Your holiday in Florida Keys

The Florida Keys is a chain of interlinked coral islands, in fact part of the largest living coral reef in the Western Hemisphere, floating off the tip of southern Florida down towards Cuba. The chain begins with Key Largo – ‘Diving Capital of the World’, progresses through ‘Islamorada – ‘Sport Fishing Capital of the World’ and climaxes, 120 miles down the road, at Key West. The drive here, along the legendary Overseas Highway, is an experience in itself.

Key West is the southernmost part of the USA and perhaps not surprisingly, it is more Caribbean than North American and attracts a very colourful laid back bohemian crowd. The heart of Key West is its Old Town, one of the biggest concentrations of speciality shops, restaurants and nightlife in all Florida. Some of its oldest street architecture is Bahamian; bright pastel wooden late 19th-century houses with fancy fretted woodwork, straight from a story book. We offer a choice of two hotel resorts in the Keys: one in high-octane Key West and the other in low-key Duck Key offering a multitude of on-site facilities

Where to stay in Florida Keys

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Fun-packed days

As you are driving down the Keys, try to allow time for a few hours at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park at Key Largo; you will find it easily accessible in a day from your villa in Duck Cay but not if you are staying in Key West. This is not only a scuba diver’s dream, it’s great for everyone. Hire a snorkel to explore the reef, canoe or kayak above it, and enjoy a picnic and swim from its white-sand beach. There’s a huge aquarium here too. From Key Largo until Key West there are few visitor attractions though opportunities for fishing and watersports are numerous. Although it’s relatively small, Key West Old Town will easily occupy a couple of days sightseeing and shopping. There are several historic homes open to the public, most notably the Hemingway Home and the Harry S Truman Little White House. There’s also maritime and shipwreck museums and more general attractions such as a butterfly house, an aquarium and a branch of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Dolphin tour and ‘encounters’ are a Key West favourite with several operators offering a close up of these friendly mammals

After Sundown

Most of the Florida Keys are quiet after dark with the main activity being a seafood meal – perhaps the local speciality of conch – taken on the terrace, watching an awe-inspiring sunset close the day. By contrast Key West is party central with live music wherever you go after dark. Ernest Hemingway created a hell-raising legend while here and, if you believe the stories and read the plaques on the walls, seems to have supped in most Old Town bars. Many places in Florida celebrate the sunset but the original and best ritual is still at Key West. Every evening at sunset a circus ritual is played out at Mallory Square against a majestic golden backdrop – jugglers, unicyclists, high-wire artists, a Bluegrass banjo picker, a bagpiper, an escapologist, and more. Then it’s onto “Hemingway’s Bar”, which means either Sloppy Joe’s or Captain Tony’s Saloon. Dine out on “Floribbean” cuisine, such as shrimp with corn relish and mango ketchup, or grouper served with chayote squash, and then move onto the next bar to hear some live music. There’s often a festival in town and any excuse for a party, whatever the time of year.

The Great Outdoors

To really appreciate the Florida Keys you have to get out on, or in the water. You don’t have to be a sportsman as there are dozens of boat trips of every kind, from white-knuckle speedboat rides to elegant tall ships under sail, glass-bottom reef tours and romantic sunset cruises to boisterous catamaran voyages. Many of these depart from Key West. The Keys is a great favourite with the fishing fraternity; Islamorada, ‘Sport Fishing Capital of the World’ attracts top fishermen from all over the world and was a great favourite of former US president George Bush senior. Diving is also a Keys passion with Key Largo being the main destination but opportunities for certified divers abound almost anywhere in the Keys. North America’s only living-coral barrier reef, with all its colourful inhabitants; artificial reefs created by deliberate ship wrecks; and numerous real historical shipwrecks means that there is never a dull moment under the waves. There are also many shallow reefs, ideal for snorkelling. Dozens of highly professional dive operators make it easy for both novices and experienced divers and if you’ve never tried scuba before this is a great place to learn. The only downside to life on a chain of coral islands is that there are relatively few sandy beaches; the best is the Bahia Honda State Recreation Area roughly halfway between Duck Key and Key West.

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