Home Destinations USA Florida Florida Keys

Florida Keys

Florida Keys Categories:

Florida Keys Travel Guide

The 800-plus islands and islets lying off southern Florida are at once a unique landmass and a mass of contradictions. Long years of geographic isolation not only allowed the tropical flora and fauna to flourish here, but enabled locals to nurture a unique, decidedly quirky culture. Unfortunately, the increased volume of visitors traveling the 100-mi-long Overseas Highway that links the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys has threatened both. So the Keys now have a split personality. On one hand, they're a junglelike, reef-rimmed wilderness populated by free-spirited folks; on the other they're a relatively mainstream realm comprising traffic jams, shopping malls, and trailer parks. Avoiding the latter can be difficult. But you'll find that the charm of the former is ample reward -- particularly if you stick to spots like Bahia Honda State Park and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

When to Go
Top 3 Reasons to Go

Dolphin Encounter Programs

Photo: Claudio Lovo/Shutterstock

Get Advice From Other Travelers

Resorts in Florida Keys
12 responses; most recent on 09/02/2008, 12:54 am
Florida keys during Christmas break
2 responses; most recent on 07/30/2008, 09:59 am
Florida Keys late July early August
10 responses; most recent on 07/08/2008, 04:32 pm
Florida Keys with tweens and teens
3 responses; most recent on 06/17/2008, 12:48 pm

Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip >>