The Upper Keys

• The upper keys includes the northernmost islands in the Florida Keys. These keys include Key Largo, known as Rock Harbor before the movie of the same name made it famous, and Islamorada. The upper keys, a short drive from Miami, fill up with south Floridians on the weekends. Key Largo is home to John Pennekamp Underwater State Park and, as such, attracts hundreds of divers and snorkelers every week. Islamorada attracts sport fishermen in droves, and many of the resorts there will cater to fishermen. Other, smaller keys in the upper keys all cater to weekend vacationers, divers, and anglers as well.
  
  

The Middle Keys

• The middle keys include the city of Marathon, located on Grassy Key. Marathon and the middle keys offer a more sedate pace than the upper keys and put vacationers within striking distance of Key West and Key Largo. Marathon has an airport, many marinas, restaurants, a supermarket and other businesses that serve the villagers as well as tourists. It also has a nature center, Crane Point Hammock, and one of the few naturally-occurring sandy beaches in the Keys, Sombrero Beach. Grassy Key also has the Dolphin Research Center, the facility that inspired the movie "Flipper."
  
  

The Lower Keys and Key West

• The lower keys include Key West, Big Pine and Bahia Honda. While Key West attracts partiers and history buffs, the lower keys attract people seeking an extremely low-key vacation. Big Pine has key deer, tiny deer the size of a larger dog. These animals live only on this island and are believe to have evolved over time to adapt to life in the keys.
  
  The entire key of Bahia Honda is a state park that offers camping, snorkel and dive tours, and kayak rentals. Bahia Honda has a spectacular beach. Camping facilities range from tent to cabins.
  
  

Pets in the Keys

• Dog lovers and cat lovers alike will find many accommodations and businesses in the keys remarkably pet-friendly. Many smaller resorts allow pets anywhere on the grounds except the indoor restaurants, but some hotels have a strict no pets policy. If a resort or hotel doesn't make its pet policy clear on its website, travelers should call and check. Travelers should also make sure to bring proof of rabies and other vaccines. When checking in, guests should ask the front desk for the number of the nearest veterinarian, just in case.
  
  A word of caution: never leave pets in a car, even with the windows cracked, as temperatures in a parked car will hit 100 degrees quickly. Because of this, many of the attractions, like the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, allow leashed pets.
  
  

Fishing in the Keys

• The warm, shallow waters of the Keys offer excellent year-round fishing opportunities. Catches include bonefish, snapper, grouper, tarpon, sailfish and many others. Although Islamorada calls itself the sportfishing capital of the world, every key offers a variety of fish, for both sport and food.
  
  Unique to the Florida Keys is the Florida lobster, also called the Spiny Crawfish. Unlike Maine lobster, the Florida Lobster has no claws. Also found throughout Florida are stone crabs. Fishermen harvest the claws only in the cooler months.
  
  As of 2009, everyone fishing in Florida needs a fishing license. Most fishing charters provide the required license and will also make passengers aware of bag limits and size requirements. For those fishing off docks and piers, the local bait shop will likely have all the information. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also has complete information about open and closed seasons.
  
  

Boating in the Keys

• With so much water, renting a boat in the Keys makes perfect sense. Many resorts have boat rental companies on the premises, and those that don't can refer a company. Some resorts offer complimentary kayaks or small boats to registered guests.
  
  When boating and kayaking, remember that the waters surrounding the keys is quite shallow and that grounding a boat or anchoring on a reef will kill coral. Many of the reefs have buoys for mooring; these are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Locals do not take kindly to boaters who show little regard for the reefs.
  
  When boating, be aware of manatee. These large marine mammals feed on sea grass and move slowly. They cannot get out of the way of an oncoming boat and the impact can kill them. Obey all posted signs alerting boaters to manatee and detour far and wide around anything that looks like a brown or grey hump in the water.
  
  Dolphins do a much better job of removing themselves from a boat's path, and some enjoy surfing in a boat's wake. However, like manatees and whales, dolphin are federally protected by the marine mammal protection act, which disallows feeding, petting, harassing, or doing anything to alter the behavior of any marine mammal. Visitors should observe these creatures from a distance and do not attempt to interact with wild dolphin.
  
  When kayaking the keys, kayakers must obey the same rules as other boaters. In both boats and kayaks, there should be enough life jackets for everyone on board, a visual signaling device, a whistle, and plenty of water and sunblock. In boats, passengers should not rely on cellular service alone--they should get familiar with the VHF.
  
  When renting a boat, it is important to ask the rental operator where to find the boat's registration, fuel shutoff, life jackets, fire extinguisher and other safety equipment.
  
  

Snorkeling and Diving in the Keys

• No matter where visitors stay in the Florida Keys, they won't be far from a brilliant coral reef. Snorkelers and divers alike enjoy the reefs.
  
  Snorkel tours allow everyone, including people with limited swimming skills, a glimpse down at fan coral, parrotfish, rock beauties, anemone, and a plethora of other brightly colored reef inhabitants. Divers can get an even closer look at the reefs as well as some of the artificial reefs created by sunken ships like the Spiegel Grove.
  
  Both John Pennekamp and Bahia Honda state parks offer snorkel and dive trips, as do a host of other tour operators from Key Largo to Key West. Snorkelers and divers should take great care not to touch any coral, and not attempt to collect any species off the reefs.