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