For many folks -- SCUBA divers, anglers, water sports lovers, boaters and party people, in particular -- just south of Miami is where Florida really begins. It's hard not to exhale a sigh of relief when you leave the gridlock of the mainland metropolis behind and begin making your way across the scores of bridges that lead some 120 miles from Key Largo to Key West, the southernmost point in the United States. With roadside attractions like shell shops and giant lobsters and mermaids to keep the kids entertained, the route through the Keys makes for an ideal family road trip, with watery views o'plenty and roadside kitsch by the boatload to keep backseat quarrels at bay during the roughly three hour ride from Miami to Key West. But don't plan on doing it all in one go if you don't have to -- nearly every mile marker (that's how the distance is ticked off in these parts) offers a reason to stop for a swim or a break for a piece of Key lime pie with postcard views.
Indeed, the main attractions in these parts are found on or near the water. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is an area of roughly 2,900 square miles that protects the only living barrier coral reef in the United States -- the third largest such reef system in the world. And from Key Largo to Marathon and Big Pine Key to Key West, there are stops all along the way where you can get out for a snorkel in the grassy shallows or catch a short boat ride to a nearby reef guaranteed to be bustling with tropical fish and perhaps a turtle or moray eel.
Key West, the end of the road, is on most visitors' agendas, with lots of attractions for all ages -- everything from butterfly farms and "train" rides around town to the revelry of Duval Street that's aimed decidedly at the more mature set. Few free activities can compare with watching the nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square, where street performers might be found juggling atop high wires or teaching their dogs to retrieve dollar bills from the tourist throngs against a backdrop of passing sailboats and vendors selling crafts and conch fritters.
Wherever you venture in the Keys, expect a spirit of adventure and independence from the locals. And look for the Conch Republic flag to be flying proud everywhere, too -- in 1982, Key West and the Florida Keys managed to briefly declare their independence from the mainland during a border patrol dispute. The official freedom may not have come to fruition, but this part of the country will always walk to the beat of a different drummer entirely. Dive in with the whole gang and enjoy!
Florida Keys Family Vacations
Florida Keys Family Vacations
Families will love:
- Turquoise blue water at every turn
- A water baby's paradise
- Key West's eccentric Mallory Square
Written by Terry Ward
Read more about Florida Keys Attractions
Latest Florida Keys Trip Report
rhilton7 - 2011-11-30
We drove from Missouri to Daytona Beach, FL in a day which I would recommend spending the night along the way or flying but we made it. We stayed at ...
Read more Florida Keys Trip Reports
Best Florida Keys Family Hotels
© Copyright 2012. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer!
Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
1. The National Mall
There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
1. gogo Kidz Travelmate
If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing.
Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...