Enjoying Nature From the Everglades to Key West

Begin your trip in Homestead, where you will take a guided airboat tour of Everglades National Park departing from Flamingo Marina, observing plants and animals with the help of your naturalist guide.

From Key Largo, take a snorkeling excursion or head out for a “mangroves and manatees” guided kayak tour.

In Marathon, don’t miss stopping at the Turtle Hospital, where you can take a tour and meet some of the animals the organization is nursing back to health after they were found sick or injured in the wild. For a small donation, you can “adopt” a sea turtle to receive updates about its recovery.

You can also snorkel and kayak in Key West, but there’s plenty to do on land as well. Hop on board the Conch Tour Train for an efficient overview of the city from a knowledgeable guide. When that ends, stroll around the city, popping into art galleries as you go, and see where the live music leads you! As you admire the historic houses, one you’ll want to step inside is the Hemingway Home & Museum (open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with guided tours beginning every 15 minutes). Be sure to allow plenty of time for food, drink and people watching — and remember that you don’t need to schedule every minute of your day here. You’re on island time!

Day trips

Get tickets ahead of time for a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park — the ferry often sells out well in advance. The ferry ride clocks in at just over two hours — once you arrive, you can tour the fort, which was used as a prison during the Civil War, and learn about the important role once envisioned for these islands in the US defense system (abandoned partly because the islands began sinking under the weight of the brick structures). You can also snorkel straight from the beach to see underwater coral heads and the ruins of a dock that provide a friendly habitat for a diverse range of marine life.

Take a short flight to cover the 90 miles to Havana for a day trip. On an escorted itinerary approved by the government in support of the Cuban people, you can see Ernest Hemingway’s house and a fishing village he frequented. Your Old Town Havana tour will include literary landmarks as well as a chance to shop with local market vendors and sip a daiquiri at the bar where it’s said to have been invented. Your return flight will have you back in Key West in time for dinner.

Before your Everglades tour, eat a hearty breakfast at Royal Palm Grill & Deli in Homestead. Offerings include breakfast wraps, French toast and biscuits and gravy.

Afterward, fortify yourself for your drive to the Keys with a stop at the Robert Is Here fruit stand, where you can sample a broad array of exotic fruits available as whole fruit or in smoothies. Daily offerings vary, but staples include guanabana, sapote, sugar apple and Asian guava. If you’re in need of something heartier, Taqueria Morelia offers up sublime Mexican food at locations in Homestead and Florida City.

As you begin your drive, Key Largo has plenty of spots where you can kick back and enjoy a relaxing meal along the water. These include the Buzzard’s Roost, Skippers Dockside and Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant and Bar.

Marathon has several spots for excellent Cuban food. Before or after your visit to the Turtle Hospital, stop in at La Nina, 7 Mile or Paradise Cuban Restaurant.

Part of the fun of driving down the Keys is spotting cute places for a spontaneous stop. But if you’re more of a planner, Boondocks Grille and Draft House on Ramrod Key has an extensive menu and a lively vibe. The Square Grouper on Cudjoe Key serves up memorable seafood.

Once you make it to Key West, fantastic food and drink options will be around every corner. Simply stroll the streets and see what you find. However, here are a few places that stand out in my memory in case you want to make a point of seeking them out. Moondog Café, next to the Hemingway Home and Museum, serves up burgers, pizza, seafood, pasta and craft cocktails — plus a killer brunch menu. Enjoy Floridian-Caribbean fusion in the Bahama Village neighborhood (in the heart of Key West) at Blue Heaven. Pop in for a tasting flight at First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery. Have a casual dinner or happy hour accompanied by live music at the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon. Enjoy the elevated pub menu and extensive drink list at Fogarty’s. For a special dinner with an ocean view, head to Louie’s Backyard, a short distance away from the Southernmost Point marker. Café Marquesa in the Marquesa Hotel is another spot for a special dinner. In the morning, head to Bagatelle on Mallory Square for a brunch menu including breakfast tacos, Bananas Foster French toast and sriracha glazed bacon.