Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce TOURIST INFORMATION
(
305-872-2411; www.lowerkeyschamber.com ; MM 31 oceanside;
9am-5pm Mon-Fri, to 3pm Sat)
Stocked with brochures and tourist information.
Sugarloaf & Boca Chica Keys
This is the final stretch before the holy grail of Key West. There's not much going on -
just bridges over lovely swathes of teal and turquoise, a few good eats and a thoroughly
batty roadside attraction.
This lowest section of the Keys goes from about MM 20 to the start of Key West.
Sights
Perky's Bat Tower TOWER
(Sugarloaf Key, MM17)
It resembles an Aztec-inspired fire lookout, but this wooden tower is actually one real-es-
tate developer's vision gone utterly awry. In the 1920s Richter C Perky had the bright idea
to transform this area into a vacation resort. There was just one problem: mosquitoes. His
solution? Build a 35ft tower and move in a colony of bats (he'd heard they eat mosqui-
toes). He imported the flying mammals, but they promptly took off, leaving the tower
empty.
Sheriff's Animal Farm ZOO
(
305-293-7300; 5501 College Rd, Stock Island;
1-3pm second & fourth Sun of the month or by
appt; )
Just before you hit Key West, you may be tempted to stop at this farm, located near the
Monroe County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center (no, really). This shelter for Monroe
County animals that have been abandoned or given up is a lovely place to take the kids
(call ahead to visit and farmer Jeanne Selander will be happy to show you around). There
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