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Key Largo Vacations

58 miles south west of Miami

The Florida Keys are the fishing and diving capital of USA. It's the proximity of Key Largo and the Upper Keys to the Florida mainland that make it a favorite destination for weekend getaways.

People seeking a break from the hustle and stress of their week-day lives are attracted to the easy, laid back lifestyle.  

The Upper Keys extend from Key Largo south to Long Key and the majority of visitors arrive via U.S. Hwy 1. Key Largo was at one time named Rock Harbor but with the success of the 1948 film Key Largo the town fathers couldn't pass up a great opportunity and renamed the town.

The town is more developed than its neighbors to the south and caters to bigger numbers of visitors. Many of those visitors are water enthusiasts coming to explore the renowned John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the nation's first underwater state park.

This marine sanctuary is home to 40 species of coral and more than 650 species of fish. The park covers 75 sq miles of of ocean containing living coral reefs and has 170 acres of land with walking trails. 

Islamorada, which actually consists of four islands spanning about 20 miles (32 km), is the self proclaimed sport fishing capital of the world.

Several big-purse fishing tournaments take place here.  Considered to be the unofficial capital of the Upper Keys, the town offers excellent dining opportunities and plenty of entertainment. Key Largo and Islamorada accommodation has something for everybody, with large up market beach resorts, condominiums, hotels, inns, chain motels and bed & breakfast lodgings. 

Getting There & Getting Around

By far the majority of visitors to the Upper Keys use the U.S. 1 Highway from Miami. Greyhound has a service from Miami to all the Keys destinations. There is an airport at Marathon in the Middle Keys and at Key West in the Lower Keys. There are no public transport services and visitors need to make use of car rentals to get around.

Key Largo Vacation Highlights

For water lovers, the highlight of the Upper Keys will almost certainly be John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. It is a haven for snorkelling, diving, glass bottom boats, canoes and kayaks. The 30,000 gallon aquarium at the visitor center is an excellent attraction for visitors who do not dive.

A popular Upper Keys attraction at Islamorada is Robbie's Pier where tarpon, a prized catch with anglers, gather in the shallow waters around the pier in expectation that the visitors will feed them. These fish can grow to 200 lbs (90 kg) and make an impressive display when gathered in large numbers. For visitors interested in the history of the Keys, a visit to the 23 acre Indian Key State Historic Site (boat access only) provides an insight into the life and times of the wrecker industry of the early 1800's.

Nature lovers can enjoy walking trails and historic explorations such as a visit (boat access only) to Matheson House at Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site, an area of 280 acres of virgin forest. Fancy something a little different? The Key Largo Undersea Park is home to a submerged hotel where guests can only arrive by diving. The structure is permanently anchored 30 feet (9 meters) below the surface. 

Visitors with a sense of nostalgia, and old enough to remember it, can cruise the Port Largo Canal in the antique steam boat used in the film The African Queen.

Long Key State Recreation Area is 965-acres offering excellent hiking, camping, snorkeling, and canoeing. The swimming, snorkeling, and saltwater fishing are also first rate. The waters surrounding the park are popular with game fishers who have visited these waters since the early 1900's.

The most popular event in the park is the annual gathering of sea turtles that come ashore on the protected coast to lay their eggs. The Florida Keys is one of the few places where there is an opportunity to swim with dolphins.  In the Key Largo area the place to do this is Dolphin World where a variety of structured workshops can include the dolphin swim program along with other marine animal swim programs and tours.

Theater of The Sea is located at Islamorada, and for many years this historic marine park has offered visitors an opportunity to interact with the marine environment via programs that include wading or swimming with dolphins.

Other Regional Vacation Centers

Key West vacations  ::  Marathon vacations


Key Largo
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