Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Scuba divers, sports fishers and kayakers, among others, flock throughout the year to the Florida Keys’ carefully preserved expanses of nature reserve and marine sanctuary, with many choosing to spend their time in the easygoing tropical retreat on a houseboat. These flat-bottomed, fully loaded, floating cabins offer perhaps the best opportunity to see the area’s protected nature and wildlife up close, without having to sacrifice comfort.
The Florida Keys falls roughly into four sections, with Key Largo closest to the mainland, followed by Islamorada, Marathon and finally Key West. Visitors will find places to rent houseboats in each, with the caveat that a considerable influx of sunseekers heads down the Overseas Highway during vacation periods, meaning advanced booking is essential. However, "Conde Nast Traveller" calls the 150-mile, three-hour drive from Miami to Key West one of the great American road trips, with causeways lined by mangroves beneath wide open skies. The main marinas are at Marathon, such as the Sea Cove Resort, and Gilbert’s Resort, Key Largo, where Rent My Houseboat offers a fleet of boats with resort privileges included in the package. Houseboat Vacations in Islamorada, recommended by Frommer’s, even allows guests to stray a maximum of 20 miles from the Florida Bay shoreline.
Not only do the Florida Keys have an alluringly benign climate, with year-round temperatures averaging in the high 70s and low 80s, but houseboats also offer an idiosyncratic alternative to cookie-cutter condos. Rentals are surprisingly spacious and offer the chance to climb up onto a rooftop sun deck at sunset to enjoy the wildlife. Many houseboat renters come in search of water attractions, whether kayaking and paddleboarding among the mangroves, or heading out to the flats for some bonefishing. Few other types of accommodation offer the chance to watch manatees and dolphins frolic up close.
There is nothing cramped or cabin-like about the modern houseboat, but they do use every inch of space creatively, such as the obligatory rooftop sundeck. Key Largo Houseboat rentals, recommended by Visit Florida, has large so-called “Stress Relief” boats which offer 1,800 square feet of living area, and come equipped with washer, dryer, A/C, cable TV and Wi-Fi. These boats can sleep up to eight guests, while the smaller 40-foot houseboats sleep two to three. Since the boats are typically docked at a marina, power and water comes from the shore, so guests do not have to share the live-aboard’s traditional obsession with power consumption.
For all their laid-back “Conch Republic” charm, Key West and the Florida Keys are not really beach-lover’s destinations. Typically, the offshore landscape is restricted to rough coral islets, surrounded by translucent shallows. To rent a boat, you will need to be at least 21 and possess a valid driver’s license. Because of the intense concentration of visitors to the Keys, most resorts impose a minimum three-day stay, to encourage guests to remain a while in the area rather than whistle through for a weekend trip. Houseboats are more house than boat, too. Most are secured permanently or semipermanently to a dock, although some operators, such as KeySea, allow guests to take the boat out and explore Florida Bay. Check your rental's refund policy in event of a hurricane, a possibility between June 1 and November 30. Most properties will refund unused nights if an official evacuation is ordered.