Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Florida Keys – Where to Stay and Play

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The Beach Boys sang about them. The blustery blue backdrop has been the setting from everything from rom coms to high-speed car chases on the silver screen. A chain of barrier islands extending off the tip of Florida and the Southernmost point in America (don’t miss that photo op), the Keys are as tropical of an escape as you can get without leaving the continental USA. And with temperatures rarely falling below 60 degrees, they’re a year-round snowbird getaway.

Home to nearly 3,000 miles of marine sanctuary, 6,000 marine species, and a Shipwreck Trail, the Keys are a diver’s dream with as much to see under the water as above. The fishing is famous, the art scene outstanding, and the seafood divine.

While the Florida Keys aren’t exactly a secret vacation destination, their remoteness does deter some visitors. Sequestered in the southeast corner of the country, the Keys are a paradise for the lucky few who can get there. Here’s everything to do and see once you arrive.

How to Get to the Florida Keys

Key West has an international airport with transfers from many Sunshine State cities, but the drive from mainland Florida is one of the best road trips in the country. Departing from either Ft. Lauderdale (1 hour, 45 minutes) or Miami (1 hour, 20 minutes), there’s only one road in and out, and it just so happens to be a beautiful place to put the top down and take in the sights. A designated national scenic byway, the Florida Keys Overseas Highway is an All-American Road that’ll take you across 42 bridges with stunning views of the ocean and breezy palms. The star is Seven Mile Bridge, which is one of the longest segmental bridges in the world connecting the entire chain of islands.

Where to Stay on the Florida Keys

There are vacation rentals, guest houses, and hotels on each of the keys, the majority being on either end in Key West or Key Largo. You can post up at one resorts, stay more strategically centralized, or spend a few days island hopping at each locale.

Best Things to Do on the Florida Keys

Most people come to the Florida Keys for watery fun and access to the ocean, making them a bit of a choose your own adventure vacation. You can spend all day soaking in the sun and watching the waves or get active with water sports and sightseeing. Dolphin cruises are popular, but if you’d prefer to get up close to the majestic creatures, pay a visit to the Dolphin Research Center. You can charter a number of boats and embark on sunset sails, none more famous than the African Queen for a canal cruise. Splash around kiteboarding, flyboarding, windsurfing, or paddleboarding or snorkel around the 19^th-century forts of Dry Tortugas National Park, accessible only by boat or seaplane. On land, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is a must-see, as is the Turtle Hospital for recovered marine life.

Which Key is the Best to Visit?

Each key has its own appeal, and with just two hours separating Key West, the outermost island, and Key Largo, the closest, there’s no reason why you can’t experience them all. Key West is the most popular destination and home to the most attractions, boasting a distinctly Caribbean vibe. It’s situated closer to Cuba than Florida with famous residents such as Jimmy Buffet and Tennessee Williams drawing inspiration from life on island time.

The Lower Keys are a natural paradise, home to two national wildlife refuges, a national marine sanctuary, and a state park, while Marathon appeals more to families for abundant kid-friendly attractions and slower, “Old Florida” lifestyle. Islamorada is the sportfishing capital of the world with the highest density of charter boats and captains, while Key Largo has a bit of it all, an introduction to the wonders that await the further you go.

Best Beaches on the Florida Keys

Many of the best beaches in the Florida Keys can be found at the state parks, which are protected natural areas for a reason. Sandspur Beach at Bahia Honda State Park was named one of the best in America for its turquoise waters and swaying palms. Cannon Beach at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has a wreck just 100 feet from shore. Harry Harris Park is a crystal-clear manmade lagoon and swimming hole, while Long Key State Park has a canoe and paddle trail you can follow. Smathers Beach in Key West is one of the largest stretches of sand in the area, while South Beach boasts white sand and boardwalks.

Best Scuba Diving on the Florida Keys

Key Largo is the self-proclaimed dive capital of the world, home to Vandenberg Artificial Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is also home to the 500+ foot USS Spiegel Grove Wreck, which has been said you could dive it 100 times and still never see the entire thing. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is another must-see SCUBA spot as the first underwater park in the country, which is home to beautiful colored corals.

Best Restaurants on the Florida Keys

Surrounded by ocean, the Florida Keys are known for their seafood, notably conch chowder and fritters, spiny lobster, stone crabs, and pink shrimp, but no food is more famous than key lime pie. Some of the best eating experiences on the island include Hogfish Bar & Grill, Senor Frijoles, Hobo’s, Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen, Harriette’s Diner, Islamorada Fish Company, and The Island Fish Co., but you really can’t go wrong with any of the colorful tiki shacks you stumble upon. Throw in a frozen cocktail, and it’ll taste all the better.

Note: as travel today remains uncertain, please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind. If you are comfortable hitting the road, please be responsible as any travel is at your own risk. It’s recommended to wear a face mask, bring hand sanitizer, wash your hands frequently, know the local guidelines, and book a hotel with flexible cancellation policies in case you need to change your plans last minute.

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