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Florida Keys

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The Florida Keys [1] are a region of Florida. The Keys are an archipelago of about 1700 islands extending south and southwest of the Florida mainland.

[edit] Islands

[edit] Other destinations

Biscayne National Park

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

U.S. Highway 1 leads from Miami to the Keys via the famous Overseas Highway.

[edit] By plane

The two main airports in the Keys are the seaplane base on Marathon Key (ICAO: 42FL) and Key West International Airport [2] (ICAO: KEYW). These are only used by private or commuter aircraft, mainly coming in from Miami (ICAO: KMIA IATA: MIA), which is the closest international airport.

[edit] By bus

Greyhound has service to and from the Florida Keys. There are terminals on Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West.

[edit] By ferry

Multiple ferry services are available from Fort Myers to Key West. Most of them are large catamarans that will accommodate 20-30 passengers. Sailing time is about 3 hours.

[edit] Get around

The Keys (at least the accessible, commercial islands) are connected by US Highway 1. A useful and interesting "quirk" about the linearity of the Keys (and US-1) is that directions to establishments and attractions are locally described by the "Mile Markers" along US-1. If you ask someone how to get to a certain beach or hotel, they will tell you that it is at "Mile Marker 68.5"; many signs and brochures will say "MM 68.5" (of course, there is no mile marker 68.5, this just means that the hotel is halfway between mile markers 68 and 69). These numbers start at zero at the start of US-1 on Key West, so the numbers get larger as you go north.

The speed limits in the Keys are generally 45 MPH on the built-up Islands, and 55 MPH on the bridges and less built-up islands. There are areas (very built-up strips, or animal sanctuaries) where the speed drops to 35 MPH.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Itineraries

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Eat

As you would expect, there is a lot of seafood served in the Keys, but all types of restaurants exist. These include most of the staples of American fast-food, mom-and-pop diners, and many kinds of ethnic fare.

The Florida Keys are the birthplace of Key Lime Pie once made using limes exclusively grown here.

Another Key specialty is conch (pronounced "konk"), a large crustacean often served in chowder.

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Key West - famous bar-hopping town, and former haunt of author Ernest Hemingway

[edit] Stay safe

  • Police/Crime Prevention In an emergency, dial 911 from any phone in the Florida Keys.
  • Visitor Assistance Line, 1-800-771-KEYS (5397). Multi-lingual staff are ready to help you with directions and phone numbers to medical facilities and law enforcement offices and

much more. The staff work 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

  • Boating Safety In an emergency, dial 911 from any Florida Keys land or cellular

phone. Or contact the United States Coast Guard, via Channel 16, on a marine VHF radio.

  • United States Coast Guard, [3].
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 305-289-2320, [4]. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission is responsible for

enforcing safe and environmentally-friendly boating and fishing practices in the Keys. FWC officers patrol docks, bridges and waters.

  • Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Phone 305-292-0311, [5]. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary sets regulations for

boating and fishing in the Keys, and offers safe boating tips.

  • Monroe County Bike/Pedestrian Planner, Phone: 305-289-2514.
  • Overseas Heritage Trail, Phone: 305-853-3571. Bicyclists are encouraged to use the Overseas Heritage Trail adjacent to the highway wherever the trail is available.
  • Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Phone: 305-292-0311, [6]. The Sanctuary provides "Sea Smart" advice for divers and snorkelers.
  • Reef Relief, Phone: 305-294-3100, [7]. This independent group offers the latest science on the dangers of feeding fish and other marine mammals.
  • Divers suspecting decompression illness should seek medical attention immediately at one of the Keys hospitals The staff at these facilities know how to diagnose and treat the condition. If

necessary, they will transfer patients to one of two decompression facilities in the Keys. The U.S. Military operates a decompression chamber in Key West. The more-often used facility is located in the Upper Keys at Mariner's Hospital.

[edit] Medical/Hospitals

Upper Keys

  • Mariner's Hospital, Phone: 305-434-3000, Mile Marker 91.5, Tavernier.

Middle Keys

  • Fishermen's Hospital, Phone: 305-743-5533, Mile Marker 48.7, Marathon.

Lower Keys and Key West

  • Lower Keys Medical Center, Phone: 305-294-5531, 5900 College Road, Stock Island.

[edit] Get out

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