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