#FLORIDA KEYS VACATION MOVIE#

This conglomerate of islands 70 miles west of Key West is accessible only by boat or seaplane. Just when you thought the Keys were as remote as you could get, there’s Dry Tortugas National Park. The oversized buoy landmark represents the lowest spot on the map of the Continental United States. But no visit to Key West would be complete without a photo op at the Southernmost Point. Jugglers, tightrope walkers, sword swallowers, buskers and other colorful characters put on a family-friendly show for your entertainment-and hopefully, for your generous tips. When the sun goes down, the fun heats up at Mallory Square, home of Key West’s nightly sunset celebration. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun or you just need someplace to catch your breath, a few hours inside this glass-enclosed conservatory surrounded by butterflies and birds should do the trick. The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is located on Duval Street, but it’s about as far away from the famous thoroughfare’s excesses as you can get. In the bookstore and gift shop, take home a souvenir to serve as your own muse. As you stroll through the gardens and pet the six-toed cats-descendants of the writer’s own pets-imagine the Nobel Prize winner working on manuscripts when he lived in the house during the most prolific decade of his career, the 1930s. Pay your respects to one of Key West’s most legendary residents with a visit to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. The endangered creatures stand no more than 32 inches tall and are found only in the lower Florida Keys, so hike, bike or kayak through the preserve and keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful creatures. But for one of the most peculiar, you’ll have to visit the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key. There’s no shortage of animal encounters in the Keys. The park is also sought after for camping, with accommodations ranging from primitive camp sites to glamping cabins. But its three unspoiled beaches aren’t only for the birds they’re also a great place for shelling, geocaching, snorkeling and other low-key activities. Secluded Bahia Honda State Park, located on Big Pine Key, is home to more than 150 species of rare flora and fauna. For next-level fun, enroll your tween or teen in Dolphin Camp, or splurge on a Fantasy Dolphin Day to live out all your swimming-with-dolphins dreams. Watch the dolphin and sea lion shows, chat with trainers and cool off at the sprayground. Love dolphins? Do a deep dive into the life of the aquatic mammals at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key, near Marathon. In addition to rotating exhibits, the museum’s permanent collection of photos and memorabilia highlights the area’s Native American life, shipwrecks and more with photos, models and artifacts. Get up to speed with a visit to the Keys History and Discovery Center, located on the grounds of the Islander Resort. (See what we did there?)Īlthough your vacation may last only a few days or weeks, the history of the Keys dates back thousands of years. The park’s animal interaction programs-including swimming with dolphins-are sure to make a splash. Watch a sea lion show, hold a parrot and enjoy a bottomless boat ride. Theater of the Sea combines the pizzazz of a marine park with the charm of a family-owned attraction.

#FLORIDA KEYS VACATION MOVIE#

Hop aboard the famed vessel-yes, it’s the one made famous by the 1951 movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn-and embark on a 90-minute sightseeing cruise departing from Marina del Mar.

The African Queen Canal Cruise is another fun way to explore Key Largo. There are endless ways to explore this aquatic attraction, including kayaking through the mangroves, snorkeling or scuba diving and setting out on a glass-bottom boat tour. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the first undersea park in the country… and the first place you should go when you arrive in the Florida Keys. Here are a dozen of the best things to do in the Florida Keys, from top to bottom.

But amidst the topaz waters, diving pelicans and lush mangroves are a treasure trove of attractions that are educational, historical or just plain fun. A road trip through the Florida Keys is its own reward: a 113-mile journey across islands with some of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous scenery you’ll ever lay eyes on.

Florida keys vacation