PCCA Journal|4
th
Quarter 2010
27
D
epending on which way you travel, Key
Largo is the first or the last of the Florida
Keys. Ocean Reef Club is located at the
northern tip of the northernmost chain of
islands that sweeps southwestward into the
Caribbean. Traveling in that direction, Key West would
be your last stop. Each of these small islands has its own
personality, and vacationers visit them for remoteness,
access to ocean fishing, and to unwind.
Key Largo.
Just an hour’s drive south of Miami lies
Key Largo, home to two state parks, a national park, a
national marine sanctuary and some of Florida’s most
fascinating botanical scenery.
Key Largo is sandwiched between the watery
wilderness of the Everglades National Park to the west
and the fish-covered coral formations of North America’s
only living coral barrier reef to the east. Locals consider
Key Largo the Diving Capital of the World, but the island
is nearly as famous as a sport-fishing destination.
Key Largo’s proximity to the Everglades makes it a
premier destination for kayakers, birders, and other eco-
tourists. All this beauty, not to mention the island’s rich
history, has inspired a vibrant community of artists who
show their work at several local galleries.
Islamorada.
Islamorada is comprised of six islands:
Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key,
Lower Matecumbe Key, and the offshore islands of
Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key. This might be the only
place on Earth where you can catch a sailfish in the
morning and then venture into the backcountry to pursue
bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, and redfish in just
inches of water.
Divers and snorkelers are fascinated by the History
of Diving Museum that opened in 2006 to rave reviews.
Music lovers enjoy warm tropical evenings on the lawn
of the TIB Amphitheater at Founder’s Park. Theater
lovers routinely take in first-class productions at the Coral
Shores Performing Arts Center.
Marathon.
Located mainly on Vaca, Fat Deer, and
Grassy Key, Marathon is a 10-mile-long, family-oriented
island community rooted in a heritage of fishing, and
it reflects the old-Keys lifestyle. Marathon is ideal for
sailing, fishing, diving, snorkeling, and scuba. Visitors
enjoy the impeccably maintained Sombrero Beach and a
host of eco-attractions and marine-based environmental
programs.
Visitors to Pigeon Key venture back in time to a tiny
island that played a tremendous role in the Florida Keys
of today. Sombrero Reef, a federally protected section of
the United States’ only living coral barrier reef, lies just a
few miles offshore.
The Lower Keys.
If you’ve had enough of an
overcrowded and weary world, the islands of the Lower
Keys are the place for you. You can snorkel or dive over
the Looe Key coral reef, ride a bicycle through Key Deer
country, or take a fishing adventure in the back country
or troll the deep blue waters beyond the reef.
The Lower Keys begin where the Florida Keys island
chain takes a graceful westerly turn toward the sunset,
shortly after the famous Seven Mile Bridge. It is a
quiet region of small resorts, down-home restaurants,
untrammeled wildernesses, and rich history.
Key West.
In Key West, you can discover a city where
real estate titles date back to the Kings of Spain. Stroll the
palm-lined streets and discover gingerbread mansions,
tin-roofed conch houses, and Ernest Hemingway’s home.
Walk in the footsteps of Thomas Edison, Lou Gehrig, and
Tennessee Williams.
With its balmy weather and crystal blue skies, the
island is famous among the outdoors set for its diving,
fishing, water sports, and golf.
But in Key West the sun shines the brightest when
it sets. Everyone gathers for the never planned, always
varied Sunset Celebration on the Mallory Dock. Once the
sun is safely tucked away by jugglers, mimes, musicians,
and street artists, the city moves to a different beat. A
night beat. The streets, filled with sidewalk cafes, open-
air bars, legendary pubs, and world-class restaurants,
come alive.
The Florida Keys