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. They provide places for relaxation and recreation, and serve as stepping stones to adjacent coral reefs.No matter where you stay in the Florida Keys, you’ll feel a bit outside of normal USA time. These mostly undeveloped Florida Keys provide glimpses of the days before the arrival of machinery and industry. Wealthy visitors built retreats on Boca Chita Key and Adams Key. Pioneers farmed, fished and salvaged ships that foundered on nearby coral reefs. The Tequesta established hunting and fishing camps on the islands. Lizards, raccoons, snakes, marsh rabbits and mice weave through the underbrush.Ĭultural resources are plenitful. Hundreds of other insects make these tropical keys their homes. Spiders weave their golden orbs in hope of catching their next meal. Butterflies, including the endangered Schaus' swallowtail, flutter from tree to tree. These tropical trees are not found in the continental United States outside of South Florida. Moving inland, the plants change to mahogany, paradise tree, gumbo limbo, satinleaf and ironwood. They include mangroves, saltwort, glasswort and sea purslane. Salt tolerant plants thrive along island shorelines. The islands north of Elliott, including Sands and Soldier Keys, share features of the hard rock coral keys to the south and other features with the sand barrier islands to the north. A closer look at the stone reveals the types of corals in the composition. Its foundation, composed of ancient coral reefs, was formed when the ocean was much higher than it is now. Together the islands shelter the bay as well as the Florida mainland, from the ocean.Įlliott Key, often considered the first of the Florida Keys, is the largest island in the park. Ocean side view of Elliott Key looking West.įrom a distance the subtropical keys appear as a string of emeralds rising from azure waters along the edge of Biscayne Bay.
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