| When people ask about the top sights to see in the | | | | fishing off the bridges and numerous pelicans standing |
| south Florida area including Fort Lauderdale and Miami, I | | | | on the posts like permanent fixtures. One of the most |
| always advise them to try and make some time to go | | | | spectacular sights is the seven mile bridge which is the |
| down to the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys are the | | | | world's longest segmented bridge. |
| string of islands just south of the Florida mainland and | | | | The Florida Keys are not really known for its beaches |
| runs 120 miles from end to end. Fort Lauderdale and | | | | with the exception of Bahia Honda Park which is even |
| Miami are fun but for a relaxing change of pace, the | | | | further west in the lower keys. The snorkeling in this |
| Florida Keys is the place to be. For snorkellers and | | | | area, especially Looe Key, is among the top sites in |
| scuba divers going to south Florida, I would consider | | | | North America. The city of Key West at the far end |
| Florida Keys a must. The waters around Key Largo | | | | of the Florida Keys is the largest community in the |
| are a protected marine park with a very healthy fish | | | | islands and a stay here for a night or two is well worth |
| life and offer the best diving in the US. Key Largo is | | | | it. The downtown area full of restaurants, bars, |
| the first town as you enter the Keys after crossing | | | | boutiques and shops is a funky, fun place to be. There |
| the bridge from the mainland. It can be reached from | | | | are hotels along the water as well as numerous B&Bs |
| Miami in an hour and from Fort Lauderdale in an hour | | | | inland. We stayed at the Quality Inn near the entrance |
| and 45 minutes. Once the bridge from the mainland is | | | | of the city and had no problem getting downtown |
| crossed, the change in pace is noticed immediately. | | | | since there is a very convenient bus system that runs |
| There is much less traffic and people just seem more | | | | throughout Key West. We chose to leave our car at |
| relaxed in the Florida Keys compared to the mainland. | | | | the hotel and use the buses because parking can be |
| Key Largo is the main scuba diving town with many | | | | limited in the downtown area. A very neat way to tour |
| dive shops. There is even an underwater hotel with | | | | the city is to rent scooters which are very common in |
| two guestrooms for adventurous types. This was a | | | | the streets here. With the scooters, we criss-crossed |
| former marine research unit that was converted to the | | | | the city and saw the wonderful colonial houses in the |
| hotel. Islamorada and Marathon located more west are | | | | residential streets including Ernest Hemmingway's |
| also top scuba dive locations. For those who are not | | | | house. |
| into diving, there are numerous shops with colorful local | | | | The seafood is predictably very fresh in restaurants |
| arts and crafts. One collection of shops has a giant | | | | everywhere in the Florida Keys. Some local specialties |
| statue of a spiny lobster out in front. For more fun, | | | | not to be missed are conch, local spiny lobster and a |
| there are two dolphin centers, one in Key Largo and | | | | few varieties of the local fish including snapper and |
| another near Marathon where visitors can interact with | | | | grouper. Of course, one must try the real, authentic |
| captive dolphins. Dolphin programs should actually be | | | | key lime pie that originated in the area. Each restaurant |
| booked well in advance since they are extremely | | | | has a slightly different recipe but in general, the |
| popular. | | | | authentic key lime pie here is not as sweet as the |
| There are sign markers along the main US number 1 | | | | commercial brands sometimes found in the rest of |
| highway that mark each mile along the 120 mile route. | | | | North America. |
| Most addresses in the Florida Keys along the main | | | | Hotel accommodations suit every budget in the Florida |
| highway will actually refer to which mile marker they | | | | Keys from simple motels to top notch resorts. The last |
| are located near. It's a very efficient way to navigate. It | | | | town back in the US mainland is Florida City and it has |
| takes about 3 hours to drive from Key Largo to the | | | | some very affordable hotel accommodations with well |
| far end at Key West but more than likely, visitors | | | | known chains such as Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn and |
| would want to stop off at numerous locations along | | | | Best Western. This is another option for some |
| the way for shopping, photo opportunities or just | | | | travelers, especially those who are scuba diving in Key |
| admiring the scenery. The scenery gets better as one | | | | Largo as Florida City is only about 20 minutes away if |
| heads out more west, especially near the bridges that | | | | hotels in Key Largo are fully booked or at high season |
| connect the islands. A common sight to see are locals | | | | rates. |