Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys’ Hidden Gems
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Get Off the Beaten Path in the Lower Keys
The Lower Keys offer a more relaxed and remote island experience compared to the bustling crowds and resorts of Key West. While the Middle and Upper Keys attract most tourists zooming down to Southernmost Point, the less-explored Lower Keys hide plenty of natural beauty and old-school charm worth discovering.
Venturing down to the Lower Keys allows you to immerse yourself in the subtropical paradise the islands are known for, away from the cruise ship crowds. Here you’ll find sparsely populated islands dotted with mangrove forests, clear coastal waters, and laid-back communities unchanged over decades. It's easy to slip into island time down here.
Start your off-the-beaten-path adventure in Big Pine Key. This long, skinny island is home to the National Key Deer Refuge, sheltering the endangered miniature Key deer. Hiking and biking trails wind through pine rockland forests and wetland areas where you may spot these tiny deer in their natural habitat. The Blue Hole is another must-visit - this former limestone quarry turned into a crystal clear freshwater pool surrounded by nature.
Nearby No Name Key lives up to its humble name. This one-road island has no visitor attractions, just a small residential community. But you can walk or bike along the quiet road and appreciate the island pace of life. Visit the No Name Pub, a rustic, taxidermy-filled institution dating back to 1936. Order some fresh seafood and chat with the local characters bellied up to the bar.
On Big Torch Key, visit the Florida Keys History of Diving Museum to learn about the region’s fascinating relationship with the ocean. See salvaged artifacts from shipwrecks and pioneering diving gear from the 1930s. They also showcase the history of sponge diving, once a major local industry.
Bahia Honda State Park has the Keys’ most picturesque beaches, with their white sands and emerald waters looking more Bahamas than Florida. Wade out along Sandspur Beach, where shallow waters create a natural wading pool. Or take the path to the historic Bahia Honda Bridge for panoramic views. Escape the crowds by hiking the Silver Palm Trail through a shaded hammock forest.
The Lower Keys allow you to experience authentic local flavors away from the mainstream tourist options. Stop at farm stands like Burton Memorial Methodist Church for tropical fruits and veggies grown in the islands. Try conch cooked every which way at laid-back waterfront restaurants in Marathon. Food trucks also proliferate down here, serving tacos, fresh seafood dishes, and Cuban specialties.
What else is in this post?
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Get Off the Beaten Path in the Lower Keys
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Paddle Through a Mangrove Paradise
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Explore the Underwater World by Snorkeling or Scuba Diving
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Discover Key West's Hidden Historic Gems
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Savor Fresh Island Cuisine and Tropical Cocktails
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Camp Under the Stars on Secluded Beaches
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - See the Keys From the Water on a Kayak EcoTour
- Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Unwind at a Charming Boutique Hotel Away From the Crowds
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Paddle Through a Mangrove Paradise
The mangrove forests of the Lower Keys offer a uniquely Floridian paddling experience. These shaded, salty wonderlands feel worlds away from the sun-baked beaches and coral reefs also found in the islands. Gliding through the gnarled mangrove tunnels in a kayak allows you to immerse yourself in this vital ecosystem up close.
Mangroves thrive in the intersection of land and sea across the tropics. These remarkable trees adapt to their salty, soggy environs thanks to aerial prop roots that provide oxygen. Mangrove forests protect coastlines from erosion and storms while also filtering runoff. They provide breeding and nursing grounds for fish, shellfish, and birds.
Many preserves in the Lower Keys allow you to paddle through these lush mangrove forests. Key West Wildlife Refuge offers several launch points to explore its mix of mangrove wetlands and shallow lagoons. Here you may spot the endangered Key Largo woodrat or the colorful mangrove cuckoo bird. Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge spans 200,000 acres of isolated islands only accessible by boat. Paddling through a maze of red, black, and white mangroves is the best way to observe herons, egrets, pelicans and other birdlife.
No paddling experience is necessary to appreciate this exotic landscape. Guided tours make navigating the tangled mangrove channels easy, while knowledgeable guides point out wildlife and share the ecology. Captain Pip's Adventure Charters offers 4-hour trips through the mangroves and lagoons surrounding Big Pine Key. You’ll paddle under a lush mangrove canopy and have opportunities to beach the kayak and swim. Keys Adventures leads small groups on custom eco-tours to encounter birds, fish, invertebrates and more up-close.
Paddling yourself allows you to immerse at your own pace. Several outfitters in the Middle and Lower Keys offer kayak rentals and launching options. Big Pine Kayak Adventures provides sit-on-top kayaks perfect for beginners. Launch from their beach on Big Pine Key to explore the mangrove forests of the Looe Key reef system. You’re likely to encounter sea turtles, rays and other marine life in the clear waters. Play Bouy Charters based on Boca Chica Key offers kayak rentals and transport to secluded islands with mangrove forest trails.
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Explore the Underwater World by Snorkeling or Scuba Diving
The turquoise waters surrounding the Florida Keys invite you to discover a magical underwater world just below the surface. Thanks to the only living coral reef in the continental US, the marine environments of the Keys teem with tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and other marine life. Both snorkeling and scuba diving allow you to encounter these aquatic wonders up close.
Snorkeling provides an accessible, family-friendly way to explore the Keys' reefs and wrecks. Just about anyone can swim along the surface while breathing through a snorkel tube. Numerous snorkeling sites dot the islands, ranging from shallow coral gardens perfect for beginners to deeper wrecks for more advanced adventures. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park offers some of the best snorkeling directly from its beaches – look for angelfish, parrotfish, and other dazzling species. Off Big Pine Key, Looe Key’s coral reefs shelter reef fish, sharks, and rays in clear waters perfect for snorkeling right from an inflatable boat. Several wreck sites near Key West like the Vandenberg and Eagle also provide awesome snorkeling opportunities.
Scuba diving takes you even deeper into the underwater realm for more immersive encounters. Diving along the reefs here reveals colorful sponges, swaying sea fans and extensive coral formations up to 15 feet high. Meandering through underwater shipwrecks draped in coral growth feels like entering an alien world. Advanced divers can plunge 100 feet down to the Duane shipwreck near Key Largo. Off Key West, the massive 523-foot Vandenberg wreck sunk as an artificial reef plunges to 135 feet. Night dives reveal entirely different creatures like octopus, lobster and sharks that emerge after dark.
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Discover Key West's Hidden Historic Gems
Beyond the rowdy Duval Street scene, Key West hides a wealth of historic and cultural attractions that offer a window into the island’s past. Wandering through these preserved neighborhoods, homes, and landmarks allows you to uncover fascinating stories and appreciate the Keys’ heritage.
Just a short walk from downtown, the Key West Historic Seaport transports you back to the 1800s when the island was a bustling port city. The restored wharves, warehouses, and harbors harken back to an era when shipbuilding and salvaging drove the local economy. Stroll along the waterfront to experience the hustle and salty air of old Key West. Climb aboard authentic sailboats and steamships to imagine life at sea centuries ago. Chat with reenactors demonstrating 19th-century trades like shipwrighting and cooking in period costume.
Continue your journey into the past in the neighboring Bahama Village neighborhood. Settled by African refugees and Cuban immigrants in the 1800s, it became an important local Black community. Today Bahama Village still exudes a different rhythm and culture from the rest of the island. Pop into quaint shotgun houses and conch-style cottages to appreciate this unique architectural style. absorb the neighborhood's proud history at the African Cemetery and Ebenezer A.M.E. Church.
For an immersive experience, book a stay at the Marquesa Hotel housed in a converted 1884 manor. This elegant property drips with period details like imported antique furnishings and original tilework. Even the service channels the genteel pace of the Gilded Age. Sip tea or cocktails in the plush lobby amidst Victorian grandeur before retiring to your richly-appointed room. With no phones or TVs, it’s easy to lose yourself in the ambiance.
Key West’s iconic pastel-hued cottages also offer glimpses into island history. Two grand dames worth visiting are the Audubon House and Oldest House. The Audubon House stands as an homage to the famous painter John James Audubon who visited in 1832. He set up a studio here to work on his Birds of America series. Museum exhibits showcase his work alongside period furnishings. Nearby on Greene Street, the Oldest House dates back to 1829. Today it stands as the oldest surviving wooden home in South Florida. Costumed docents share tales of its various residents, from Bahamian wreckers to Cuban cigar magnates.
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Savor Fresh Island Cuisine and Tropical Cocktails
The Florida Keys are a tropical paradise, so it’s no surprise that fresh island cuisine and cocktails help complete the experience. The sun-soaked atmosphere puts you in the mood to try all the flavors this subtropical island chain has to offer. From locally caught seafood to tropical fruits, the Keys deliver some of Florida’s most delicious and memorable meals.
Seafood rules the menus here, just as you’d expect for islands surrounded by warm coastal waters teeming with fish. Classics like grilled and blackened mahi-mahi, snapper and grouper arrive fresh off the boat. Tropical rock shrimp pop up in salads, tacos and beyond. And no trip to the Keys is complete without sampling conch, preferably conch fritters or conch chowder. Don't miss trying Florida spiny lobster when in season, served broiled with drawn butter or wrapped in a taco. Oftentimes you'll be eating dockside while your dinner swims beneath you.
The cuisine showcases flavors from the islands’ Caribbean roots as well. Jerk spices liven up chicken and pork dishes with their warm heat. Tropical fruits like guava and papaya find their way into salsas, chutneys and cocktails. And the Cuban heritage of many Keys communities emerges in meals of roast pork, black beans and rice, and sweet plantains. Food trucks create fast fusion by wrapping fresh seafood in Cuban sandwiches or tacos.
Al fresco dining reigns supreme, be it at a picnic table dockside or under swaying palms on the beach. Low-key waterfront shacks serve the tastiest blackened fish sandwiches, while flip flop-friendly tiki bars Dish up bounties of peel-and-eat shrimp. Relaxed open-air restaurants let the sea breeze flow through as you dine. Watching the sunset with a cocktail or local craft beer completes the quintessential Keys dining experience.
Speaking of cocktails, the Keys offer plenty of opportunities to get your tropical drink on. Classics like Piña Coladas, Mai Tais and Rum Runners pair perfectly with the island atmosphere. Variations using local rums like Key West’s Papa Dobles rule happy hour. And you can’t visit the Keys without trying a frozen cocktail, with flavors like mango, coconut and key lime pie.
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Camp Under the Stars on Secluded Beaches
Trade the resort chaos for the sound of lapping waves and rustling palms on the secluded beaches of the Lower Keys. While the Upper Keys and Key West attract crowds, the less-developed islands down south offer plenty of peaceful spots to pitch your tent and unwind. Fall asleep to the hypnotic rumble of the sea and awake to fiery sunrises without another soul in sight.
The sparsely populated Lower Keys provide many options to camp oceanside while still having access to facilities. Bahia Honda State Park boasts two sandy beaches with tranquil camping. Set up beside the clear waters of Sandspur Beach, where you can wade right from your tent. Or choose the more secluded Loggerhead Beach surrounded by sea grape trees. Enjoy campground amenities like restrooms, water and grills but still feel a world away. Nearby Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge lets you camp alongside the serene waters of the Atlantic. Their campground has electrical and water hookups right on the beach.
For an even more remote experience, reserve one of the beach camping sites through the National Key Deer Refuge. You'll boat into a deserted island and have a mile-long sandy beach to yourself. These 10 sites at Eastern Watson, Little Rabbit and Howe Keys sit along the Gulf of Mexico looking out at sunsets. A short trail leads you to restrooms, with everything else self-sufficient. Enjoy360 degrees of uninterrupted sea and sky from your tent door.
While backcountry beach camping immerses you in nature, certain compromises come with the territory. Accessing sites by boat means packing light and planning ahead. Bring only essential camping gear, water and non-perishable food you can carry over land and sea. Sun shelter is also key in the tropics – pack a beach umbrella along with hats, reef-safe sunscreen and coverups. Insect repellent helps keep mosquitoes and no-see-ums from ruining the romance. Make sure equipment like tents, bags and boats are fully dry before packing to prevent mold in the humidity.
Leave No Trace principles become even more important when visiting sensitive and isolated places. Follow camping regulations, avoid damaging vegetation and do not leave waste of any kind behind. Be conscious of nesting shorebirds and do not approach or feed wildlife. Let nature’s soundtrack sing by keeping noise to a minimum. Follow any posted rules, especially seasonal closures during bird and turtle nesting periods. Choosing designated sites rather than ad hoc camping minimizes your footprint.
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - See the Keys From the Water on a Kayak EcoTour
Gliding through the emerald waters of the Keys by kayak allows you to connect intimately with the marine environment in a way no other mode of transport can. Paddling yourself around breathtaking islands and flats immerses you in the rhythms of the sea. Kayaks grant access to remote mangrove tunnels, secluded beaches, and shallow flats where larger boats can’t go. Guides ensure you don’t miss any of the natural wonders while sharing ecology and history. Whether opting for a relaxing guided tour or paddling off on your own, seeing the Keys by kayak promises rewarding eco-adventures.
Kayak eco-tours with knowledgeable locals at the helm open your eyes to the diversity of Keys habitats. Captain Pip’s Adventure Charters leads small groups on naturalist-guided kayaking through the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. Winding through tangled mangrove tunnels, you’ll learn about these vital coastal forests from someone who knows them intimately. Paddling out to isolated flats, your guide will point out birds like roseate spoonbills while sharing the importance of the ecosystem. Food Chain Tours combines kayaking through a mangrove labyrinth with snorkeling a grassy flats nursery to witness connections. Owner Bill Keogh’s scientist perspective illuminates how habitats and species rely on each other.
Going solo by kayak lets you explore the marine environments at your own pace. Paddling through mangrove trails, you may spot snoozing nurse sharks camouflaged by gnarled roots. At Indian Key Historic State Park only reachable by boat, lush foliage and moss-draped ruins rise from the turquoise waters. Here you can beach your kayak and wander the island. Gliding across glassy basins fringed by the Lower Keys, watch for foraging birds like pelicans and cormorants. Let curiosity guide you while respecting nature and others on the water.
Island Time: Embark on a Tropical Escape to the Florida Keys' Hidden Gems - Unwind at a Charming Boutique Hotel Away From the Crowds
Trade the crowded chain hotels and resorts for an intimate stay at one of the Lower Keys charming boutique inns. Here cozy rooms, personalized service, and laid-back luxury set the scene for a relaxing tropical escape. While Key West lodging skews towards raucous and generic, the Lower Keys hide peaceful adults-only escapes blending modern comforts with Old Florida soul.
Unplug in the laid-back luxury of Deer Run Bed & Breakfast an adults-only retreat on Big Pine Key. Spacious rooms with four-poster beds and wicker furniture channel a breezy Key West aesthetic. Savor complimentary breakfasts on the veranda overlooking lush gardens where Key deer roam. End the day on a high note mingling with fellow guests during the nightly Winedown Hour. Nearby Parmer's Resort embodies the Keys' kick-back attitude with its cluster of tropically colored beach cottages. Guests stay steps from the bay in soothing digs with full kitchens and cozy furnishings.
On Big Torch Key, Le Domaine Bahia Domaine welcomes you into its quietude with lush gardens and Keys-style cottages. Living areas flow seamlessly to private outdoor spaces with comfy seating and soothing water features. Their Bayside Restaurant delivers some of the freshest and most creative seafood dishes in the Lower keys. Unwind after dinner in the intimate Spa La Mer with pampering massages and healing sea algae wraps.
Kona Kai Resort provides an intimate hideaway in the heart of Marathon. Spread across 13 acres, the Polynesian style bungalows and beach house exude tropical tranquility with Balinese furnishings and local art. Outside your door, lounge beside the heated pool or stroll to Sombrero Beach. Dine beachside on creative farm-and-sea-to-table cuisine made from local produce and catch.
Islander Resort claims a prime oceanside location brimming with old-school charm. Its collection of cottages and suites overlooks a private sandy beach on the Atlantic. Spend lazy days lounging in Adirondack chairs along the shore before cooling off in the vintage 1950s pool. Enjoy bocce ball, ping pong, and cornhole on the palm-shaded lawns. In the evening, pull up an embroidered rocking chair to join fellow guests for a cocktail beside the central fire pit.