Secluded amongst a row of islands scattered far and beyond the reaches of the state Florida itself. In fact Key West, the Florida Keys most distant island, is only 90 miles from Cuba. On the gulf side you can go offshore for miles, stop your boat and stand in knee deep calm as glass water and not see shore anywhere around you. It’s an absolutely surreal experience for an ocean lover and nature loving person. I’ve ran into many a sting ray and sea turtles while there.
The Florida Keys can be considered the American tropical paradise and features all the same amenities and lodging as other island vacations. There are several things to do for example award winning deep sea fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, boating, kayaking, sailing, and species tours beyond belief. Each of our island destinations has some special features. My wife and I invite you to visit each area yourself and discover our bright tropical heaven in the Florida Keys.
One of the main reasons for my trips to the Florida Keys is for Lobster Sport Season. The locals call it bug hunting. It only last for about 3 days and the place is packed. If your into hunting for lobster, this is quite an exciting affair. Don’t forget your snorkel, tickle stick and net! The kind of Lobster you’ll find down there are the Spiny Lobster type, which have no claws and can get quite enormous. Spiny Lobster are larger than most Main Lobsters in some cases. Remember, recreational harvesters are required to possess a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License with a current crawfish stamp. Consult a local tackle shop for exemptions to licensing needs. Licenses are available through local convenient stores, tax collectors, many tackle shops and marine supply stores.
What does it cost to travel to the Keys? I’m finally getting to that. The Florida Keys is by far the best tropical vacation spot for any professional fisherman, diver, or just plain traveler. But watch your pocket book! The Florida Keys is quite costly. My wife and I shopped around extensively for the best hotel prices and by far the best we found was a little place right off the highway called Big Pine Key Motel. They had the best rates and the largest rooms of every “affordable” place to stay down there which were around $70 and up! And I’m talking crazy up! Some establishments were asking over $500. If you’ve got the wallet, I would highly recommend Little Palm Island. It’s one of the top 10 resorts in the nation and the only way you can get to it is by boat. The Big Pine Key Motel is just a 20 minute drive from Key West and is surrounded by dive shops, fishing expeditions and great places to eat.
I’m going to close with a warning. The Florida Keys is protected by many environmental laws that are specific to endangered species. If you do any hiking around lookout for the poison wood. It looks as innocent as a pear tree and 10x more dangerous than poison ivy. The locals can’t cut it down because it grows a fruit that an endangered species of bird eats.
This article is a personal experience of mine during my travels to the Florida Keys and my experiences with Florida Keys Motels. I would like to give reference to the Big Pine Key Motel 1-888-872-9191 and thank them for their hospitality. I am a travel enthusiast and work as a Technical writer for a Texas internet marketing company located in San Antonio, TX. Enjoy your travels to the Florida Keys!
- Troy Perkins