Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To the south of Indian Key, visitors can explore San Pedro Underwater Archaeological
Preserve. The site of a 1733 Spanish shipwreck, it is now a mecca snorkeling site that
boasts re-created cannons.
4. Long Key State Park
Wending among the tropical hammocks and mangrove-fringed lagoons in this 1,100-acre
parkareavarietyofself-guidingnaturetrails,includingonethatwasdesignedforexplora-
tionbycanoe.Thestaffoffersinterpretiveprograms,withanemphasisonbirds,seaturtles,
and the fragile environments in which they live. The area's seaside campsites offer clear
views of the ocean, making this a popular spot for swimming.
5. Marathon
For a tranquil contrast to the hustle and bustle you'll find in touristy Marathon, seek out
the solitude of Crane Point Hammock. In addition to its wetlands and exotic hardwoods,
the 64-acre preserve contains a few remnants from pre-Columbian times. The Museum of
Natural History of the Florida Keys, situated at the hammock's entrance by mile marker
50, has a wide range of exhibits, from ancient artifacts to pictures taken from outer space.
There's even a re-created coral reef—an excellent place to explore undersea life and still
stay dry.
As you leave Marathon to visit points west, you'll come to the famed Seven-Mile
Bridge. Where the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico meet—and only the merest
specks of land intrude upon far-off horizons—the bridge is perhaps the most astonishing
span on the entire Overseas Highway.
6. Bahia Honda State Park
Although the Keys are not noted for large sandy beaches, the ones bordering the Atlantic
OceanatBahiaHondaaresomeoftheislandchain'sfinest.Apunkytarpon,aprizedcatch-
and-release gamefish, arecommoninareainthespring.Hikersalongthearea'snaturetrail
shouldbeonthelookoutfortheendangeredsmall-floweredlilythornandoneofAmerica's
largest remaining stands of silver palms. Many wild animals—tree frogs, falcons, pelicans,
loggerhead sea turtles, and geckos, for example—also live within or just outside the park's
borders.
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