Beaches in Key West aren’t the best. If you want a great beach trip, you might consider going somewhere else in Florida. But, there are a few good beaches in Key West. They’re not great, but they’re worth visiting if you have realistic expectations. Here are all of the beaches in Key West, along with…
Fantasy Fest is an annual event in Key West, held in the last week of October. Overall, the event is a wild, quirky, 10-day adult-themed costume party for grown-ups. The event has been held since 1979. Fantasy Fest is known for its eclectic spirit of creative expression, suggestive and risque costumes, body painting and adult…
The Nixon Sandbar is a popular sandbar near Miami, on Key Biscayne. The sandbar is an extremely popular hangout for boaters near Miami and surrounding areas. On busy weekends and holidays many dozens, or even hundreds of boats gather, anchor, raft up and party. The Nixon Sandbar is also known as Nixon Beach, and the Nixon…
Mosquito Bank is located in the upper Keys near Key Largo. It is just offshore of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The Mosquito Bank covers a relatively large area, and includes several sandbars and shallow areas. One part of the Mosquito Bank has a lighted navigational beacon. Note: Please be careful not to damage…
Picnic Island is a small, undeveloped island and sandbar in the lower Florida Keys. Location Picnic Island is located in the Newfound Harbor Channel, south of Little Torch Key and southeast of Ramrod Key. It is less than a mile northeast of the Little Palm Island Resort. Water around Picnic Island is shallow. Depths around…
There are several popular sandbars in Marathon. Each sandbar is unique and has its own vibe. The “feel” of the sandbars change dramatically based on other visitors who happen to be at the sandbar. Like all sandbars in Florida, some of the more popular sandbars around Marathon become extremely crowded on weekends. Hundreds of boats…
The Islamorada sandbar is a shallow stretch of white sand, just offshore of Islamorada in the Florida Keys. The Islamorada sandbar is an extremely popular place for boats to anchor and swim in the crystal clear water. Gatherings on the sandbar can be calm and relaxing, or wild parties, depending on the day and the…
Boca Grande is a small, uninhabited island in the Florida Keys. Boca Grande Key is an extremely popular boating destination for people who live in Key West, and for visitors who visit the island with sandbar tours and captained boat charters. Note: Boca Grande Key should not be confused with the small residential community of…
The Content Keys are a group of small islands in the lower Florida Keys backcountry, near the Gulf of Mexico. The entire region is famous for its beautiful clear water, abundant wildlife and fine, sugar-white sand. It is renowned for having some of the best sandbars in Florida. Note: The Content Keys are located in…
Sandbars in Key West are hidden gems. The sand is like white sugar. The water is crystal clear. When you’re all alone on a sandbar there isn’t any noise, except for the sound of the water. They’re like private desert islands. You can often see fun and exciting marine life on sandbars, including dolphins, sharks,…
Sea urchins are found in all of Florida’s coastal waters, including the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Sea urchins are echinoderms, and are part of the class Echinoidea. Habitat and Behavior Sea urchins are very versatile, and can be found in all of the world’s oceans. Sea urchins typically live on…
Florida’s Overseas Highway is a world-famous scenic highway. It consists of 42 bridges which connect the Florida Keys to the Florida mainland. It’s currently the only way to reach Key West via land. The only other ways to reach Key West are by high-speed ferry, or by flying into the Key West Airport (EYW). The…
Florida Bay is one of the most important waters in Florida. It’s located south of the Florida Everglades and Everglades National Park. On the west, Florida Bay is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico. To the East and south, it is bordered by Islamorada, Key Largo and the Florida Keys. Florida Bay covers more than…
Seagrass is extremely important for the health of Florida’s marine ecosystems. Seagrass are actually flowering plants which live underwater in marine and estuary waters. Seagrasses are found throughout Florida, and are most abundant in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, the Everglades and in Florida Bay. Seagrasses also thrive throughout the Florida Keys, and in the…
Boaters can have serious, negative impacts on Florida’s waterways! As the population of south Florida and the Florida Keys grows, boater’s impact on the marine environment will become an increasingly serious problem to manage. Many boaters run aground every year and damage the fragile seagrass in Florida Bay and throughout Florida. Damage is especially intense…
Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) are one of the most beloved birds in Florida, and are an iconic symbol of Florida Bay! Birders and researchers from around the world visit Florida for the chance to see Roseate Spoonbills. Overview Roseate Spoonbills are members of the Ibis family. They hunt, forage and socialize together and often live…
Mangroves are an essential part of Florida’s natural environment. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida has an estimated 469,000 acres of mangrove forests throughout the state. This is a very good thing because mangroves are essential to Florida’s environmental health, and to the survival of the state. Where are mangroves located in…
Key Largo is both an island and a community in the Florida Keys. The island of Key Largo is approximately 30 miles long and approximately 1-2.5 miles wide. It is a relatively small island by any normal standard, but it is the largest island in the Florida Keys. Key Largo is classified as part of…
Islamorada is a small village and group of islands in the Florida Keys. Islamorada is located in the upper Keys, and is roughly halfway between Miami and Key West. The village includes approximately 7 square miles of land area. The official boundaries extend from Channel Two Bridge near mile marker 72.5 to the Tavernier Creek…
Many people dream about camping in the Florida Keys. They imagine white sandy beaches, Caribbean blue water and easy living. They dream that camping is an easy, cheap alternative to hotels and expensive vacation rentals. Maybe even find some free camping on a beach? That all sounds great, right? It does sound great! But, sadly,…