Visit the Ernest Hemingway Museum or Key West Aquarium in the so-called Conch Republic, which declared its independence in 1982. You can also go on a ghost tour of haunted homes in Old Town or attend special events such as fishing tournaments, festivals or conventions. Enjoy the water by going fishing, scuba diving or snorkeling at wrecks and reefs. Take your catch to a local restaurant and ask the chef to cook it for you for a small fee. Catch a glimpse of Cuba, which is only 90 miles across the Atlantic from the most southern point of Key West, and have some night-time fun at local bars and clubs.
Relax at the natural preserve Bahia Honda State Park, or at any of the other beautiful beaches in the Lower Florida Keys, far away from any malls or shopping. Look for endangered species such as the Key Deer or American crocodile, but keep your distance since Florida State law prohibits feeding or harming these animals. You can also take diving and snorkeling trips at Looe Key Marine Sanctuary or check out the strange landmark Bat Tower at Sugarloaf Key. End the day with a drink at a local tiki bar or fine dining.
Swim with Bottlenose Dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center at Grassy Key in the middle and heart of the Florida Keys island chain. You can also go fishing, kayaking, diving, shopping, take an eco-tour or participate in the annual Seven Mile Bridge Run across the Seven Mile Bridge that connects Marathon to the lower keys. Take a break from the action by relaxing on the beach.
Take a short drive from Miami and mainland Florida to test your skills at a fishing tournament on the "purple isles" of Islamorada, which is considered to be the "Sportfishing Capital of the World." Keep yourself busy with shopping and water sports, including kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing and boating. You can also relax on a beach, sunset cruise or at your hotel's pool. Bring your catch of the day to a local restaurant to have the chef prepare it for you or enjoy the freshest seafood caught by local fishermen.
Discover the underwater world of the only living reef in the continental United States at John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park in the Upper Keys, which is only a short distance from Miami at the head of the Florida Keys island chain. You can also visit the national park and the national marine sanctuary or enjoy water sports such as diving, parasailing, watercraft rentals and sailing. Visit a beach on a different Florida Key island further south as Key Largo is mostly unsettled, protected and void of sand beaches. Stay clear of the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge since it is closed to the public.
