The Florida Keys are near and dear to me, I lived there for almost two years and I miss it every day. The Keys are amazing for its sunsets, key lime pie, coral reefs and night life. I missed it so much, I ended up getting married there years later. Below I’m going to take you on a virtual drive down the Overseas Highway to Key West. I’ll tell you where to eat, sleep, drink, dive, fish, etc. Let’s go!
Key Largo
Key Largo is the first key and is where I lived when I lived in the Keys. It is best known for its scuba diving, I worked at a local dive shop as a PADI Divemaster when I lived there. If you are an experienced diver, I suggest going out with Horizon Divers. They can take you out for a double dip on the Spiegel Grove, a famous wreck off of Key Largo. If you are a beginner diver, I suggest Rainbow Reef Dive Center. They can take you out to some of the shallower reefs, including Christ of the Abyss.
If you are interested in voluntourism, I suggest doing fish surveys for REEF or coral transplants with Coral Restoration Foundation. My all time favorite spot for key lime pie is the original Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen. And my favorite sunset spot is the tiki bar at Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill.
Islamorada
Islamorada is the most well known for being the sport-fishing capitol of the world, for both deep sea fishing and back country fishing. Make sure to grab a beer at Florida Keys Brewing Company and watch the sunset at The Lorelei. My favorite place to stay is Casa Morada, such a zen property offering free yoga some mornings. Last, but not least, one should always feed the tarpon at Robbie’s marina.
Marathon
Honestly, I am not a huge fan of Marathon. We used to call it the armpit of the Keys. Nevertheless, you should stop at Bahia Honda State Park to relax on the beach and explore the old railroad bridge. Before crossing the famous 7 mile bridge, take a quick boat ride out to Pigeon Key to learn about the history of the Keys & Overseas Highway.
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key and the surrounding keys are great for kayaking and paddle boarding the mangroves. Go visit the small Key Deer at the National Key Deer Refuge. Grab a pint at No Name Pub, famous for being covered in $1 bills from head to toe (or floor to ceiling).
Key West
Last, but certainly not least, Key West! Key West packs a whole lot of punch and is certainly not lacking in character. A breakfast of key lime pie is a must at Blue Heaven. As night falls and all the cruise ships have left, Key West comes alive and everyone must do a bar crawl down Duval Street. Diving the massive shipwreck called the Vandenberg is a must with Captain’s Corner.
Check out this video on YouTube I made from diving the Vandenberg!
The best place to stay in Key West is in a Bed & Breakfast in an old conch house near Duval Street. For the more adventurous, take a day trip or overnight camping trip to Dry Tortugas National Park to check out the unfinished Fort Jefferson. You can book your trip there with Yankee Freedom ferries or take a sea plane. And don’t forget the Hemingway House and the Southernmost Point!
This is just a small look at all the possibilities waiting for you in the Florida Keys. I am a Florida Keys Travel Specialist and would love to help plan a customized trip to the Florida Keys just for you!
The Florida Keys & Key West – Key Lime Academy
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