Best Things to Do in the Florida Keys

Isla Bella is a luxury property that stays true to its name. It’s consistently considered one of the best resorts not just in the Keys, but the entire U.S. From its expansive lobby with a picture-perfect view of the ocean to getting ushered to your room via golf cart, everywhere you turn is an eye-popping Instagram story waiting to happen. Aside from a private beach and the bevy of aquatic adventures it brings, you can wade in multiple pools (including a massive one where kids play and a pool exclusively for the adults), munch some of the best food on the island at Mahina (more on this later) and stop by the Marketplace for mouthwatering breakfast sandwiches. But you’re at a resort, so be prepared for activities like weekly guided walks over the nearby Seven Mile Bridge to trivia and outdoor dance parties complete with a DJ manning the turntables.

It’s a property as pretty as its titular postcard. Otherwise known as the Holiday Isle, this vacation haven has been a beloved Keys institution for decades. Heavily damaged by 2017’s mighty Hurricane Irma, the property has been completely rebuilt in the years since. The Postcard Inn’s rooms are literally steps from the beach and there’s an immense amount of things to do, from kayak rentals to complimentary scuba gear. After you spend an afternoon chilling on a lounge chair or paddling in the sea, enjoy some of the best eats and sips in all the Keys all right here at the iconic Tiki Bar and the Italian eatery Ciao Hound. Best of all, guests at the Postcard Inn have free access to its nearby sister resorts in the area: La Siesta, Pelican Cove and Amara Cay, with a shuttle ready to whisk you there on a whim.

Consider these two famed sights the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge of the Keys. Tourists flock to take pictures and traverse the Seven Mile Bridge, which connects Knights Key and Little Duck Key over its eponymous seven miles, a marvel considering it was built in the late ’70s directly into the vast ocean. Whether you’re traveling by car or taking it by foot or bike, with water all around you and the glorious sun shining down, it’s a stretch you won’t soon forget. Continue further south to Key West to visit the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S., which is marked with a monument that sits on the edge of the ocean a mere 90 miles from Cuba.

The renowned American author Ernest Hemingway had a soft spot for the Keys, and with that a gorgeous home in Key West. Today, that home is a museum where visitors can learn about the life and times of the literary giant who authored “The Old Man and the Sea” and meet the gaggle of famed cats who roam the property. Added bonus: The building is situated across the street from the Key West Lighthouse, making a visit to both a perfect way to enjoy an easy Key West afternoon.

Located in Marathon Key, this hospital is for one reptile only: the humble sea turtle. A mainstay of the area, sea turtles love the wet and bright weather, especially at nearby Dry Tortugas National Park, the area’s most active nesting location. Like the rest of us, sometimes turtles need a little R&R, which is where the Turtle Hospital comes in. The hospital dedicates itself to rehabbing injured turtles, advocating on the turtles’ behalf and educating the general public. Learn more about Michelangelo and Donatello’s brothers and sisters during a 90-minute guided tour.

Higgs and Fort Zachary Taylor are great options because they are centrally located, both just a short jaunt from Key West’s best non-beach activities. Grab your kayak, diving or scuba gear or surfboard and splash away to your heart’s content.

The beach is known locally as just Fort Taylor and part of the larger park, which is the southernmost state park in the continental United States. The park holds historic reenactments on the third weekend of every month, but the beach is the real star of this show. Located at the southern end of the park, the beach is also a spot for picnicking, snorkeling, paddling and fishing.

One of the most iconic tiki bars in the world is right in the heart of Islamorada. In operation since 1969, this outdoor oasis helped popularize tiki culture thanks to its array of high-quality tropical drinks. It’s even the birthplace of the iconic Rum Runner cocktail. Order up a Rum Runner (with a shooter of rum from nearby Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, for extra pizazz) or a pina colada and bask in the sun as you sip away on the nectar of the gods.

This eatery is consistently ranked one of the top restaurants in all the Keys, and it’s easy to see why. Cats and chickens are known to traverse the outdoor property full of canopies and funky art. Blue Heaven has cemented itself into Key West lore with its menu of Florida-Caribbean treats locals and tourists salivate over. From the Key lime pie to scallops (and the beloved sauce that comes with it), trek here for a quintessential Key bite.

Italian may not be the first thing one thinks of when they jaunt to the Keys. However, this Italian restaurant located on the property of the aforementioned Postcard Inn serves up delectable Italian grub. Dip your bread into a plate of quality olive oil (with the restaurant’s name cutely written on the dish in balsamic) before ordering up a plate of crispy, perfectly tender calamari, and wash it all down with one of their array of wines from the world over. As it turns out, pasta might be the perfect post-swim snack. Breakfast here is also a modestly priced, high-quality treat as well.