Tag: Caribbean Club

5 Things to Do in the Florida Keys  

People often ask which of the Florida Keys they should visit. Well, the answer is all of them. Each of the islands offers something a bit different from the always party time atmosphere of Key West to Key Largo which is known for great snorkeling and is home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. If you’re planning a glamping getaway to The Keys, you’re lucky because we have two great glamping locations: stay in a totally hip tiny house at the Sunshine Key Tiny House Village or enjoy a colorful cottage at Encore Fiesta Key. Below we offer just a few suggestions for things to do when visiting: 

Sunshine Key Tiny House Village
Sunshine Key Tiny House Village

1. The Lara Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary is worth the visit to see 30 different species of birds that make this sanctuary their permanent home after having been rescued and rehabilitated but are considered non-releasable for their safety. The sanctuary is open 365 days each year from sunrise to sunset and offers guided tours as well. For more details go to the sanctuary’s website keepthemflying.org. 

2. With so many islands and coral reefs, of course diving is a big deal here. Check out the History of Diving Museum on Islamorada and explore their multiple exhibits that details the history of diving, the advent of equipment from early dive helmets to the most modern-day apparatus, and the diving equipment from many nations around the world. There’s also a tribute to Jules Verne (have you read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea yet?) and a 50-gallon aquarium full of tropical reef fish. For information visit divingmuseum.org.  

Christ of the Abyss
Christ of the Abyss

3. So many islands, so many excursions! From land to sea, there are plenty of exciting things to do in The Keys when it comes to excursions. Christ of the Abyss is not your typical statue – this one is located roughly 25 feet under the waters that surround John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The best way to see it is via a snorkeling excursion – check out silentworld.com to book a dive tour. Movie buffs will appreciate the excursion aboard The African Queen – the storied steamboat from the movie of the same name starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. To enjoy one of the daily canal cruises, visit africanqueenflkeys.com. Get to know Key West with a “Southernmost Food and Cultural Walking Tour”, offered by viator.com that takes you around the island’s historic district with stops along the way to enjoy the great food here including Cuban cuisine and of course, Key Lime pie! 

4. Sunrise/Sunset – make sure you get the best of both when glamping in The Keys. Some of the best places to catch the sunrise include Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key (perfect if you’re staying at Encore Sunshine Key); the aptly named Sunrise Beach in Key Largo and Higgs Beach in Key West. For a spectacular sunset, consider Mallory Beach in Key West which hosts a nightly sunset celebration; or from aboard a catamaran cruise that departs from Islamorada (check out robbies.com for details); or back to Bahia Honda State Park to end a perfect day!  

Sunset at Bahia Honda State Park
Sunset at Bahia Honda State Park

5. Aside from the sun, sand and snorkeling, The Florida Keys have a lot of noteworthy sites to visit. They include The Little White House (Key West), which served as President Harry Truman’s winter getaway; the Caribbean Club (Key Largo), the oldest bar in the Upper Keys where portions of the film Key Largo were shot; the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson National Park, which is the largest all-masonry fort in the Western Hemisphere; and Hemingway House (Key West); which was home for many years to famous author Ernest Hemingway. 

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5 Things to Do In…The Florida Keys

Sunshine Key Tiny House Village in Big Pine Key, FL

We could easily say visit a different island every day and you’ll find five things to do in the Florida Keys. But if we’re being serious, The Florida Keys have a million different ways to spend any time in this tropical paradise. We’ve got the short list below:

  1. Screen Connections: The island known as Key Largo has many connections to Hollywood. First off, it’s the name of the iconic Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall film as well as the setting for the film. It is also home to the African Queen, the steamboat featured in another Bogart film (you can guess the name) and is now a tourist attraction that runs dinner cruises. The island’s Caribbean Club bar was also featured in the film, Key Largo, and has the distinction of being the oldest bar in the Upper Keys. If the Fast and the Furious movie franchise is your favorite, then the Seven Mile Bridge should look familiar. Also, Bloodline (Netflix series) was filmed in and around The Keys, with plenty of filming done on Islamorada so a visit might turn up a few familiar sights. Check out these locations for a little brush with fame.
Florida Keys Aerial View
  1. The Dry Tortugas: The name is derived from the Spanish word for “turtle” which is what Ponce De Leon found in plenty when he discovered the area in 1513, thus naming it Las Tortugas. However, because of something that wasn’t found in abundance originally – fresh water – the island’s name was changed to Dry Tortugas. Comprised of seven islands, the Dry Tortugas have a lot to offer visitors from history to wildlife to wonderful beaches. It is the only regular U.S. nesting site for the sooty tern – look for them on Bush Key from March through September. It is home to Fort Jefferson, one of the largest 19th century forts in the US, which visitors can tour, and it is home to five different types of turtles – you can glimpse them floating in the sea. Plus, it’s also a snorkeler’s paradise with large coral heads as the underwater show!
Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
  1. Theater of the Sea: Consider it the vaudeville of the seas – a place where you can enjoy variety and be in awe of the show unfolding before you. The Theater of the Sea, located on Islamorada, is a marine mammal park with lagoons hosting sea lions, turtles, stingrays, alligators, and sea birds. This is the place to swim with dolphins, sea lions and even sharks and get up close and personal with the turtles, alligators, and parrots. Looking for a unique souvenir from your visit? Consider having a dolphin create some art just for you – check out the Paint with the Dolphins package offered here. Your friends will be jealous!
  1. Shipwreck Museum: What’s a group of islands in the sea without a nod to shipwrecks? Of course, the Keys has a shipwreck museum, and it can be found on Key West. The Key West Shipwreck Museum tells the history of 400 years of shipwrecks in the area, which on average, happened once a week! Through the use of actors, artifacts, and film, you can experience this interesting maritime heritage of the area.
  1. Nurture Nature: There are all kinds of nature-type experiences you can enjoy when visiting the Keys, including the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key, the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary on Tavernier Key, and the Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital, both on Marathon Key. FYI, the Key Deer can only be found in the Lower Keys and Marathon’s Turtle Hospital has successfully treated and released over 1500 sea turtles since it was founded in 1986.
Colorful Cottage at Fiesta Key in Long Key, FL

For the ultimate in Keys accommodations, consider booking a colorful cottage at Fiesta Key or a perfectly appointed tiny home at Sunshine Key. Either option is right on the water and feels like your own private slice of paradise. Both resorts are the perfect location for all things Keys as well as a great place to call “home” while you enjoy America’s answer to a tropical vacation.   

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