Key West & Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a chain of over 1,700 islands stretching like a string of pearls 200 km into the Gulf of Mexico. Connected by the Overseas Highway (US-1) — one of the most spectacular roads in the world, crossing 42 bridges, including the legendary Seven Mile Bridge. At the end awaits Key West, the southernmost city in the continental USA and a place that feels like the Caribbean — only with an American passport.

The Overseas Highway

The drive from Miami to Key West takes about 3.5–4 hours (without stops), but plan a whole day. The Mile Markers (MM) count down from MM 126 (Florida City) to MM 0 (Key West). Important stops:

• Key Largo (MM 106–91) — Gateway to the underwater world. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was the first underwater state park in the USA. Glass-bottom boats, snorkeling, and diving to the famous "Christ of the Abyss" statue.
• Islamorada (MM 90–65) — "Sportfishing Capital of the World." Tarpon, Bonefish, and Sailfish bite here. The Theater of the Sea offers swimming with dolphins.
• Marathon (MM 65–47) — The Turtle Hospital is a rescue station for sea turtles with daily tours ($25, reservation required).
• Bahia Honda State Park (MM 37) — The most beautiful beach in the Keys and one of the best in Florida. Powdery white sand, crystal-clear water, few tourists. Campsites available (book months in advance!).

Key West

The Conch Republic (as Key West humorously calls itself since a playful "Declaration of Independence" in 1982) is a magical place: Victorian wooden houses in candy colors, chickens running freely through the streets, drag shows next to Hemingway bars, and America's most famous sunset at Mallory Square, where street performers, musicians, and fire-eaters gather every evening.

Must-see: the Ernest Hemingway Home ($18), where the writer lived from 1931 to 1939 and wrote some of his most important works — including the famous six-toed cats that still inhabit the garden today. The Southernmost Point (buoy at the southernmost point) is the most photographed motif in the Keys. The Duval Street is the party mile with bars, restaurants, and the legendary Sloppy Joe's (Hemingway's favorite bar).