The Florida Keys, a string of tropical islands stretching 120 miles off the southern tip of Florida, offer a paradise-like escape unlike anywhere else in the United States. Connected by the iconic Overseas Highway, this island chain combines breathtaking natural beauty with quirky local culture, creating a unique destination where relaxation and adventure go hand in hand.
From the underwater wonders of coral reefs to historic landmarks and wildlife encounters, the Florida Keys deliver unforgettable experiences for every type of traveler. Here are 16 essential stops you won’t want to miss when exploring this enchanting archipelago.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Located about 70 miles west of Key West, this remote national park combines natural wonders and human history in a setting of extraordinary beauty. The park’s centerpiece, Fort Jefferson, stands as the largest brick structure in the Western Hemisphere, a massive coastal fortress rising from crystal-clear waters that seems to float in the middle of the vast Gulf of Mexico.
Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park’s isolation is part of its magic, offering visitors pristine coral reefs for snorkeling, white-sand beaches without footprints, and star-filled skies unmarred by light pollution.
Bahia Honda State Park
Often cited as home to the Keys’ most beautiful beaches, this island paradise in the Lower Keys draws visitors with its soft white sand and shallow, crystalline waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The park’s star attraction is the old Bahia Honda Rail Bridge, a relic from Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad that provides a dramatic silhouette against the turquoise sea and serves as a reminder of the Keys’ fascinating transportation history.
Nature enthusiasts can explore diverse ecosystems, including tropical hardwood hammocks, mangrove wetlands, and seagrass beds that support abundant marine life.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
America’s first undersea park, located in Key Largo, offers an extraordinary window into the vibrant marine world of the Florida Keys. The park protects approximately 70 nautical square miles of the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, where visitors can observe colorful tropical fish, gentle sea turtles, and intricate coral formations in their natural habitat.
Those preferring to stay dry can view the underwater marvels through glass-bottom boat tours, while the park’s land-based attractions include nature trails through mangrove forests, sandy beaches, and an aquarium in its visitor center.
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Seven Mile Bridge
This engineering marvel stretches majestically across open water, creating one of the most scenic driving experiences in America as it connects the Middle Keys to the Lower Keys. Completed in 1982 to replace the historic original bridge (parts of which still stand alongside), this modern structure offers panoramic vistas of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean simultaneously, with waters transitioning through mesmerizing shades of blue and green.
Watching the sunrise or sunset from this elevated perspective is an almost spiritual experience, as the sky and water merge in spectacular displays of color.
Mallory Square
This vibrant plaza in Key West is renowned for its daily sunset celebration, which has become an essential Keys tradition and unique cultural happening. As the sun begins its descent toward the Gulf of Mexico, the square transforms into an open-air festival featuring street performers, musicians, food vendors, and artists, all celebrating the end of another perfect day in paradise.
The square’s prime waterfront location offers expansive views of the harbor where cruise ships, sailboats, and fishing vessels create a constantly changing maritime backdrop to the evening’s festivities.
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Step into the literary legend’s world at his Spanish Colonial home in Key West, where Hemingway lived and wrote for more than a decade during the 1930s. The beautifully preserved property provides fascinating insights into the Nobel Prize-winning author’s life, showcasing his personal belongings, hunting trophies, and the writing studio where he created some of his most famous works.
The grounds are famously home to approximately 60 polydactyl (six-toed) cats, many descended from Hemingway’s original pet named Snow White, who roam freely through the lush tropical gardens and historic rooms.
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Robbie’s Marina
This iconic establishment in Islamorada delivers what might be the Keys’ most memorable interactive wildlife experience: hand-feeding massive tarpon from the dock. Visitors can purchase buckets of small fish to dangle above the water, creating an exhilarating moment as these silver giants, some weighing over 100 pounds, leap from the water to grab the offerings with surprising gentleness.
Beyond the tarpon feeding, Robbie’s has evolved into a vibrant hub featuring waterfront dining, local art vendors, boat rentals, and eco-tours, making it a perfect introduction to the laid-back yet adventurous spirit of the Keys.
The Turtle Hospital
Located in Marathon, this pioneering marine animal hospital has rescued, rehabilitated, and released thousands of injured sea turtles since opening in 1986. Educational tours allow visitors to meet current patients and permanent residents while learning about threats facing these ancient mariners and conservation efforts to protect them.
The facility includes rehabilitation tanks, a surgical suite, and a turtle ambulance for rescues, with all operations supported by visitor fees and donations, creating a unique attraction that combines entertainment with meaningful environmental education.
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Enter a magical world where hundreds of colorful butterflies float freely through a climate-controlled glass-enclosed habitat filled with lush tropical plants, cascading waterfalls, and exotic birds. The carefully maintained environment supports the complete butterfly lifecycle, allowing visitors to observe these delicate creatures from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult.
Educational displays explain butterfly biology and behavior, while the gift shop offers artistic creations inspired by these ephemeral beauties, creating a peaceful, enchanting experience that delights visitors of all ages.
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Dolphin Research Center
This not-for-profit education and research facility on Grassy Key provides extraordinary opportunities to learn about and interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions in a natural lagoon setting. Founded on principles of research, education, and animal welfare, the center offers various interactive programs from dockside encounters to in-water experiences with its resident marine mammals.
Visitors can observe training sessions, dolphin presentations, and research activities while learning about marine conservation from passionate staff dedicated to protecting these intelligent creatures.
Sombrero Beach
This expansive public beach in Marathon combines the natural beauty of the Keys with convenient amenities, creating an ideal destination for families and water enthusiasts. The crescent-shaped shoreline features soft white sand, swaying palm trees, and clear shallow waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling, while covered pavilions, picnic tables, and playgrounds make it easy to spend an entire day enjoying the tropical setting.
During summer months, the beach serves as a nesting ground for loggerhead turtles, with marked-off areas protecting these endangered species while they lay their eggs.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Located at the southwestern tip of Key West, this 19th-century fortress combines military history with natural beauty, featuring both Civil War-era architecture and one of Key West’s finest beaches. The fort itself, constructed between 1845 and 1866, houses the largest collection of Civil War armaments in the world, while guided tours reveal fascinating stories of its strategic importance through multiple conflicts.
The surrounding park offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities in remarkably clear waters, along with picnic areas nestled among native vegetation and spectacular sunset viewing spots.
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Crane Point Museum and Nature Center
This 63-acre protected area in Marathon preserves one of the last undeveloped hardwood hammocks in the Middle Keys, offering an educational glimpse into the region’s natural and cultural history. Visitors can explore several miles of nature trails winding through diverse habitats, including mangrove forests, solution cavities, and coastal areas, while observing native wildlife.
The property includes several historic structures, such as the 1903 George Adderley House, built by a Bahamian immigrant using traditional techniques, as well as a natural history museum, bird rehabilitation center, and butterfly garden.
Key West Cemetery
Established in 1847 after a hurricane washed away the previous burial ground, this historic cemetery in the heart of Old Town Key West reflects the island’s unique blend of cultures, traditions, and irreverent humor. Elaborate above-ground tombs and monuments showcase architectural styles from Victorian to Mediterranean, while famously witty epitaphs like “I Told You I Was Sick” reveal the locals’ distinctive outlook on life and death.
Self-guided tours highlight the final resting places of notable residents and fascinating stories that chronicle the island’s colorful past, from Cuban independence fighters to sponge merchants and cigar makers.
National Key Deer Refuge
Created to protect the diminutive Key deer, an endangered subspecies of white-tailed deer found only in the Florida Keys, this refuge on Big Pine Key and surrounding islands encompasses diverse habitats including pine rocklands, tropical hardwood hammocks, and freshwater wetlands. These adorable deer, standing just 24-32 inches tall at the shoulder, can often be spotted at dawn and dusk browsing alongside roadways and in residential areas.
The refuge’s visitor center provides information about conservation efforts, while nature trails and an observation platform offer opportunities to experience the unique ecosystems and wildlife.
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African Queen Canal Cruise
History and film buffs can embark on a nostalgic journey aboard the actual steamboat featured in the classic 1951 movie “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Now restored and operating in Key Largo, this authentic steam-powered vessel takes small groups of passengers on canal cruises while guides share fascinating stories about the boat’s Hollywood history and subsequent adventures.
The intimate 1.5-hour experience provides both spectacular photo opportunities and a tangible connection to cinema history, creating memories that go beyond typical tourist attractions.
Island Paradise
What makes the Florida Keys truly special goes beyond any single attraction—it’s the distinctive atmosphere created by their geographic isolation, rich multicultural heritage, and the carefree “Keys Disease” that seemingly affects anyone who stays long enough. Throughout the archipelago, from Key Largo to Key West, visitors encounter a delightful blend of natural beauty, colorful history, and quirky local character that exists nowhere else in America.
Whether you’re admiring a fiery sunset over tranquil waters, savoring the tang of authentic key lime pie, or simply enjoying the rhythm of island life, the Florida Keys offer a multisensory escape that lingers in memory long after returning to mainland reality.
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