JOURNEY THROUGH THE FLORIDA KEYS

A Local's Guide to Travelling through and Enjoying Paradise

KEY LARGO - ISLAMORADA - MARATHON - BIG PINE & THE LOWER KEYS - KEY WEST

Now Entering- BIG PINE & THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS

Mile Markers: 40-6....the Seven-Mile Bridge to Key West.

Welcome to Big Pine and the Lower Florida Keys. First stop, Bahia Honda State Park (MM 36.8-O)- our favorite place to take out our camera phones and send photographs of palm trees and pelicans to our envious friends back home (Note- they don't seem to appreciate this much, especially the ones up north during the winter months). Just follow the park signs that you'll see while driving along US-1, and you will be led into one of the true gems of the Florida Keys.  At Bahia Honda State Park you will find calm, clear waters that are ideal from swimming, kayaking and snorkeling; and Sandspur Beach- annually voted one of the most beautiful beaches on the continent by the Travel Channel. Bahia Honda offers water-front camping at a number of tent and RV sites, as well as endless opportunities to enjoy nature (there are plants and flowers here that grow nowhere else in the world). Before you leave , don't forget to walk to the top of the old Bahia Honda Railroad Bridge and look out over the breathtaking Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters. In our opinion, there is no better view in all of the Florida Keys than here.

Immediately after crossing the Bahia Honda Bridge (MM 36), turn off to the right at MM 35-B and park in the gravel parking lot. Walk towards the water and you will find a deep lagoon referred to as the "Horseshoe." This off-the-beaten path dive and snorkel site is actually an old quarry where coral was dug out to use in the construction of the Bahia Honda Bridge. This is a great place to snorkel and SCUBA dive- especially on windy days, as it offers protection from choppy seas, and the water is always clear. An abundance of sea life, including parrotfish, barracuda, snapper, and small tropical fish can be found around the coral base of the Horseshoe, as well as lurking in the dark waters of the quarry's center.

Continuing on your journey you will enter Big Pine Key (MM 33-29), the second largest island of the Florida Keys; and home to the endangered and often hard-to-spot Key deer. Keep your eyes open for these little guys (they look just like whitetail deer, only smaller) as you drive through Big Pine. Often you will see them along the back roads or eating mangroves or thatch palm berries along the side of the road. Your best chance of seeing a Key deer is at the National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge. To get here, turn bayside at Key Deer Blvd (MM 30.2) and travel ¼ of a mile to the visitor center. Here you will find 9,200 acres of land set aside to protect and preserve the Key deer population. Ask at the visitor center where the prime Key deer viewing locations are located.

Past the Key Deer Refuge you will find another wonderful wildlife observation area. The Blue Hole, as it was dubbed for the blue hue of the water, is the only fresh water lake in the Florida Keys, and a great place to see alligators, snakes, iguanas, birds and a variety of other plants and animals. Since you're in the area, you might as well also follow the signs towards No Name Key- where you will find one of the Florida Keys best restaurant hideaways, the No Name Pub. This historic watering hole and food joint is a favorite of locals and tourists alike who come here for arguably one of the best slices of pizza pie in the Keys.

As you continue west along the Overseas Highway, you will pass a number of less- commercialized islands that offer solitude and relaxation. After crossing the North Pine Channel Bridge (MM 29.3) you will enter the Torch Keys (MM 29-28). On Little Torch Key you will find the ferry (MM 28.5-O) that takes you out to Little Palm Island, the luxury resort and spa that is home to a world-class fine-dining restaurant (you may have seen it featured on the Travel Channel). If you are looking for a romantic getaway and a private-island seaside dinner to remember, Little Key is the place for you- just remember to bring your wallet!

After the Torch Keys you will pass through Ramrod Key (MM 27.5-26), Summerland Key (MM 25.5-24), Cudjoe Key (MM 23-20.5) and the Sugarloaf Keys (MM 20.5-15). These Lower Keys offer tremendous deep sea charter fishing opportunities, and their proximity to backcountry islands makes them one of the best places in the Keys to target bonefish and permit. Request a charter fishing trip and we'll have a professional Lower Keys guide ready to hook you up with a trophy catch. While you're here, you may also want to check out the Perky bat tower at MM 17-B. In 1929, Richter Perky built the historic tower to rid Sugarloaf Key of its pesky mosquito problem. He imported bats into the Keys and hoped they would live in the tower and eat the island's mosquitoes. Instead, the bats immediately flew away and never returned (woops)! Now the tower stands as a popular piece of history and a reminder that we can't control nature.

Continuing down the road you will pass through the rest of the Lower Keys including the
Saddlebunch Keys (MM 15-11.5), Big Coppitt Key (MM 11-9.5), and Boca Chica Key (MM 8-6.5).

Now that you're here, you should know that Key deer were almost extinct in 1957, when populations dwindled to only about 27 deer (according to the National Key Deer Refuge). Today it is estimated the population has risen to over 800 Key deer which inhabit Big Pine a few of the other Lower Keys (they're strong swimmers and can swim between islands). Key deer are a subspecies of the Virginia white tail deer with bucks averaging 80-pounds, and does averaging around 65-pounds. The best time to spot a Key deer is early in the day or later in the evening.

Listed below are the Lower Keys attractions, restaurants and accommodations that "us locals" recommend to OUR FRIENDS. These are our unbiased opinions, and we're sharing them with you because we have good taste.

Our Favorite Things to Do in Big Pine & the Lower Florida Keys:

• Fish Bahia Honda Bridge during the spring tarpon run.
• Wade into the water or kayak to the Seven-Mile Bridge at Veteran's Memorial Park (MM 39.9-O).
• Spend a day, week, or month camping (why not?), camping and enjoying life at Bahia Honda State Park (MM 36.8).
• See endangered Key Deer at the National Key Deer Refuge (MM 30.2-B).
• Buy a home in paradise in the charming Lower Keys. Give Banks Prevatt a call!
  
• Search for the alligators at the Blue Hole.
• Have a slice of "pie" at the No Name Pub- if you can find it.
• Treat yourself to a meal and night to remember on Little Palm Island (MM 28.5-O).
• Play a round of putt-putt golf while enjoying an adult beverage at Boondocks (MM 27.5-B).
• Dive and Snorkel at Looe Key National Marine Preserve- where they hold the extremely unusual and always entertaining "underwater concert" (MM 27.5-O, Looe Key Dive Center).
• Head to the Bat Tower (MM 17-B) and question how such an idea could have possibly failed to rid the Keys of mosquitoes.

Where we Eat, Drink, and Enjoy:

• Rob's Island Grill (MM 31.2-B)
• Cracked Egg Café (MM 30.7-B)
• No Name Pub (MM 30.2-B, No Name Key)
• Little Palm Island (MM 28.5-O, via the ferry)
• Boondocks (MM 27.5-B)
• Square Grouper Bar & Grill (MM 22.5-O)
• Mangrove Mamas (MM 20-B)
• Baby's Coffee (MM 15-O)
• Geiger Key Pub & Grill (MM 10.5-O, via Boca Chica Rd.)

Where we "Sleep Off" the Margaritas and Key Lime Pie:

• Bahia Honda State Park (MM 36.8-O, camping)
• Big Pine Fishing Lodge (MM 33-O)
• Old Wooden Bridge Guest Cottages and Marina (MM 31-B)
• Little Palm Island (MM 28.5-O, if you have the $$$)
• Parmer's Resort (MM 28.5-B)

Other Marathon Mile Markers to note:

• MM 31-O Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce
• MM 30-O Big Pine Post Office
• MM 26 Niles Channel Bridge
• MM 24-O Summerland Key Post Office
• MM 20-O KOA Campground
• MM 10.5-O Geiger Key Marina

Continue to Key West