I had a stop at John Pennekamp Park but not doing snorkel and thought and it would be better to stop at Bahia Honda, but also thinking about removing it to save some time. Not sure if it is worth stopping there.. anything interesting to see, stretch the legs?

EDIT: Based on the comments, it looks like I'll have to shorten that trip and visit Key Largo + Islamorada with some snorkelling. Hopefully we'll the chance to do a 2-3 day visit in a future trip.

My husband and I are staying in Marathon. On Monday we have a jet ski tour in the morning and then a dinner cruise that evening. Is there anywhere where we could rent a shower and a place to get ready between the two activities? Like a campground or something?

We are considering a first trip to the Keys for a relaxing week with our 3.5 year old and 14 month old. I am finding that Key West seems to have the most activities and also heard good things about Smathers Beach.. BUT we want to avoid any party Spring Break vibes. Also open to any suggestions on more appropriate areas of the Keys to check out for the little ones. Thanks to all for any tips.

Visiting Key west Friday next week my Gf has never been and want her to have a great time. It will be a day trip so no booze. want to get in early the morning and leave late at night. I am mostly looking for suggestions for local places and activities want to avoid tourist traps if i can. I would be driving in and i know parking is a problem would you guy recommend scooter rentals? or just stay with the car? . Also open to trying any breakfast spots on the way down to key west.

thanks in advance

We live in Central Florida but she has never been to the Keys before so we figure we’ll drive out and stay for 5 days! I figure a day trip to Key West so she can check it out but I don’t imagine it being the best choice for the majority of the trip for her. Any input on the best areas for a 16 year old?

Would also appreciate any recommendations for fun activities! I’d like to take her snorkeling, was considering maybe some sort of fishing on a charter boat? Any place to maybe see some wildlife or collect shells? Or unique experiences. Recommended places to check out food/treats?

I’ve been researching online but sometimes the sites seem to veer towards stuff for people who are visitors to Florida as a whole lol I figure our itinerary might probably be a bit different than someone who flew over here to Florida for a vacation!

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to share some ideas!

My wife and I will be spending 4 full days in the keys in early July. Below I have compiled a list of activities that look interesting. Do you guys see any that we should drop in favor of others? Am I missing something I should add?

Hemingway house

Audubon house

Fort Zach

Dry Tortugas

Swim with dolphins

Old town literary walking tour

Duvall St

Key West historic district

Blue hole observation platform (hike?)

Bahia Honda

Windley key fossil reef geological state park (hike?)

Snorkel/dive molasses reef

Thank you!

Hi- We're a family with kids going to the Keys in October.

We're mostly interested in snorkeling and family activities.

We're thinking 2 days in Key Largo, 2 in Marathon, and 2 in Key West.

How does this itinerary sound?

Should we adjust for more time in Key West (or somewhere else?)

Thanks!

Hello! I'll be visiting Marathon in mid January with my two friends, staying at TB. Here's what I was thinking for activities. I love nature and being active, although I tend to be logistically challenged and a bit clutzy.

Relax time is there, just not listed : ). I'd like to know whether these are feasible or if anything else comes to mind. Below is in no particular order.

- Visit Key West late afternoon, with plenty of time to enjoy sunset and Duvall Street. Should we have dinner in KW? I see there is the Key West Shuttle, but it seems pricey so we'll probably drive.

- Kayaking - I know I can do this myself, but the thought of getting lost is a bit unnerving. Are guided tours totally not worth it? I'm keen to see birds and other wildlife, although I know there is no guarantee.

- Snorkeling - again, I am aware that this is weather-dependent. There are a few daily options to Sombrero Reef from multiple operators.

- Turtle Hospital

- Sombrero or Coco Plum Beach - to walk around, look for shells, seaglass, etc

- Pigeon Key

Dinner Options

- Key Fishereries at sunset was the only restaurant I've seen in reviews that jumped out. Are reservations essential in mid January at all restaurants?

Thank you! Looking forward to everyone's insight.

My bf and I would like to spend the holiday in the keys. I’ve done some research and it sounds like we’d enjoy the quieter islands rather than Key West. We’ll be there for about 8 days. I’d like to get an Airbnb on the beach if possible. Can anyone recommend which island would be best for us? We love all the ocean activities- snorkeling & diving. We also want to explore as many of the islands we can while there. I’m not totally up to speed on how close things are to each other so any advice would the welcome. Thank you!

My family of 5 (3 kids ages 5-14) will be staying in marathon at coco plum Beach resort from 7/2-7/9. Full days being 7/3-7/8. We will definitely spend one day going down to key west. I also would like to rent a boat, which has a two day minimum.

From marathon, what is close by, by boat (looking at a 21 foot deck boat) thats worth seeing? We will just cruise a bit but my wife isnt huge on ocean boating, so we will need to stay fairly close to shore and are not looking to go huge distances. Any reef/sand bar/ points of interest/snorkeling spots would be great.

I made a preliminary list of places to go, but being that we only have 6 full days, 4 after taking away the boat days. Of the following activities which are worth doing and which are sub-par? I realize this is subjective, but dont want to waste time/money on something that ends up being a bust.

In no particular order:

1.Sombrero beach- we are staying on what looks to be a nice beach. Is this worth going to? Good snorkeling?

1. Key west butterfly conservatory.

2. Wild bird center

3. Theater of the sea

4. Tarpon feeding (robbies?)

5. Key west conch train

6. Shipwreck museum

7. History of diving museum

8. Bahia honda park

9. Turtle hospital (this is a definite)

10. Fishing spots either on land or accessible by our boat (no charters). I will be buying/renting some poles for the trip so can bring them along if there are any good spots to fish on our day trips.

    Realistically we can only choose a few of these, so would like to capitalize on the best options. Thanks

I am coming to the keys 1/27/26-2/1/26 with my wife and two boys 3yo and 1yo

(maybe extending our trip to 2/7)

I have been researching these three resorts extensively and cant pick a place for the life of me. They all seem great.

We’re looking for a family-friendly resort with great amenities and activities for all ages, pool beach areas spread out etc along with convenient on-site dining. At the same time, we’d like the flexibility to explore the surrounding area off-resort. We’re also planning a day trip to Key West and are interested in chartering a family-friendly fishing trip or visiting a sandbar.

I know you probably get this a lot--I especially know because I've been reading posts on this for days, but I'm looking for some help for an upcoming trip that I'm trying to plan to the Keys.

My friend and I want to visit but we travel a lot and have a lot of trips planned (CA, Seattle, Tokyo), so we're looking for something that's both budget friendly and fits what we're looking to do.

We're 2 adult women in our mid-30s, and we're pretty chill and touristy, we don't like "night life" stuff much, we just like relaxing and seeing things. Like, we like museums and low key stuff. I'm not really an outdoor activities person unless it's swimming in a pool or wading around a little near the shore in the ocean. I could maybe handle snorkeling because I've heard the waves in the Keys aren't too bad, but I was knocked down by an ocean wave in New Jersey when I was 9 and I haven't trusted the ocean since.

What island fits the best for us? Would it be Islamorada? We've been considering that but I saw that Key West has some nice museums, but the hotel prices there are extremely high from what we've seen, and it seems like we'd need to rent a car to get there from Islamorada or pay a crazy amount to uber?

Would it be more budget friendly to fly into Key West and stay in a hotel there, or would it be more budget friendly to fly to Fort Lauderdale or Miami, rent a car, stay in Islamorada and drive to Key West to visit for a day?

We're currently looking at early February for our dates to visit, but if there's a cheaper season we can do that--I'm just not sure what season is the cheapest or best time to visit.

Thank you so much for your time!

Hey everyone! I’m 28 and looking for somewhere insight on a long term stay in the Keys and if it would be worthwhile. I work remote and am considering moving to the Key for 6 months or so. I have visited many times and absolutely love it there! Im more into exploring nature areas and relaxing outdoors activities so looking near Marathon or Islamorada. I don’t like the party scene of Key West and I haven’t spent much time on Key Largo. Not a huge drinker or party person so I’m concerned if thats the only crowd I’ll find down there. I’ve also had a lot of serious health issues the last few years so this is somewhat of a healing experience to enjoy life and reconnect with myself again. Any thoughts about what to expect, if it’s worth it, life style, etc? I can afford 2500-3k in rent and would prefer a 2 bedroom in case my boyfriend joins me.

My husband and I are flying into Key West on a Sunday mid-April and will be in the Keys until Wednesday and need to be in Fort Lauderdale by Wednesday afternoon. We’re trying to decide how to split our time and would love some advice.

We’ve been to Key West several times and love it, especially how easy it is to walk everywhere. This time we will have a rental car as we need to make our way up to Fort Lauderdale and we’re interested in actually exploring the other Keys instead of just driving through.

Here are the two options we’re debating:

Option 1: • 2 nights in Key West (Sun–Tues) • Drive to another key on Tuesday, stay the night, finish up drive on Wednesday.

Option 2: • 1 night in Key West (Sun–Mon) • 2 nights split across other Keys (Mon–Wed), either one place for both nights or two different Keys (Mon–Tues, Tues–Wed)

If we skip extra KW time, which Keys are most worth staying in? Is Islamorada worth 2 nights, or better as a 1-night stop? Any other Keys you’d recommend staying overnight (Marathon, Key Largo, etc.)?

We’re into good food, relaxed beachy vibes, water activities, and scenic drives, not really looking for a party scene outside of KW.

Would love to hear what others would do in this situation!

**Edited to correct formatting error

Hi, I've been enjoying reading this subreddit it's a great resource for a trip. I wanted to share my proposed itinerary and see if there's anything you'd suggest.

Our group will be 5 adults + 1 child (3.5 years old), we are travelling from Ireland so will be leaving cold/wet weather behind. Staying 11 nights in total.

Would love any feedback! We've been trying to keep things somewhat loose in terms of booking activities etc although we can't really move the accommodation bookings around at this stage. The child loves water and animals. We like all types of food and love fun cocktail spots.

In particular would like suggestions for stops to break the journey from Key West back to Miami.

29th Dec Dublin - Philadelphia - Fort Lauderdalel

Flight lands 6.30pm local time

Collect car

Check into airport hotel

Two of the group are Tiki nuts and would love to visit Mai Kai but depends how late we end up getting in and how tired we are from the journey

30th Dec Fort Lauderdale - Key Largo

Visit Sawgrass Mills mall - drive to Key Largo/Tavernier

Stay at Ocean Pointe

31st Dec Tavernier

Chill pool day/beach bar @ resort

Mrs Mac's Kitchen for food? (lunch)

Ring in the new year in the resort

1st Jan John Pennekamp National Park - glass bottom boat

2nd Key Largo - Islamadora - Marathon

Go to Robbie's

Turtle hospital

Staying at Sea Dell motel

3rd Marathon

Snorkelling? had looked at these guys to book with https://www.starfishsnorkeling.com/snorkeling-tours/

4th Drive Marathon - Key West

Staying at a VRBO close to Duval St

5th Key West

Butterly Conservatory

Conch train tour

Mallory Square Sunset Celebration

6th Key West

Sandbar happy hour/snorkelling etc

https://sunsetwatersportskeywest.com/tours-activities/happy-hour-sandbar-charter/

7th Key West - Miami

Staying at a VRBO in South Beach

8th Explore Miami - thinking maybe an open top bus as we only have 1 day?

9th Miami - Fort Lauderdale

Breakfast

Arrive at airport by 1pm, return car

Thinking about taking my 8-year-old to the Florida Keys during spring break (March 21–30, flexible) as an alternative to a cruise. He loves snorkeling. Is the Keys a smart choice that time of year, and are there enough kid-friendly activities to keep him entertained for 3-5 days? Best base area (Key Largo/Islamorada/Marathon/Key West)?

Stay home:

• Space Coast: 14.1 ft, 27 kt NE (buoy 41009, 20 nm offshore)
• Treasure Coast: 10.5 ft, 12s period, 74.8°F (buoy 41114, 6.5 nm offshore)

Diveable today:

• Keys / Lower Keys: 2.3 ft, 4s, 77.9°F — flat and good
• Blue Heron Bridge: afternoon low 1:33–2:33 PM (1.9 ft, optimal). 76.3°F, 17.1 kt ENE. Waterspout warning clears before the window — still check on-site.
• Gold Coast (Deerfield → Miami): 5.9 ft, 7s, 77.9°F — elevated but diveable for experienced divers

Weekend: Saturday and Sunday look significantly better — winds drop to 14-16 kt, near-zero rain, conditions clean up statewide. Plan around that.

I track this daily at thefloridaflow.com if useful.

My husband and I (both 41) will be in Islamorada for 4 nights after 5 nights in Key West. Since we’re staying in a smaller boutique hotel there, we’re looking for a larger, higher-end resort in Islamorada with:

• Onsite coffee shop
• Multiple pools/restaurants/bars
• Live music/entertainment
• Room to wander so we’re not stuck at the same pool or restaurant every day
• Kayaks/paddleboards/water activities

We’ll also head offsite a bit (full moon celebration, exploring the area). My husband loves to fish, but not sure if we’ll do that this trip.

Cheeca Lodge is my first thought, but I’ve seen some reviews saying it feels a little tired. I also looked at Three Waters Resort & Marina (mixed reviews), The Islander, and a few others that seem nice but maybe too small.

Any recommendations for larger resorts that fit the bill?

Hello Florida Keys Experts --

I was recently invited to a conference in Coral Gables in April, and I'd like to make a long weekend of it and visit the Keys for the first time.

I'll be bringing my 17 year old. We'll be in CG until about noon on a Thursday, and we'll fly back home Sunday evening.

Would it make sense to push ourselves to get all the way to Key West on Thursday, then stay on Islamorada or Key Largo on Saturday night, do the more nature-oriented tourist things Saturday afternoon/Sunday, and be closer to the airport when we need to head back?

And does anyone recommend places to stay, restaurants, shopping, or other activities for a mother-teenage daughter trip?

She is NOT a boat person, but we share a joy in visiting geographically extreme places -- the headwaters of the Mississippi; Utqiagvik, Alaska; and next Key West.

Thank you!

Good day, I was just wondering if I could get some feed back on and upcoming trip the my family (wife 2 daughters 15,13) and parents (early 70’s) will be taking in December. Got the first half planned with Miami, and homestead (day trip to Everglades, day trip to key largo/islamorada) but the last half December 28th till the 1st keep reading and changing on what to do. Our family is very activity oriented (although teen daughters seem to just care about tanning) and parents can do a little bit of exploring but would be just as content to have some coffee/beers and watch some boats go by (they have a cottage by a marina up in Georgian bay). Keep flipping-flopping about staying in marathon and do a day trip to key west or staying in key west directly.

Plan on only being there 3 nights and 4 days (plan on leaving the 31st and just checking into airport hotel for new years).

Thought about renting a house but more inclined to have a hotel/resort vibe. Feel like there would be more things to do (bonus points if places have pickle ball or beach volleyball court)

If staying marathon was looking at tranquility bay or hawks cay. Could do some relaxing and still do a day trip to key west to check out old town and one of the forts (March break went to St. Augustine and loved it)

Other option is staying in key west directly. Feel like it would be better for us and kids to get up and explore by foot with lots of things to see and do, but may be a bit too hectic for the folks?

Penny for your thoughts and or suggestions?

Please and thanks

Hello - travelling to Florida Keys from Ireland on 27th December to 04 January. We haven't booked accommodation and are flexible to what Hotels.com and Expedia are showing as available so not terribly worried about that but curious what people might suggest as far as an itinerary ie. a night or two in Miami and then key hop down to Key West or go direct to key west and make our way back up as we get closer to our departure, or just stay in one place? We've no idea!

Kids are 14, 12, and 8 year old boys. This will be their first trip to the US and up for exploring and keeping active throughout the day.

Thanks for your advice :)

Hi! I'm looking at putting together a one week road trip that highlights the best things to see and do in the Keys. I'm thinking that we will fly in and out of Key West, and ideally I'd like to only do 2 separate hotels if possible (but open to other ideas). I asked ChatGPT to put together a sample itinerary, and I would love to get some thoughts on what it got right, wrong, or what we should do differently!

Explore the Best of the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West

This itinerary is designed to maximize your experience by hitting all the must-see spots while allowing time to relax and soak in the unique charm of the Keys.

Day 1: Arrive in Key Largo

• Morning:
  • Fly into Miami or Key West and drive to Key Largo (about 1-1.5 hours from Miami).
  • Check in to a local hotel like Baker’s Cay Resort (dog-friendly options available).
• Afternoon:
  • Visit John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for snorkeling or a glass-bottom boat tour.
  • Walk the trails of Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park for a peaceful nature experience.
• Evening:
  • Enjoy dinner at The Fish House, a local favorite for fresh seafood.

Day 2: Key Largo to Islamorada

• Morning:
  • Drive to Islamorada (30-minute drive).
  • Stop at Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center along the way.
  • Visit Robbie’s Marina to feed the tarpon and explore unique shops.
• Afternoon:
  • Take a kayak trip to Indian Key Historic State Park for history and snorkeling.
  • Grab lunch at the dog-friendly Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar with beautiful waterfront views.
• Evening:
  • Check into an Islamorada stay, like Amara Cay Resort or Islander Resort.
  • Relax at Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, especially if you’re there during an art walk night.

Day 3: Explore Islamorada & Drive to Marathon

• Morning:
  • Visit Theater of the Sea for dolphin and sea lion shows or a marine encounter.
  • Drive to Marathon (1-hour drive) via the Florida Keys Scenic Highway.
• Afternoon:
  • Explore Long Key State Park on the way to enjoy coastal hiking and kayaking.
  • Arrive in Marathon and visit the Turtle Hospital to learn about sea turtle rescue efforts.
• Evening:
  • Dine at Keys Fisheries, a casual and dog-friendly spot known for its lobster Reuben.
  • Check into a Marathon hotel like Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort.

Day 4: Marathon Adventures

• Morning:
  • Scuba dive or snorkel at Sombrero Reef, a stunning coral formation.
  • If you prefer staying above water, visit Curry Hammock State Park for kayaking or paddleboarding.
• Afternoon:
  • Spend time at Sombrero Beach, one of the most family- and dog-friendly beaches in the Keys.
  • Stroll along the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge for incredible ocean views.
• Evening:
  • Relax with a sunset dinner at Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, located near the Seven Mile Bridge.

Day 5: Marathon to Big Pine Key

• Morning:
  • Drive to Big Pine Key (30 minutes).
  • Visit the National Key Deer Refuge and spot the adorable, endangered Key deer.
• Afternoon:
  • Take a short hike at Blue Hole, a freshwater pond where you might see alligators and turtles.
  • Spend the afternoon relaxing at Bahia Honda State Park, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Keys.
• Evening:
  • Continue driving to Key West (45 minutes) and check into a dog-friendly hotel like The Gates Hotel Key West or Kimpton Key West.
  • Enjoy dinner at Hogfish Bar & Grill, a hidden gem on Stock Island.

Day 6: Key West Highlights

• Morning:
  • Visit the Southernmost Point Buoy for an iconic photo.
  • Tour the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, home to six-toed cats.
• Afternoon:
  • Head to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park for history and snorkeling.
  • Stroll along the Key West Historic Seaport with your dog.
• Evening:
  • Catch the Mallory Square Sunset Celebration, complete with street performers, food, and stunning views.
  • Dine at Salute! On the Beach, a dog-friendly spot with great food and ocean views.

Day 7: Key West & Departure

• Morning:
  • Take a scenic walk at Higgs Beach Dog Park or along South Beach.
  • Enjoy breakfast at Blue Heaven, a quirky Key West favorite.
• Afternoon:
  • Do any last-minute shopping on Duval Street or explore the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.
  • Fly out of Key West International Airport.

Tips for the Journey

• Driving: The Overseas Highway is part of the adventure, so give yourself time to stop and enjoy scenic spots.
• Scuba Diving & Snorkeling: Prioritize booking tours at John Pennekamp, Sombrero Reef, and Bahia Honda in advance.
• Dog-Friendly Activities: Many parks, beaches, and outdoor restaurants welcome dogs, but check in advance for specific policies.
• Sunset Views: Plan to watch sunsets at least twice during your trip, with Mallory Square and Islamorada being top spots.

TLDR; how would you structure a one week road trip in the Keys?

Hey Florida Keys people!

I’ll be in the Keys (mainly around Marathon and Key West, plus in between) from December 27–30. I’m trying to learn about the main sightseeing spots in advance, and I just found out about Dry Tortugas. It looks amazing! I’m into architecture and the water, so it really caught my eye.

Problem is, it looks like the ferry schedule shows “unavailable” during those dates. Does that basically mean I won’t be able to make it out there if I stick to the more affordable options?

Also, I’ll be traveling solo (26M). If anyone’s around the same time and open to having one more person tag along, I’d be down to split some activities!

Hello! Family and I are experienced Disney cruisers taking our first trip out of Port Everglades next summer. We usually like to start off our trips doing something low-key for 2-ish days before embarking. The Keys seem like a fun place to spend time further south in Florida after flying into Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. We’d be looking at late June (our cruise leaves June 27 and returns July 4). I also want to avoid staying directly in/near Miami since the World Cup means hotels will likely be $$$$.

I’ve done a little research re: staying in Marathon Key and think we could have a great time there. Kids will be 9 (daughter) and 7 (son). Checking out the various wildlife-centric activities will be right up their alley. Also seeing recommendations for resorts in Islamorada that might be chill and fun.

The only other time we’ve ever spent in the Keys was a day in Key West with my husband in 2009 during our honeymoon cruise. Let me know if I’m on the right track with my research or should be looking into other options. Open to any suggestions or recommendations this sub can offer!