Attractions and Activities in Florida Keys
A visit to the Florida Keys finds that these islands are more than just a beautiful, laid-back place to relax and enjoy the scenery. In addition to fishing, diving, snorkeling and cruising on the water, eating in the great variety of excellent restaurants, walking the waterfronts and beaches, shopping in the many unique boutiques, galleries and gift stores. Besides the sea, the sun, and the sand, the Florida Keys offer hundreds of other family-friendly attractions - including underwater adventure parks & wildlife rehabilitation centers, museums, aquariums, national parks, historical monuments and glass-bottom boat tours. Each month brings with it a variety of special events ranging from arts festival to music recitals, regattas to Keys’-exclusive celebrations such as the incomparable Fantasy Fest. Attractions in Florida KeysSingles and honeymooners will thrill at the variety and energy of the islands’ nightlife, which runs from sunset to nearly 4 a.m.—even during the week. This romantic tropical island getaway is the best place to kick back on the beach and renew your body, your mind, and maybe your love life. Hundreds of art galleries spread culture and beauty throughout the Keys, and outdoor concerts ranging from classical to reggae are a great opportunity to relax outside with a margarita and enjoy Paradise. Key West has an orchestra, an opera house, and a dance company for those who enjoy an evening at the theatre. JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK: As one of Florida's most fascinating natural parks, this preserve includes The Coral Reef Theater, reconstruction of a living reef in a 30,000 gallon aquarium, snorkeling, diving, glassbottom boat tours, kayak, canoe, & other rentals, camping, fishing, etc. Plantation Yacht Harbor has a funky beach with a good, deep swimming area. There are bathrooms and a concession that offers a small menu of fast food. A live band plays here Sunday afternoon beginning at 2pm. Weekend evenings may find rock bands as the centerpiece of some big parties. Islamorada County Park has a beach on one side of a natural creek. The snorkeling is great here, but the currents are strong, which makes it dangerous for children. Anne's Beach is located on Lower Matecumbe Key south of the Caloosa Cove Resort and features a great boardwalk; public bathrooms here are not the best. Finally, the famous Sandbar is actually what the name denotes. What the locals call "Islamorada Beach" is actually a wide sandbar jutting out into the ocean close to Holiday Isle. There's only one way to get there - by boat. A long walk or jog out on the Old Seven Mile Bridge will supply you with a bird's eye view of the sea life beneath it's spans. Pigeon Key, which was a base camp for the workers building the Overseas Highway, lies off the Marathon end of the bridge. A visit to the Museums of Crane Point would be a pleasant and interesting way to spend an afternoon. This 63-acre archeological preserve displays a family of Key Deer and a large community of Keys birds. The museum houses an extensive display of photographs of the Florida Keys, shot from space, and a photographic history of the construction of the Overseas Railroad. A nature trail takes you along a winding path through the exotic vegetation of the Crane Hammock and passes by a sinkhole that exposes ancient ocean fossils that were once beneath the surface of the ocean. An alternate trail takes you to the Adderly House which is a good example of homes built by blacks in the Bahamas in the 19th Century. Beaches are at a premium here, but there are a few worth visiting. Sombrero Beach is busy public area which can be accessed by driving from the Overseas Highway down Sombrero Boulevard. The park includes picnic tables, grills, a playground, softball diamond and volleyball net. A protective net surrounds a large, deep swimming area. Coco Plum Beach is one of the premier beaches in the Marathon area. You can find more seashells here than most any other place in the Keys. Long Key State Recreational Area features a half-mile of natural shoreline, a nature walk, picnic areas and campsites. The Golden Orb Weaver Nature Trail is named after the spiders that live and spin their webs there. Canoe and bike rentals are available. The primary attraction in the Lower Keys area is the Looe Key National Marine Preserve. Diving and snorkeling trips to the reef are a very popular and there are several charters available for both day and night trips. The underwater concert held in July is a true Keys experience you will never forget. For those who are looking for a great beach, they can find it at Bahia Honda State Park. This beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and nature walks through the park are a great experience. From the very busy Smathers Beach with its volleyball games and watersport concessions to the much quieter beach at Fort Zachary Taylor, you’ll want to sample them all. There are also several parks on the island and, again, your choice will depend on what you want to do. From the 19th century Fort Zachary Taylor park to the gardens at West Martello Towers, to the ball fields and tennis courts at Bayview Park, and all the others in between, you are sure to find something to suit your chosen activity. Key West has lots of history and many museums to show for it. A good place to start would be a ride on one of the tour trains or trolleys; the conductor will relate stories with local color and you will get an idea of places you will want to revisit to learn more. For the visitor that enjoys the cultural experience, there are movie theaters as well as theaters that feature live performances. Key West has always attracted artists and its many art galleries display local talent as well as national and international artists. Activities in Florida KeysSportsmen come for the fishing, diving, and sailing in the beautifully clear and clean waters surrounding the Keys, and most of them don’t want to ever leave. Reel in marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi (a.k.a. dolphin), snook, mackerel, and dozens of varieties of snapper, tarpon, tuna, and trout. Home to North America’s only living reef system, the Key’s National Marine Sanctuary provides some of the world’s best diving in spots like Sombrero Reef and Looe Key. Boating and sailing is a breeze on these calm seas, and many regattas are held annually between Key West and Key Largo, including Key West Race Week in January and the Historic Seacraft Race & Festival in September off Big Pine Key. Swimming with Dolphins has become one of the most popular activities of visitors to the Keys. In the Key Largo area, there are two facilities that specialize in this pursuit. Dolphin's Plus, Inc, offers an opportunity for participants to get up close and personal with dolphins and sealions. We offer the structured swim which allows participants to have one on one direct contact with the dolphins, whereas the natural swim allows the swimmers to snorkel freely with a group of dolphins. Big game fishing is king in the Islamorada area; the many celebrities of the past and present who have been drawn here would attest to that fact. The Gulf Stream comes in close and that is where you find the fish. Islamorada boasts the largest concentration of fishing boats in the Florida Keys. If the price tag for a private charter is beyond your means, you can always reserve a place on a party boat. Bridge fishing is very popular too, but you do need your own equipment and a license. Many restaurants in the area will cook your catch. Many interesting dive sites grace the waters around Islamorada. Alligator Reef Light, Davis Reef (with its statue of Buddha), Horseshoe Reef (with its statue of Jesus) and Pickles Reef are only a few. The San Pedro Underwater Archeological Preserve and the Eagle site are great for wreck diving. Snorkelers can have great fun at Cheeca Rocks, located 600 yards out from Cheeca Lodge, and Hens and Chickens Reef, with its huge coral heads and caves. If you want to get closer to the Keys marvelous marine life, you can feed the tarpons at Robbie's Marina; some of them are as long as 6 feet. You can also swim with the dolphins at Theatre of the Sea, a marine park that is home to dolphins, sea lions, sharks, stingrays and sea turtles. You can also spend time with injured specimens like a blind crocodile and some sea turtles missing fins caused by entanglement with monofilament fishing line. Key Colony Beach has a nine-hole golf course with reasonable prices. Sombrero Country Club is not open to the public; a letter of reference from the visitor's local country club is needed for admission. Deep sea fishing is a different experience in the Middle Keys. The Gulf Stream's Marathon Key West Hump creates a popular feeding ground for big gamefish. The gulf side is deeper and more open in this area, making fishing there something special. And, when the waters on the ocean side are too rough for you, a move to the Gulf side can can give you a much smoother boating experience. Bridge fishing is a passion here. The Old Seven Mile Bridge and the Long Key Bridge provide ample opportunity for this less expensive alternative to charterboat fishing. Great dive spots are plentiful in the area. Scuba divers and snorkelers alike will enjoy the prime spots of Coffins Patch and Sombrero Reef. Divers can enjoy wreck diving at The Barge and Thunderbolt sites. Although charter-fishing boats are not as abundant as in Key West, there are still several excellent ones to choose from. Flats fishing with a private guide is also a popular, and restful, way to spend your time. Backcountry kayaking has become very popular, and there are a few good naturalists to guide your way. The nature lover won’t be disappointed. A large part of Big Pine Key is given over to the Key Deer Refuge and The Blue Hole gives you a chance to get close to alligators, turtles and some beautiful bird specimens. A great bike path makes its way into this area and the Pinewood Nature Trail winds through an excellent habitat of palm hammock. The Key Deer Refuge Headquarters, which offers a wealth of information about Big Pine’s unique habitat, is located in a shopping center nearby. A bird’s eye view of the reef or backcountry is available during a flight from Sugarloaf Airport. The same airport also has a skydiving concession where the cost includes a tandem dive and a video. Ultralight tours are available on the gulf side of Little Torch Key. A cruise out to the reef from Key West Harbor will show you the island’s beauty from a different perspective and will introduce you to the beauty hidden beneath the waves. Key West’s waters also provide great diving and snorkeling experiences for the more adventurous. The less adventurous may want to hitch a ride on one of the glassbottom boats that can show you the reef without your getting wet. Kayaking and ecotours are becoming very popular for the nature lover, and some even feature dolphin encounters. The Florida Keys is a fishing Mecca and there are several private and party boats that can give you a great deep sea fishing experience. Flats fishing is extremely popular and backcountry guides abound. And, for the golf enthusiast, Key West has a public 18-hole, 200-acre golf course that wends its way through beautiful tropical scenery. Facilities include a driving range, clubhouse and restaurant, and a pro shop. |