Insider's Guide

Nicole Navarro, the executive director of Key Largo fox rescue Pawsitive Beginnings, which also serves as an educational and healing organization for humans, didn't plan to become a fox rescuer. She didn't plan to create a nonprofit or launch a social media presence that would introduce hundreds of thousands of people around the world to the Florida Keys, or to build a therapeutic program that brings abused women and traumatized children face-to-face with animals who understand survival. Most of it, she'll tell you, just happened. One unexpected connection at a time. The thread that would eventually lead Navarro to fox rescue began with Hurricane Irma in 2017. After the storm she reached out to Jeanne Selander who runs the Monroe County Sheriff’s Animal Farm at the county jail to find out if she needed help and the answer was, “yes.”

Discover offshore fishing, backcountry charters, snorkeling, lobstering, museums, parks and family attractions throughout The Florida Keys when sargassum is present.

Enjoy every sunny moment in The Florida Keys by staying hydrated, wearing sun protection and taking refreshing breaks in the shade or indoors. Paying attention to how you feel can help you stay comfortable and energized throughout the day. By pacing yourself and knowing when to cool down or seek help, you can safely make the most of every outdoor adventure.

Discover the Florida Keys through first-time family moments made for every age. This guide follows families from Key Largo to Key West with easy wildlife encounters, hands-on marine life experiences, beginner-friendly snorkeling, calm backcountry adventures, kid-friendly fishing ideas and casual places to eat along the way. Highlights include feeding tarpon at Robbie’s in Islamorada, posing with Betsy the Lobster, exploring John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, meeting rescued sea turtles at The Turtle Hospital, visiting Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, watching the sunset at Mallory Square and finding relaxed family dining throughout the island chain.

The Florida Keys are packed with photo-ready scenes, from underwater icons to colorful roadside legends. Visitors can snap unforgettable shots at Christ of the Deep, Robbie’s tarpon feeding, Alligator Reef Lighthouse, Betsy the Lobster, Rain Barrel Village, Seven Mile Bridge, Southernmost Point Buoy, Bahia Honda State Park, Dry Tortugas National Park and the Old Seven Mile Bridge to Pigeon Key. It is a camera-roll dream with clear water, quirky charm and only-in-the-Keys views.

Dive into Florida Keys lobster mini season, then turn your fresh lobster into dinner at cook-your-catch restaurants from Key Largo to Key West. Wherever you start and wherever you dock, lobster mini season is about more than the catch. It is about early mornings, careful measuring, reef-friendly diving, boat-day laughs, and the joy of eating something you worked for. Catch it right, bring it in proud, and let the Florida Keys turn your day on the water into a meal worth remembering.

Sandbar Sunday in The Florida Keys is part boat day, part beach party and all-around good vibes. Think shallow turquoise water, sunny skies, floating with friends, music in the breeze and maybe even food boats nearby on the right day. Pack the basics, play it safe and keep the Keys clean. No boat? No problem. Local charter options in the Florida Keys directory can help visitors enjoy sandbars, snorkeling, reefs and sunset views without having to captain the trip themselves.

Valentine Thomas knows spearfishing, salty stories and why The Florida Keys are worth protecting. But she did not exactly take the expected route to becoming one of the world’s most recognizable spearfishers.

The Florida Keys are basically one long, sunny invitation to put on fins and go look at something amazing underwater. Reefs? Yes. Wrecks? Plenty. Colorful fish acting like they own the place? Absolutely.

America is celebrating 250 years of history, community, and service. In the Florida Keys, we’re honoring the milestone with a simple challenge that brings people together.