what to do in the florida keys

What to do in the Florida Keys Put yourself in a Florida Keys state of mind with a leisurely trip on the 113-mile Overseas Highway, passing ultramarine expanses of sea, clusters of mangrove trees and scrubland, candy-colored plastic palm trees, tikis and giant seashells.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is just one of many fun things to do in the Keys—holding allure for both anglers and fans of scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing.

Where to Go

Take a gander at the things to see around Key West on the open-air cars of the Conch Tour Train , and learn about local legends, lore and landmarks.

Introduce yourself to the (alleged) descendants of Hemingway's six-toed cats while learning about one of the greatest American authors at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum .

Enter the greenhouse at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory and find yourself in a completely different destination. More than 50 species of butterflies flutter from one tropical flower to another; if you're lucky, one will land on your shoulder.

It's de rigueur to have your picture taken at the southernmost point in the continental United States, marked by a red, black and yellow concrete buoy at the intersection of Whitehead and South streets.

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You can't leave the Keys without sampling some scrumptious Key lime pie. Have a contest with your companions to find where to eat in the Keys; every food place claims to have the best.

When nighttime falls, leave the car at the hotel and do the Duval Crawl. No, it's not a dance; it's the local term for barhopping along Duval Street, Key West's main drag, and a fun thing to do with friends. Be sure to visit Sloppy Joe's and Capt. Tony's Saloon (Hemingway's favorite haunt).

Street performers, including jugglers and performing cats, entertain daily at dusk at Mallory Square off Duval Street; raspberry and peach sorbet sunsets spill across the sky for the big finish. Sometimes the best things in life are free.