Florida Villa Rental

About The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys : 21st July 2007

U.S. 1, the Overseas Highway, links the 120-mile-long Florida Keys Island chain to mainland Florida. At the nearest point, the southern tip of Key West is just 98 miles (157 km) from Cuba. The Florida Keys are measured in terms of Mile Markers along the US.1. If you choose to drive to Key West from the mainland, or take a shuttle bus, the trip will take about 3.5.

Key Largo - Key Largo extends from Mile marker 90 to Mile marker 106. To the north lies Florida Bay and to the south are the Florida Straits and the Atlantic Ocean.

While mainland Florida has wide, sandy beaches, the Florida Keys has a living reef that extends its length, the only living reef in the continental United States. A large portion of the upper part of Key Largo is unsettled and protected land, including the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a 6800 acre hardwood hammock that is the primary breeding ground for the endangered American crocodile. This area is closed to the public.

Diving is big business in Key Largo and divers from all around the world are attracted to John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park, the first underwater park in the United States. Key Largo offers divers everything they need by the way of dive packages, scuba equipment and lessons, and great accommodations.

Key Largo has also had its share of celebrity visitiors. Former President George Bush is a frequent visitor and fishing angler. John Huston, back in 1948, filmed several scenes of the movie Key Largo in the Caribbean Club at Rock Harbor (see Bogie and Bacall).

Islamorada - Islamorada is very popular for bonefishing and sailfishing. The restaurants in Islamorada serve the freshest seafood and some will even cook your catch for a nominal fee.

There are plenty of other activities to try, in addition to fishing, including watersports, kayaking, jet skis, parasailing, boating and sunset cruises.

Marathon - Marathon is a quaint place to take a very relaxing vacation.
The area of Marathon consists of many Keys or islands starting with Long Key, the Conch Keys, Duck Key, Grassy Key, Boot Key, Crawl Key and Pigeon Key. The Seven Mile Bridge separates Marathon from the Lower Florida Keys on the south end. This bridge is famous and has been seen in many movies and is host to the Seven Mile Bridge Run each year.

Long key is the place to visit for a beautiful park like setting with many opportunities to fish, kayak, camp or simply just relax on the beach. Grassy Key is the closest to Marathon Key and the Dolphin Research Centre is there - Learn all about the bottle nose dolphin and even swim with them in a limited session at the Research Center.

Getting There
Marathon has a small airport which visitors can now fly to, located at the mid-point of the island chain. Small airlines such as Florida Coastal Airlines and SeaCoast Airlines have routes there. Shuttle buses and rental cars by Avis, Budget and Enterprise are available on landing. Delta have commenced a non-stop Delta Connection¡¦s daily, roundtrip service from Atlanta to Florida Keys Marathon Airport, which will be available until Sept 6th 2007.

Big Pine and The Lower Keys - As you approach Big Pine, you will notice that the speed limit drops to 35 mph. This is to protect the endangered Key Deer. These are small deer that can be only found on the Keys.

The Bahia Honda State park has been described as one of the most beautiful places in the world. There you will find superb sandy beaches and a wonderful marina. The natural preserve also boasts many indigenous plants and flowers that grow almost nowhere else in the world. Look to the South , towards the Atlantic as you pass by the State park, and you will see The old Bahia Honda Bridge.

Sugarloaf Key also has a small airport where you can charter a plane ride or arrange some skydiving. Bat Tower is also located here, being one of the most unusual landmarks in the Florida Keys.
Boca Chica is the last major landmark you will see before entering Key West- Boca Chica is a Naval Air Station Key West which was commissioned in 1917. it was built when Navy research found it to have the most days of perfect flying weather of anywhere in the US.

Key West - Key West is the last island or key linked by the U.S.1 Overseas Highway and is a seaport destination for many passenger cruise ships. Over the years Key West has evolved into a wealthy little tourist town. The island only spans two miles by four miles and a population approximately 27,000 full time residents. Historically the island was host to spongers and wreckers, drug runners, fisherman, and even the United States Navy..

Key West has many great attractions for visitors of all ages including the Ernest Hemingway Museum and the Key West Aquarium, Key West also has a ghost tour that takes visitors on a walking tour through town and highlights all the haunted homes.

Key West is also known as the Conch Republic. Conch (konk) is a snail-like animal that lives in a beautiful shell. They are no longer harvested in the Keys, but you can still find some of the best Conch Fritters you've ever tasted in Key West.

Be sure to visit the southern most point marker at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street.

Popular annual events include:
 Acura International Boat Regatta– January
 Key West Literay Seminar January
 Conch Republic Independence Celebration; April 23
 Red Ribbon Bed Race; April
 Survivors Party; - May
 Queen Mother Pageant; May
 PrideFest - June
 Cuban-American Heritage Festival; June
 Hemingway Days Festival; July
 WomenFest - September
 Fantasy Fest - October
 Goombay Celebration; October
 Parrot Heads in Paradise Convention (Meeting of the Minds); November
 Boat and Holiday Parade; December
 Robert the Enchanted Doll Day, October 24th

Getting There
Visitors can fly to Key West International Airport via connections or direct flights from a host of Florida cities. The airport offers a host of ground transportation options, including local shuttle buses and rental cars.

The Key West Bight Ferry Terminal transports passengers from Fort Myers Beach and Marco Island on Florida's south-west Gulf coast, taking approximately 3.5 hours.