Although the Florida Keys are known as the Playground of Senior America, it is also an area that is incredibly family-friendly vacation-wise, as well as being the gateway for some of the most accessible natural preserves in the country.
There is a contradictory collection of things to see and do in the Florida Keys. From the bayou backwaters, where life and the wetlands have remained virtually unchanged for a century or more to the Space Center where US space exploration was born, to the hectic fun of nearby Disneyworld, the Florida Keys are a mix of ages, tastes and styles.
A Bird's Eye View
If the budget stretches, take it all in from the air. A two-hour tour of the Keys in a biplane (an aircraft that seats around half a dozen people and can land on water) takes visitors within 500 feet of the sharks, dolphins and rays that call the Keys home, as well as offering a sweep of the Key's historic civil-war era fields and buildings. The Quicksands of the Marquesa Keys is a region of now-underwater sand dunes where treasure hunter Mel Fisher made his fortune with the discovery of the Atocha, a Spanish galleon carrying gold that was wrecked on the reef and lost centuries ago.
Beaches and Diving
If you are not visiting Disneyworld (this is considered very odd, but it does happen from time to time), spend your time exploring the beaches. If sunbathing isn't your thing, definitely grab a snorkel – the marine life off the Florida Keys is rich in diversity and, as most of the coastal areas are protected, curious fish and the occasional turtle may stop by for a visit, and he clear blue waters offer visibility for hundreds of feet in every direction. Divers can visit several submerged wrecks off the coast, both accidental and deliberately placed – the Florida Keys are among the richest scuba opportunities in America.
There are stretches of beach-line that allow fishing, and casting a line at sunset when fish surface to feed can be a profitable time for the amateur fisherperson. Deep sea fishing is also popular in the Keys, and tours will take enthusiasts out to try their hand at marlin fishing.
Away From It All
Charter a sailboat or catch a ride on the high-speed ferry for a tour of the islands dotted around Key West.. For a romantic night, you can make 'camp' on one of the deserted islands and be picked up the next day. Camp packages usually include a room made of canvas, netting and wood, as well as an enormous picnic basket which can easily feed two people for three days.
Tortugas Park
In summer, the Florida Keys are inundated with the overflow from Miami's spring break. If partying with the under-25s is your thing, this is the time to go, but if you prefer your vacations a little quieter, either stay away over the summer months (the Keys are warm enough to visit at any time of year) or get away from the Keys themselves. About 70 miles west of town is the Tortugas National Park, which is one of the best-kept nature preserves in this part of the country and is famed for its diversity – from white-sand beaches to swampy bayous (great to see by kayak or hydroplane), this really is a nature-lover's paradise. The park station offers maps, information and education on the trails that criss-cross the Park, as well as interesting snippets of information on the plants and animals that are kept here.
Florida Keys Hotels
The Florida Keys offer a broad range of accommodation quality and price. The youth market is catered for in cheap-but-cheerful basic rooms priced at around $30 per person per night, while visitors who prefer room service and soundproofing can expect to pay around $150 per night per room.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in the Florida Keys.
(Photo:iStockPhoto/JillKyle)
