The Florida Keys Offer Many Attractions

The Florida Keys is an archipelago made up of over 1700 islands or keys that extends south and west of Miami, Florida. The entire length of the Florida Keys (110 miles) is split down the middle by Highway 1. There are five "major" towns that have sprung up along the keys. These towns are Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and finally Key West. The population of permanent residents for the entire Florida Keys is still under 100,000. And yet, the Florida Keys is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

The keys get so many visitors because of the many attractions that it offers. There truly is something for everyone. The Florida Keys have many areas that have been set aside as reserves and state parks. Most of the 10 state parks in the Florida Keys offer campground facilities, guided tours and water sports. There is even a state park that is preserving a Spanish ship that sunk over 300 years ago. You can also find every water sport imaginable being offered in all of the towns. Just some of the water sports being offered are kayaking, jet skiing, scuba diving or snorkeling. Many people come to the Florida Keys just to experience the tremendous fishing that is available in and around the keys.

If camping, fishing, or water sports isn't something you see yourself doing, don't despair. Each town has museums and a rich theater life. The cities and towns in the Florida Keys also celebrate many annual festivities and events. In August, in the city of Key West you can help celebrate the kick off of lobster season. The Town Square is full of festivities and lots and lots of lobster dishes. October is the month when the popular 10-day celebration called Fantasy Fest is observed. This festival is also held in Key West and is almost a type of Mardi Gras.

If you would like something a little quieter, there are many museums throughout the Florida Keys. At the southernmost tip of the keys in Key West there is The Hemingway House Museum and Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum. Both offer a lot of information on very interesting subjects and both can be toured in one day. Some other museums located elsewhere on the islands are the Museum of Crane Point in Marathon and the original African Queen from the movie with Humphrey Bogart in Key Largo.

Most towns in the Florida Keys also have many art galleries and antique shops in which to browse. And, as mentioned before, the theater is a very popular attraction to attend. There are many theaters throughout the Florida Keys that are always offering many popular productions.

Still another popular attraction is aquariums. The area is brimming with aquatic wildlife and much of that is displayed in the many large aquariums throughout the Florida Keys. One such aquarium is The Theater by the Sea in Islamorada. This aquarium offers visitors the opportunity to swim with dolphins and other animals. Key Largo also offers Dolphins Cove, another attraction where you can see and interact with dolphins up close.

In conclusion, even if you don't spend all of your time at the beach or in a shop or a museum there are dozens of fine restaurants and bars where you can have the time of your life and meet people from all walks of life. After all, it is your vacation and you should spend it exactly as you wish.

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