On the lookout for a tropical getaway within the US? Look no additional than the picturesque Florida Keys!
The Florida Keys are critically probably the most lovely and finest locations to go to within the US! The Keys, an island archipelago off the Southern tip of Florida, is really a sight to behold, and everybody ought to go to at the very least as soon as of their lives.
Whether or not you might be in search of a tropical getaway, to look at some uncannily lovely views, splash round within the turquoise waters, or unwind, the Florida Keys are the right place to take action. That is coming from expertise as a Florida native who has visited the Keys many occasions!
Let’s bounce proper into the perfect islands of the Florida Keys and why you want to go to them!
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What number of islands are there within the Florida Keys?
You’ll be shocked to know that there are over 1,700 islands within the Florida Keys!
So you may think about, there is no such thing as a scarcity of issues to do within the Florida Keys, and islands upon islands of enjoyable to discover!
43 of the islands are linked to the abroad freeway connecting Miami to Key West, and the opposite 1,657 islands you’re gonna want some kind of water equipment to journey to.
In case you don’t have a ship, don’t stress! There are many locations all through the keys the place you may lease a water automobile.
With out additional ado, let’s get into why you’re right here. Listed below are the ten finest islands within the Florida Keys you NEED to go to!
1. Discover Dry Tortugas
This island of the Florida Keys simply takes the cake as top-of-the-line islands to discover within the Keys. Situated simply off of Key West, that is an expertise you’ll not wish to miss out on throughout your journey to the Florida Keys!
Historic forts, shipwrecks, crystal clear caribbean-esque waters – Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park is slightly slice of heaven!
Dry Tortugas is house to seven beautiful islands crammed with potentialities. Nevertheless, remember the fact that the islands which are open for exploring fluctuate relying on the time of 12 months you might be visiting. The primary Key that’s at all times open to guests is Backyard Key.
Backyard Key additionally occurs to be the island the place the well-known navy fort, Fort Jefferson, is positioned. This fort has a wealthy historical past and is paying homage to historic structure. Throughout its heyday, this fort served a number of functions: a fort, a hospital, a jail, and now, State Park Rangers!
Keep in mind that Dry Tortugas is solely accessible by seaplane or ferry. An alternative choice is to lease a ship, which is effectively price it! You’ll be able to catch the ferry in Key West and it has a lot of facilities that make your journey a lot simpler.
Dry Tortugas is a distant oasis surrounded by lush and considerable mom nature, and it’s simply top-of-the-line islands of the Florida Keys!
2. Benefit from the pristine great thing about The Marquesas Keys!
The Florida Keys are house to a number of the most lovely pure landscapes and seashores in america. In case you loved the distant, tranquil great thing about Dry Tortugas, you’ll love the Marquesas Keys!
This Key can also be a bit nearer than Dry Tortugas, so in the event you don’t wish to make the journey to Key West, this can be a nice possibility! Marquesas Keys are additionally one of many archipelago’s finest locations for scuba diving.
Marquesas Key is a superb possibility for many who desire ultra-remote getaways. This Key doesn’t have any kind of growth and there’s a strict no-motor zone surrounding the three beautiful islands that make up Marquesas Key.
This set of keys is jaw-droppingly lovely and likewise serves an necessary ecological operate all through the archipelago. The majority of the islands are made up of 10 hardwood mangrove hammock groves which have deep roots into the seabed, which is a key factor to the homeostasis of the natural world that decision the Marquesas Key house.
Do you wish to go to Key West however don’t really feel like renting a automobile or driving all that means?
Take a simple peasy day journey through a bus trip from Miami to Key West!
PRICE: $70
Ebook Your Journey to Key West From Miami
3. Go to your very personal island paradise at Key Largo
Key Largo is the first and closest Key to Miami. This beautiful paradise is simply a hop, skip, and a bounce from Miami Seashore!
Key Largo is taken into account to be top-of-the-line Keys within the archipelago, and it isn’t arduous to see why. As guests start to strategy the Keys and get increasingly excited, Key Largo, being the primary Key, makes an incredible first impression on its patrons.
In your journey to the Florida Keys, you might be positively going to wish to make your first cease in Key Largo! That is the primary and top-of-the-line (and most iconic) stops on the Florida Abroad Freeway!
Alongside different islands within the Florida Keys, Key Largo is environmentally protected below strict legislation, which helps to help and keep the treasured and essential marine life. With out this marine life and the protections to maintain them, the Keys would stop to exist.
Plus, Key Largo is likely one of the finest islands within the keys for scuba diving and different water actions. You aren’t going to wish to miss John Pennekamp State Park, as I can promise you it is likely one of the most lovely locations you’ll ever see in your life!
Underwater actions are additionally a should to get probably the most out of your expertise within the islands of the Florida Keys. Take pleasure in swimming round brilliant coral, colourful tropical fish, and different marine life in crystal-clear waters!
Need to plan a day journey to Key Largo with out renting a automobile?
Take a look at this tremendous superior day journey (solely 90 minutes from downtown Miami) to Key Largo with non-compulsory water actions!
PRICE: $89
Ebook Your Day Journey To Key Largo
4. Uncover Marathon Key
Marathon Key is a traditional Florida Keys expertise. This city stretches throughout 13 completely different islands within the Keys!
In case you’re trying to expertise a cute Caribbean Florida Keys city and likewise wish to bounce round to completely different islands, Marathon Secret is the right place to discover!
These 13 islands that make up Marathon Key are linked by the well-known seven-mile bridge! That is additionally a traditional expertise when visiting the Florida Keys, one you aren’t going to wish to miss out on.
Even in the event you select to maintain it going and don’t cease in Marathon Key in your method to Key West, simply passing by means of and driving alone on the seven-mile bridge is a extremely unbelievable expertise. Why not lease a automobile and simply go cruising by means of the keys?
Marathon Secret is simply teeming with beautiful seashores, coral reefs rife for exploring, and a few tremendous particular waterfront eating. Don’t neglect to go to the Turtle Hospital!
Marathon Secret is often known as the ‘Center Keys’ as a result of it’s someplace within the center between Key Largo and Key West.
Need to discover the Center Keys in additional depth? This tremendous superb expertise takes you swimming with dolphins of their pure habitat within the Center Keys at Duck Key! Duck Secret is a small, intimate Key that you just and your loved ones will completely love!
PRICE: $270
5. Swoon at Islamorada
Once I say you’ll swoon at Islamorada, I’m not kidding! This beautiful Key nearly introduced tears to my eyes with its breathtaking magnificence.
Islamorada is named the sportfishing capital of the world. So in the event you’re into fishing, that is the important thing to do it!
In case you love fish and marine life, however you’re not all that into fishing, you want to go to Robbie’s the place you may hand-feed huge Tarpon!
In keeping with legend, Robbie’s was created after a businessman helped nurse a fish again to well being, and the fish ultimately got here again and introduced mates! Ever since then, feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s has turn out to be a traditional Florida Keys expertise. Truthfully, your journey is incomplete with out experiencing it!
Islamorada has beautiful state parks, seashores, eating places, and enjoyable museums to take a look at! That is the right place to go to within the Florida Keys along with your household!
Feeling like doing one thing additional particular for the one you love? You must e-book a romantic journey from Miami to Key West! You’ll fly throughout the water on a seaplane and see beautiful views throughout. You’ll even have a romantic lunch in Islamorada!
PRO TIP: Anne Eaton’s seashore in Islamorada is one among my favourite low-key spots to simply soak within the beautiful nature and lounge on the seashore. Touring with a furry pal? I introduced my canine to this seashore and we had a lot enjoyable!
PRICE: $650
Ebook Your Seaplane to Key West
6. Get misplaced in the great thing about Bahia Honda Key
For these of you who take pleasure in lowkey and stress-free vibes, Key West can generally be a bit a lot. Whereas it’s well worth the expertise, not everybody enjoys the hustle and bustle of it! Whereas it’s nothing just like the fast-pace of Miami, it may possibly get a bit touristy.
Nicely, in the event you desire lowkey, mellow vibes, Bahia Honda State Park is for you! Liked by locals and vacationers equally for its distinctive magnificence, Bahia Honda is really one of many gems of the Florida Keys.
This key’s simply drop-dead beautiful with white sand seashores, pristine Caribbean waters, and luxurious considerable magnificence throughout!
Initially, Bahia Honda was meant for use for a railroad, but it surely was become a State Park as a substitute. Nevertheless, you might be able to spot some remnants of the railroad tracks all through the Key, particularly on the Bahia Honda Bridge!
7. Go to Decrease & Higher Matecumbe Key
For all these nature lovers on the market, that is the important thing for you! Nicely, to be frank, anyplace you go to within the Florida Keys goes to be for you in the event you love nature, however this Secret is particularly nature-forward,
Matecumbe Key affords the serene leisure of seashores surrounded by beautiful and considerable nature whereas nonetheless being near accommodations and superb eating places.
Ensure you go to the beautiful Lignumvitae Botanical State Park in your journey to Matecumbe Key! This lovely state park is called after an excellent necessary tree that performed an enormous position within the industrial revolution, Lignum Vitae. It’s now listed as endangered attributable to its standard utilization for its tremendous dense wooden that sinks! At one level, bullets have been even made out of this miraculous tree!
Consider Lignum Vitae Secret is solely accessible by kayak or boat. Nevertheless, you may simply lease a kayak at one of many many native distributors. There’s a Decrease Matecumbe Key and an Higher Matecumbe Key, take your decide!
On the lookout for the comfort of a resort throughout your keep on Matecumbe Key? Cheeca Lodge & Spa is so fairly and it’s proper subsequent to Higher Matecumbe Key! The rooms are so lovely and the views are unbelievable!
Ebook Your Resort Keep in Matecumbe Key
8. Get the previous Florida really feel at Inventory Island
En path to Key West lies this previous Florida Gem: Inventory Island. Many locals from the Keys typically complain that the Keys are altering and growth is taking up.
Nevertheless, Inventory Island is likely one of the previous few locations that also has the charming ‘previous’ Florida Keys really feel. This slice of heaven has a number of the finest seafood eating places within the Keys. This makes for the right romantic getaway or household deal with.
In case you desire staying in a extra intimate setting, that is additionally a fantastic place to lease your personal little place, like this beautiful Casa Tranquility, which is correct on the waterfront and ideal for the entire household!
For an incredible restaurant try HogFish Bar and Grill!
For all these pace racers on the market, Inventory Island is a superb place to lease a speedboat and get your adrenaline pumping! Alternatively, you may e-book this superb jet ski tour from Inventory Island – tremendous enjoyable for the entire household!
PRICE: $174
9. Discover Massive Pine Key
Located the place the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gulf Of Mexico, Massive Pine Key shouldn’t be a Key you’ll wish to miss in your journey!
About 30 miles north of Key West, you’ll discover your dream trip nestled between palm timber, white sand seashores, beautiful views, and unforgettable recollections. Massive Pine Secret is for many who love lowkey trip surrounded by beautiful nature.
Don’t neglect to take a look at the Nationwide Key Deer Refuge the place you may see tiny, (and tremendous cute) wild key deer which are simply concerning the measurement of a big canine! There isn’t a doubt that your youngsters will like it, and so will you!
No journey to Massive Pine Secret is full with out some snorkeling! Take a look at this superb non-public snorkel tour the place you may be taught all concerning the lovely marine life within the keys. Plus, they provide you all of the gear you want, so all you want to do is flip up!
PRICE: $575
Ebook Your Personal Snorkel Tour
10. Discover the traditional Key West
After you drive the size of your entire Florida Keys, you arrive within the well-known Key West! I hope you bought to discover the start of the keys, center keys, and the decrease keys, so your journey to Key West is absolutely the cherry on prime!
The final cease on the Florida Keys Freeway, Key West is world well-known for being a charming little seashore city that’s nearer to Cuba than it’s to Miami! A few of the keys and experiences on this record require you to cease at Key West first anyhow, so the enjoyable doesn’t finish simply since you made it to Key West!
Key West is what goals are fabricated from. There are cute little seashores, retailers, bars, and a lot previous Florida tradition so that you can take pleasure in.
You’ll be able to at all times go to a number of the keys off the coast of Key West, Earnest Hemingway’s home and museum, go on a ghost tour, go on a nature tour, go to a drag queen pub crawl, take a sundown sail with a full bar, and a lot extra!
FAQs concerning the Islands of the Florida Keys
🗝️ Why are the Florida Keys known as keys?
When Juan Ponce De Leon first got here throughout the Florida Keys within the 1500s, he known as them Cayos, which in Spanish means small islands. “Keys” is simply an anglicized model of the Spanish phrase for small islands.
🏝️ What are the perfect seashores within the Keys?
🌴How have been the Florida Keys fashioned?
About 100,000 years in the past, the ocean stage dropped after the final Ice Age, exposing historic sand bars and coral reefs which ultimately fossilized and fashioned the chain of islands as we all know it immediately!
🏖️ The place is the bluest water within the Florida Keys?
The beautiful Fort Zachary Taylor Park Seashore is likely one of the finest locations for snorkeling and diving in Key West as a result of lovely clear blue water. It is usually a nationwide historic landmark and an excellent enjoyable place to take household and family members!
Conclusion
There you’ve got it! The ten finest islands of the Florida Keys. Whereas it’s arduous to choose the very best islands within the keys, this record is a superb begin.
In truth, anyplace you go to within the archipelago will likely be a lovely and unforgettable expertise. Indubitably. The Keys are historic and so so soo lovely. Whether or not you simply cruise down the Abroad Freeway or go to as many Keys as you may match into your journey, I simply know you’re going to have the time of your life. An unbelievable feat of nature, you’ll by no means run out of issues to do and discover within the islands of the Florida Keys!
In love and gratitude,
Amira G.
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