Secluded amongst a row of islands stretched far and beyond the reaches of the state Florida itself. In fact Key West, the Florida Keys most distant island, is only 90 miles from Cuba. On the gulf side you can go offshore for miles, stop your vessel and stand in knee deep calm as glass water and not see land anywhere around you. It's an absolutely surreal trek for an ocean lover and outdoors person. I've ran into many a sting ray and types of sea life while there.

The Florida Keys can be considered the American Caribbean and features all the same amenities and motels as other island destinations. There are many things to do for example record breaking sport fishing, skin diving and snorkeling, boating, kayaking, sailing, and species tours beyond belief. Each of our island destinations has some unforgettable features. I invite you to visit each area yourself and discover our tropical paradise in the Florida Keys.

One of the main reasons for my trips to the Florida Keys is for Lobster Sport Season. The locals call it bug hunting. It only last for a weekend and the place is packed. If your into hunting for lobster, this is quite an exciting affair. Don't leave behind your snorkel, tickle stick and net! The kind of Lobster you'll find down there are the Spiny Lobster type, which have no pinchers and can get quite enormous. Spiny Lobster are larger than some Main Lobsters in some cases. Don't forget, recreational harvesters are required to possess a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License with a current crawfish stamp. Consult a local tackle shop for exemptions to licensing needs. Licenses are available through local convenient stores, tax collectors, many tackle shops and marine supply stores.

How expensive is it to travel to the Keys? I'm finally getting to that. The Florida Keys is by far the most awesome tropical vacation destination for any professional fisherman, diver, or just plain traveler. But watch your pocket book! The Florida Keys can be quite costly. I shopped around extensively for the best motel rates and by far the best we found was a small 32 unit motel right off the highway called Big Pine Key Motel. They had the lowest rates and the biggest rooms of every "affordable" place to stay down there which were around $70 and up! And I do mean up. Some places were asking over $500. If you've got the funds, I would highly recommend Little Palm Island. It's one of the top 10 resorts in the nation and the only way you can get to it is by boat. The Big Pine Key Motel is just a 20 minute drive from Key West and is surrounded by dive shops, fishing charters and great places to eat.

I'm going to leave you with a caution. The Florida Keys is protected by many environmental laws that are specific to endangered species. If you do any hiking keep a watchful eye out for the poison wood. It looks as innocent as a pear tree and 10x more dangerous than poison ivy. The locals can't chop it down because it produces a fruit that an endangered species of bird eats.