The Florida Keys

Ah, to lay down in the sweet sun and enjoy a light breeze on the Keys.... time seems to pass at another rythm here. You have arrived: the Florida Keys!
But one Key is not like another... so here´s the lowdown.

a) Key largo: the first Key once you pass Homestead. There´s a very nice Marriot Hotel on your left. The big attraction here is John Pennecamp State Park, the only park that encompasses a coral reef! It really is a beautiful spot for a picnic, enjoying a nice beach, fishing or even a snorkeling cruise. They´ll take you out -supposedly to the reef- for 2 hours and then back. Now here´s my experience: I didn´t see many fish as the captain (probably because it was choppy) didn´t leave us directly on the reef but a few yeards from it, where the ocean is still very deep. I am not such a good swimmer as to swim over to the reef. Bummer. So choose a day when the ocean is not choppy!

b) Next is Islamorada. It is known for sport fishing, there are a lot of companies that´ll take you out on the ocean to fish. Never did it myself though. There´s also an amusement Park, a kind of Sea World but with a less expensive entrance fee. I thought this is going to be goofy and boring, but since I had 2 hours to kill... I was totally wrong! Don´t let yourself be disheartened by the tacky plastic dolpins at the entrance. The shows were practically the same as in Sea World, minus the crowds and at half the price. I got to pat a dolphin and a nice fishy kiss from a sealion. Excellent.

c) Marathon Key is the next key, it doesn´t have much more than hotels. Never stayed here.

d) Long Key: A beautiful State Park. It is totally awesome but also very lonely. It has a nature walk that leads you to white sandy beaches. But I´d take someone with me otherwise it can get... too lonely for my taste! But it´s beautiful. And you can fish and camp here too.

e) The Lower Keys: Big Pine Key, Sugarloaf Key etc, don´t have anything particularly attractive, until you reach the jewel of them all: Key West. After driving over the breathtaking 7 mile bridge spanned over a turquoise ocean, you will enter the home town of Ernest Hemingway. Called "Cayo Hueso" (Bone Key) by the spaniards, this is a laidback town where wild chicken roam the streets and descendants from Hemingway´s 6 toed cats can still be seen sunnying themselves on the porch of the houses. The southernmost point of the States is unmistakenly signaled (and eternally surrounded by tourists). The original Sloppy Joe is served daily at Sloppy Joe´s (although another place disputes the original claim), and at Margaritaville they serve drinks all day. There are lots of art galleries and a spectacuar sunset that you (and a million other tourists) have to watch from the pier. In my opinion Key West is slighty overpriced and I don´t like the atmosphere after dark (party town...) but it depends on your taste and there´s sure thousands of people who come to vacation here and are enchanted by everything. You won´t find a lot of sandy beaches here though, it´s mostly a rocky shore.

Welcome to Margaritaville... Enjoy your trip to the Keys!