Key Largo, Montego- baby why don’t we go!! Every time we head to the Florida Keys we can’t help but sing this Beach Boys song over and over! Oh how I love the Florida Keys. I love that you get that feel of the Caribbean while being in the states. The Florida Keys are worth visiting and I love that you get to see the Southern most tip of the USA!
We have been twice and I already can’t wait to go back. I want to share with you all my favorite things to do and why the Florida Keys are worth visiting!
I recommend flying into Miami. We have flown into other cities but it just adds a lot more driving time when you will already be driving a lot. From Miami head to Key Largo the first key! It is crazy how different the vibes are in Miami and then Key Largo. Key Largo already feels so much more coastal and laid back. A main thing in Key Largo is John Pennekamp State Park. There is a beach here, excursions and snorkeling. A Spanish ship sunk here close off the shore so it is fun to snorkel and see the remains- you can also see a decent amount of fish so it is kind of fun!
The next main key to really stop at is Islamorada. And you need to stop at Robbie’s! Robbie’s is such a fun unique stop. You can go out on tours and boat excursions here. But you have to stop to feed the giant tarpon fish. You pay to buy buckets of fish to feed to these giant tarpons that circle the area. Some are so big that my son thought they were sharks. It is also really fun to see the giant pelicans that are also trying to sneak your fish.
A little but down the road from Robbie’s is Anne’s Beach. I love this beach especially with kids. The water is really shallow and warm. It was awesome for my kids to splash in and wade in. You can go out forever without it getting past your waist. While we were there this last time we even saw 2 small sharks so that was kind of fun.
There are also a lot of fun roadside oddities that are worth seeing. Like this giant lobster that is at mile marker 86.5 in Islamorada. I love the website Roadside America. It gives you all the fun weird photo ops along the way. It is a fun thing to look up especially with kids as you travel. My son loves all the weird things we come across haha.
If you can it really is amazing to take a boat out to snorkel or dive at a reef. We did it and saw sea turtles, huge barracuda and lots of colorful fish! After the reef we went to a sand bar and had a BBQ in the middle of the ocean and it really was the best day- I highly recommend!
While in the Keys you of course need to get Key Lime Pie. Don’t worry you will see it on the menu everywhere! But all Key Lime Pie is not created equal. Also in the Keys you can expect to pay about seven dollars a slice for it. I have tried so many places that claim to have the best Key Lime Pie. And I am here to let you in on a little trick. My favorite is from the Publix grocery store! It is only 9 dollars for a whole pie! It is sooo yummy! So be sure to grab one to bring back to your hotel at night and you can thank me later!
It is a little bit of a drive down to Key West but you need to go! Key West is sooo lively and has so much charm. The other keys are pretty but Key West is full of history and the dreamiest old homes! While in Key West be sure to visit Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. In my opinion it is by far the best beach in Key West. I also would watch the sunset there! It is so much less busy than going to the popular Mallory Square. And I love that you can be swimming or walking along the sea as the sun goes down. This cute sign saying where other beach destinations is is also found there.
But if you do go to Mallory Square be sure to look for the famous cat man! This quirky man puts on a show every night as crowds gather for sunset. We have talked about him for years- there is nothing quite like him and his cats jumping through fire hoops haha.
Duval street is of course a popular place full of restaurants and bars. Be sure to do the other touristy things like see the Southern Most Tip and take a photo at the mile marker zero sign. If you want you can tour Ernest Hemmingway’s house and look for the 6 toed cats.
Another reason The Florida Keys are worth visiting is for the food and mainly the seafood. My favorite places we ate were Brutus in Marathon- I love that it is also a fish market and really fresh. Fisherman’s Cafe in Key West was so yummy and way more than I could eat. And then last What the Fish Rolls in Tavernier was soooo good and the sweetest owner. I am sure there are nice fancy restaurants but that isn’t really our thing especially with kids.
Plan a trip to The Florida Keys and you won’t be sorry. Such a fun vibe and The Florida Keys are worth visiting- you won’t be sorry.
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