Wildlife Refuge Economy Lodging Florida Keys
The Florida Keys is a magical place. In fact Key West, the Florida Keys most distant island, is only 90 miles from Cuba. On the bay side you can go offshore for miles, stop your vessel and stand in knee deep still water and not see shore anywhere around you. It's an true surreal experience for an ocean lover and nature loving person. I've ran into many a sting ray and dolphin while there.
Nestled away from the rest of the world, the Florida Keys have become a popular destination for North Americans looking for a tropical vacation without traveling far from their own home country. There are many things to do for example record breaking deep sea fishing, skin diving and snorkeling, boating, kayaking, sailing, and species tours beyond belief. Each of the island destinations has some unforgettable experiences. I invite you to visit each area individually and discover the tropical paradise in the Florida Keys.
One of the main reasons for my travels to the Florida Keys is for Lobster Sport Season. The locals call it bug hunting. It only last for about 3 days and the place is packed. If your into hunting for lobster, this is quite an exciting affair. Don't forget your snorkel/mask, tickle stick and net! The kind of Lobster you'll find down there are the Spiny Lobster type, which have no pinchers and can get quite enormous. Spiny Lobster are larger than some Main Lobsters in some cases. Don't forget, recreational harvesters are required to have a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License with a current crawfish stamp. Consult a local tackle shop for exemptions to licensing requirements. Licenses are available through local convenient stores, tax collectors, many tackle shops and marine supply stores.
What does it cost to travel to the Florida Keys? I'm finally getting to that. The Florida Keys is by far the most awesome tropical vacation spot for any novice fisherman, diver, or just plain traveler. But watch your wallet! The Florida Keys can be quite expensive. My family and I shopped around extensively for the best motel prices and by far the best we found was a little place right off the highway called Big Pine Key Motel. They had the lowest rates and the largest rooms of every "affordable" place to stay down there which were around $70 and up! And I'm talking crazy up! Some places were asking over $400. If you've got the nut, I would highly recommend Little Palm Island. It's one of the top 10 destinations in the nation and the only way you can get to it is by boat. The Big Pine Key Motel is just a 20 minute drive from Key West and is surrounded by dive shops, fishing expeditions and great places to eat.
I'm going to leave you with a warning. The Florida Keys is protected by many environmental laws that are specific to endangered species. If you do any hiking lookout for the poison wood. It looks as innocent as an oak tree and 10x more dangerous than poison ivy. The locals can't chop it down because it produces a berry that an endangered species of bird eats.
