Like a string of pearls tossed casually in the sea, the
Florida Keys are a series of islands linked together by a series of 44
bridges, the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Florida Bay (the Gulf of
Mexico) on the other. Key West is the southernmost point in the United
States and the farthest from the US mainland, yet just one hour south of
Miami sits Key Largo, home to North America's only living coral reef.
Twenty minutes further south is Islamorada, internationally proclaimed
as "the sport fishing capital of the world" and a favorite family
vacation spot.
If you don't have your own boat, there are dozens of places
to rent one for the day. Personal watercraft (jet skis), sailboats,
kayaks, snorkel, SCUBA and SNUBA gear are also available for rent or
purchase. Snorkel the reef at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, home
to the undersea statue of Christ --or dive at your leisure among the
spectacular living coral reef or one of the many marked wreck sites.
You can also glass bottom boat or dive the sunken naval ship, USS
Spiegel Grove, the world's largest artificial reef.
The Keys are home to some of the best fishing spots on
earth. Snook, tarpon, snapper, bonefish, sailfish, grouper, mahi-mahi
(dolphin), shrimp and lobster abound. Deep-sea or flat fishing,
oceanside or "back country" in Florida Bay, the upper Keys has it all!
Serious about fishing? This could be your seat . . . fighting the "big
one"?
Pennekamp Park has two swimming beaches, Harry Harris County
Park has one, and there are other swimming beaches & pools open to
the public for little or no fee. Nature lover? Stroll through Key
Largo's Bird Sanctuary or an unspoiled nature preserve. Manatees, a
protected, endangered species known as "sea cows", frolic in the area's
clean canals --or take a short car ride to Big Pine Key and you're sure
to see the famous and endangered miniature Key deer.
LIFE IN THE KEYS, relaxing but never boring. Enjoy a
meal at one of the area's fine restaurants or on your own waterfront
patio.
Each morning the sun delivers a spectacular oceanside
sunrise, and each evening as the sun sets in Florida Bay on the Gulf of
Mexico, well -it just doesn't get any better than this...
Picture
yourself here...