Key West, Florida

Key West is on the silvery ribbon of islands that trail off the southern shore of Florida. Thanks to the ever present warm temperatures and glistening seas, the islands have long been an escapist's nirvana. Eclectic and eccentric, wild and warm, blessed with some of Florida's most colorful characters and equally blessed with some of its most spectacular sea scenery, the Keys are a wonderland paradise. Key West Key West is a rather small island that is about 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. Whether you want to relax on the beach or spend the day shopping, Key West has plenty to offer. Duval Street is the center of Key West life, with many hotels, guest houses, inns and bed & breakfasts, plus dozens of shops and restaurants, nestled into its tropical ambiance. Wreckers Museum is an old house and museum where you can observe and learn more about the treasures salvaged from shipwrecks. If you get thirsty stop in for a cocktail and a snack at Duval Beach Club . The Historic Seaport is the perfect place to walk down Harborwalk and enjoy the ocean along with shops and restaurants. Watch the free daily turtle feedings at Turtle Kraals Museum . Then stop for a bite to eat at Conch Republic Seafood Company or Half Shell Raw Bar . If you get tired of the beach head to Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory where you can observe about 60 species of butterflies. You should also go to Key West Aquarium where you can learn more about sea life. The aquarium is the perfect place to take the kids since there are interactive exhibits where you can touch marine creatures. Key Largo Key Largo is a larger island and is occasionally called the "Diving Capital of the World” since the coral reefs attract so many divers. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a protected park where you can view coral reefs and colorful sea life. The state park also offers an aquarium, museum, camping, snorkeling, diving, and boating. Pennekamp Park is a treasure trove of local flora including wild orchids, gumbo limbo, wild cotton, strangler fig, tamarind trees, wild coffee, and mahogany trees. If you want to see endangered animals go to Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site where the mangrove trees grow a “hammock” which is basically a small island that attracts animals. Islamorada Billed as the 'Sportfishing Capital of the World', Islamorada's waters are home to the conch, alligator and Pickles Reefs, with a vast array of marine life. It's a destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. A scuttled ship, sunk on purpose is a great diving spot. Those interested in Keys' geology can look at Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geologic Site , a reef that's no longer underwater. You can take a boat ride and get a historic exploration at Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site , a virgin hardwood forest, and Indian Key State Historic Site , once the Miami area's county seat! Both are accessible on ferry trips. You can feed tarpon off the docks at Robbie's Marina or swim with dolphins, manta rays and sea lions at Theater of the Seas . Marathon and the Middle Keys Some of the residents can trace their history to early 1800s settlements. Bahamians raised tropical fruit for a living; New England fishermen searched the sea for its bounty; and in 1908, Henry Flagler's Overseas Railway reached Key Vaca, where the village of Marathon grew as headquarters for the railroad's final push to Key West. Here your adventure can include a swim with dolphins, an iguana introduction, a visit to a hardwood hammock or rain forest, or a loll on sandy beaches. Roaring jet skis and other water sports are available. Fishing is great on the reefs, the flats or in the deep. For a close look at a sea turtle, visit the hospital that treats injured turtles. To learn something about early Indian settlements, visit the Museums of Crane Point, which encompass the Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys and the Florida Keys Children's Museum . Bahia Honda and the Lower Keys Big Pine Key is the center of life in the Lower Keys. Looe Key Reef off Big Pine Key is one of the Keys' top diving spots and one of the best reefs for diving in the world. In July each year, the Sanctuary sponsors a popular music festival promoting the preservation of the Keys' coral reefs. So popular is Bahia Honda State Park that campers reserve space months in advance to ensure a place in this waterfront paradise with its pristine beaches and warm waters.