Florida Keys Attractions
Besides the sea, the sun, and the sand, the Florida Keys offer hundreds of
other family-friendly attractions—including underwater adventure parks
& wildlife rehabilitation centers, museums, aquariums, national parks, and
glass-bottom boat tours. Each month brings with it a variety of special events
ranging from arts festival to music recitals, regattas to Keys’-exclusive
celebrations such as the incomparable Fantasy Fest.
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Pennkamp Park Key Largo |
Singles and honeymooners will thrill at the variety and energy of the islands’
nightlife, which runs from sunset to nearly 4 a.m.—even during the week.
This romantic tropical island getaway is the best place to kick back on the
beach and renew your body, your mind, and maybe your love life. Hundreds of
art galleries spread culture and beauty throughout the Keys, and outdoor concerts
ranging from classical to reggae are a great opportunity to relax outside with
a margarita and enjoy Paradise. Key West has an orchestra, an opera house, and
a dance company for those who enjoy an evening at the theatre.
Sportsmen come for the fishing, diving, and sailing in the beautifully clear
and clean waters surrounding the Keys, and most of them don’t want to
ever leave. Reel in marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi (a.k.a. dolphin), snook, mackerel,
and dozens of varieties of snapper, tarpon, tuna, and trout. Home to North America’s
only living reef system, the Key’s National Marine Sanctuary provides
some of the world’s best diving in spots like Sombrero Reef and Looe Key.
Boating and sailing is a breeze on these calm seas, and many regattas are held
annually between Key West and Key Largo, including Key West Race Week in January
and the Historic Seacraft Race & Festival in September off Big Pine Key.
Annual Events
Nothing is more eagerly awaited in Key West than the opening of Fantasy
Fest in October. This Halloween celebration combines elements of Mardi
Gras and the Miami club scene, resulting in a wild party filled with costumes,
parades, and rum runners (Captain Morgan sponsors). Parades of brightly-bedecked
revelers flow down Duval and Whitehead Streets while other celebrants toss beads
from balconies. You’ll have to make reservations far in advance for this
party; Fantasy Fest will overrun Key West October 21-30, 2005; October 20-29,
2006; and October 19-28, 2007.
The Pirates in Paradise Festival takes over Key West’s
historic seaport and Fort Zachary Taylor State Park & Beach and celebrates
the official end of the hurricane season. Spanning November & December,
this melee of pirate ships and buccaneers culminates in the Fort Taylor Pirate
Feast & Shipwreck Ball. Other events include a pirate market, maritime art
exhibits, a writer’s workshop, historic re-enactments, and more.
The Island Jubilee, also in November, is an arts & crafts
festival in Key Largo’s Harry Harris Park. Live musical and theatrical
performances.
Other annual events include the Florida Keys Literary Seminar
in January, the Birding & Wildlife Festival in October,
Florida Keys Jazz and Blues Festival (in April
on Plantation Key, and in October on Islamorada), and the Florida Keys
Heritage Festival in January. Marathon even sponsors a Florida
Keys Renaissance Faire on Sombrero Beach in January. Don’t miss
the daily Sunset Celebrations held at Mallory Square in Key West.
Swim with the Fishes
Several organizations throughout the Keys allow guests an opportunity to observe
native fish and marine mammals up close—and some even let you swim with
them! The Theatre of the Sea on Islamorada lets visitors swim with dolphins,
sea lions, and stingrays, and view hundreds of other sea creatures, like sharks.
Reservations required to swim with the animals; call 305-664-2431. You can also
swim with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key, which also
gives educational presentations; 305-289-1121. Dolphin Connection on Hawk’s
Cay allows visitors to swim with its inhabitants, too, and offers Trainer for
a Day programs; 888-814-9154.
Of course, more wildlife inhabits the Keys than just dolphins. Key Largo is
home to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center and Dolphins Plus,
and both offer great opportunities for a fun marine biology lesson. Big Pine
Key harbors the 300 remaining Key Deer, miniatures of what our northern visitors
are accustomed to seeing. Observe speed limits in Big Pine very carefully, as
this island is very serious about protecting its deer.
Entertaining Learning
Key West is home to a number of historical spots, including the homes of renowned
author Ernest Hemingway and President Harry Truman. Ten days in July are reserved
for the Hemingway Days Festival, events at which include short story, fishing,
and look-alike competitions.
Fort Zachary Taylor, a Civil War-era fort on the Atlantic Ocean side of Key
West, saw action during both the Civil and Spanish-American Wars. Notable attributes
include a saltwater desalination plant that produced drinking water by 1861
and an impressive collection of Civil War cannons. Learn from the guided tours,
fish in the channel, or grill on the beach of this National Historic Landmark.
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