or stay dry with a cruise on the glass bottom boat. You may enjoy a sunset cruise, dine overlooking the water, dance to an island beat or nothing at all. It's your vacation... you decide.
	Tavernier Creek separates Key Largo from Islamorada, also referred to as the purple isle. Islamorada also offers a stunning reef line for scuba diving, but is better known for it's off shore and back country fishing. No matter the season, Islamorada has a fishing charter that will know what is biting and where to hook you up with a great catch. This area also boasts a multitude of art galleries and quaint shops. From 5 star resorts to the more simpler roadside motel, their is a fit for everyone in the accommodations department. From strolling the roadside shops to trolling for a big fish, Islamorada may be your choice in the Upper Florida Keys.
	Marathon is located in the middle of the Florida Keys island chain. It is home to one of our two airports and an array of activities. Visit the Dolphin Research Center, Turtle Hospital, Crane Hammock Point or Sombrero Beach. Cruise the seven mile bridge (where the movie True Lies was filmed) or take to the water for a cruise around the Middle Keys. Find yourself taste testing local favorites at a waterfront eatery or strolling the many shops that dot the area. Marathon houses 5 star resorts to the one of a kind Botels, a motel right on the water with a slip for you to keep your boat right behind your room. This family friendly community supports many events throughout the year and welcomes visitors to join in. Try planning your trip to include an arts or seafood festival. Or if crowds aren't your thing... plan on getting out of that hammock just long enough to grab a bite to eat.
	The Lower Keys: back to nature, laid back and stunning. Don't forget to slow down. First of all, it's the law due to our tiny endangered Key Deer... and besides, you are already here so what's the hurry? Things to do include a dive or snorkel trip to Looe Key reef, kayaking the back country, off shore and back country fishing or basking in the sun at Bahia Honda State Park. This park has made the list of top 10 beaches in the U.S. It's stunning white sand gives way to the gin clear waters lapping on it's shoreline. They offer camping, but plan well in advance due to it's popularity. The Lower Keys are made up of many small islands from the southernmost end of the seven mile bridge to mile mark 5, the entrance to Key West. Accommodations are limited and range from a 5 star private island to a beautiful KOA campground on Sugarloaf Key.
	Key West is most often referred to as the Southernmost city in the continental U.S. Located only 90 miles from Cuba and 100 miles from Key Largo, their is something for everyone on this 5 mile island. It is home to one of two airports in the Florida Keys, and is also a port of call for cruise ships, the only such port throughout the island chain. Key West has been home to such notables as Ernest Hemingway from 1931 to 1961. Today his property is open to the public, as is the maritime museum of Mel Fisher and many other writers, actors and explorers. Key West brims with color, variety and excitement. The island is a mixture of the galleries, museums, theaters, restaurants, shops, bars and entertainers. It is an eclectic mix of old and modern architecture. Duval street is well known, and so are the daily sunset celebrations.