Key Largo, Florida, is the mecca for divers looking for adventure off the shores of the United States. The largest of the famous Florida Keys at 33 miles long, Key Largo is the go-to place for fun in the sun, surf and sand. Arts and culture are also a big part of the experience of Key Largo, making it a well-rounded place for a family vacation.

 

The island of Key Largo is found between two national parks: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Everglades National Park. It the John Pennekamp state park that people flock to for underwater diving experiences along the only living barrier coral reef in the United States. In fact, the entire island is made of fossilized coral reef. Just over 10,000 people call Key Largo home, though thousands more tourists can be found there during peak vacation months in the spring and summer.

With its tropical climate virtually guaranteeing warm, sunny days and pleasant nights, Key Largo is a great destination for water sports. In addition to diving, Key Largo offers numerous outlets for boating, swimming, skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing and more. Many travelers choose to venture into the everglades for guided tours and discussions about ecology and preserving the wildlife found there, while still more go on dolphin encounters.

There are also many indoor activities to take part in while at Key Largo. In fact, a film starring Humphrey Bogart, aptly titled "Key Largo," was set there in the 1940s. The area remains a center for the arts and culture today, with dozens of museums and art galleries. View sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs and more from some of the top artists in the area as well as from across the country. Festivals featuring local artisans are frequently held at Key Largo, so planning a trip to coincide with such events is an added bonus.

With so many things to do in Key Largo it is no wonder the island just south of Florida's coastline is such a hot vacation spot for families, singles and couples. Plan a trip today and see everything this oasis in the Florida Keys has to offer.

Key West, Florida is located in Monroe County, Florida. This beautiful, tropical city can be reached by boat or bridge just 129 miles from the city of Miami. Key West is also located just 109 miles north of Havana, Cuba. Whether you are choosing to visit Key West, Florida for the beautiful beaches, water sports or cruise ships, there are many things to see and do here that all visitors will enjoy. Those traveling to the area may opt to fly into Key West International Airport. Lodging accommodations, dining and shopping are available all throughout the island.

In 1521, the explorer known as Juan Ponce de León was the first European to visit the area. Key West was first inhabited by the Spanish and still upholds major cultural Spanish sites today. After Great Britain took control over of Florida in 1763, the Spanish and Native American residents were moved to Havana, Cuba. Today, Key West is inhabited by a number of individuals of different cultures, making this city a truly blended area.

Key West, Florida is also known as a major military area. Home to the Key West Naval Air Station, Key West is also known to some as Gibraltar of the West. At NAS Key West, the Navy trains their pilots and has a recent active duty personnel of around 1,650. The Trumbo Annex is a docking station that is currently used by the United States Coast Guard. Because this city is located in a convenient area where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gulf of Mexico, military presence continues to be a major part of Key West.

Key West is a major travel destination for visitors from all over the world. Because Key West is the southernmost city in the United States, it is the ideal place to visit during nearly any time of the year. Here you can enjoy warm weather and beautiful ocean water. With the lowest average temperature of 70 degrees in mid-January, there is no wrong time to visit Key West. Hurricanes also very rarely hit the area. The rainiest months of the year are August and September, averaging at about 15 inches each month.

The Old Town of Key West, also known as the Key West Historic District, provides a wide variety of things for visitors to see and do. Major tourist attractions in the Old Town include Mallory Street Square, Fort Zachary Taylor and Duval Street.

What comes to mind when you think of traveling to Jupiter, Florida? Probably beaches! Located on Florida’s Treasure Coast, Jupiter offers a year-round temperate climate, breathtaking scenery, and many outdoor recreation opportunities. Visitors can spend the day shopping in nearby Palm Beach or trek through the swamps for a day of bird watching and up-close and personal turtle and alligator sightings. Located in Palm Beach County, Florida, Jupiter was originally incorporated in 1925. The town’s unique name is the result of a big misunderstanding. Originally named after the Hobe Indian tribe, an early mapmaker mistook the Spanish spelling of “Jobe” for “Jove.” Future mapmakers compounded the mistake, understanding Jove to be the Latin version of Jupiter, the Roman god of sun light, weather, and the sky, and the name “Jupiter” stuck.

Today Jupiter is generally known for its most notable landmark, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, originally built in 1860. Made of brick painted a striking red, the lighthouse is frequently used as the symbol of Jupiter. In addition to its popular lighthouse, Jupiter is also known as home to spring training facilities for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. Sporting events are also frequently held at the Palm Beach International Raceway. The town is also the site of the Burt Reynolds and friends Museum, which houses the Florida Film and Theater Institute, and offers tours of hundreds of Burt Reynolds artifacts and memorabilia.

What tourists and locals alike value most about Jupiter, Florida is its outdoor recreation opportunities. Bicycling, fishing, kayaking, and surfing all entice residents and visitors to the area’s beaches and state parks. Blowing Rocks Preserve, located along the Hobe Sound, features limestone beach side formations that often spout saltwater geysers as waves hit the beach. Rare local flora also abounds at this passive preserve. Canoe and kayaking adventures can be undertaken from Canoe Outfitters of Florida, located in Riverbend Park, which offers one-way canoe rentals down the scenic Loxahatchee River with return transportation. Outdoor enthusiasts can also set out from the Jupiter Outdoor Center, which offers bicycling, kayaking, and birding adventures. Another treat is a visit to the Marinelife Center of Juno Beach, which boasts one of the world’s most active sea turtle nesting sites. The Center offers education and aquarium exhibits open to the public as part of its mission to research and rehabilitated protected and endangered sea turtle species.