|
|
Have the time of your life at Florida Keys attractionsWhile the Florida Keys are best known for their spectacular diving and fishing, a visit to one or more of the area’s attractions can add another dimension to your vacation. Whether you visit Mel Fisher’s museum or take a ride on the famous Conch Train, Florida Keys attractions can fill a day or a week. We’ve listed the best of the best in Florida Keys attractions so you can plan your vacation to include at least a few of them.
Audubon House
and Tropical Gardens
Crane Point The East
Martello Museum and Gallery The Ernest
Hemingway Home and Museum Harry S.
Truman Little White House
Reflections
Nature Tours Sunset Celebration
at Mallory Square Theater
of the Sea |
||
|
An
exploration into local history and folklore, Audubon House and Tropical
Gardens offers audio tours of the house and gardens. The house boasts
28 first edition Audubon works, antique furnishings, an herb garden, and
an 1840's style-nursery. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. and a museum gift shop is available.
Passing
more than 60 points of interest, the Conch Tour Train, runs from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. This 90 minute tour includes a lush, tropical
island and one of America's most unique architectural treasures. Tours
run everyday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Crane
Point sits on 63 acres and is home to the Museum of Natural History, Children's
museum, Adderly Town Historic Site, Marathon Wild Bird Center, an extensive
nature trail system and Wild Willie, the resident iguana. Open Monday
through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Located
on Grassy Key in the heart of the Florida Keys, the Dolphin Research center,
invites guests to spend the day watching dolphins. With several interactive
dolphin and manatee workshops this is an experience you won't soon forget.
We recommend to call ahead to choose the program that most interests you.
This
1930's pre-Civil War mansion was once home to Nobel Prize winning author,
Ernest Hemingway. Boasting the first pool in Key West, visitors are welcome
to take a leisurely tour of his Spanish Colonial style mansion and adjoining
gardens. Open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located
70 miles from Key West, Fort Jefferson is the largest 19th century fortress
in the coastal United States. The 16-million brick citadel has a lighthouse,
a moat, and about half-dozen iron cannons. Set on Garden Key, the biggest
of the Tortugas Islands, this landmark is surrounded by clear-blue waters,
a rich underwater eco-system, and two underwater shipwrecks. The Tortugas
are not accessible by land. Visitors must take ferries, sailboats, fishing
boats, or seaplanes from Key West to Garden Key. 
One
of the most popular stops on the Key West Tour of historic homes, this
hideaway for President Truman during his term of office remains unchanged
with many of the original furnishings. Truman spent 175 days of his presidency
in Key West and made many important decisions at this little White House.
Explore
the undersea world with daily shark and turtle feedings, a Touch-Tank
hands on experience with sea life, and the opportunity to pet a live shark.
The Key West Aquarium brings the Florida Keys aquatic world to life with
expert guides and a wide variety of fish. Tours and shark feedings occur
daily at 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 4:30 pm.
Faithfully
restored and maintained, the Light House and nearby Keeper's Quarters
present a sense of life in Key West at the turn-of-the-century. The 15th
oldest surviving lighthouse in the country, the Key West Light House stands
86 feet tall and has a multifaceted "first-order" Fresnel lens
large enough to walk into. Renovated in 1990, the bungalow where the keepers
and their families lived presently serves as a museum. Open every day
except Christmas from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Formerly
the center of the federal government operations for Southern Florida,
the Custom House has been fully architecturally restored. Now a wonderfully
preserved example of Richardsonian Romanesque design, the museum houses
10 galleries devoted to local, national, and international exhibitions.
Open everyday except Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The
Key West Shipwreck HISTOREUM Museum allows you to enter the world of 1856
Key West. Combining actors, films, laser technology, and artifacts the
museum presents the story of this unusual industry for the early pioneers
of Key West. A 60' lookout tower and booty from the reefs nearby complement
this maritime experience.
Treasure
hunter Mel Fisher established the museum after recovering millions of
dollars worth of gold and silver from the ship Nuestra Senora de Atocha,
a 17th century Spanish galleon that sank 45 miles west of Key West. Visitors
can view and even touch some of the riches of Atocha and the Santa Margarita.
Four ships are open for exploration 365 days a year from 9:30 am to 5
pm. 
A
small nature tour company, Reflections specializes in personalized and
informative tours. Located on Big Pine Key, Reflections is a mobile company
that trailers Kayaks to a variety of tour locations. Custom backcountry
tours, power-boat eco-tours, and customized group tours are available.
Held
in Mallory Square every evening the Sunset Celebration consists of arts
and crafts exhibitors, street performers, food carts, psychics, and, of
course, the legendary Key West sunset. Mallory Square boasts exciting
attractions, incredible shopping, and the Key West historic sculpture
garden.
Dolphin
and sea lion shows, a guided tour of marine life exhibits, and a bottomless
boat ride lure you into this seventeen acre, lush tropical garden setting.
Theater of the Sea is home to a variety of marine life and non-releasable
birds-of-prey. Special programs include Swim with the Dolphin, Swim with
the Sea lion, Swim with the Rays, and Trainer for a day. Shows are continuous
and the Theater is open 365 days a year from 9:30 am to 4 pm.