Explore the Best of the Florida Keys and Key West

Source:

tripmemos.com

90 places on the map

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90 places in Florida: Florida Keys, Key Largo, Grecian Rocks, and 87 more. Every place is verified on Google Maps, featured in a web post.

watersports

snorkeling

museums

diving

wildlife

fishing

kayaking

resorts

beaches

history

Florida Keys

Place

4.7

• Driving along the Overseas Highway is a must-do bucket list item • Consider breaking up the drive to enjoy activities along the way • Printable itinerary with 71 stops, hours, and addresses is available

Key Largo

Place

• Longest key, popular for superb snorkeling spots • Only a 1.5-hour drive from Miami, making it a popular day-trip destination • Home to about 12,400 residents

Grecian Rocks

Scenic spot

4.7

• Famous coral reef, great for snorkeling on windy days • Shallow depth and natural protection • Inquire at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for transportation

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

State park

4.5

• Vast park popular for diving and snorkeling • Offers glass-bottom boat tours and an indoor aquarium • Camping facilities, kayak and paddleboard rentals available

Dolphins Plus Bayside

Landmark

4.5

• Offers supervised dolphin swims, painting, and interaction tours • Choose from various tour packages for a dolphin encounter • Experience a dolphin kiss

Wild Bird Sanctuary - Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

Association / organization

4.7

• Free to visit with a suggested $10 donation per person • Features an outdoor sanctuary and bird hospital • Enjoy strolling along the boardwalk, especially at sunset

Islamorada

Place

• Spans five islands and is known for fantastic sport fishing • Great home base for exploring all the Keys • Population of approximately 7,100

Tea Table Key

Island

4.8

• One of the five islands that form Islamorada • Known for its sport fishing opportunities • A scenic part of the Florida Keys

Lower Matecumbe Key

Island

4.8

• One of the five islands that form Islamorada • Home to Anne's Beach • Known for its sport fishing opportunities

Upper Matecumbe Key

Island

4.5

• One of the five islands that form Islamorada • Features Islamorada Founders Park and Rain Barrel Village • Known for its sport fishing opportunities

Founders Park

Park

4.5

• Largest park in Islamorada, located on the bayside • Features an Olympic-size swimming pool and recreational facilities ✓ Entry fees around $8 per adult, $5 for youth or seniors

Rain Barrel Village

Landmark

4.4

• Famous for its colossal lobster statue, great for selfies • Features local art, handicrafts, and souvenirs inside • An eccentric store with unique offerings

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park

State park

4.5

• Former limestone quarry that helped build the Overseas Railroad • Features authentic machinery along five walking trails • Transport guests to the early 20th century

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

State park

4.4

• Explore a hidden paradise with a virgin tropical hardwood hammock • Features a historic 1919 homestead • Accessible only by boat or kayak, offers self-guided tours

History of Diving Museum

History museum

4.8

• One of the world’s most comprehensive collections of diving artifacts • Focuses on South Florida's diving history • Pet-friendly non-profit inspiring visitors with stories of underwater exploration

Islamorada Brewery & Distillery (Islamorada)

Brewery

4.9

• Look for the vibrant yellow building at 82229 Overseas Highway • Known for refreshing tropical-themed drinks and welcoming atmosphere • Check their official website for more information on offerings

Keys History & Discovery Center

Museum

4.5

• Comprehensive overview of the Florida Keys history • Explore rare artifacts and interactive exhibits • Theatre plays a fascinating hour-long documentary four times daily

Florida Keys Brewing Co

Brewery

4.8

• Known for its welcoming atmosphere and unique local flavors • Relax in the cozy lounge or explore the inviting setting • Check their website before your visit for details

Indian Key Historic State Park

State park

4.6

• 11-acre island preserving 19th-century settlement ruins • Briefly served as Dade County's first county seat in 1836 • Reachable by boat or kayak, explore historic ruins and a looping trail

Anne's Beach

Beach

3.9

• Popular in the kite-boarding community due to shallow waters • Great for sunbathing, picnicking, and swimming • Located on Lower Matecumbe Key

Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

Place

• Long trail for walking or cycling • Easiest way to visit the Highway Piers Historical Marker • Offers scenic views along the Keys

Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar

Seafood restaurant

4.4

• Perfect place to dine as the sun sets • Offers picturesque views and live music • Committed to sustainability, sourcing local ingredients

Robbie's of Islamorada

Landmark

4.5

• Hotspot for feeding tarpons, shopping for local crafts, and good food • Marina offers boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals • Iconic spot for fun, food, and Florida Keys flair

Long Key

Island

4.7

• Small island between Islamorada and Marathon • Once gained a snobbish reputation, now known for campgrounds • Enjoy the 'high life' on this idyllic island

Long Key State Park

State park

4.3

• Remnants of Henry Flagler's Gilded Age vacation club • Popular activities include camping, paddling, fishing, and snorkeling • Offers a unique blend of history and nature

Grassy Key

Island

4.7

• Formally classified as one of the Marathon Islands • Beloved for its small-town atmosphere and RV park • Best known for hosting the Dolphin Research Center

Dolphin Research Center

Landmark

4.6

• Top attraction on the Marathon Islands • Watch entertaining educational shows with tropical birds and sea lions • Research institute dedicated to dolphins

Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

Association / organization

4.9

• Located on central Marathon Island, full of friendly locals • Get help planning your trip, including attractions and restaurants • Ensures an enjoyable vacation experience

Curry Hammock State Park

State park

4.5

• Boasts 1,000 acres of uninhabited land, ideal for campers • Popular with nature tourists for paddle-boarding, hiking, and stargazing • Offers untouched scenery

San Pablo Catholic Parish

Church

4.8

• Features stained glass and rosary gardens for meditation • Visit in December for highly reviewed Christmas light displays • Inspired walk through nature's beauty

Sunset Park

Park

4.7

• Best known for its stunning sunsets • Features a few docks, some impromptu musical performances • Located on the Atlantic edge of Key Colony Beach

Oceanfront Park

Park

4.6

• Almost 8-acre park on Marathon Island's Atlantic side • Features boardwalks, tiki huts, and picnic tables • Activities include fishing, kayaking, kite flying, hiking, and bird-watching

Marathon Air Museum

Museum

4.7

• Located at Marathon International Airport for aviation enthusiasts • Features flight memorabilia, a fire engine, and planes to explore • Don't let its small exterior fool you; it's packed with exhibits

Crane Point Hammock

Non-profit organization

4.7

• Created in the 70s to preserve natural beauty from development • Features a bird rehabilitation center, nature trail, and museum • Non-profit welcoming those interested in exploring nature

Turtle Hospital

Veterinary care

4.8

• Helped hundreds of injured turtles reclaim health for over 30 years • Book a guided tour in advance to see current turtle patients • Dedicated to rehabilitating and re-entering turtles into their natural habitat

Pigeon Key Island Train Tour

Landmark

4.6

• Tour historic buildings, one of which is a museum • Played an important role in housing workers during Old Seven Mile Highway construction • Take a ferry from Pigeon Key Visitor’s Center at 2010 Overseas Highway

Old Seven Mile Bridge

Landmark

4.8

• One of the most photographed bridges in the Keys • Impressive engineering accomplishment, though not the longest • Currently undergoing refurbishment for pedestrian access

Knights Key

Island

4.7

• Connects to the Seven Mile Bridge • Scenic views of the surrounding waters • A point of interest along the Overseas Highway

Little Duck Key

Island

4.6

• Connects to the Seven Mile Bridge • Home to Veterans Memorial Park • Offers scenic views and tranquil spots

Little Torch Key

Island

4.7

• Serene and relatively undeveloped island in the lower Florida Keys • Offers seclusion and pristine natural beauty • Haven for offshore fishing, home to Little Palm Island Resort

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

Resort hotel

4.6

• Luxurious resort on a private island • Accessible only by boat or seaplane, ensuring a secluded getaway • Known for world-class spa and fine dining

Big Pine Key

Place

• Perfect key for nature enthusiasts, home to about 5,000 people • Main claim to fame is protecting the world's largest population of endangered Key deer • Offers wildlife adventures and natural beauty

Bahia Honda State Park

State park

4.6

• Features crystal clear water, swaying palm trees, and scintillating sunsets • Enjoy bicycling, bird-watching, snorkeling, and sunbathing • Offers a Caribbean beach retreat experience

Key West Visitors Center

Visitor center

4.7

• Located on Big Pine Key, providing reliable information • Official address is 31281 Overseas Hwy • Stop here for planning your Key West trip

National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center

Visitor center

4.6

• 8,542-acre refuge to see endangered Key deer • Also home to Bartram’s hairstreak butterfly and Lower Keys marsh rabbit ✓ Do not feed the Key deer as it is against refuge policies

Blue Hole

Lake

4.5

• Small but significant wildlife area within the National Key Deer Refuge • Named for its circular pond • Excellent for wildlife watching, including reptiles, iguanas, birds, and Key deer

American Shoal Lighthouse

Landmark

4.8

• Bright red lighthouse, deactivated in 2015 • Worth visiting for fantastic photo opportunities and snorkeling ✓ Keep up-to-date on news surrounding the lighthouse before visiting

Veterans Memorial Beach

Park

4.6

• Small beach retreat with free access and parking • Features beautiful shallow waters ✓ Limited parking, so arrive early

Key West

Place

• Most populous, most visited, and most politically significant of all the Florida Keys • Known for its quirky character, packed with attractions, restaurants, and nature retreats • Easily spend a few days exploring its landmarks, historic homes, and gardens

Key West Historic Seaport

Marina

4.8

• Great place to begin your Key West adventure, 20-acre historic area • Home to dozens of the city’s finest shops and restaurants • Access water sports excursions, snorkeling tours, and hop-on, hop-off trolleys

Mallory Square

Landmark

4.7

• Most popular place to watch Key West’s stunning sunset • Known for dramatic (and sometimes kitschy) evening street performers ✓ Be prepared for crowds of cruise ship tourists

Duval Street

Place

4.7

• Key West’s liveliest and most distinctive street, 1.2 miles long • Find big-name restaurants, historic buildings, and souvenir shops • Popular for nighttime ghost tours and parades during special events

Key West Lighthouse

Museum

4.6

• Bright white lighthouse on Whitehall Street, standing for 175+ years • Offers fantastic panoramic city views after climbing 88 steps • Deactivated in the 1960s, now an iconic tourist draw

Clarence S.Higgs Memorial Beach

Place

4.3

• Family-friendly beach near Downtown, 16.5 acres • Explore remnants of the 19th-century West Martello Tower and an old African burial ground • Features a restaurant, kiddie play area, and dog park

South Beach- Access

Landmark

3.6

• Small beach and pier conveniently named near the Southernmost Point • Features clean amenities and great views of ships and the sunset • Convenient for a quick dip after visiting the Southernmost Point

Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A.

Historical landmark

4.5

• Iconic spot for a photo-op, a must-do in Key West • Features a live webcam, so no embarrassing moments • Symbolizes the southernmost point of the continental US

Key West Cemetery

Cemetery

4.6

• Surprisingly humorous cemetery with unique tombstone inscriptions • Reflects the fun-loving Key West spirit • Free to visit, guided tours available for a small fee

Smathers Beach

Place

4.3

• Key West’s longest beach, about one mile from the Historic District • Features volleyball courts, picnic benches, and jet ski rentals • Be prepared for planes flying overhead due to proximity to the airport

Sugarloaf Marina

Marina

4.7

• Located 13 miles from Key West • Starting point for exploring creeks and reefs with 'Outback with Jack' • Offers access to pristine waters

Audubon House & Tropical Gardens

Museum

4.6

• Essential stop for bird lovers, a stone’s throw from Mallory Square • Believed John James Audubon stayed here while working on 'Birds of America' • Explore tropical gardens and learn about the famous painter

Oldest House Museum & Gardens Key West

Museum

4.5

• Constructed in 1829, transports you to a different era • Located on Duval Street • Remarkable historic home in Key West

Truman Little White House

Museum

4.6

• Presidential library, retreat for Harry S. Truman during winter • Offers an intimate view of Truman’s life and times • Fantastic attraction for history buffs

The Hemingway Home and Museum

Museum

4.6

• Former home of literary legend Ernest Hemingway • 30-minute guided tour with amusing anecdotes about his life • See Pauline Pfeiffer's gardens and dozens of cats, some descended from Hemingway's six-toed cat

Fort East Martello Museum

Museum

4.6

• Former Civil War fort, now a fascinating museum • Houses Civil War relics, unique artwork, and artifacts from Key West’s past • Learn about Key West’s complicated Civil War history

The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea

Church

4.9

• One of the Sunshine State’s most historic Catholic churches, dating back to the 1850s • Features beautiful interior and serene garden • Well worth a visit for moments of meditation

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

Museum

4.5

• High on the itinerary for those interested in pirates, shipwrecks, and buried treasure • Star attractions include Spanish ships and treasures from the 1600s • Features exhibits on conservation efforts and Caribbean pirates

USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum

Museum

4.8

• One of the Coast Guard’s most celebrated ships, USCG Cutter INGHAM • Served between 1936 and 1988, saw action in WWII and Vietnam War • Houses artifacts from heroic decades, offers spectacular sunset views

Truman Waterfront Park

Park

4.7

• Home to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM Maritime Museum • Offers scenic views of the waterfront • A great place for a stroll before or after visiting the museum

Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House

Museum

4.6

• Four-story building dating back to 1891 • Once served as Key West’s central business hub and strategic naval base • Learn about the building's essential roles by touring the museum’s exhibits

Blue Heaven

American restaurant

4.6

• Eccentric cemetery in the courtyard of the Blue Heaven restaurant • Final resting place for roosters tied to the restaurant’s storied history • Vibe-decorated graves offer a quirky glimpse into Key West’s character

Key West Shipwreck Museum

Museum

4.3

• Eye-catching museum designed to look like a shipwrecked vessel • Watch live performers tell stories behind authentic shipwrecks and treasures • Climb the 65-foot Tower for unforgettable views as part of admission

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

State park

4.6

• High marks with snorkelers thanks to incredibly clear waters • Features a Civil War-era fort to tour alone or with a guide • Easy to spend the entire day swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and picnicking

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

Botanical garden

4.2

• 20-minute drive from the Historic District, offers lush Caribbean gardens • Rave about the many rare birds, butterflies, and turtles • 'Frost-free' climate means it's a good time to visit year-round

Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center

Visitor center

4.6

• Government-sponsored center, a short walk from Fort Zachary Taylor • 6,000 sq. ft. complex with interactive exhibits, films, and live fish • Educates visitors on the wonders of the Keys’ biodiversity

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

Garden

4.8

• Near the Southernmost Point, for lepidopterologists and nature lovers • Stroll through beautiful walkways with over 50 species of butterflies • Encounter dozens of exotic birds in a lush setting

Key West Aquarium

Aquarium

4.1

• Long-standing, family-friendly attraction near Mallory Square, opened in the 1930s • Most popular draw is the touch tank with sea stars, hermit crabs, and conchs • See sharks, alligators, and stingrays (but don't touch them)

Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden

Garden

4.5

• Unique sanctuary where visitors can see and hear rare macaws up close • Learn about the birds’ stories and watch their colorful personalities • Peaceful garden environment, a five-minute walk north of Mile Marker 0

Dry Tortugas National Park

National park

4.8

• Located 70 miles off Key West, a fantastic snorkeling destination • Offers pristine coral reefs and marine life • Known for its remote beauty and historic Fort Jefferson

Sombrero Reef

Nature preserve

4.8

• Excellent snorkeling and diving spot • Features vibrant coral formations and diverse marine life • Located off the coast of Marathon

Fury Water Adventures Key West

Tour agency

4.5

• Highly reviewed cruise operator for guided tours • Offers various water activities, including snorkeling and jet skiing • Book a romantic guided cruise or dolphin sightseeing tour

Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Boat

Tour agency

4.6

• Highly reviewed operator for glass-bottom boat tours • Explore the underwater world without getting wet • Suitable for all ages, offering views of coral reefs and marine life

KeyZ Charters

Tour agency

4.9

• Highly reviewed charter operator in Islamorada • Book a romantic guided cruise or dolphin sightseeing tour • Experience personalized trips to explore the Keys

Lazy Dog Adventures

Services

4.9

• Tour company for exploring mangroves in Key West • Offers kayaking and paddleboarding excursions • Discover the natural beauty of the Key West ecosystem

Florida Keys Fun Fishing

Fishing charter

5.0

• Highly praised Islamorada fishing charter • Experience world-class sport fishing in the 'Sport Fishing Capital Of The World' • Book an adventure for anglers of all skill levels

Florida Backcountry Fishing

Fishing charter

4.1

• Highly praised Islamorada fishing charter for backcountry fishing • Explore the calm, shallow waters for unique catches • Perfect for those seeking a different fishing experience

Dauntless fishing charters

Fishing charter

5.0

• Highly praised Islamorada fishing charter • Offers a variety of fishing trips, from offshore to reef fishing • Experienced captains provide a great angling adventure

Key Largo Parasail

Tour agency

4.9

• Offers memorable parasailing experiences in Key Largo • Soar above the sparkling waters and enjoy panoramic views • A thrilling way to see the Florida Keys from a new perspective

Captain Pip's Marina & Hideaway

Hotel

4.4

• Offers parasailing experiences in Marathon • Enjoy breathtaking views of the Middle Keys coastline • Combine with other boat rentals or fishing charters available

Biscayne National Park

National park

4.7

• Home to a significant portion of the Great Florida Reef • Offers excellent snorkeling opportunities with diverse marine life • Explore shipwrecks and mangrove forests

Florida Keys Watersports

Services

4.5

• Offers water and jet skiing opportunities in Key Largo • Perfect for adrenaline junkies looking for a rush • Easily find companies that offer these thrilling activities

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