Travel Eye on Florida Keys (Florida, USA)

Write a review or view peoples experiences in the Florida Keys.	Vacation Rentals & Holiday Rentals in the Florida Keys and surrounding area.	Hotels in the Florida Keys.	Flights to Florida.	Car Hire/Rental

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Overview:

The Florida Keys offer an enigma of landscapes and an experience that few other places can offer. The strange flooded landscapes are categorised into various area as named below:

MARATHON - A great sport-fishing centre, with all kinds of fishing on offer, including deep-sea fishing trips aboard charter boats. Several fishing tournaments held each year, including the Tarpon Tournament in May and the Shark Tournament in July. Sailing is popular, as well as scuba-diving and helicopter rides. A dolphin research centre (at mile marker 59) offers dolphin swims.

A museum of natural history with coral reef and artefacts retrieved from shipwrecks. The small town of Marathon (on Vaca Key) has its own airport, with regular flights to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota and Naples. Two golf courses: a 9-hole public course and an 18-hole private one. Clusters of shops, bars and restaurants are dotted along the coast road. Daily shuttle buses go to Key West (about a 1-hr drive) and to Miami. A car is recommended.

ISLAMORADA - Islamorada town straddles the main road on Upper Matecumbe Key. It has a fair choice of bars and restaurants (the Holiday Isles complex is one of the liveliest spots for nightlife after Key West), but they are all spread out and so access to a car is definitely an asset. Like Marathon, it is a sport-fishing centre, with several annual fishing tournaments, including the Sailfish Tournament in December. Sailing, scuba-diving and para-sailing are popular; light aircraft are available.

The Theater of the Sea has dolphin and sea-lion shows, a touch tank and a shark-feeding pool (dolphin swims available by advance reservation). The Airporter bus service from Miami airport stops at Islamorada, as does the Greyhound bus service from Miami to Key West. It is a 1½- to 2-hr drive from both Miami and Key West, about ½ hr from Marathon (and Marathon airport) and 20?30 mins from Key Largo.

KEY LARGO - This is the first resort you reach when coming from Miami (approximately 1 to 1½ hrs' drive depending on traffic); it is the scuba-diving capital of the Keys and part of Florida Keys National Maritime Sanctuary. Several of the hotels are situated around the marina, within easy walking distance of each other and a selection of shops, bars and restaurants. Car hire is not an absolute essential here, although the resort is rather spread out along US Route 1. The Airporter bus service from Miami airport stops at Key Largo and Greyhound buses go to Key West.

The most interesting attraction in the area is the 78-sq-ml John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park , America's first underwater national park; it has an unusual aquarium, nature trail through mangrove forests, beach, snorkelling and picnic areas as well as glass-bottomed boat trips out to the coral reef. For scuba-divers, the living coral reef is the place to explore. The Key Largo Undersea Park is a research/educational facility , with guided tours and snorkelling/diving opportunities, including the wreck of a Spanish galleon. Glass-bottomed boat trips are also popular.

The Keys have something for everyone, with the focus on water activities. Laid-back atmosphere, much nightlife and many "celebrations", particularly in Islamorada and Key West (which tend to attract younger and livelier crowds), though there's peace and solitude if you want it. Good deal of history around for history buffs. Popular wedding destination, including underwater weddings offered by a few of the dive resorts. A favourite holiday destination for Americans and Europeans.

Accommodation tends to be beside or just off the main US Route 1, and concentrated mainly around the Marathon, Islamorada and Key Largo areas. Wide range, from small budget roadside motels to well-endowed hotels within own extensive grounds. Many properties have small artificial beaches and marines/quays; some properties are adults only. Some islands are almost privately owned resorts in their own right (such as Duck Key).

Locality:

The Florida Keys is in the south east United States. It Comprises a 126-mile archipelago extending west from the south tip of the state of Florida. In the Straits of Florida, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and the Gulf of Mexico to the north. (Key West (the westernmost island) is 90 mls N of Cuba and 150 mls from Miami (and its international airport) by road (which can take 4 hrs or more); Key Largo (the easternmost island) is 56 mls from Miami (and its international airport) by road).

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Being coral islands, the Keys have only a few natural beaches, and they're fairly narrow at that. Those that there are include the beach at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (mile marker 102½, Key Largo); Anne's public sandy beach (mile marker 73½, Islamorada area); Sombrero Beach with shell sand (mile marker 50, Marathon); Bahia Honda State Recreational Park (mile marker 37, Lower Keys); and Smathers and South Beach at Key West (mile marker 0). The emphasis is on water-based activities like scuba-diving, fishing and water sports. Many properties have small, private beaches of artificial sand.

Shopping in the Florida Keys is centred mainly on Marathon, Islamorada and Key Largo, with mostly water-sports gear, swimwear, souvenirs, T-shirts and products made from shell and key limes. There are large supermarkets and hypermarkets; some furniture and home-ware stores. Key West has the best selection.

During the daytime activities include diving, snorkelling, fishing, deep-sea fishing, glass-bottomed boat tours, jet-skiing, para-sailing. Museums (including Ocean Point Hammock, mile marker 50½, Marathon) and places of historic interest. State and wildlife parks (such as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, mile marker 102½, Key Largo). Dolphin centres (such as Dolphin Research Centre, mile marker 59, Marathon).

The nightlife here offers a focus on sunset celebrations, particularly in Islamorada and Key West, with its plethora of bars. Many of the larger hotels offer evening entertainment, from live music to karaoke and limbo dancing. There are theatres in Marathon and Islamorada, and a few cinemas.

There is a variety of dining options, from roadside fast food to a la carte (most of which can be found in the larger, better-equipped hotels), and generally concentrated around Marathon, Key Largo and Islamorada. Emphasis is on seafood, but also many Cuban/Caribbean-type restaurants/eateries and grills, as well as a few choices offering Thai, Japanese and New World cuisines. Key-lime pie (yellow, not green!) is a local speciality.