Miami to the Keys
The far-off Key West is only a 3+ hour drive from Miami, and the islands between the two popular destinations house the country’s best beaches and recreation areas. Rent a car in the city and plot a southbound route on US 1, even if only for a day.
Key Largo
Distance from Miami: 52 miles, about 1 hour
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Close-by Pennekamp offers the full experience of South Florida’s natural wonders. Key Largo’s visitors can enjoy glass bottom boat tours on a high speed catamaran, snorkeling tours through living reefs, and designated fishing and swimming sectors. For anyone who wants to stay the night, the park provides over 40 campgrounds within walking distance of its white sand beaches. With its wealth of available amusements, Pennekamp is the perfect escape from urban Miami.
Spiegel Grove
According to the source itself, “The USS Spiegel Grove is a Landing Ship Dock which has been sunk to create an artificial reef in Key Largo.” If you ever thought that the opening scenes of Titanic were cool-looking, Spiegel Grove is for you. Unfortunately for most tourists, you need scuba training to visit the depths of the wreck-turned-reef. Spiegel Grove provides preparatory classes, but they require a time commitment that pretty much excludes day-trippers. Still, if you’re up for the challenge, it’s one of the country’s best underwater destinations.
Islamorada
Distance from Miami: 71 miles, about 1 hour 30 minutes
Theater of the Sea Aquarium
Theater of the Sea is a big step up from your usual city aquarium, featuring interactive programs that are both inventive and family-friendly. Visitors can swim with dolphins, play with sea lions, feed stingrays, and snorkel with tropical fish. The programs are pricey, ranging from $55 for a basic poolside dolphin encounter to $135 for a full submerged session, and require advance reservations. A regular ticket, however, costs $20-$30 and includes admission to several shows.
Sport Fishing
Islamorada claims the title of “sport fishing capital of the world” thanks to its position at the convergence of Atlantic and Gulf waters. Seafarers in this upper key offer all manner of boat charters, including air-conditioned luxury tours and reef and wreck fishing. Participants at all skill levels can expect to catch Marlin, Snapper, Tuna, and Swordfish with the tutelage of Islamorada’s dedicated captains.
Marathon
Distance from Miami: 106 miles, about 2 hours 15 minutes
Crane Point
This catch-all historic site is home to a Museum of Natural History, a system of nature trails, a wild bird center, a children’s activity center, and the oldest house in the Florida Keys. What’s more, general admission is only $8 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-18, and free for anyone under age 6. All proceeds from admission go to a non-profit dedicated to land preservation in the Keys, an organization for which Crane Point is a stronghold. Its ecological preserves house endangered species and evidence of human inhabitance from over 700 years ago, as well as more user-friendly attractions like a climbable pirate ship and a touch tank.
Sombrero Beach
Sombrero’s grounds are extensive, more park-like than most of the Keys’ tourist-friendly beaches. It’s got designated sectors for swimming, windsurfing, and boating, as well as grassy outposts for picnics, barbecues, baseball, and volleyball. Families with young children will find the park’s playgrounds a welcome distraction from the hot sands, while adventure enthusiasts will appreciate the area’s abundant snorkeling and fishing tours.
Big Pine Key
Distance from Miami: 127 miles, about 2 hours 45 minutes
Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda’s website boldly advertises its distinction as the “Best Beach in the Continental U.S.” That’s big talk, but the park backs up its claims with photographic evidence. The water surrounding Big Pine Key is impossibly clear, and the white sand beaches are flecked with tall, shade-providing palms. Bahia Honda’s visitors can enjoy snorkel tours, kayak rentals, and boat slip rentals at reasonable rates.
Kayaking in the Key Deer Refuge
Dog-sized Key Deer make their home exclusively in the lower Keys, numbering only around 300 in total. Kayaking between Big Pine and No Name Keys is an adventure in its own right; touring companies offer both backwoods and sea kayaking packages, many of which include short hikes through the refuge. By all accounts, the diminutive deer are one of the Keys’ most memorable sights, and a large portion of Big Pine Key is designated for their preservation.
Key West
Distance from Miami: 158 miles, about 3 hours 20 minutes
Hemingway House
Ernest Hemingway’s abode is Key West’s favorite tourist attraction, preserved in its original by a dedicated society who also monitors the proliferation of the house’s population of polydactyl cats. Papa Hemingway’s furniture and art collection are on display for eager viewers, but for many it’s the sixty-or-so cats, descendents of Hemingway’s own, that make the visit. Visit the “bookstore” for a Hemingway text or, more popularly, a kitty-themed trinket.
Duval Street
Hit up Key West’s main drag for the best boutique shopping, gallery hopping, and nightlife south of…well, Miami. The island hosts a party scene that rivals any major city’s, and its main spots are conveniently clustered on this single street. Expect to encounter street performers, painted people in minimal clothing, and the odd drag queen in a night on Duval. Really, they’re the southernmost point’s utmost draw.
Most travelers fly into Miami Airport and make the drive to Key West. For the best deals on hotels in Miami or Key West, visit Hotels Cheap.
Categories: Destination Guides
