The Florida Keys: 10 Reasons I don't want you to visit

Sunsets and peace bring joy to the soul in the Keys. (Photo by Bob
Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau)

They are perhaps beyond words.  To describe them, one must feel them.  To experience them, one must be willing to fully let themselves slip into beauty, serenity, fun, peace - salty air and laid-back, under the sun, surrounded by water, dipping toes into water and slipping into a sunset kind of rapture.  In short, they are the Florida Keys, and to meet them and know them is visceral, soul-filling joy.

So, why don't I want you to go to the Florida Keys?

Because I want them all to myself...

Okay, mom & dad always taught me to share.  So, I'm sharing.  And if you can't find a reason in this list of 10 to visit the Florida Keys, cool... we who've found paradise will keep that to ourselves... and forget I ever mentioned...

Sun.  Plenty of sun.  Look around, there's a lot of it shining, on an abundance of beautiful things.  Reflecting off the waters, bouncing off the boat's windows as they skim the surface of rich blues, highlighting tropical trees, and beaming as brilliant as the smiles on faces all around...

The Waters.  Bluer than a crayon box full of blue.  Rich and deep, penetrating.  Aqua, smoky-blue azure, sapphires deep jewel, royal-proud, peacock, icy-warm, Robin's eggs and air force proud, marine and cerulean, all the blues of a rainbow for life's blue lovers.  Every direction, all around, reaching out like a dream into a horizon of hope.  Water... And yes... do not forget all the ways to enjoy the water... from the beach, to right on top, to under...

Diving.  That's SCUBA diving.  And no, don't overlook the snorkeling.  Both will introduce you to world that you've seen in photos and documentaries, but here it's real, alive, honest and inviting, wild and wonderful.  Discover Christ of the Abyss, a statue underwater of Christ raising His arms to the heavens above, as peaceful and serene as if you were in a church (some, myself included, would say you are in a church).  Meet a grouper, swim with a barracuda, watch a school at play, sway with the fan coral.  Get wet, and get into a world of nature's most amazing creations.  Colors come to life, treasure is where you search for it, life teams, mystery becomes a friend, and humor abounds.  Get wet.  Get wild.  Get in the water.

The Florida Keys and Key West welcome you to paradise.  All
images in this article are kindly provided by The Florida Keys & Key
West for your enjoyment.

Meet some interesting characters.  And I don't only mean the locals.  In the Keys you will find a novel full of fanciful, colorful, Hemingway-esque characters, everywhere.  But not just the human type.  Animals too will bring a smile of quirky delight to your lips as you become friends.. Jumping, laughing dolphins greet you at Dolphin Research Center, Hawks Cay, and other dolphin encounters.  They invite you to come dockside and meet them face-to-face.  Jump in and play awhile.  Check out the birds of many feathers, or the alligators of this watery-land.  Visit Everglades National Park, to uncover another wet and wonderful, natural part of the Keys.  Stop by the Turtle Hospital and learn about how the Keys are helping these ancient creatures survive.  Ever see a tiny deer?  You can in the Keys.

Fishing.  This place is teaming with fish.  And you're invited to hop a boat and try your luck.  Big fish, little fish, one fish, two fish, more fish than Dr. Seuss can shake a Whoo at.  Fish on the flats or open waters, this is where a fisherman (or woman) can get their fill, each and every day.  Islamorada is the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World", and few would argue, with all the opportunities here, such a deserved title.  Looking to prove your line is the biggest, strongest, and best?  Come here to prove your worth in one of the local fishing tournaments.  Stop by a Keys Institution, Robbie's Safe Harbor Marine Enterprise, Inc. (based out of Key West, but the one you'll want to watch the tarpon is in Islamorada) to hang with the tarpon.  FIshing is the Key to the Keys.

Golf.  Too tiny in the Keys?  Not on your life.  Bring the irons and putter and hit the sand... so to speak... for a few holes.  Can you imagine a more beautiful setting?  The several areas of the Keys (Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, and Key West) each offer a variety of options.  From Key Colony Beach Golf & Tennis in marathon, to the Key West Golf Club, and a few in between, you are sure to find a few holes to bring your golf addiction satisfaction.  Some are closed to the public but there are plenty to get your Golf on.

Shopping.  Yep, plenty of that throughout the Keys.  From t-shirts and every goofy kind of souvenir you can think of, to high-end goodies, you're going to find plenty of shopping all along these island sanctuaries.  In need of a shell for a shelf?  How about a dolphin leaping to remind you of your time at Dolphin Research Center?  Thinking of a tinkling sound on your porch when you return home with your new wind chime?  You'll find all that and more in the shops and stores of the Florida Keys.

Key Lime Pie is just part of the amazing palatable
delights awaiting you. (Photo by Bob Krist/Florida
Keys News Bureau)

Lodging.  Want a romantic getaway?  Looking for a big-time resort?  Longing for a spa?  How about a simple hotel that gets you near the water?  Bringing your RV?  There are a thousand (well, I'm not sure the exact numbers, but a lot...) choices to be had in the Florida Keys.  Budgets, ideas, themes, on the water or near it, there is something for everyone.  Be certain to explore all the opportunities before deciding on one, and discover a whole new way to enjoy your vacation lodging.  Ever wanted to sleep underwater like Twenty Thousand Leagues?  You can in the Keys.  And... if you're learning to SCUBA dive while you're in the Keys, some lodgings offer SCUBA instruction right out your hotel room door.  How's that for full service?

Food.  Surely you've heard the Key's offer fresh fish (ya think!)  for your lunch and dinner.  You've even heard about the infamous Key Lime Pie.  Now you too can enjoy the palatable delights that abound throughout the Keys.  Those activities around the Keys?  Those are to help you keep the weight off from all the great food!

Sunsets.  From the pastel palate of the upper the Keys to the richness and awe-inspiring fullness of Key West, sunsets in the Keys are not just the perfect way to cap off a perfect day, they are meant to create memories that last a lifetime.  Dip your soul into a poem, wrap yourself in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate in front of a fireplace on a cold night, delight in the simple pleasures of those you love; that is what a sunset in the Florida Keys is all about.  Touching the senses, bringing all that is good to life, immersing your joy in the moment.  You will fell goosebumps rise, your eyes will slightly tear, your throat tighten with overwhelming happiness.  Time here stands still, but never long enough.  And when the sun finally slips from view, the colors melting into your dreams, you will long for tomorrow, and the chance to do this all again.

The Florida Keys & Key West are waiting to share all of this and more with you.  Come to paradise and discover a place where your dreams can come true.  With something for everyone, you'll surely come to love the Keys, and find yourself longing to return time and again.