A few hours in the Florida Keys need not take up your entire weekend. In
fact, you can indulge in just about everything the Conch Republic has to
offer in just a few hours - in Islamorada and Key Largo anyway.
Whatever you wish you do in the Keys-outdoor water sports, enjoy a good
meal, or simply bask in the sun and enjoy some rum runners-you'll only
have to drive 45 minutes away from Miami. And without the need for a
hotel, travelers can spend their money elsewhere.
The upper Keys have some of nature's most spectacular scenes-much of them
underwater. For scuba divers and snorkelers, The John Pennekamp Coral Reef
State Park allows the chance to swim along with more than 500 species of
fish, including angelfish and parrotfish, as well as 55 richly hued types
of coral. The park is combined with the adjacent Key Largo National Marine
Sanctuary, covering more than 100 nautical square miles of pristine
waters. One of the most popular diving spots is the area where the
duplicate nine-foot bronze statue of the Christ of the Deep sits 25 feet
under water. (The original statue lies off the coast of Italy.) Daily boat
departures for snorkelers start at $24, and $37 for scuba divers.
Experienced divers can explore the mysterious remnants of two Coast Guard
327-foot cutters, which sit 120 feet under water. For those who prefer to
stay dry, glass-bottom boat rides on the San Jose start at $15 for adults.
And for those who prefer to stay completely dry and on land, there are
nature trails that wind through native foliage, as well as a beach, picnic
and camping grounds.
For those who prefer to catch fish instead of merely watching them,
Islamorada, about 20 miles south of Key Largo, offers great fishing
opportunities, including fishing charter boats. Game fishing in the Keys
is among the most popular activities for anglers who wish to put up a
fight with a marlin that can last several hours. Fishermen who aren't out
to mount a prized fish on their wall back home can look forward to the
snook, grouper, and yellowtail snapper that frequent the coast of the
Keys.
Keep in mind that no matter what type of fish you're after, there are many
charter boat trips available, from the Key Largo-based Melo Fishing
Charter's 17 1/2-foot Mellow Fellow (whose rule is "No fish, No Pay") to
the 50-foot Killer White custom Sport Fisherman vessel, stationed at the
Holiday Isle Marina on mile marker 83.5. Rates on the larger boat start at
about $475 for a half-day, four-hour trip, while an eight-hour trip starts
at $700. Split among several people, the cost is more than fair,
considering the high costs of owning a boat. In this case it's true what
they say: The best boat is someone else's.
If you didn't catch any fish then don't fret. There's plenty of nearby
restaurants, selling probably what you wanted to catch. For hearty
appetites, there's the Coral Grill, on mile marker 83.5, offering
all-you-can-eat buffet specials comprised of everything from seafood to
ribs. The Whale Harbor Inn, a mile south of the Coral Grill, is also known
for bountiful lunches and dinners. Up the road in Key Largo there's the
Fish House, somewhat rustic and small in size but big on seafood
selection. Making Forest Gump proud, the Fish House offers fish in many
ways, including Blackened, Jamaican style and smoked.
For sports fans there's Jammers Grill and Pub and Hog Heaven, both
establishments frequented by sports fans who during football season may
want to watch a Miami Dolphins game and possibly eat a dolphin
sandwich-one of Hog Heaven's specialties. (Just like other establishments
in the Keys, broadcasts of blacked-out Miami Dolphins football games can
be seen here.) Miami locals sometimes make the trip to the area just to
enjoy the best of both the sporting world and the Florida Keys.
Once the meal settles and you're done fantasizing about the setting sun
over water, it's time to get out and experience some of the nightlife the
upper Keys have to offer. It might not be as bubbling as that of Key
West's Duval Street, but there are still many places to let your hair
down.
Woody's, at mile marker 82, is a late-night restaurant and lounge> that
serves up dancing and live music until the wee hours of the night. The
venue is known as the home of Big Dick and the Extenders, a blues/rock
band fronted by a tall Indian named Dick who insults almost everyone
within range. So for those who have a frail ego and can't take a joke,
sitting near the back of the bar is highly recommended.
Volcanoes is the area's more popular dance club. Looking like a hybrid of
a Miami high-energy establishment and a laid-back Keys setting, Volcanoes
is a popular draw for college-aged visitors in town for any given holiday,
or for older natives who wish to exchange their sandals for some dancing
shoes. Likewise, the Tiki Bar, the area's biggest draw, also offers
late-night dancing, evoked by both live bands and DJs playing everything
from reggae to classic rock to dance.
So whether it's dancing, dining, or discovering, the upper Keys have a
little of everything the entire Keys area has to offer. And for folks in
South Florida it means the chance to enter another world without embarking
on a long odyssey.
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