The Florida Keys: Untouched, Unspoiled & Better than the Bahamas
The Conch Republic, so named by its inhabitants during a brief scuffle with the federal government in the 80s, promises year round balmy weather, surrounded by blue green waters. With an incredible range of accommodations, from tenting (I’m not kidding) to decadent opulence, this is the place to visit, particularly in these times of economic turmoil. The Keys consists of literally hundreds of islands, but can be roughly segmented into three vacation areas, each offering a different vacation experience. The Upper Keys, The Middle Keys and The Lower Keys (encompassing Key West, the county seat) are the typical areas vacationers describe. Each has a unique charm, but the real caché associated with the Keys, is a funky island atmosphere typically found in the West Indies. The Florida Keys, however is so much more than that.
Vacation Accommodations of the Florida Keys
With all types of accommodations available from camping at Long Key State Park, condo/home rentals and luxurious estate rentals to some of the best Florida water front hotels in the state, virtually anyone with any budget can find terrific place to stay within the Keys. Interestingly, the Keys has a dearth of beaches, therefore for the most part, the most interesting places are located on the “Bay side” where you can watch sailboats and cruisers make their way to the numerous restaurants, bars and nightclubs which offers interesting views after the sun goes down.
One point that needs to be made: if one is renting a home, the likelihood of it being equipped with a pool is fairly low. Therefore, if a pool is a “must”, most hotels and vacation condominium complexes typically will be the best bet. After engaging in water sports above or below the surface, nothing is more refreshing than a dip in the pool, followed by a cool drink on the balcony as the sun starts to dip below the horizon.
Keys Water Sports from the Tropical to the Sublime
There is an awesome number of water sports in which one can participate in the Florida Keys, from snorkeling ( a few miles off shore on the reef) to water skiing, sailing, kayaking, Jet Skiing, parasailing and just exploring the area by boat at any one of the boat rental locations. Whatever one has a taste for, water-wise, you can certainly find a way to satisfy it. Most confine their boating to the bay side, however if you wish to SCUBA dive, the reefs off shore, as mentioned previously, are only a few minutes by boat and the waters, for the most, are relatively calm. There are numerous qualified and licensed dive operators with any number of choice dive locations, featuring explorations on wrecks to reefs.
Fishing is incredible in the Keys with an enormous variety of fish and fishing techniques challenging the skill of almost any fisherman. Depending upon one’s sense of adventure, there’s all types of deep sea fishing off both southern and the western shores of the Keys as well as fishing trips into the Gulf of Mexico towards the Dry Tortugas. There’s fishing off the reef (make sure to obtain a fishing license) and flats fishing. Also for the adventurous there’s excellent fishing within the Ten Thousand Island chain between the Keys and the southern tip of the mainland. If a fisherman wishes to try his luck in this venue, make sure to hire a guide, because every tropical mangrove looks like every other mangrove and it’s very easy to get lost.
Eating and Sightseeing: Great Restaurants and Natural Wonders
The keys, with its three areas to explore, there’s more than enough sights to see and tours to take. For the history buff, Key West offers both history and interesting architecture. The upper and middle Keys: Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon are also great places to visit. Each has its own charm with numerous things to do. Don’t forget Big Pine Key, home of the National Key Deer refuge. Here’s an opportunity to observe the very unique and pint sized, Key Deer.
From conch fritters to five star dining and all manner of seafood, one will be able to enjoy some of the finest and freshest seafood in the country. There are probably hundreds of seafood restaurants servings everything from mako shark to octopus, as well as the standard fare one can find on the mainland. Certainly after a wonderful meal, real key lime pie is an almost obligatory desert.
The Florida Keys is the economical, relaxing destination that has things to do year round that you probably will not find in Milwaukee or Dayton. There’s a wide range of sights, sounds, people to see and things to do in a tropical, yet very American way. With the natural beauty of the waters and the tropical mindset that pervades the people who live there, the Keys is a great place to relax in the sun and forget all about the economic chaos.
Ruth Pasquale REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate
Member Marathon Lower Keys Association of Realtors
29967 Overseas Highway
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
Contact Information
305.849.0884 Direct
305.872.5248 Business
800.488.3050 ext. 5248 Toll Free
305.872.4220 FAX
r.pasquale@live.com
www.bestkeysrealestate.com
