Spending a week or two at the Florida Key is worthwhile because of its pristine shoreline, azure blue oceans, dancing palms, and lush vegetation. The name "Keys" was derived from the Spanish term "cayo," which signifies a "small island" created on a coral reef's surface. The Florida Reef runs between mainland Florida through Key West and then to the Dry Tortugas, forming the keys. Furthermore, starting at Biscayne National Park, the reef is part of the world's third-largest coral barrier reef system. Therefore, an ultimate trip to the Florida Keys is much more fun while road tripping along with the small keys. To know further, provided below is the itinerary for an ultimate trip to the tropical Florida Keys:
10 Day One
The first day of the trip includes arriving in the Florida Keys; there isn't much to do as it focuses on guests settling in their lodgings and checking available rental cars. Homestead, in the southern part of Miami, is a great site to start a road trip because it's close to the Biscayne and Everglades National Parks alongside some great restaurants such as Bangkok Cuisine, Mamma Mia Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, and Schnebly Redland's Winery & Brewery.
9 Day Two
The Everglades, a 1.5 million-acre wetland area home to American crocodiles, various bird species, and manatees, is among the country's largest national parks. The park offers diverse activity choices ranging from wildlife sightseeing, climbing the observation tower of 70-feet elevation of Shark Valley, kayaking through Florida Bay, paddling, sunset viewing, viewing dolphins, and much more. Additionally, visitors to the park can also take a visit to the ancient missile site of Nike Hercules.
8 Day Three
The Biscayne National Park is a great destination to visit on the third day as it is one of the world’s largest reef systems which makes it great for boating as it has a 95% water content. As a result, the park attracts tourists with its activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, cruising, and swimming. Visitors should visit the Boca Chita Key if they are looking to visit a frequently-visited favorite.
7 Day Four
A road excursion to Key West, which is around 130 miles or a 3-hour drive from Homestead, is great on the fourth day. The Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary, which houses over 90 birds including hawks, pelicans, owls, cultures, and other migratory species, is one of the sites to visit in Key West. If visitors want to eat lunch under the palm trees, then going to the Morada Bay Beach Cafe is an option. Other activities in the area include feeding tarpons, touring Key Deer, and visiting the Old Bahia Honda Bridge.
6 Day Five
Key West has so much to offer that even two exploration days do not cover it. For the first day in Key West, one can enjoy breakfast at Blue Heaven and take a tour of the Hemingway House. Visitors can also visit the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and take in the stunning views from the lighthouse. Visitors can also end their day by shopping on Duval Street and eating dinner at Cafe Marquesa.
5 Day Six
The sixth day of the tour is the second day of exploring Key West. This day is suitable for different activities such as trying the floating tiki bar, visiting the shipwreck and fishing maritime museums, and enjoying the region’s pristine beaches. Smathers Beach, Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, Higgs Beach, and Rest Beach, are among the beach options to visit in Key West where visitors can take different water excursions such as paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling.
4 Day Seven
The Dry Tortugas National Park is a recommended attraction for the seventh day of the tour. It is located in the southernmost point of the Florida Keys, roughly 70 miles west of Key West. Visitors can either take a ferry or a seaplane journey to get to the park. There are many things to do in this area, like taking a tour of Fort Jefferson, wandering along with Bush Key and taking in the breathtaking views of Fort Jefferson and Garden Key, and much more.
3 Day Eight
Day eight is the final day of exploring Key West, where travelers can check off all of their bucket list items or simply relax on the beach. People recommend leaving snorkeling, jet skiing, and dolphin viewing for the last day of the trip in Key West. For guests who enjoy lively nightlife, bar hopping is also a suggested pastime. It's also possible to have an elegant dining experience at Latitudes while taking in the stunning sunset views.
2 Day Nine
For the ninth day, tourists will once again take a road trip back to the Florida Keys, which is approximately 170 miles and four hours of nonstop drive. A perfect activity for the ninth day in Florida Key is taking a visit to the Turtle Hospital to see a caring rehabilitation facility for injured and sick sea turtles. Furthermore, guests are permitted to take a 90-minute visit to the facilities, which costs $15 to $30 per ticket per person.
1 Day Ten
The final day in the Florida Keys is intended for flying back home, but those with afternoon or late flights can still enjoy their time by shopping and exploring restaurants in their remaining time. However, a visit to the Rain Barrel Village is also an ideal alternative as it is a great area to shop, with galleries, shops, boutiques, souvenirs, handcrafted crafts, and more, so it is no wonder why it is one of the archipelago's most popular tourist destinations.