Florida Keys Attractions
Top Florida Keys Activities
The number and variety of Florida Keys attractions could keep you busy for a lifetime. But if you are just visiting, you will want to find and see the best, the must-see attractions.
Part of the beauty of the Keys is variety. There is something for everyone here, whether you are travelling alone and looking to enjoy a water sports adventure, or as a couple on your honeymoon looking for romance and relaxation, or as a family on vacation. Attractions include fishing, sailing, and boat tours, romantic cruises and spas, experiencing the local wildlife, outlandish party events, and local sites rich in history.
Fishing
One of the most popular Key West excursions is a full-day sportfishing charter. Key West, Islamorada, and Marathon are widely thought to be the best locations for fishing, not because the fishing is better out of these ports, but simply because each has a large fleet of chart fishing vessels.
In Islamorada you find the bulk of the offshore and backcountry fishing fleet located at Holiday Isle, Whale Harbor, Bud and Mary’s, or Worldwide Sportsman. There are also a number of small marinas in town that host charter fishing boats. If you are bringing your own boat to the Keys and wish to hire a local captain as a guide you’ll find them here too.
Key West is renowned for its light tackle offshore fishing fleet as well as its flats boat charter captains that will take you as far west as the Marquesas Keys in good weather. You’ll find this both the offshore and flats boat fleets dispersed all over town at a variety of small to large marinas.
Spearfishing is becoming more popular here all the time among scuba divers and free divers. The ultimate challenge is to free dive offshore for a variety of large open water pelagics. There are many artificial wrecks sunk along the island chain and around the Key West which offer top notch opportunities for this sport.
Snorkeling
If you'd like to see fish up close and personal without actually taking them out of the water, snorkeling in the Florida Keys makes for a fun and exciting activities. Even though Key Largo is one of the most popular areas for this activity there are opportunities all everywhere in the Florida Keys. You'll find snorkel charters available on just about every street corner and in every marina in the fabulous Florida Keys.
Diving
Diving the Florida Keys is a very popular activity. You can learn to dive here in a short period of time or come down ready to go and simply partake in the fun. There is very little shore diving here, most places that serve as Florida Keys dive sites are natural reefs and wrecks that are located a number of miles offshore. Charter dive operators abound so you won't have any trouble getting out there.
Other Water Sports
Although fishing and diving are a mainstay in the Keys lots of other water activities are available. Here are a few.
Spas
You will find a Florida Keys spa somewhere close to your location as there are plenty of luxury resorts and day spas dotted throughout the keys to provide relaxation, beauty and massage treatments for people who need to unplug and unwind for a while.
Local Boat Cruises
Cruises provide another Florida Keys attraction, these can be romantic and appeal to both young and old. The beautiful sunsets make for a memorable cruise experience. Glass-bottom boats are another popular attraction in the Keys, providing a chance to experience the rich diversity of local marine life without getting your feet wet. You will also find a day trip vessel running out of Key West to the Dry Tortugas. This uninhabited island is loaded with local history.
Historical Sites
For the history buff, the Florida Keys provide a wealth of visual delights, from deliberate and accidental shipwrecks to the houses of famous residents. Key West is particularly well-known in this respect, with such landmarks as the Hemingway House, Harry Truman’s Winter White House, and Fort Zachary Taylor.
Wildlife Experiences
Nature lovers are in for a treat when visiting the Florida Keys; few other places present such a vast array of species in the air, in the water and on land, all within such a small area. You can experience biggest living coral reef in the United States and the fish that call it home, or see a variety of shore birds on the beach at the Bahia Honda State Park. Swimming with dolphins is also possible at several sites around the Keys. One other thing to keep in mind, the Keys can still be wild Florida when it comes to certain not-so-fun wildlife.
Events
On top of these permanent fixtures, other Florida Keys attractions include a number of well-known annual events. Among this list you will find Fantasy Fest in Key West, held every October, the Hemingway Days Festival, the Key Largo Pirates Fest and the Key West Literary Seminar. There are dozens of other street parties, pageants, and events held throughout the year in the fabulous Florida Keys.
