There is something about crossing the Seven Mile Bridge into the Florida Keys. It's as if you've entered another world – a tropical paradise where worries and worries disappear as the tide recedes.
We have been traveling in the Florida Keys for years, especially with retired grandparents. Every time we catch a glimpse of the old bridge, which is part of the original passage to the key, our hearts do a little flip-flop.
Surprisingly, there are 1,700 islands in the Florida Keys, of which 882 are mapped and 30 are inhabited. While we enjoyed exploring the many island treasures found throughout the archipelago, we have some that you shouldn't miss.
There's a reason Beach Boys and Bertie Higgins wrote songs about Key Largo. This is the first KEYS to greet travelers on Highway 1 and is impressive. Located just 18 miles from Miami, this area with protected waters is home to thriving coral reefs with abundant marine life, especially those located in John Pennecamp Reef State Park, the first underwater park in the United States. It's definitely a snorkeler's and diver's dream.
Just 30 minutes from Key Largo, this chain of six islands is known as the "sport fishing capital of the world" and has the world's largest fishing fleet per square mile.
This former fishing village was founded by New Englanders in the early 1800s, making it one of the most historic stops along the U.S. 1 with the exception of Key West. It is also located in the middle of the Florida Keys, making it an ideal base base from which to explore the North and South Islands.
Known as the southernmost point of the continental United States, Key West is actually closer to Cuba than Miami. The island manages to seamlessly blend elements of Caribbean, Latin American, and American cultures into a relaxed Margarita Ville-style lifestyle on flip-flops.
Ernest Hemingway put Key West on the map, and his presence still looms over the town. Filled with vibrant nightlife, charming bars, delicious food and white-framed conch huts, there's honestly no other place in the world quite like it.
This national park is one of the most underrated places in the national park system in the United States. Located 70 miles east of Key West, there are only two ways to get to these incredibly beautiful uninhabited islands by ferry or seaplane from Key West.
The seven islands of Dry Tortuga are teeming with wildlife both above and below the tourmaline waters, a siren calling for those seeking peace, tranquility and a true tropical getaway. The islands are surrounded by idyllic white sand beaches, and their coral reefs are the least disturbed in the entire Florida Keys, making them a great spot for divers and snorkelers.
For those who love the remote charm of dry Tortugas but don't want to be that far from Key West, the Marquesas Islands are just 20 miles from Key West.
This group of 10 utopia-filled mangrove islands is uninhabited, undeveloped, and protected as a national wildlife refuge. Travelers can take a boat from Key West to the island.
The wreck on the north side of the island is located in less than 10 feet of water, and the wreck is less than a foot above the water. Because it is filled with dozens of tropical fish, it is a paradise for scuba divers. Rays, sharks, turtles, and birds abound in this natural secluded sanctuary.