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