We
often think we need to escape to The Bahamas
or elsewhere in the Caribbean to get to paradise, but the truth is that we have
a paradise right at home in the U.S. That's right, we're talking about the Florida Keys. Most of us
have heard about how awesome Key West
is, but the rest of the islands should not be overlooked: the Florida Keys collectively
make up a chain of more than 800 islands, so there are a ton of worthwhile
stops to make during a road trip down to Key West. Here's our list
of must-stop spots for Key West-bound road trippers.
A
road trip down the chain of Florida Keys is pretty convenient as there's one
road connecting a series of about 800 islands. It takes about three-and-a-half
hours from mainland Florida, just south of Miami, to get out to Key
West via the Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1). The Keys themselves are broken
into three categories: the Upper Keys, Middle Keys, and Lower Keys.
The
Upper Keys (excluding Biscayne Bay) run from Key Largo
to Lower Matecumbe Key at about mile marker 75 (MM75). The Middle Keys start at
Craig Key and extend to the city of Marathon, ending at the south end of the Seven Mile Bridge. And, last but not least,
the Lower Keys start at MM47 and finish at Key West, which is MM0. Since all of
the Keys are accessible by just one road, the mile markers are the most helpful
ways to pinpoint locations along the route.
Key Largo is the northernmost of the Florida Keys
connected by U.S. Highway 1 and is located just 18 miles south of Miami. Because
of its close proximity to the mainland, Key Largo is a popular weekend getaway
destination for Floridians and road-trippers alike. The highlight of
Key Largo is definitely John
Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which includes 70 nautical square
miles of beautiful Atlantic Ocean waters and the only living reef in the
continental United States. The park is famed for its fabulous aquatic life (and
its underwater statue of Jesus Christ) and is a popular spot for snorkeling,
scuba diving, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and camping. When in town, don't
forget to stop by Mrs. Mac's
Kitchen for great seafood and, of course, key lime pie.
Islamorada, only half an hour south of Key Largo,
is a chain of islands measuring only 20 miles long. The small group is known as
the "sports fishing capital of the world," so for avid adventurers
and sports enthusiasts, this is a must-stop spot. Robbie's of Islamorada is a popular
locale, as guests can purchase buckets of bait to feed the famous tarpon from
the docks, as well as plan snorkeling trips and excursions to nearby Lignumvitae
Key Botanical State Park and Indian Key
Historic State Park. If you think you may need a break from the
(awesome) seafood on the Keys, you can visit the tasty M.E.A.T Eatery and Taproom on Islamorada;
we recommend the truffle fries, a burger, and a craft beer for a nice change of
pace.
Marathon is another community in the Keys famous
for fishing, snorkeling and boating -- but it has a lot of history to offer,
too. This former fishing village was founded by New Englanders in the early
1800s, making it one of the most historic stops along U.S. 1, aside from Key West.
One of the most popular attractions in Marathon is The Turtle Hospital- - a
small non-profit dedicated to the care of injured sea turtles; it offers
educational tours to guests. Other marine lovers visit the Dolphin Research Center to swim with and
learn about dolphins. And, of course, the famous Seven Mile Bridge is not to be
missed, as it connects the city of Marathon, which is part of the Middle Keys,
to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys.
Bahia
Honda Key is located on the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge in the Middle
Keys. In the beginning, the little island was home to a camp for workers
assigned to the overseas railway, but today it is best known for the immaculate
Bahia Honda State Park. The park has a
public beach that has often been called the prettiest beach in the Keys, mostly
because it typically isn't crowded and is more of an untouched,
off-the-beaten-path spot. The park contains over 500 acres, as well as an
offshore island. Of course, there are opportunities for swimming, boating,
snorkeling, kayaking, and camping at the Bahia Honda State Park Campgrounds;
this spot is definitely recommended for travelers looking to avoid the crowds
of more populated locales like Islamorada and Marathon.
We
recommend checking out Mallory square for a nightly arts festival that start
about two hours before sun set, and a trip to the Little White House (President
Truman's winter home turned museum) for history buffs.
With everything from gorgeous historical buildings (like Hemingway's Home) to a bumping nightlife scene and great food, a stop here is a no-brainer. Like all of the other Florida Key locales, Key West offers fantastic boating, snorkeling, fishing and other outdoor opportunities; what sets it apart, though, is all of the history and things to do on land.
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