The Real Florida Keys

Florida Keys Vacation - Where the locals go

Allure of the Florida Keys - Tropical Islands of the United States

Welcome to the Florida Keys. Let me introduce you to the islands between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the beaches, dining, wildlife, fishing, tropical activities and azure waters through the eyes of a “local”.
The “Keys” are unique in many ways. The mood is laid back and sometimes we refer to it as Keys Disease. Once you have been exposed it’s hard to shake it.

The Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1700 islands that begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about 15 miles south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of our inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry Tortugas.

At its nearest point, the southern tip of Key West is just 98 miles from Cuba, and sometimes we “locals” have been known to play tricks on visitors telling them if they stand in just the right spot on the White St. Pier around mid-day they can actually see Cuba. (You can’t really so don’t fall for that one when you visit.)

The Florida Keys are in the subtropics. The climate however, is defined as tropical and the only frost free place in the United States you can drive to. I have to admit, that is my favorite reason for living here, but there really is so much more when you know where to go and what to do.

The population of the Keys is around 79,000 full time residents, although much of the population is concentrated in a few areas such as the cities of Key West, Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon.

Each of the individual Keys has their own special flair and other than the bigger Keys we really are quite rural, in fact the only mall that exists is on the mainland which makes shopping a true adventure because of all the unique shops.

There is only one road in and one road out, most of it with a 45 mph speed limit or less. Some people are frustrated by this but I LOVE it. I think of the days driving 45 minutes one way to work in rain, snow, traffic or heat and nothing to see out my window.. the views here are FANTASTIC!

One of my favorite things to do is to drive US1 through the Florida Keys and stop at the little waysides, which are often not much more than a worn path from previous travelers to take in the view, admire the sunset, or dip my feet in the warm water of the Atlantic or Gulf. This is what a vacation is all about.. try it I promise you will find a picture at every stop that you can share with your friends and family when you go back home.

Many snowbirds make the Florida Keys their second home and because of that their are great deals to be found in our off season (June-October)for vacation rentals. Even if you decide to vacation here during “season” though the prices are higher there are still many choices from luxury hotels, bed & breakfasts, cottage homes and villas, motels, camping.. and their is even a hostel in Key West.

Since we are a 100 mile stretch of islands bordered by the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico as you can guess we are a fishing, diving, and boating mecca and all are great year round! My favorite time is the summer when the winds are light and the seas are calm. The temperatures can be quite warm but we never get above 94 degrees. (Even the Midwest cant say that!)

If you like nightlife, well there is plenty of that as well, from the string of bars on Duval Street in Key West to the Tikki bars with live music most any night all along the Keys. There are theatres with real plays, museums, boat racing, festivals, flea markets, sunset celebrations and much more.

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