| When people ask about the top sights to see | | | | bridge.The Florida Keys are not really known |
| in the south Florida area including Fort | | | | for its beaches with the exception of Bahia |
| Lauderdale and Miami, I always advise them to | | | | Honda Park which is even further west in the |
| try and make some time to go down to the | | | | lower keys. The snorkeling in this area, |
| Florida Keys. The Florida Keys are the | | | | especially Looe Key, is among the top sites |
| string of islands just south of the Florida | | | | in North America. The city of Key West at |
| mainland and runs 120 miles from end to end. | | | | the far end of the Florida Keys is the |
| Fort Lauderdale and Miami are fun but for a | | | | largest community in the islands and a stay |
| relaxing change of pace, the Florida Keys is | | | | here for a night or two is well worth it. |
| the place to be. For snorkellers and scuba | | | | The downtown area full of restaurants, bars, |
| divers going to south Florida, I would | | | | boutiques and shops is a funky, fun place to |
| consider Florida Keys a must. The waters | | | | be. There are hotels along the water as well |
| around Key Largo are a protected marine park | | | | as numerous B&Bs inland. We stayed at the |
| with a very healthy fish life and offer the | | | | Quality Inn near the entrance of the city and |
| best diving in the US. Key Largo is the | | | | had no problem getting downtown since there |
| first town as you enter the Keys after | | | | is a very convenient bus system that runs |
| crossing the bridge from the mainland. It | | | | throughout Key West. We chose to leave our |
| can be reached from Miami in an hour and from | | | | car at the hotel and use the buses because |
| Fort Lauderdale in an hour and 45 minutes. | | | | parking can be limited in the downtown area. |
| Once the bridge from the mainland is crossed, | | | | A very neat way to tour the city is to rent |
| the change in pace is noticed immediately. | | | | scooters which are very common in the streets |
| There is much less traffic and people just | | | | here. With the scooters, we criss-crossed |
| seem more relaxed in the Florida Keys | | | | the city and saw the wonderful colonial |
| compared to the mainland.Key Largo is the | | | | houses in the residential streets including |
| main scuba diving town with many dive shops. | | | | Ernest Hemmingway's house.The seafood is |
| There is even an underwater hotel with two | | | | predictably very fresh in restaurants |
| guestrooms for adventurous types. This was a | | | | everywhere in the Florida Keys. Some local |
| former marine research unit that was | | | | specialties not to be missed are conch, local |
| converted to the hotel. Islamorada and | | | | spiny lobster and a few varieties of the |
| Marathon located more west are also top scuba | | | | local fish including snapper and grouper. Of |
| dive locations. For those who are not into | | | | course, one must try the real, authentic key |
| diving, there are numerous shops with | | | | lime pie that originated in the area. Each |
| colorful local arts and crafts. One | | | | restaurant has a slightly different recipe |
| collection of shops has a giant statue of a | | | | but in general, the authentic key lime pie |
| spiny lobster out in front. For more fun, | | | | here is not as sweet as the commercial brands |
| there are two dolphin centers, one in Key | | | | sometimes found in the rest of North |
| Largo and another near Marathon where | | | | America.Hotel accommodations suit every |
| visitors can interact with captive dolphins. | | | | budget in the Florida Keys from simple motels |
| Dolphin programs should actually be booked | | | | to top notch resorts. The last town back in |
| well in advance since they are extremely | | | | the US mainland is Florida City and it has |
| popular.There are sign markers along the main | | | | some very affordable hotel accommodations |
| US number 1 highway that mark each mile along | | | | with well known chains such as Comfort Inn, |
| the 120 mile route. Most addresses in the | | | | Hampton Inn and Best Western. This is |
| Florida Keys along the main highway will | | | | another option for some travelers, especially |
| actually refer to which mile marker they are | | | | those who are scuba diving in Key Largo as |
| located near. It's a very efficient way to | | | | Florida City is only about 20 minutes away if |
| navigate. It takes about 3 hours to drive | | | | hotels in Key Largo are fully booked or at |
| from Key Largo to the far end at Key West but | | | | high season rates.The Florida Keys has a way |
| more than likely, visitors would want to stop | | | | of enticing visitors back during return |
| off at numerous locations along the way for | | | | visits to south Florida. Its slower pace |
| shopping, photo opportunities or just | | | | helps balance things out against the crowded |
| admiring the scenery. The scenery gets | | | | and crazier styles of Fort Lauderdale and |
| better as one heads out more west, especially | | | | Miami. I have been to the Keys three times |
| near the bridges that connect the islands. A | | | | and will definitely return there again.Clint |
| common sight to see are locals fishing off | | | | Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery an |
| the bridges and numerous pelicans standing on | | | | online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo |
| the posts like permanent fixtures. One of | | | | and Northwest Native American art including |
| the most spectacular sights is the seven mile | | | | carvings, sculpture and prints. |
| bridge which is the world's longest segmented | | | | |