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