8 Great Spots to Visit in the Florida Keys

These fun spots to visit in the Florida Keys include local favorite Florida Keys beaches, tips to find key lime pies, fantastic Florida hidden gems, and other fun Florida Keys attractions.

The Florida Keys has thousands of fun places to explore and discover but only eight places are included in this US Gulf Coast Travel guide of places to visit in the Florida Keys. We provide this starter list of cool, fun, and happy Florida Keys stops so that you can discover your own Florida funness and your next Keys vacation.

8 Great Spots to Visit in the Florida Keys

Where is Florida Keys located?

The Florida Keys comprise more than 1,000 islands at the southern end of Florida and stretches to within 90 miles of Cuba. The magnificent Overseas Highway connects dozens of those Florida Keys islands, crossing 42 bridges and running 113 miles long all the way to mile 0 at Key West.

This custom Florida Keys map is marked with places mentioned in this article.

Where is The Conch Republic? See details in our Key West Tips article.

Card Sound Road

McCool Travel tip: Card Sound Road is one of my favorite Florida secret spots.

Most people drive onto the Florida Keys on highway US 1, a nice drive though the southern Everglades before reaching Key Largo. Card Sound Road is an alternate road—on the drive from Miami to Key West, drive Card Sound Road in one direction and US 1 in the other.

Entry points to Card Sound Road from US 1 are in Florida City (just south of the Last Chance Saloon) and in Key Largo near Mile Marker (MM) 106. From the north, Card Sound Road (aka Old Dixie Highway) passes by Alabama Jack’s (an “Old Florida” joint that always has at least one motorcycle out front) before a toll bridge (SunPass suggested) offering exceptional views—especially at sunrise and sunset.

Card Sound Road dead ends at county road 905. Turn right and continue into North Key Largo through Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and along the pristine hammock natural areas of Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, before rejoining US 1 near John Pennekamp State Park.

For more Florida road trip suggestions: Florida Scenic Drives

Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in Key Largo

At MM 99.4 Bayside (Mile Marker 99.4, bayside is on your right when driving toward Key West). Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen is a fantastic “welcome to the Florida Keys” first stop. It is Florida Keys kitschy, with license plates and money from around the world decorating the walls.

Mrs. Mac’s is rated one of the top Key Largo restaurants, and there is usually a near-even split of locals and visitors. All menu items are tempting but I usually order a daily special, which is typically a freshly caught seafood entree. Mrs. Mac’s key lime freeze is my personal milestone that I am officially in the Florida Keys.

McCool Travel Tip: check Mrs. Mac’s website for coupons. If you park behind Mrs. Mac’s you will find this scene:

humorous shark sculpture with leg in its mount in Florida Keys
places to visit in the Florida Keys: Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in Key Largo, Florida Keys

McCool Travel trivia: Key Largo was called Rock Harbor and renamed itself after the famous movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

McCool Travel tip: visit Harry Harris County Park near MM 92, which is where the village of Planter was located from 1866 until the railroad was built (around 1912).

Fun Florida Keys Beaches

Interestingly, beaches are not a main drawing card—the offshore barrier tropical reef prevents beaches from forming—but here are some of the best Florida Keys beaches.

mangrove island at Anne's Beach in Florida Keys
Anne’s Beach is a local favorite Florida Keys beach

Anne’s Beach (MM 73) is a nice pit stop on a drive from Miami to Key West; it has a boardwalk and easy wading. Sombrero Beach (MM 50) is a spectacular white sand beach. Bahia Honda State Park (MM 37) beach was selected as the best beach in the United States by Dr. Beach (1992).

palm trees on sandy Florida Keys beach
Sombrero Beach is the best beach in Florida Keys

McCool Travel tip: Bahia Honda is an exceptional place to camp but watch out for the raccoons (personal experience!).

For fun things to see on Florida road trips, see these Florida Road Trip Sights.

Turtle Hospital

Florida Keys beaches are partially closed in the summer to protect sea turtle nests. A hospital dedicated to rescuing and rehabbing sea turtles is The Turtle Hospital located near MM 48.5. See our article about The Turtle Hospital.

The lobby has informative (and emotional) displays and stories, including one of a deathly sick turtle that swam right up to the hospital. The lobby displays are free but they have a popular 90-minute tour (reservations strongly recommended). Visiting The Turtle Hospital is definitely one of the best unique things to do in the Florida Keys.

You might see sea turtles from your kayak or SUP tour with Lazy Dog Adventures.

Also see our favorite Favorite Secret Hidden Gems

Lobster Statue

Betsy, the world’s largest lobster, is one of the most unique things to do in the Florida Keys. The huge lobster statue is located at The Rain Barrel Artisan Village. Yes, Betsy looks different than Maine lobsters. Lobsters in Florida’s waters are spiny and also called Caribbean spiny lobsters.

Nearby is the Hurricane Monument (MM 81.5), memorializing the devastating 1935 hurricane (unnamed) which killed over 420 people and had the lowest barometric pressure ever recorded (on the Atlantic side of the world).

largest lobster statue in the world
Betsy the world’s largest lobster

For a great place to drink in the Florida Keys, see our article about Florida Keys Brewing Company

Seven Mile Bridge

Perhaps the most famous spot along the 100 mile drive to Key West, Seven Mile Bridge (MM 47) is a wonderful stop. Oh yeah, the high point on the bridge is the highest spot in the Florida Keys (65 feet above sea level). Many years ago, on a drive to Bahia Honda, we were involuntarily stopped at the north end of the bridge while a crew was filming True Lies.

water level view of Seven Mile Bridge in Florida Keys
Seven Mile Bridge is one of the best spots to visit in the Florida Keys

On one trip, I walked 1.5 miles out and then back on Old Seven Mile Bridge (toward historic Pigeon Key). During the walk, I saw a giant sea turtle, rays leaping out of the water, and one shark. I read that this is a prime spot for star gazing.

Big Pine Key and No Name Key

Big Pine Key and No Name Key, near MM 30, are home to unique and endangered animal species including the cute, dog-sized Key deer. Drive SLOWLY along the roads of the two islands and hopefully glimpse the little deer. When driving along Key Deer Blvd, the Blue Hole is a nice stop.

The Blue Hole, an old stone quarry filled with fresh water, houses the only alligators in the Keys. Gators live in fresh water while crocodiles live in salt water—but South Florida is the only place in the world where they can be found together in nature.

We saw one small alligator on our recent visit but read the sad story about Bacardi (a 9 foot alligator died from a little plastic toy). Please do not ever feed any wild animal—EVER (or accidentally drop things into their homes).

No Name Key sign
No Name Key is a fun spot to visit in the Florida Keys

For fun things to do in Key West, see: 8 Great Key West Tips

Try the Best Key Lime Pie and Other Key Lime Products

Key Lime Products is a store with two locations. One site is at MM 95.2 bayside while driving toward Key West. The other is at MM 92.5 oceanside, on the right side when driving back to mainland Florida.

This is a nice final stop when leaving the Florida Keys to stock up on key lime and tropical goodies. I have bought a whole pie here on my last two trips—and slices for immediate gratification!

McCool Travel note: Key Lime Products is currently showing as temporarily closed. Let me know if you drive by and see if permanently closed or not.

Another good stop is the Midway Cafe at MM 80.5, a nice coffee and sandwich shop with key lime pie and treats.

McCool Travel tip: one best key lime pie I have had on recent Key West trips was from the Sippin’ Coffee House on Eaton Street in Key West.

For two other amazing Florida key lime pie recommendations, please see Florida Restaurant Recommendations and Gulf Coast Restaurants and US Gulf Coast Dessert Trail.

For fun Florida Christmas decorations, see Fun Tropical Christmas Decorations.

Do you have any favorite spots to visit in the Florida Keys?

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8 great spots to visit in the Florida Keys (the Conch Republic), with pictures and descriptions. Some of these Florida Keys destinations are local faves.

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