For vacationers seeking parties that spill out into the streets, late-night wining and dining and epic drag shows, Key West is your best bet. Key West, perhaps the most famous island in the Keys, is a sun-filled carnival and the closest thing to a proper city in the archipelago. ![]() Nightlife on Key West means full-on fun © Justin Foulkes / Lonely Planet Key West Best for art, culture and cutting loose Bougainvillea, lignum vitae and hardwood hammock forests thrive in this undeveloped landscape, giving a hint at what the whole archipelago might have looked like hundreds of years ago. Just offshore, Lignumvitae Key, a haven for native plants, provides a chance to experience the natural beauty of the islands. For rest and relaxation, head to the white sands of Anne’s Beach, book a massage at Blu Bamboo Salon & Day Spa or just perch at the poolside in a luxury resort such as Cheeca Lodge or the Moorings Village. Every third Thursday of the month, the district hosts an evening arts walk with live music and extended opening hours. The island has a well-developed scene for both backcountry and deep-sea fishing, but there are plenty other more unique draws.Īrt lovers can gallery hop through the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, a six-block stretch of downtown studded with studio spaces and galleries. Islamorada is widely known as the sportfishing capital of the world, and with the abundance of marinas and plentiful stocks of billfish and other desirable catches, it’s hard to argue with this moniker. Islamorada is a hub for fishing, the arts and wildlife encounters © Shutterstock / Maridav Islamorada Best for fishing (and a bit of everything else) If you want to beat the heat on the trail, March to May might be the best time to visit.Īctive types will also enjoy kayaking along the shores of Blackwater Sound and scanning the swampy forests for birdlife and American crocodiles at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a 6600-acre nature preserve in the northern part of Key Largo. Visitors can walk along nature trails surrounded by land that still feels wild and untamed, and the area is also open to cyclists. This patch of wilderness was saved from developers and now, instead of condominiums, it’s home to one of America's largest West Indian tropical hardwood hammocks (the local term for areas of forest that form an ecological island, distinct from surrounding types of vegetation). There's even an undersea statue of Jesus known as Christ of the Abyss, a 9ft-tall replica of the famous statue in Genoa, Italy.Īctivities abound on land too, starting with the Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. Pennekamp is a scuba and snorkeler’s dream, boasting stunning coral reefs that can also be viewed on glass-bottomed boat tours. Water and land-based thrills here will meet the demands of even the most intrepid explorer start the adventure at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, a 70-sq-mile tract of protected seaspace, teeming with marine life. ![]() Key Largo, the biggest island in the Upper Keys, acts as a bridge between the mainland and the rest of the archipelago. Key Largo Best for land and sea adventures Here's a guide to the best islands in the Florida Keys. From the scuba paradise of Key Largo to the unapologetic eccentricity of Key West, whatever kind of vacation you’re looking for, you'll find it here. While all of the Keys share a relaxed, easy energy – and an appealing blend of beauty and laid-back inelegance – each island maintains its own distinct character and it's easy to island hop. Throughout this chain of coral islands drifting south from the tip of the Florida panhandle, you'll find incredible things to do: lost-in-time dive bars and weather-worn marinas are interwoven with oceanfront views from five-star resorts and Michelin-star-worthy dining experiences. No matter where you stay in the Florida Keys, you’ll feel a bit outside of normal USA time.
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