![]() The waters surrounding the chain, which include shallow flats, mangrove islets, and coral reefs, are protected by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The drive from Miami to Key West generally takes four hours. It's common for hotels, restaurants, and other sites to peg the locations to the closest mile marker (MM). Its green mile marker signs begin at mile marker 113 at the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line and descend to marker 0 at the corner of Fleming and Whitehead streets in Key West (a popular photo opportunity). Highway 1 and is sometimes called the Highway That Goes to Sea. The only road linking the islands - the Florida Keys Overseas Highway - is the southernmost leg of U.S. The island - just two by four miles in size - is home to a vibrant historic district, an international airport, and the southernmost point in the continental United States. Key West, famed as the beloved home of writers Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams (and home to a warm and welcoming LGBTQ+ scene), is closer to Cuba (90 miles) than it is to Miami (159 miles). In the Lower Keys, Big Pine Key is home to a national refuge that protects the miniature endangered Key deer, which has made an astonishing comeback from near extinction. The Seven Mile Bridge at Marathon is one of the longest segmented bridges in the world. Islamorada is known as the Sport Fishing Capital of the world and is famous for its backcountry sport fishing and saltwater fly fishing. Key Largo is known as the Dive Capital of the World and is home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater preserve in the U.S. The Keys are divided into five regions: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine and Lower Keys, and Key West. The coral and limestone islands are linked by 42 bridges - one almost seven miles long - over the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Keys is a 125-mile-long chain of islands that begins just south of Miami. (For a full list of festivals and events, check the Florida Keys Tourism Bureau's calendar, here.) Peak festivals include Key West's Hemingway Days (including the famed Hemingway lookalike contest) in July and the Carnivalesque Fantasy Fest in October, the Original Marathon Seafood Festival in March, the 7 Mile Bridge Run (the only run surrounded by water along its entire length) in April, and the Key West Brewfest over Labor Day Weekend. That said, some of the prettiest weather of the year - calm waters and fluffy clouds - also occur during this period.įestivals in the Florida Keys draw big crowds and can be a reason to go or a reason to pick another time for vacation, depending on the type of trip you're looking for. 30, which means more turbulent weather and the possibility of dangerous storms (peak hurricane months for the Florida Keys are between Aug. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. In the summer, when temperatures get into the hot range (July's average high is 86☏), the crowds disperse a bit and hotels tend to lower their prices, which makes this a great time to visit if you're looking for better deals and don't mind heat and humidity. ![]() The Keys' subtropical climate means balmy temperatures year-round (January's high temperatures are typically in the 70s), making it a superb destination when even Central Florida can be experiencing frosts. During the winter months it almost never rains, and even if clouds do push through with some showers, they're gone that day. Peak tourist season in the Florida Keys starts right after the holidays in late December and lasts through May. And don't worry if you don't get to everything that there is to love and explore in the Florida Keys - you'll be back.Įastern Standard Time (Daylight Savings Time is observed seasonally) Take time to snorkel, dive, and fish, walk the beach, and eat lots and lots of seafood (and Key lime pie). So, make a trip of it - spend a few days in Key Largo or Islamorada near the upper end of the archipelago, dally on Marathon or Big Pine Key, then settle in for some serious quirky culture, history, and bohemia in Key West. Every few miles there's a discovery to be had: a tiki bar, a seafood joint, a beachy resort or boutique hotel, a gorgeous nature preserve, or just a thrilling turquoise vista across the famed saltwater flats toward a blue horizon. While it's possible to hop in a car in Miami and make it to Key West (and the southernmost point in the continental United States) in less than four hours (traffic willing), that defeats the charm and richness of the Florida Keys. And with one narrow road (and 42 bridges) connecting the isles, just to travel the Florida Keys is to feel on a magical, water-surrounded journey. The Florida Keys are like a coral kingdom: a 125-mile-long arcing chain of islands flung south from the tip of Florida with the ultimate island - Key West - resting just 90 miles from the shores of Cuba.
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