Best Places to Visit in the Florida Keys, According to a Local

There’s a tongue-in-cheek saying we have in South Florida that you’ll see hung on signs all over the place: “I live where you vacation.”

With over 1,700 islands, 800 keys, and year-round, sunny weather, the Florida Keys are a slice of key lime-flavored heaven. No matter which one you visit, you can’t go wrong—but there are certainly things that I return to when I make the trek back today. 

Growing up, my family owned a home in Islamorada, Florida. I’m not talking about the traditional two-story Floridian stilt houses, but rather a one-bedroom trailer off of mile marker 87.5, with the Atlantic Ocean as our porch. We often woke to watch the sunrise from the roof of our home and would later walk over to the bay to sit in Adirondack chairs and sip frozen drinks as the men went off to fish. Growing up in the Keys instilled a certain wildness in me that can only come from a childhood of being raised on island time.

These are the best places to visit in the Florida Keys, according to a once-local.

The Seas Around Islamorada

It would be wrong to visit the Keys without fishing, and in my opinion, the best island for it is Islamorada, “the sports fishing capital of the world.” Hop on a charter at Bud N’ Mary’s Marina, where you’ll have your choice of expeditions and boats. Look in the mangroves for snapper, sift through the low sea grass for a chance to catch tarpon, or troll on the back of your boat for delicious mahi-mahi or swordfish. To troll properly, you’ll want to take the Gulf Stream, located about seven to 10 miles offshore, to the end of the reef. Then, you’ll want to cast out where the reef drops off to a depth of 300 feet.

Christ of the Abyss at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Hidden in the depths of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park lies a nine-foot-tall statue of Jesus. It’s one of just three in the world (the other sister statues are in Grenada and Italy), and this particular one has been in Key Largo since 1965. I once took a snorkeling tour to see the statue and between the Floridian waves and hidden “treasure,” it truly felt like a magical experience.

Bahia Honda State Park

For people who want a little bit of history, relaxation, and exploration, Bahia Honda State Park is the perfect place to visit. It has three different beaches, two on the Atlantic Ocean and one Bayside. The historic Bahia Honda bridge, which was completed in 1912 by Standard Oil founder Henry Flagler, still stands today and is a habitat for lobsters, starfish, sea turtles, and more. When I was a child, we would explore the park at low tide, searching for little sea creatures.

The Caribbean Club

This dive bar in Key Largo is stuck in the 1960s in the best way possible. This cash-only, live music joint is one of the oldest watering holes in the Upper Keys, and was one of Jimmy Buffett’s favorite places to grab a drink. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset—pull your boat up to its complimentary dock or simply drive over.

Robbie’s

Come for the fish sandwich and stay for the fish feeding. Robbie’s is unlike any other attraction on the planet. This shack sells $2 buckets of bait fish to feed to giant tarpon—it’s like a Keys version of a petting zoo. Be wary of the pelicans, who will steal fish right out of your hands. The marina also serves as a great launch point for paddleboards (or rentals), and you can explore the nearby mangrove for hours—you may encounter manatees and other colorful sea creatures.

Key Largo Fisheries

Key Largo Fisheries is a one-stop spot for all of your seafood needs. I prefer to sit at the bar, where you can find stone crabs for $4 per claw during happy hour, making it one of the most affordable places to eat the state delicacy. Pro tip: ask the market for the “ugly claws,” which are usually broken and sold at a cheaper price. 

Pierre’s Restaurant

Pierre’s is quite literally a scene out of a movie, or rather, a TV show—the property served as a filming location for the Rayburn house in Netflix’s Bloodline. Among locals, the restaurant is known for its Mediterranean-style flair and French fusion food. Once a month, guests come together to dance under the night sky at its legendary full moon parties. As a child, I remember running around on the property’s expansive beach while my parents danced the night away.

Dry Tortugas National Park

According to Travel + Leisure, this national park is one of the least visited and most beautiful in the country, with history and beauty all in a tropical paradise. The property encompasses 64,700 acres, and most of it is open water and small islands. However, the park also includes historic Fort Jefferson, which protected important shipping lanes in the Gulf in the 1800s. Once a year, my dad takes a week-long fishing charter that passes through the park and comes back with such a huge catch that we end up having to vacuum-seal half of it for later.

Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area

Islamorada has a range of activities for every type of adventure, but much of the magic happens offshore. Four miles off the coast, you’ll find Alligator Reef Light House, a protected marine habitat that marks the site of an old shipwreck. As a child, I would dive through the structure, in awe of the large barracuda, sea turtles, and “sea puppies,” aka nurse sharks. Even if you aren’t diving between the waves, the sheer size of the structure will leave you in awe.

Founders Park

Founders Park was my go-to beach in my teenage years. I would bike over with a friend and spend the entire day sunning, snorkeling, and laughing between the waves. We often took advantage of all the amenities the park had, including its Olympic-size pool, pickleball courts, and boat launch.