Florida Keys: Explore Like a Local
Going with the true flow in the laid-back Florida Keys means getting on island time and exploring this special place the way the locals do–layer by beautiful layer.
Start in Key Largo, where, after a fabulous day diving within John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (or going deeper on the wreck of the USS Spiegel Grove), you can mingle among off-duty divemasters at the canalside Sharkey’s Sharkbite Grill, beloved for its tasty Baja fish tacos and conch fritters.
David M. BenzJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, located in Key Largo, Florida, is the first underwater park in the United States, renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life.
Key Largo locals take out-of-towners to the Caribbean Club—with its waterfront location on Florida Bay—for live music and the island’s most sublime sunset-viewing spot. If you’re looking for the best hogfish meal around, you’ll find it just north of here on the Atlantic side of the island at Buzzards Roost. And it’s amazing to see all of the Florida sea- and shorebirds as well as raptors being rehabilitated at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, a worthy detour on nearby Tavernier that’s been a hideaway wildlife attraction since first opening its doors to winged things in 1991.
Next up as you head south is Islamorada, a favorite destination for Florida Keys locals who live elsewhere in the chain but love to visit because there’s just so much to see and do. The logical local stop after a great day diving with Islamorada Dive Center is mere steps away at the Tiki Bar, overlooking the ocean and where the frosty drinks flow.
Courtesy of the Monroe County Tourist Development CouncilYou can't finish a dive day in The Florida Keys without indulging in a few slices of their famous key lime pie, a tart and creamy dessert that's as iconic as the diving.
Robbie’s of Islamorada is a tried-and-true stop on the Keys’ tourist trail. It’s a place where you can feed the massive tarpon known to leap into the air to snag a sardine (while pelicans do their best to get there first). Locals love the dockside show nearby at Bud N’ Mary’s Marina (usually with fewer crowds, too) when fishing boats come in to clean the day’s haul. That’s when you’ll see tarpon–and usually a few hungry nurse sharks, too–circling for seconds just below your feet.
Moving on, Marathon has plenty of local topside surprises of its own, too, starting with Crane Point Museum and Nature Center. Here, 63 tropical acres tucked just off the Overseas Highway are threaded with nature trails. You can visit a butterfly garden or kick back with a natural fish pedicure in a tidal pool. Detour roughly a mile off the main highway from there and you’ll reach Sombrero Beach, a hideaway spot for relaxing on the sand and in the shallow waters. And at the tucked-away Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar, you’ll often see manatees frolicking in the canal. You can also do your part to help control the invasive lionfish population by feasting on sushi platters made from their tasty meat.
Big Pine Key is best known for the diminutive Key deer that dwell here. You can spot these adorable—and protected—deer everywhere, from the National Key Deer Refuge to the backyards of residents. When hunger strikes, pop by No Name Pub for what many locals claim is the best pizza in the Keys (plus a mighty fine Key lime pie) or settle down at a waterfront picnic table for some delicious fresh seafood at the beachside tiki bar, Kiki’s Sandbar Bar & Grill, on neighboring Little Torch Key.
Annie DarbyAt No Name Pub, the walls are stapled with thousands of fluttering one-dollar bills.
The biggest crowds in The Florida Keys converge at the end of the road in Key West, where there’s always cause to celebrate one thing or another. Locals know where to escape on their island for some downtime, too. You can join them at treasured swimming and picnic spots, such as the deep-water beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, where towering Norfolk pine trees provide plenty of shade off the sand and hammocks get strung between the trunks. Duval Street brims with busy watering holes, but you can get a bird’s-eye view on the partying masses below from the local hangout, Whistle Bar, located just above The Bull. Around the corner, Green Parrot Bar plays host to even more neighborhood locals.
ShutterstockThe famous Duval Street is a lively, bustling strip known for its historic landmarks, vibrant nightlife, eclectic shops, and endless opportunities for people-watching.
Famed for its roaming chickens and cats, Blue Heaven is a visitor’s favorite in Key West for its legendary banana pancake breakfasts, but you’ll find plenty of locals lining up to eat here, too (take their lead and order the lobster omelet). For a cheap and cheerful lunch, you’ll never go wrong with one of the massive Cuban sandwiches sold at Sandy’s Cafe, where a takeout window with a red-and-white striped awning sits right next to a coin laundry. It’s a spot you’d likely overlook if you didn’t know just where to go. And for a neighborhood dinner with character (not to mention island characters), you’ll love the quirky local vibe at Santiago’s Bodega, just a few blocks off Duval Street.
Cram in all the diving you can, of course. And spend any extra time out on the water in The Florida Keys, doing what the people who love living here love to do in their free time–kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, snorkeling and just staying wet and out on the water any which way they can.
Courtesy of the Monroe County Tourist Development CouncilIf you'd rather stay off land during your surface intervals, there’s no shortage of water activities in the Florida Keys, from snorkeling and kayaking to paddleboarding and boating.
But after you’ve toweled off, immerse yourself in an authentic Florida Keys experience—take time to discover the unique, special and unforgettable places beloved by locals.
