The Overseas Highway and a Chain of Coral Islands
The Florida Keys are a chain of coral islands curving south-west from the tip of mainland Florida, linked by the Overseas Highway, a road of about 125 miles that crosses more than 40 bridges. The most famous, the Seven Mile Bridge near Marathon, runs across open water so turquoise it seems to continue forever. The route passes through Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Big Pine Key before ending at Key West, with the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other.
The Keys are defined by their water. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, at Key Largo, was the first undersea park in the United States, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects the only living coral barrier reef in the continental country. Snorkelling and diving here put guests among parrotfish, sea fans and shipwrecks, while backcountry fishing charters head out into the shallow flats at dawn. Islamorada is known as a sport-fishing capital, with a laid-back, friendly seaside character.
Key West, Sunsets and Key Lime Pie
Key West is the southernmost point of the continental United States and a town of colourful conch-style houses, bougainvillea and distinctive character. Duval Street runs from the Gulf to the Atlantic, and Mallory Square holds a nightly sunset celebration of street performers, musicians and stalls. The Hemingway Home and Museum, where the writer lived in the 1930s, is famed for its six-toed cats, while the Southernmost Point buoy is the town's most photographed landmark. Fantasy Fest, held in October, is a flamboyant carnival of costumes and parades.
The Keys' cuisine is a celebration of the sea: conch fritters, fresh snapper, stone crab and the famous key lime pie, whose tart filling and graham crust are claimed by every café along the highway. Seventy miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is reached by ferry or seaplane and holds the great brick Fort Jefferson, ringed by coral and clear water. A tourist board has endless material here, and the Cayman Islands and Bahamas offer natural companions for guests who love reefs.
Read the full Florida Keys guide on Visit Travel Group, or see FloridaKeys.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.