Florida Keys Beaches

The Florida Keys beaches are not what attracts vacationers. The first thing anyone who frequents the Keys will tell you is that you don’t go there for the beaches. The Keys are basically surrounded by amazing coral reefs that are ideal for beginning divers and shallow enough for snorkeling. Unfortunately for those of us who love the beach itself, the reefs break up the pounding surf that is essentially needed to deposit sand and create beach. Instead most points of entry to the water here are boat docks or rocky shoals. The Keys certainly do enjoy a laid back “beach’ atmosphere and afford many opportunities for sun and fun on the water, but long walks on the beach will not happen here. I cannot stress enough that pure beach lovers will be disappointed, but that boaters, fishermen, and divers will find plenty to enjoy. The Florida Keys beaches are just not to my liking. Opportunities to interact with dolphins at the Dolphin Rescue Center on Grassy Key are unsurpassed in the United States. Several other dolphin interaction programs exist in the area, but some will make you feel down-right sad. The Dolphin Center on the other hand is a memorable experience that teaches respect and concern for these beautiful animals. On our trip to The Keys we rented a boat for a day and were treated to wild dolphin sightings and saw a sea turtle when we stopped to snorkel; awesome experiences, but enjoyed in intense June heat that was seldom broken by the leisurely floats in the water I usually enjoy at the beach. Florida Keys beaches are hard to find because they are few and far between. An evening spent watching the quintessential sunset at Key West was highlighted by authentic Key Lime Pie (which is more of a light yellow than bright green) and drinks. Be warned, once the sun sets, they basically roll-up the sidewalks and turn out the lights. Boaters and divers go to bed early and get up early so nightlife is sparse. An evening spent watching the quintessential sunset at Key West was highlighted by authentic Key Lime Pie (which is more of a light yellow than bright green) and drinks. Be warned, once the sun sets, they basically roll-up the sidewalks and turn out the lights. Boaters and divers go to bed early and get up early so nightlife is sparse. The Florida Keys do have a lot to offer vacationers, but I won’t be returning anytime soon.