| When people ask about the top sights to see in | | | | Florida Keys are not really known for its beaches |
| the south Florida area including Fort Lauderdale | | | | with the exception of Bahia Honda Park which is |
| and Miami, I always advise them to try and make | | | | even further west in the lower keys. The |
| some time to go down to the Florida Keys. The | | | | snorkeling in this area, especially Looe Key, is |
| Florida Keys are the string of islands just south of | | | | among the top sites in North America. The city of |
| the Florida mainland and runs 120 miles from end | | | | Key West at the far end of the Florida Keys is |
| to end. Fort Lauderdale and Miami are fun but for | | | | the largest community in the islands and a stay |
| a relaxing change of pace, the Florida Keys is the | | | | here for a night or two is well worth it. The |
| place to be. For snorkellers and scuba divers going | | | | downtown area full of restaurants, bars, boutiques |
| to south Florida, I would consider Florida Keys a | | | | and shops is a funky, fun place to be. There are |
| must. The waters around Key Largo are a | | | | hotels along the water as well as numerous B&Bs |
| protected marine park with a very healthy fish life | | | | inland. We stayed at the Quality Inn near the |
| and offer the best diving in the US. Key Largo is | | | | entrance of the city and had no problem getting |
| the first town as you enter the Keys after | | | | downtown since there is a very convenient bus |
| crossing the bridge from the mainland. It can be | | | | system that runs throughout Key West. We |
| reached from Miami in an hour and from Fort | | | | chose to leave our car at the hotel and use the |
| Lauderdale in an hour and 45 minutes. Once the | | | | buses because parking can be limited in the |
| bridge from the mainland is crossed, the change in | | | | downtown area. A very neat way to tour the |
| pace is noticed immediately. There is much less | | | | city is to rent scooters which are very common |
| traffic and people just seem more relaxed in the | | | | in the streets here. With the scooters, we |
| Florida Keys compared to the mainland.Key Largo | | | | criss-crossed the city and saw the wonderful |
| is the main scuba diving town with many dive | | | | colonial houses in the residential streets including |
| shops. There is even an underwater hotel with | | | | Ernest Hemmingway's house.The seafood is |
| two guestrooms for adventurous types. This was | | | | predictably very fresh in restaurants everywhere |
| a former marine research unit that was | | | | in the Florida Keys. Some local specialties not to |
| converted to the hotel. Islamorada and Marathon | | | | be missed are conch, local spiny lobster and a few |
| located more west are also top scuba dive | | | | varieties of the local fish including snapper and |
| locations. For those who are not into diving, there | | | | grouper. Of course, one must try the real, |
| are numerous shops with colorful local arts and | | | | authentic key lime pie that originated in the area. |
| crafts. One collection of shops has a giant statue | | | | Each restaurant has a slightly different recipe but |
| of a spiny lobster out in front. For more fun, | | | | in general, the authentic key lime pie here is not |
| there are two dolphin centers, one in Key Largo | | | | as sweet as the commercial brands sometimes |
| and another near Marathon where visitors can | | | | found in the rest of North America.Hotel |
| interact with captive dolphins. Dolphin programs | | | | accommodations suit every budget in the Florida |
| should actually be booked well in advance since | | | | Keys from simple motels to top notch resorts. |
| they are extremely popular.There are sign | | | | The last town back in the US mainland is Florida |
| markers along the main US number 1 highway | | | | City and it has some very affordable hotel |
| that mark each mile along the 120 mile route. | | | | accommodations with well known chains such as |
| Most addresses in the Florida Keys along the main | | | | Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn and Best Western. |
| highway will actually refer to which mile marker | | | | This is another option for some travelers, |
| they are located near. It's a very efficient way to | | | | especially those who are scuba diving in Key |
| navigate. It takes about 3 hours to drive from | | | | Largo as Florida City is only about 20 minutes |
| Key Largo to the far end at Key West but more | | | | away if hotels in Key Largo are fully booked or at |
| than likely, visitors would want to stop off at | | | | high season rates.The Florida Keys has a way of |
| numerous locations along the way for shopping, | | | | enticing visitors back during return visits to south |
| photo opportunities or just admiring the scenery. | | | | Florida. Its slower pace helps balance things out |
| The scenery gets better as one heads out more | | | | against the crowded and crazier styles of Fort |
| west, especially near the bridges that connect the | | | | Lauderdale and Miami. I have been to the Keys |
| islands. A common sight to see are locals fishing | | | | three times and will definitely return there |
| off the bridges and numerous pelicans standing on | | | | again.Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery an |
| the posts like permanent fixtures. One of the | | | | online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and |
| most spectacular sights is the seven mile bridge | | | | Northwest Native American art including carvings, |
| which is the world's longest segmented bridge.The | | | | sculpture and prints. |