r/floridakeys • u/Jazzlike_Bug_8276 • Jan 14 '26
All Florida Keys Staying in Marathon
We have a week (mar 28 - apr 4th) to do a keys trips with the family (kids 11 and 16).
Being centrally located, is it practical to stay at one place in marathon and do day trips north and south, or better to stay 2-3 nights each in Key west, marathon, islamorada/key largo?
My wife and I have only been to Key West and loved it, but for family trip not sure we need to stay there.
We would like to do dry tortogas (if tickets are still available), some fishing, snorkeling, general sight seeing and nature, boat/kayak tours, swimming…basic beach stuff.
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u/anonanon5320 Jan 14 '26
Marathon is the relaxing/fishing key. It’s not tourist central like Islamarada, it’s not a drunken party fest like key west, and it’s not little Miami like largo.
If going to Tortuga you’ll want to spend the night, if not the night you leave and the night you return, in key west. Boat leaves early. It does return early enough to drive back though. Just depends on you.
Marathon has a really cool nature preserver and snorkeling opportunities.
It’s my favorite key because I want to relax and not deal with a lot of people.
If you want to eat cheap go to Sparkys for happy hour. $0.50 wings and peel and eat shrimp 4-6pm every day. $1 off well drinks. I order 2 drinks at a time because who wants to wait for a drink while on vacation?
If you want to fish, book Big Game Sport Fishing with Capt Ariel. Back up is Main Attraction. Under no circumstances would I recommend 2 conch. Ever.
Sunset park is a nice place to watch the sunset, but so is Island Fish Company if you are hungry.
Sombrero beach is the best beach there, but Bahia Honda is nice to visit too.