Six Keys to Fun in the Keys
By Kellie Walton
One of Florida’s (many) crown jewels is the Florida Keys, a 125-mile island chain best known for its tranquility, breathtaking beauty and easygoing atmosphere. The five diverse cities that comprise the islands, Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine and the Lower Keys, and Key West, stand apart from each other in personality, experience, and even cuisine, but combined, the chain connects via the Florida Keys Overseas Highway (with a total of 42 bridges spanning nearly seven miles over the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico) to create some of the very best destinations for coastal relaxation, wildlife, fishing, dining, and nightlife.
If you’re planning a getaway to the Keys this year, here are six “keys” to an adventure-filled, memorable vacation.
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Perhaps the most popular destination in the Keys is Key West, America’s southernmost city. Did you know? Key West is actually situated closer to Cuba than Miami. The town is characterized by quaint palm-studded streets, historic mansions, and a juxtaposition of a relaxing aesthetic and rowdy nightlife. But, Key West also houses the residence of one of the world’s most famous authors (and notable drinker), Ernest Hemingway. The historic home is now a museum dedicated to his life and work, and is open for visitors.
The home, a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1851 and remains furnished with many of Hemingway’s original belongings – including his writing desk and typewriter. Keep your eyes peeled for the four legged (and six toed) residents that roam the halls, Hemingway was famously given a six-toed cat, and its descendants still call the mansion their home today.
Dolphin Research Center
This nonprofit marine mammal research and education facility (with an adorable web address – dolphins.org) goes beyond its internal efforts to create a space for the community to learn and interact with its aquatic residents. Located on Grassy Key in the Florida Keys, the Dolphin Research Center is dedicated to studying and promoting conservation efforts for our squeaky friends and other marine animals, which are shared through educational experiences like swimming with the dolphins, a trainer for a day program, and behind-the-scenes tours.
The DRC also conducts extensive research beyond the public eye, and has been a key (get it?) piece in advancing human’s knowledge and understanding of the species. It houses a diverse group of dolphins on property, including the adorable Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and more.
dolphins.org
Turtle Hospital
One of the resident islands, Marathon, is a family-friendly destination best known for its boating. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to The Turtle Hospital, a dedicated treatment and rehabilitation center for ill and injured turtles. Much like a traditional veterinary office, the Turtle Hospital provides medical treatment and aid for sea turtles in need, all with a goal of releasing them back to the ocean once they have fully recovered. Along with the rehabilitation comes research, an important part of the organization’s mission.
Why visit? The Turtle Hospital offers a behind-the-scenes look at the rehabilitation process, and even provides opportunities for visitors to get up close with visiting turtles. The facility is massive – with 23 individual tanks for recovering turtles and a tidal pool made up of 100,000 gallons of saltwater.
turtlehospital.org
Alligator Reef Lighthouse
For one of the most unique photo opps in the Keys, head to Alligator Reef Lighthouse, a historic landmark first built in 1873. The lighthouse is four miles offshore from Islamorada, the Sport Fishing Capital of the World, so a boat ride is required to access it. Luckily for visitors, Islamorada houses plenty of charter boat companies to take you out there. It towers 136 feet in the air, though it was unfortunately deactivated in 2015.
Perhaps more impressive than the tower itself is what lies beneath, an incredible coral reef diverse in marine life – colorful fish, barracudas, sea turtles, and even sharks on occasion. Charter companies often lead snorkeling trips and guided dives, like the ones through Reef Quest Eco Boat Tours. Despite alligator being in its name, the lighthouse is actually a reference to a ship, the USS Alligator, that collided with the reef in the early 1800s.
Dry Tortugas National Park
This adventure will also require a boat ride (or a journey on a seaplane), but it is surely worth it. Dry Tortugas National Park is a 19th-century fort located nearly 70 miles west of Key West – it’s an entirely remote fortress and park spanning 100 square miles. At its center is Fort Jefferson, which was built in the mid-1800s to protect the shipping lanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite its remote location, the fort is one of the largest masonry structures in the western hemisphere, so make plans to dock the boat and take a stroll across the grounds. Still, more than 99 percent of the park is water, so be sure to wear appropriate attire.
The park is absolutely stunning, with clear waters and coral reefs showcasing tons of marine life: fish, sea turtles, sharks, and more. Naturally, the area draws lots of scuba divers and snorkelers, so if that’s of interest, book a tour that includes a guide to show you all the best diving locations. Be sure to also look upward, as Dry Tortugas is a hotspot for birdwatchers. Have you ever wondered where birds go when they fly south for the winter? Many flock here, or stop along their migration from Cuba, Central America, and South America. Wouldn’t that be nice? Plus, its remote location attracts species not privy to noise.
nps.gov/drto/index.htm
Southernmost Point
While Key West has plenty of “must see” attractions (the aforementioned Hemingway Home and Museum, the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Smathers Beach, and Duval Street, to name a few), one of the most popular spots is the southernmost point of the United States.
Thankfully, the point is easy to find thanks to a giant marker – shaped like a buoy – that reads “Southernmost Point Continental U.S.A.,” though you may have to wait in line to snap your photo. The marker can be found at the intersection of South Street and Whitehead Street, which is only a few blocks from the bustling epicenter, Duval Street. While a visit to the marker is a Key West rite of passage, we would be remiss not to mention that the ACTUAL southernmost point is on private property about 10 miles away. Womp womp.
fla-keys.com
Coral Reef State Park
Key Largo is the longest island of the Florida Keys chain, best known for housing the world’s largest artificial reef and hailed as the Dive Capital of the World. We cover parks often here, but one in Key Largo stands out greatly from the rest: the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is largely undersea, the first of its kind in the United States. The park spans some 600 acres of land and water, which, in addition to coral reefs, includes Florida’s classic mangrove swamps and seagrass beds.
A must-visit destination for Key Largo explorers, the park offers a variety of water-based activities. Book a snorkeling or scuba diving tour through the park itself to get up close and personal with resident marine life: tropical fish, sea turtles, and on chance encounters, manatees. For those who prefer to stay dry, the state park also offers glass bottom boat tours (that can notably accommodate up to 130 passengers) and kayak and paddleboard rentals (though we can’t guarantee you’ll stay dry there). The state park is also a hotspot for hiking, picnicking and enjoying the ecosystem at leisure.
pennekamppark.com
