The Florida Keys are home to a national treasure: the only living coral reef in the continental United States. This year, Mote Marine Laboratory is inviting locals and visitors alike to step out of the daily grind and into the blue at Ocean Fest, a high-energy, family-friendly celebration of our marine environment.
Definition of a "Buoy" - "an anchored FLOAT serving as a navigational mark, to indicate reefs or other hazards or for mooring". The southernmost buoy's claim to fame is being one of the most photographed and visited attractions in the United States. The buoy is an impressive 12' tall, 7' wide and made out of approximately 4 tons of solid concrete!
The current marker actually didn't exist until 1983 when it was commissioned and installed by the City of Key West and painted by local artist Danny Acosta.
Planning your first trip to Key West should feel exciting, not complicated. The island is compact, colorful and refreshingly easy to enjoy once you understand its rhythm. You can walk from a historic waterfront to lively Duval Street, tour a famous author's home, photograph the Southernmost Point, eat fresh seafood and watch the sun disappear into the Gulf—all without spending your vacation behind the wheel.
Key West is plenty colorful above the water. Slip on a mask, though, and the island reveals an entirely different personality.
Below the surface, sea fans sway, tiny fish dart through the rocks and every shadow makes you wonder what might swim into view next. You do not need a scuba certification or a collection of complicated gear. You do need to be comfortable in the water, pay attention to conditions and choose an outing that matches your experience.
That outing can be as simple as wading in from a Key West beach or as adventurous as taking a boat toward an offshore reef. The fun starts with deciding what kind of day sounds like you.
A successful family vacation does not require every traveler to want the same thing. One child may be happiest spotting dolphins, another may want a beach, a teenager may crave independence and a grandparent may prefer a comfortable museum or scenic ride. Southwest Florida and Key West make it possible to combine those interests without turning every day into a long drive.
The best plan is not a packed checklist. It is a flexible mix of outdoor time, hands-on learning, local history, good food and room to slow down. Use these ideas to build a vacation that works for toddlers, school-age children, teens, parents and grandparents—and leaves everyone with stories to bring home.
Florida makes it easy to plan a romantic getaway around the way you like to travel. You can watch the sunset from a quiet island beach, explore historic streets hand in hand, enjoy dinner by the water or turn the journey itself into part of the experience.
Whether you are celebrating an anniversary, planning a long weekend or simply making time for each other, these five Florida couples vacation spots offer memorable ways to reconnect.
On Sanibel and Captiva Islands, shelling is not simply something to do between swims. It is part of the landscape, the local culture and the reason many visitors return to these Southwest Florida beaches year after year. Gulf currents continually carry shells toward the islands, creating shorelines where every tide can reveal something different.
A shelling day also fits naturally into a longer Southwest Florida getaway. Travelers staying near Fort Myers Beach can explore Sanibel and Captiva before or after a trip aboard Key West Express, turning one vacation into two distinctly different island experiences.
Is Key West good for couples? Absolutely. The island brings together tropical scenery, colorful Old Town streets, waterfront dining, beautiful beaches and plenty of places where the two of you can simply slow down.
Whether you’re planning an anniversary, a weekend escape or an easy day away, Key West gives you room to make the trip your own. You can explore historic homes, share a quiet lunch by the water, wander Duval Street or do nothing more ambitious than find two chairs with a view.
And when you travel aboard Key West Express, the getaway begins before you reach the island.
A brick fortress, a rocky beach, tropical fish, shady picnic tables and one seriously good sunset spot—all in the same park? That is Fort Zachary Taylor.
Tucked away near Old Town and the Truman Annex, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is the kind of place where a quick visit can easily turn into most of the day. One minute you are wandering through Civil War-era passageways. The next, you are pulling on a snorkel mask, watching birds along the shoreline or settling into the shade with something cold to drink.
It is also an easy adventure for travelers arriving from Fort Myers Beach aboard Key West Express. The park is about 1.8 miles from the ferry terminal, so you can get there by taxi, rideshare or bicycle—or make the roughly 35-minute walk part of the experience.
Take a quick look at the Key West Express Fort Zachary Taylor guide, check the latest details on the official Florida State Parks page, and get ready for a day that can be as active—or as wonderfully lazy—as you want.
There are so many fun, exciting, and historical things to do in Key West, that even despite challenging times, tourism has stable growth!
