Take the Overseas Highway (Route 1) to Key West, the southernmost tip of Florida!
Florida is also the state of the Overseas Highway and the Florida Keys. This archipelago of about 1,700 islands stretches southwest for over 100 miles from Miami to the last inhabited island of Key West. This island is only 150 kilometers from Cuba. A Florida Keys holiday is the ultimate relaxing holiday. But it also offers a nice stopover during a Florida tour !
4 Florida Keys attractions
1. Key Largo
According to Deluxesurveillance, Key Largo is the first island you will encounter from the mainland. It is therefore very popular with the locals of Miami . Because the wetlands of the Everglades are close by, the waters around Key Largo contain a wide variety of fish. Around the waters of Key Largo you can dive insanely well during your Florida Keys vacation. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef Shark Park is also located here. The water here is crystal clear and you can rent a canoe here to explore the park further.
2. Islamorada
After Key Largo, Islamorada is the next island on your Florida Keys vacation itinerary. This is a beautiful archipelago and is surrounded by clear blue sea and ancient forest. You can go hiking here and enjoy nature, bird watching and camping.
Here you will find the diving museum and off the coast are a number of shipwrecks for the experienced diver to explore. Islamorada is the perfect place for sport fishing. This place is not called the sport fishing capital of the world for nothing.
3. Marathon Key
Marathon Key is located halfway through the Florida Keys and consists of a number of smaller islands. Fish still plays an important role here and the Seafood Festival is held here every year. This is a super fun festival to attend during your Florida Keys vacation! Also on Marathon Key is Turtle Hospital, a shelter for injured sea turtles. Here you will find a lot of information about what types of turtles there are and what their biggest threats are. Here you get an impressive tour of basins in which injured / recovering turtles swim.
4. Key West
Key West is the southernmost island of the Florida Keys and is only 90 miles from Cuba. From Miami it is about a 4 hour drive to Key West.
Key West is quite touristy and is known for its beautiful buildings and vibrant nightlife. Key West’s most famous resident was Ernest Hemingway, who lived on the island from 1931 to 1940. His favorite bar was Sloppy Joe’s bar on Duval street, this bar is still there. You can also visit the villa where Hemingway lived.
On Key West you can also visit the ‘Southernmost Point’, the southernmost point of the United States.
Fort Jefferson is located 70 miles west of Key West. This fort is not officially part of the Florida Keys. This nineteenth century fortress is located in the middle of the sea and served as a defense against enemy navigators who wanted to attack America from the Gulf of Mexico. A ferry departs from Key West every day so that you can visit the fort for a few hours.
