living on a sailboat in the florida keys

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The Perfect Spot for Liveaboards in the Florida Keys -->The Perfect Spot for Liveaboards in the Florida Keys

Liveaboards up to the sounds of waves gently lapping against your bedroom every morning or watching the dolphins play as you sip wine on your deck. It sounds like the perfect vacation getaway, but for people who live aboard their vessels, this is an everyday reality. Living aboard a sailboat, catamarans, houseboats, and other vessels can give you a whole new perspective on life. Liveaboards in the Florida Keys offer a fresh take on the tiny living lifestyle. Here, you can live boundlessly and take your home on the open seas. Finding the right marina for your liveaboard can make a world of difference in your experience, which is why Mangrove Marina works so hard to ensure our marina has everything you need during your time with us, including wet slips rental in Tavernier. Our resort-like amenities combine with a beautiful location, and once you settle in, you might not ever want to leave. Our marina is spacious, stretching out across 20 lush acres. We have more than 100 wet slips designed for both transient and liveaboard boaters. Each wet slip is spacious and built to accommodate boats up to 70-feet long with 24-foot beams and 5-feet of draft. When you step off your deck and onto our fixed cement fingers and walkways, you will be ready to discover everything our marina has to offer, including breathtaking views and a laid-back atmosphere. Along with all the routine amenities marinas typically have to offer, including power, water, and pump-out services, Mangrove Marina also offers:

• Barbecue facilities
• WiFi and cable
• Bathhouses with showering facilities
• Laundry facilities
• Heated freshwater pool
• Bicycle racks

Also on our site is the always lively and ready to entertain Fin & Juice Bar, where you and your family can grab fun drinks, enjoy some great food, and listen to live music in a laid-back, classic Florida Keys setting. Our full-service marina in Tavernier is aptly named. Nestled in the middle of hearty mangroves, Mangrove Marina is sheltered by the hurricane hole effect, shielding your liveaboards in the Florida Keys from storms, high winds, and surges. In severe storms, you can protect your boats using our dry storage. Along with dry storage, we offer the full complement of essential maintenance services, including:

• Powerwashing
• Electrical work
• Top and bottom painting
• Marine system repairs
• Fiberglass and canvas repairs
• Engine work

Our full-service marina in Tavernier offers everything you need to maintain your vessel on-site and offer haul-out services. You don’t have to feel anchored to our marina during your time here. Launch off into Tavernier to explore everything our area has to offer, including shopping, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, the Wild Bird Sanctuary, Old Settlers Park, and plenty of restaurants, sightseeing, and fishing to fill your days and evenings. Mangrove Marina is located between markers 62 and 65 on the ICW if you are accessing from the water and in Tavernier, Fla., just off Mile Marker 91.7 from land. Contact us today to learn more about our wet slips rental in Tavernier or to plan your visit.

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200 Florida Ave. Tavernier, Florida 33070 305.852.8380

Located at Mile Marker 91.7 on the Bayside (25’ 00.681 N) (080’ 31.110 W) Between Marker 62 and 65 on the ICW

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How To Live on a Boat in Florida: Laws, Liveaboard, and Houseboats!

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Being lulled to sleep by the gentle waves of the ocean and waking up to the sound of seagulls and other marine wildlife is a very romantic and attractive idea. This type of fantasy leads many people to look for, or at least consider, a life on a boat, away from the land. This may be especially true if you’re already in love with the climate and water of Florida.

You can live on a boat in Florida, and you can do this safely and legally. However, there are laws that govern this kind of lifestyle, and you should be well-acquainted with them before choosing to move to a boat. If you follow the laws, you’ll be able to live on a boat very easily. 

So, let’s get into the costs, legality, and some popular types of liveaboards to help you see for yourself if you can afford the lifestyle and if it’s the right choice for you. If done right, living on a boat can be a wonderful experience and a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Let’s dive into it!

If you’re interested, I can also suggest 11 incredible locations around the world that are perfect for liveaboard enthusiasts to explore.

Table of Contents

What Is Considered a Liveaboard in Florida?

A liveaboard is a vessel that serves as a person’s primary residence. In other words, it’s a vessel that a person uses primarily as their house. This does not mean that you’re not permitted to use the vessel for anything else; you’re permitted to use it for recreational purposes as well.  

Therefore, a boat you use, let’s say, for fishing and sometimes sleep on, is not a liveaboard. But if you live on it and occasionally go for a sail, it is a liveaboard.

If you’re still unsure about what type of boat would be the best fit for liveaboard purposes, I can provide you with valuable insights on the topic through my article.

The Cost of Living on a Boat in Florida

Just like with every major life decision, budgeting is the primary task you have to complete before moving on to fulfilling your wishes. We have to take a look at and analyze some key elements. 

There are two basic costs you have to pay attention to:

• A marina slip

A marina slip or a boat slip is like a parking space for your boat , that is, the place where your boat will be anchored. A monthly slip for a 40-foot (12-meter) boat can cost between $800 and $2000, depending on the location. 

The price of the slip depends on the location – the more popular your area is, the more it’s going to cost. 

Another critical factor is how long you’re going to stay. If you can commit for a more extended period, you’ll pay less. If you can commit for an entire year, the price may go from $11 per foot (per 0.3 meters) per month. You might negotiate an even better deal if you stay longer. 

The prices of boats vary widely based on the size of the vessel and its type. You can count on spending at least $30,000 on a smaller boat, and it’s safe to say that there’s no upper limit to the price. Keep in mind that bigger boats need more space. Therefore, the slips for them are more expensive.

Apart from those basic costs, you’ll also need to take into account taxes, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and so on. These costs are highly variable, so it’s hard to give an exact number. 

Taxes can be the most expensive cost when it comes to these costs. Florida has a sales and use ta x of 6% of the boat’s value. You’ll need to take that into consideration.

Are Houseboats Legal in Florida?

Houseboats are legal in Florida. It’s essential to understand the laws concerning houseboats, such as installing a proper toilet, and mooring outside prohibited areas.

One of the laws that you have to follow states that your houseboat, just like any vessel, has to have a proper toilet installed, which means that you’re not allowed to drain your sewage into the water. 

However, there have recently been some problems when it comes to anchoring in Florida. Many cities have been trying to limit the time you can remain anchored , which may complicate your living situation. This has raised the concern of many houseboat owners. 

You’ll need to check with your local authorities to know if and how long you’re allowed to anchor and what rules you have to adhere to. Some places may allow you to anchor your houseboat there, while some may not. 

Of course, you’ll also have to respect regular safety practices and not operate your houseboat under the influence.

When are Houseboats Allowed and When are They Not?

Houseboats are not legally allowed to be in a navigable waterway, channel, or mooring field. You’re also not allowed to stay in a protected area, and you can pay if you do so. However, as long as you’re in a designated liveaboard area and follow the rules, living on a boat in Florida is legal. 

It’s best to check if a marina you’re interested in allows liveaboards. Some don’t, so you can’t just drop an anchor everywhere. 

In some places, there is a new law that you’re also required to pay a $5 permit and to pump your sewage at a designated area. 

Living on a boat in Florida is legal and possible. If you can afford it, and if such a lifestyle attracts you, you can start with the preparations.

You have to budget for the marine slip and the boat, as well as taxes and the cost of maintenance. You’ll have to decide if the expenses are worth it for you. In some cases, living on land may be cheaper, albeit less romantic. 

Local regulations and laws have to be observed, as well as the rules enforced by marinas. Be sure to check everything with the local authorities.

• My Florida Legal: Advisory Legal Opinion – AGO 85-45
• Freedom Residence: Can You Live on a Boat in Florida? 
• The CE Shop: Boat Living: An Affordable Alternative for Florida Locals?
• Knoxville Barge, Inc: Difference Between a Boat Slip & Boat Dock
• Boat Tax: Florida Boat Tax – Major July 1, 2010 Change
• Bay News9: Madeira Beach Passes New Law Restricting Live-Aboard Boats
• Crow Survival: Are Houseboats Legal in Florida?
• The Florida Guidebook: Florida Anchoring Laws

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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Tips To Living On A Boat In Key West

February 6, 2023

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‍ Key Takeaways

• Living on a boat in Key West, Florida requires plenty of planning and love for the sea
• Dock rates, lease rates, and other factors can influence costs tremendously
• Mooring restrictions are in place, so be sure to check the areas of interest

‍ Living on a boat in Key West can be a truly wonderful experience. But what are some tips to make the process easier?

Being prepared for the unique challenges that come with living on a boat in Key West is important. These tips include having a solid hurricane plan, familiarizing yourself with local weather and sea conditions, and being aware of the regulations and ordinances in place for liveaboards .

Finding the perfect spot to live on a boat in Key West can be challenging, but preparing yourself ahead of time is key. As you will see, these tips will make the experience much better.

Table of contents

‍ best tips to living on a boat in key west.

Key West is a beautiful spot to live aboard in your boat, especially with the living coral barrier reef, magnificent marine life, and arguably one of the best places to sail. But there are important factors to consider to boating full time in the Florida Keys. Understanding each tip will help you save time, money, and your sanity while in Key West.

Hurricane Plan

You will need a good hurricane plan in the event of nasty weather towards Key West. Typically, June 1st to November 30th is hurricane season for Key West and all of Florida. If you happen to be caught near one, you should:

• Stay informed about the storm's forecast and track, whether it is hitting the Florida Keys or not
• Prepare an emergency kit with supplies such as non-perishable food, water, first aid items, and a battery-powered radio.
• Make a plan for you and your family for leaving Key West or sheltering in place (better have a good anchor).
• Heed all evacuation orders issued by local officials in the Florida Keys.
• Keep important documents and identification in a water-proof container.

Getting Used to Weather and Sea

Key West has warm weather year-round, meaning it has its hot seasons. People that live in KEy West must be used to the heat, or otherwise they could not handle it. If living on a boat there, you should:

• Stay informed with weather forecasts and alerts so you know what to expect and can plan accordingly.
• Wear lightweight, breathable clothing and protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated in the heat and humidity.
• The heat and humidity can be overwhelming, so take it easy and pace yourself when engaging in outdoor activities.
• The sea can be unpredictable, so take the opportunity to learn about the tide schedule, currents, and warning signs of rip currents, and always be aware of your surroundings when swimming. Boating safety is very important in these waters.

Many communities in Key West have implemented mooring fields and restrictions on anchoring, which may require the use of mooring buoys and the payment of fees. You will need to be familiar with how mooring buoys work for liveaboard life.

Private docks might be out of the question depending on the location in south Florida. This will be a cost that you need to factor into your boating budget.

Lease Rates

When it comes to leasing a spot for your floating home, there are different rates depending on the usage and rent type. For commercial purposes, the cost is $32.93 per foot on a monthly basis and an additional $1.00 fee for each licensed passenger. The rates may be higher due to boat rentals.

Keep in mind, there is a commercial waitlist in place for various parts of the Florida Keys. For those looking to use the spot recreationally, the rate is $28.61 per foot per month, with a recreational waitlist in effect.

If you are interested in the liveaboard life, the rate is $25.30 per foot per month with an extra $43.60 charge per person, per month. It is important to note that all leases require boat owners to lay down a deposit that equals one month's rent.

Dockage prices for transient boats vary depending on the duration of stay. Daily rates are $3.30 per foot, weekly rates are $18.70 per foot, and monthly rates are $52.80 per foot. These rates are subject to change at any time, especially during the Key West Marlin Tournament or if a lot of Key West fishing charter activities are occurring.

Water usage is included in the cost, but electric usage is metered. Keep in mind that there is a maximum stay limit of 120 days per calendar year, so be aware for living aboard in a given location.

During the summer months, transient dockage rates are reduced to $2.75 per foot per day, $14.85 per foot per week, and $42.05 per foot monthly. Local transient boats also receive a discounted rate of $2.20 per foot per day, $11.00 per foot per week, and $31.90 per foot monthly.

Derelict Vessels

Local and state governments have been cracking down on abandoned vessels in the Florida Keys, so it is important to ensure that your boat is in good working condition if you plan on living aboard. Liveaboard boaters must also be able to move the boat under its own power and sail to avoid fines.

On average, it costs roughly $240,000 a year just to take care of abandoned boats near the Florida Keys. This is costing taxpayers quite a bit of money, so lawmakers are aiming to crack down on this act.

Pump-Out Service

It is important to be aware of the county-wide ordinance that bans the overboard discharge of sewage in Key West, and to make use of the county’s free pump-out service. This is to protect the national marine sanctuary in Florida that surrounds the Keys, so just use common sense here.

Living Near Various Districts

There is an anchorage area just west of the island being a popular spot for liveaboards. This area is often referred to as "Key West affordable housing" and many of the residents commute to work every day by dinghy.

While there are many Florida communities and beautiful beaches where you could enjoy the liveaboard life, you might need special permits to stay long term. Some of the best locations to be in or around Key West include:

• Dry Tortugas (and visit historical landmarks like the Dry Tortugas National Park).
• Florida mangroves (plenty of captivating mangrove forests from Loxahatchee to Key West).
• Duval Street and Mallory Square (one of the most popular streets in Key West, along with a historic old town).
• Key Largo all the way to the Historic Seaport (the southernmost point)

Is it Difficult to Live on a Boat in the Florida Keys?

The short answer is yes, it can be difficult to adjust to life on boats. Living the boating life is not for everyone in the continental United States, even in the Florida Keys, so you will need a different perspective to have the best boating experience and set anchor somewhere you prefer.

If you want to enjoy boating and the liveaboard life, here are the pros and cons:

• Get to see diverse marine life while at anchor, like spiny lobsters, and potentially have wildlife encounters with key deer on land
• Buy a fishing license to catch various species of tropical fish
• If you want to explore, but do not want to move your boat, a boat rental or guided tour for a day trip are easy to find
• Seagrass beds, coral reefs, and the national marine sanctuary are beautiful sites to see while boating
• Strong winds with storms make it difficult to live on boats, even in the Florida Keys
• Private charters, along with other boating companies, might take up a lot of dock space in many marinas
• Some people might not like the Atlantic Ocean, the coral reef, Florida fish, or the florida Keys at all, or just prefer land in general
• Depending on your experience sailing, there may be areas you want to steer clear of in Florida if you are not familiar with the area
• You will need to get familiar with how to use a mooring buoy and be able to identify boundary buoys and trap buoys
• New laws limit the amount of time you can spend living in the Florida Keys on a boat, which drives away business for that scenario

How Many People Live on Boats in Key West?

Since the new law a few years ago, liveaboards are only able to stay 90 days at a time. So the number of boats has gone down dramatically over the years, where numbers used to be around 100 or so.

On average, you can expect to see anywhere near 70 boats at a time throughout the Florida Keys that live aboard their boats. However, these vary based on time of the year and availability of dock space.

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About THE AUTHOR

Brian Samson

I have a deep love of houseboating and the life-changing experiences houseboating has brought into my life. I’ve been going to Lake Powell on our family’s houseboat for over 30 years and have made many great memories, first as a child and now as a parent. My family has a passion for helping others have similar fun, safe experiences on their houseboat.

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Living aboard in the Florida Keys...

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Very nice to hear someone living the good life. We hope to visit that area some day.  

Never spent much time in New England, have ya? Try living aboard on Block Island or the Vineyard. BI town moorings are $45 a night (no monthly rate), no water, you can walk a half mile for a shower (as in one shower per day) at the town beach. Oh, there's more, I could go on and on....  

Is the Tarpon Creek bar behind the Holiday Inn? I've been there I think. I was visiting a friend who stays on a mooring in the city marina. Have you ever crossed paths with Steve Lalonde on Alobar, a Lord Nelson 41?  

We rented a house on Marathon last winter for a week. Yes it was something like $1,200. It included access to a private beach club. Was nice but pricey. We drove down with the 4 kids, so I guess we saved on airfare. Regards, Brad  

Sigh... Gary you're killing me. We've got a place in Sombrero Beach and our son moved there a little over a year ago. My wife is taking her mom down in a couple of weeks to visit but I'll be stuck in Jersey with work. The plan is to make the move there in the next two years. I can't wait. Hope to see you play there one of these days.  

Thanks for sharing this Gary. We tend on this forum to get so carried away discussing gear, maintenance, and the things that go wrong with boats that it’s easy to lose sight of why we sail. If all goes according to plan, my wife, daughter and I will leave Baltimore this fall to head down the ICW, and spend late fall of 2015 and winter-spring of 2016 cruising south Florida and the Bahamas. As it stands we can only manage a one-year “sabbatical” but I’m hoping we might be able to pick up freelance work that we can do remotely or find summer jobs in 2016 that will replenish the kitty enough to go back out for another year or more. If we don’t want to or can’t keep going we’ll still be very grateful to have had the experience and will know how we want to plan for the future – whether we want to do another 1-2 year sabbatical cruise 5-10 years down the road, work toward becoming full time cruisers sooner than later, wait until retirement to hope that we can cruise more, or just be happy that it’s something we can cross off our list. Every once in a while we start to believe the people who tell us we’re crazy and we start making excuses to not go, so posts like this are always an inspiring reminder of why we should stick with our plan and how worthwhile it will be. Hope we cross paths down there in about 10 months. Bryan  

Hi Gary, have a question, did you ever know a guy by the name of Dave Chandler ? He lived in the Keys and around Md/ D.C. played music all over. I think his nickname was 'sticks'?  

Wow...nice!  

Gary, It looks like you're bringing the warm weather north with you. It's 64 here today and I just had lunch outside in shorts. It feels great after single digit weather. I'll definitely second your thoughts about people in the Keys. In some ways it feels like stepping back in time 30 years -- in a good way. Have a safe trip home, I'll catch you playing under the palm trees one of these days. Jim  

Gary, Actually I think you brought the cold back with you. About four inches of fresh snow here. I'm sorry to hear about your pipes. Hopefully there's no serious damage to your home. Jim  

"The problem is with the handyman jobs is the City Marina insists that that person carry a huge bond, liability insurance, and other licenses to work on vessels stored on city property, including those in the mooring fields. Just another way for the local government to stick their hands into your wallet." Not so draconian and not so unusual at all, Gary. The odds are that either the local taxpayers complained about being ripped off by people, or the local taxpaying repairmen complained about cheap competition that weren't carrying all their real costs. Pretty much every 20th century jurisdiction requires contractors and handymen to be licensed and bonded. Heck, in Florida a contractor has to memorize an encyclopedia if they are going to work on 4-story buildings, as opposed to 3-story and under. That's just the way it is. A friend of mine had some problems with "the union" when he worked at the phone company. They resolved it by saying he couldn't DO any manual work, that was reserved for union members. But if (wink wink) he was just SHOWING someone how to do something, then he was an instructor, and that didn't need any license or union membership. See, this is how you sand a board...fix a leak...install a light bulb. Here, now, you try it, don't worry, I'll finish it if you get stuck. And you don't need a teacher's license, unless your teaching in school.(VBG) I do hope you had a licensed, bonded, union electrician plug in that kit of yours. Although of course, the uncovered, unsecured power cord would seem to imply not.(G)  

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Living In Key West

I’ve been living in Key West for a month now, here are some of my reflections on how things work down here in the Florida Keys. Before I moved here, I had little idea of what it really meant to live in the Keys, though the fantasy was one I enjoyed 🙂

What’s Key West Like

I’ve only spent limited time walking around Key West so I’m sure my impression will change as I expand my explorations.

It really seems like there are two Key Wests. Downtown (what they label Old Town) is really the standard “adult disneyland “. A series of restaurants and bars that cater to the tourists with “made in china ” trinkets the same you would find in Vegas, New Orleans, or any major tourist location in the US with just the labels changed. There’s the organized group fun (snorkeling, jet skis and water activities being the focus) to make your two weeks off for the year pleasant. For me that part is Meh, ok to grab an afternoon beer.

The other Key West you find away from downtown and Key West Bight. This town is filled with eccentric people (some homeless, some stupidly wealthy). The local characters are a mix of retirees, locals, and a lot of oddballs that have drifted down the Florida Keys to find their spot. A lot of locals are artists and writers. These are similar to the people I found in places like Venice, CA and Hawi, HI. I used to explain Hawai’i as the place that the one weird person that you grew up in high school with went to as adults. If you don’t find yours in Hawai’i, there’s a good chance they’re in Key West.

Cost of living in Key West

Key West (and the Florida Keys in general) are expensive to live in for all the normal reasons that living in a “vacation” spot are, and I’ve lived in a number of vacation spots. There is little to no industry, most of the commerce is made by catering to retired money and tourists. This limits jobs and other ways to earn income, though the defacto minimum wage is $13 per hour.

Outside of housing, the largest cost increase I’ve seen is food. Little is grown locally, so it’s trucked in from Miami warehouses. You’ll see this in an increase at the grocery store and at the local restaurants. On the upside, my free diving on some local rocks has netted some free lobsters 🙂

Unlike some vacation spots I”ve lived in, housing costs are terrible down here. The island is only 4 miles long, and all the houses that are going to be built are done. A small one bedroom apartment will run you around $1000 a month and up. Irma destroyed a lot of the low-income housing in the Florida Keys (mostly mobile homes), so there is a real crunch for affordable housing, which then puts a crunch on finding employees who can afford to live locally.

Mooring In Key West

Living on a boat really helps with the housing costs. The anchorages around here are poor (light covering of sand over hardpan) with poor holding unless you’re using a hugely oversized anchor (where the weight of the anchor is holding you vs. any ability to dig into the seabed). From talking with people, this is the case anywhere south of Marathon (Boot Key Harbor). So, I’m hooked on a mooring ball outside of Garrison Bight between Fleming Key and Dredgers Key in the old Navy seaplane base. The $350 a month this costs me gives me the mooring spot, a secure dinghy dock in the bight and access to the showers and laundry facility ($1.50 for a wash, $1.50 for dry). It’s about a mile from the northern point of the mooring field to the dinghy dock, when I rowed this took me just under an hour, with my new 3.5 hp motor I can get there in 20 minutes.

Rowing A Boat

When I left Jacksonville I didn’t have a motor for the dinghy (a little 8.5 foot hard dinghy I bought from a resident at the marina) as I didn’t need one living on a dock. For the first 6 weeks in the Florida Keys I would row in and out from wherever I was anchored or moored. Before finding a job (and if I was a retired cruiser) this wasn’t a hard to do. I would pick a day with nice weather and calm seas and just go into town. When I got a job I no longer had the luxury to pick my times, and after a 10 hour shift it was tiring to row for an hour. There are little to no small horse power outboards on the Craigslist in Key West so I bought a new Tohatsu 3.5 horse power outboard. It works well on the little dinghy I have though I need to make a tiller extension so that I can sit further forward to keep the front end of the boat down. This cut my commute time down to 20 minutes and also gave me more time to enjoy the scenery on my daily commute. Also I’m feeling more inclined to get out and explore more so look for updated photography missions.

Where To Park The Dinghy In Key West

Finding a place to leave your dinghy when you travel and live on a boat can be a challenge. With the mooring field, I get access to the secure dock in Garrison Bight. This is nice but unfortunately, it’s located a good distance from anything (which is a challenge on a 4-mile island, but one that the local city council excelled at). To make grocery runs, I also found an unofficial place to park the dinghy under the bridge near the Home Depot on N Roosevelt St. There is enough room for 3 or 4 dinghies tied to the mangroves here though you may have to tread through some water to get to shore if you’re the outside dinghy. There is supposed to be a short-term (2 hour) dinghy dock in Key West Bight, but I haven’t been over there (on the water) yet.

Challenges Of Living On A Mooring

When I left Jacksonville I really wasn’t finished with my refit and most of my challenges are due to that.

I haven’t installed solar yet, and a lot of challenges are due to lack of electricity. I have a small, inexpensive generator that I use to keep the batteries charged up but due to its size, it’s not the correct solution, so I keep the refrigerators turned off. I wanted to do things right and install an arch over the stern to mount the solar panels but am thinking that I’ll purchase the panels first and just have them on the deck for now and mount them on an arch before I leave Key West in a few years.

The other challenge I’m finding living out on the salt water is corrosion with my small electronic devices. Everything from phones, computers, and cameras to the rechargeable Dewalt batteries, the connection points easily get corroded. I use contact cleaner spray to try to keep things under control, but it’s a constant battle.

Before I left Jacksonville I found this cool device on Amazon. It’s a slide on adapter for my Dewalt tool batteries (I bought a number of tools so have half a dozen 20v rechargeable batteries laying around) that allows you to charge USB devices (phones, tablets, etc) off the batteries. This really helps keep all stuff charged up until I can get my electrical and wiring issues resolved.

On the upside here is my front yard (which makes it all worth it)

Related posts

Living on a sailboat: corrosion.

You said work is hard to find. What did you end up finding there? How long do plan on staying in Key West?

there are a lot of service jobs here but the housing costs make them untenable for most.

I’ll be here for a couple years to try and finish up the boat projects

So as an update to how jobs work down here. Due to the lack of work force and high living costs, effective minimum wage is $13 – $15 per hour. If you can show up on time ready to work (skills my parents gave me in abundance) you can get a job within a day or two of arrival. Then, as with most islands, you wait for the right job and network with people. I grabbed a bottom job (UPS store clerk for $13 an hour, moved up to a manufacturing plant supervisor for a small shop at $20 an hour. I am working a part time night janitor job for a gym @ $15 an hour (an extra $900 per month), only for 18 months to catch up on boat projects. Because I own my boat outright I only have mooring fees, cell phone and food bill (less than $1000 per month).

The wages work well for my situation. You can make more in a city (my marketing career was $60k – $70k) but you lose the blue water and deal with stress

Sailing the Florida Keys: 2 week Florida Keys Sailing itinerary

By: Author Reilly Mulligan

Posted on Published: August 5, 2023  - Last updated: October 9, 2023

Categories Florida Keys

Home » Florida Keys » Sailing the Florida Keys: 2 week Florida Keys Sailing itinerary

Looking for a guide to sailing the Florida Keys ? You have come to the right place! Here’s a full circumnavigation Route of the Florida Keys from an avid Florida sailor. 

The Keys are a magical place and the only place in the continental US where you will find water that is a classic crystal clear turquoise shade. You could spend months exploring the hundreds of reefs and keys. If you don’t have months to spend exploring, I have got you covered.

I’ve compiled a cohesive itinerary for your Florida Keys circumnavigation that can be done within a week, but you’ll want to have more time. I promise. I would recommend that you set aside at least two weeks for this trip, so you can stop and explore the places that stand out to you the most.

This sailing journey through the Keys begins in the Miami/ Key Biscayne area. If you don’t have your own sailboat, you can rent one from sailo.com . For this journey, a sailboat with a shoal keel or a catamaran would be the best fit, as the Florida Keys are surrounded by relatively shallow waters.

The sailboat / yacht rentals out of the Miami/ Key Biscayne area are currently ranging from $450-$2000+ a day. I would recommend doing as much provisioning as possible while in this area, as you will have a wider variety of options and a better deal on gas and diesel.

After you get your boat stocked up and ready for your trip, you can anchor or moor off of Dinner Key for the night before starting your journey.

Florida Keys Sailing Guide: A 2 week itinerary

1. sailing from dinner key to rodriguez key.

49 Nautical Miles // 8 hours of sailing

If you decide to spend the first night of your journey at Dinner Key, the city has moorings available for $29.16 a night for vessels under 40 feet.

If you opt to spend the money for the mooring ball, you will also have access to pump-out facilities, laundry, exceptionally clean bathrooms and showers, and a dinghy dock (although it is quite a distance from the mooring field). There is also a shuttle service that runs to the mooring field from 8 am-5 pm; however, it doesn’t run if there are high winds and can result in having you stuck on shore without a ride back to your home.

This spot off Dinner Key offers very little protection and is open to all directions except the east.

Once you have weighed anchor and are ready to start heading to your next destination, head southwest towards the Biscayne flats, south of Key Biscayne.

If you want to stop for the night or need to duck away from an oncoming storm, you can anchor in No Name Harbor or along the edges of the Cape Florida Channel. After passing through the Biscayne flats, keep heading east towards the Atlantic Ocean. Once you’ve bypassed all of the channel markers, turn south and start heading through the waters of the Biscayne National Park.

Keep heading south down Hawk Channel, you will soon come to an area known as Mosquito Bank. Once you are sailing through the Mosquito Bank, you will see Rodriguez Key to your southwest. There are crab pots virtually everywhere, even within the channel. Be sure to be on the lookout, if you plan on getting in after dark it is crucial that you have a reliable bright spotlight.

I recommend anchoring on the northwest side of the island, in order to get the most protection possible. You might have a little bit of trouble trying to get your anchor to set, as the bottom consists of seagrass, rock, and coral.

Keep in mind that it is illegal to anchor on coral, so be sure to find a patch of sand or seagrass to drop the hook in. For southbound travelers, this is their first taste of the crystal clear water that the Keys are known for.

On days with better visibility, you can sometimes see your anchor in 7-10 feet of water. After getting your anchor set, be sure to go to shore and do some exploring on this beautiful, untouched mangrove island.

2. Sailing from Rodriguez Key to Little Crawl Key

37.9 Nautical Miles // 6 hours of sailing

Be cautious of crab pots along this route as they are littered everywhere. You should have no issues as you’re heading south down Hawk Channel, it is a relatively well-marked channel.

Once the channel starts bearing more west, you will find yourself coming up to the south side of Tavernier Key. You can also stop here and anchor for the night on both the north and south sides of the island and it has a decent sandy bottom that provides good holding. Little Crawl Key is home to Curry Hammock State Park.

Curry Hammock State Park is the largest piece of untouched land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key. If you visit during the fall you may be lucky enough to witness the huge migration of peregrine hawks that stop on the island on their pilgrimage south. Little Crawl Key is just south of Crawl Key.

They’ve been given their names due to the large number of turtle nesting that occurs on the island, with tons of tiny hatchlings crawling to the sea every year.

There are mangrove paddling trails that you can traverse on a kayak, dinghy, or paddleboard to get an up-close and personal view of the mangroves and all of the life inside of them. There are also hiking and biking trails on land if you would like to spend some time with solid ground under your feet. 

3. Cruising from Little Crawl Key to Newfound Harbor Key

28.8 Nautical Miles // 4.5 Hours of Sailing

Before heading west out of Hawk Channel, be sure to stop at Looe Key Reef to do some amazing snorkeling and diving. There are tons of mooring balls surrounding the island on a first come first serve basis, be sure not to drop the hook on any reef or coral, as it is illegal.

If the mooring balls are all taken and you must anchor, be sure to find a nice patch of sand to drop the hook in.  You will find some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Florida Keys at the reef off Looe Key. While swimming around the reef you may come across some goliath groupers, spotted eagle rays, barracudas, or even a black-tip reef shark.

If you have extremely placid weather, you may be able to spend the whole night at Looe Key Reef. However, if you have any type of wind or swell, I would recommend heading a bit further inland for the night. Leaving the reef, head west-northwest towards Big Pine Key.

There is a slightly shallow area just north of Munison Key where you should keep an eye on your depth finder. You will find a ½ square mile of reef just off the coast of Palm Island that hosts an amazing diversity of coral, including fan coral, brain coral, boulder coral, and star coral.

Diving, while there is a northwest wind blowing, will provide you with the best conditions for good visibility.

4. Cruising from Looe Key to Key West

25.3 Nautical Miles // 4 Hours of Sailing

As you are approaching Key West ; your senses may start to overwhelm you. It is one of the best places to go sailing in the Florida Keys.

You will be able to hear the music and people laughing from the downtown area, smell the burgers cooking on the grill, smell the deckhands cleaning fish on the docks while joking with their crewmates, and hear an almost constant buzzing of motors and jetskis all around the island.

You can anchor in the northwest inlet of Fleming Key, and dinghy into downtown from there. You will still have a little bit of traffic buzzing around you, which is virtually impossible to avoid in such close proximity to Key West. You can also anchor on the Northeast side of Wisteria Island, which is a good option as well.

However, a few people have reported that there is a sizable amount of derelict boats off of Wisteria Island that tend to drag if there is any weather at all. It is also a considerable distance from the dinghy docks on Key West. If you decide to leave your tender at the dinghy dock, it costs $8 a day. I would still recommend locking up your belongings to make sure that everything is where you left it when you return.

Once you get onshore in Key West, the activities available are essentially endless. There is something to do for the whole family. If you are a literary lover, you can stop at the Hemingway Home and Museum and meet the six-toed cats that live on the grounds.

You can also get a tour and see where Hemingway spent his nights writing his multiple masterpieces. The pool on the premises was constructed in 1938, and is gargantuan in size, especially for this era. It was the only pool within 500 miles of Key West when it was constructed. Entrance to the Hemingway Home costs $18/day for adults, $7 for children between 6-12 years old, or free for children 5 and under. Entrance into the home also gives you access to a 20-30 minute guided tour.

If you would like to get a little more in-depth view of the life of Ernest Hemingway, you can grab dinner and a drink at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, one of Hemingway’s favorite hang-outs.

If you would like to see a more colorful side of Key West, you can visit Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden. Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden is a parrot sanctuary that homes multiple endangered species of macaws and parrots.

Entrance to the sanctuary costs $10 for adults and $5 for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old.

A visit to Key West is not complete until you’ve got a photo taken in front of the Southernmost Point in the Continental US, a classic must-see stop that is free to visit. From this point, it is only 90 miles to Cuba.

Duval Street runs right through the middle of Key West, oriented to run north and south. There are tons of little shops and cafes to stop and poke in and grab refreshments when necessary. If you find yourself on the north side of Duval Street, you will come across Mallory Square.

Mallory Square is known for its magnificent view of the sunset, and the countless buskers and street performers earning their living everywhere that you look. If you have a hankering for something sweet, be sure to stop at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe for a frozen dark chocolate-covered piece of Key Lime Pie .

If you want to be blown away by the impressive size of the marine wildlife that Key West has to offer, take a trip over to Stock Island and visit Robbie’s of Key West Marina. There is a $2.50 entrance fee to go out on the dock and $4 more for a bucket full of fish to feed the tarpon. You will be able to see your hand and wrist get completely swallowed by a tarpon before it takes its treats and releases your appendages.

5. Key West to Dry Tortugas

64 Nautical Miles // 10 Hours of Sailing

Dry Tortugas National Park is a 100-square-mile park. It is a bird watcher’s paradise. It is one of the only places in the continental US where you can find endangered sooty terns nesting.

It is also home to one of the only known nesting colonies of frigate birds. There have been over 300 species of birds identified within its grounds. Fort Jefferson, an octagonal fort, proudly dominates Garden Key. The construction for it began in 1845. It was meant to be a military installment for US ships to patrol the Gulf of Mexico Construction was never completed and the fort was never armed, but it still sits on Garden Key, the second largest key in all of the Dry Tortugas.

Garden Key is also home to the visitors center, parks headquarters, and campgrounds. Entrance to the park costs $15 a person, excluding people under the age of 16, and is paid through a self-service fee area on the main dock at Garden Key.

here are no trash receptacles on the island so you need to “pack in and pack out” everything that you bring. Be sure to respect your neighbors and mother nature, and remember that littering is illegal. There are also no lifeguards on duty so swimming is at your own risk. It is encouraged to always use the buddy system while swimming or snorkeling

Keep in mind that it is illegal to molest, stand or sit on coral, as it does a considerable amount of damage to the ecosystem.

Anchoring on the southeast side of Fort Jefferson typically allows you the best protection. Once you get the hook set, you will find yourself in a remote tropical paradise. The Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by seaplane, ferry, or private boat.

The Dry Tortugas has some of the best fishing that you will ever have the pleasure of experiencing. People with their own boats are required to get a boating permit for each vessel in order to be allowed to fish. These permits are free and can be picked up at the Garden Key Dock House.

You will need to get a boating permit for any type of vessel including kayaks, paddle boards, or dinghies. You will also need your Florida saltwater fishing license . Lobstering and spearfishing are both prohibited within the park. “J” hooks are not permitted to be used within the park, but “circle” hooks are acceptable.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to catch some of the amazing gamefish that call the Dry Tortugas their home such as amberjacks, bluefin tunas, blackfin tunas, wahoos, kingfish, black grouper, red grouper, swordfish, sailfish, and permits. The species of fish that you pull up will be dependent on the time of year that you go.

There are also at least five turtle species present in the park including Loggerheads, Green Turtles, Kemp’s Ridley, Hawksbill, and Leatherbacks. President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated the fort a national monument. Now, you cannot remove any seashells, sand, rocks, coral, or glass from the national park.

If you don’t feel up to making the entire 64-mile trip, you can stop about halfway in between Key West and the Dry Tortugas at the Marquesas Keys, turning the voyage into a slightly more manageable two-day trip.

The Marquesas Keys, not to be confused with the Marquesas Islands found in French Polynesia, are located about twenty miles west of Key West. It is sometimes referred to as “Button Island” due to its round shape. It was known to have been used for military target practice as recently as the 1980s.

The Marquesas are four miles in diameter, and the lagoon located in the center is known as Mooney Harbor. After leaving Marquesas Keys, it is a 36-mile distance to the Dry Tortugas.

The next section of this sailing route through the Keys is through the Inner Passage, on the northwest side of the Keys in the Florida Bay, rather than the Atlantic Ocean side.

his region in the Florida Keys is rather shallow, and I wouldn’t recommend attempting the journey without a functioning transducer on board. Also, if your boat draws more than five feet, you may want to reconsider and complete the trip through Hawk Channel, on the Atlantic Ocean side.

6. Dry Tortugas to Snipe Point

64.2 Nautical Miles // 10 Hours of Sailing

After visiting Key West and the Dry Tortugas, you may want to get away from the tourists a bit and hang out where the locals like to hang out. I would recommend going to Snipe Point on a weekday because the sandbar can become one giant party on the weekend.

Snipe Point is within the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1938 as a refuge for migratory birds, great white herons, and other tropical wildlife.

This area is commonly referred to as “the backcountry” by locals. Tons of turtles use this beach as a nesting area, so be sure to keep a lookout for nesting spots, and keep your lights to a minimum at night. Great White Heron National Wildlife Reserve consists of 1,000’s acres of untouched shallow, crystal clear waters and mangrove islands.

There are no pets permitted on shore. Be sure to keep your eye out for crab pots as they are littered everywhere around the island and channel.

7. Snipe Point to Fat Deer Key

41 Nautical Miles  // 6.5 Hours of Sailing

Fat Deer Key is located just north of Marathon and south of Long Point Key. It is another of our favorite places for Sailing in the Florida Keys.  On the Atlantic side of the island, you will find Coco Plum Beach, with its pristine white powdery sand. This is a great place to hang out if you wish to spend the day cooling down a little bit.

Curry Hammock State Park is located on Fat Deer Key, and within this park you will find the Curry Hammock State Park Nature Trail. Once entering the park, travel west for one mile to find the mouth of the hiking trail. You can find parking on either side of the road.

The hammock that shadows over you gives you a little bit of relief from the hot Florida sun. This state park is home to the largest thicket of Florida thatch palms in the continental US.

Fat Deer Key is just north of Marathon. Marathon is a well established city, and you will find everything you need to reprovision and top off your gas and/or diesel tanks.

Once on shore, there are a multitude of marina and dive shops that you can check out. Some of them include: Captain Hooks Marina and Dive Center and Driftwood Marina and Storage. If you are hungry for some delicious, fresh seafood be sure to stop in at SS Wreck and Galley Grill or the Island Fish Company. You can also check out Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters while exploring Marathon.

8. Fat Deer Key to Butternut Key

45.5 Nautical Miles // 7 Hours of Sailing the Keys

Butternut Key is located in Florida Bay, the body of water between the Florida Keys and the southern tip of Florida, east of the Gulf of Mexico.

Butternut Key is off the southwest coast of Key Largo. Technically, it is considered to be a part of the Everglades National Park . The maximum stay that is permitted is 14 days. There is a poll and troll zone within 300 feet of the islands, meaning that motors are not permitted.

It is easiest to approach the island from the southwest, off of the Intracoastal Waterway. You will have a 6-7 foot depth at low tide. Just like every other anchorage on the west side of the Keys, be sure to keep an eye on your depth sounder. The bottom is fine sand and soft mud and provides excellent holding. The anchorage is the most comfortable if it is blowing out of the North or East.

You’ll have a fantastic view of the sunset, as this spot is completely open to the West. This untouched, serene, remote tropical paradise inspires everyone who has the pleasure of laying eyes on it, including legendary artist Clyde Butcher. He traveled to Butternut Key in 1997 to preserve her beauty in a photograph forever.

9. Butternut Key to Dinner Key

49 Nautical Miles // 7 Hours and 45 Minutes of Sailing

When you depart from Butternut Key, head southeast toward the Atlantic Ocean, and then start heading up north once you reach Key Largo. Heading west you are first going to sail north through Baker’s Cut and enter into Buttonwood Sound.

Keep heading northeast through Buttonwood Sound, until you reach Grouper Creek. Again, keep your eyes on your depth sounder to make sure you don’t run aground. Also, keep a diligent eye out for crab pots that cover the waterways through here. After passing through Grouper Creek, you will spit out to the east into Tarpon Basin. As you continue heading north up the Intracoastal Waterway, you will soon enter Dusenbury Creek.

For this portion of the sailing route, it is crucial that you have a functioning engine onboard, as these voyages are nearly impossible without one. After exiting Dusenbury Creek, you will find yourself in a large bay, known as Blackwater Sound.

Continue heading northeast until you come to the mouth of Jewfish Creek. Jewfish Creek will bring you to Barnes Sound, then Card Sound, and then finally Biscayne Bay, inside of the Biscayne National Park. You will be able to anchor back at Dinner Key or find a slip in a marina to treat yourself after your jam-packed voyage.

Final Thoughts Before you set sail on your Yacht

If you plan to use our guide to Sailing the Florida Keys, we would love to hear from you so leave us a comment below.

Want more great Florida sailing routes? be sure to check out the Best Places to go Sailing in Florida !

Author: Reilly Mulligan is a sailing enthusiast from Florida who has spent her life sailing and exploring the Sunshine State.

Reilly is a sailing enthusiast from Florida who has spent her life sailing and exploring the Sunshine State. A native Floridian born who raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Reilly has spent her whole life going on interesting, off-the-beaten-path trips around the state of Florida and has a plethora of information and experiences to share! While she is not sailing her boat around the Sunshine State she is sharing her experience traveling around the State with the readers of Florida Vacationers!

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living in a boat in the keys - Key West Forum

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ive never sailed, love the water tho! any advice on how to start a new life living in a boat? navigation and that type of thing as well? i own an rv which i would keep on land as well. thanks for any advice

In bygone days, there were plenty of folks living in boats around KW....Boathouse Row, Christmas Tree island, and amongst the smallest uninhabited keys. Then they cracked down on this "mode of abode."

Not sure if you can still get away with it fulltime anymore.

Now, if you're talking about actual sailboat crusing, and anchoring for a few days or weeks at a time, plenty of people do that. Lots of info on that on the web. I like to read the jounals and blogs from folks who have taken a year or two and sailed around the globe. You could learn to sail by signing on as a novice deckhand with experienced cruisers. I daydream about doing that someday but it's not for everyone.

there are so many marinas throughout the Keys I would hope there are some that allow live-aboards.

We have quite a few people doing that here in Marina Del Rey. Ever see the show Quincy M.E.? They're still living aboard, even with the raised permit and slip fees.

Mike Mongo lives on a boat moored off the channel. You might want to get in touch with him via a PM. And Captain Dennis of Danger has a boat moored at the Westin marina and IIRC he lives on that.

There are of non-movable "boats" for rent up and down the keys, docked permanently. So, to do that you wouldn't have to know how to navigate.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Get Away to Key West and Explore the Florida Keys by Sailboat

Did you know there's an international airport perched out in the Gulf of Mexico at Key West? Serviced by all major US airlines and with frequent flights from main airports in the East and South, Key West is so easy to get to. That's where you'll find our boat charter operators, who have a range of sail and motor boats for you to explore this unique corner of the USA.  

Along the Florida Keys the holidaymaking options are numerous. Enjoy the aquatic environment with countless opportunities to snorkel, swim, kayak, paddleboard and more, while totally relaxing on board, or ashore on one of the Keys' beautiful beaches. Enjoy an evening meal in one of the upmarket restaurants that dot the Keys, shop and enjoy the nightlife in the major centers of population, and get close to nature at one of several locations designated State Parks. 

While pandemic concerns are limiting travel options, consider Key West as your next boat charter vacation destination. Local ordinances reflect the need to keep everyone protected and make this a safe destination. The communities are welcoming and open for business. 

Some of the highlights to experience on a Florida Keys Sailing Charter Vacation 

Your Florida Keys adventure likely begins and ends at Key West, which is closer to Cuba than Miami yet connected to the US mainland by the 90-mile long Overseas Highway that's an experience in itself. Most sailing charter visitors arrive by air and take the short transfer to one of the charter bases located on the island. Famous for its coral reefs, local architecture, historic sites and nightlife, charming Key West is well worth some time before or after your charter.  

Like most charterers however, you will probably be keen to go sailing and start exploring the chain of cays that make up this most southerly part of the Continental USA. Two great things about sailing here are that distances between attractions can be as short as you'd like them to be, and anchorages are plentiful, if shallow in places. A seven-day charter Key West to Key Largo and return is easily achievable. 

Travelling out of the Stock island marina, it's less than 30 nautical miles to Baihia Honda Key, a popular stopover. In the vicinity there's a variety of stunning beaches, some say the best in the world. Looe Key has some of the best snorkelling you'll experience on your vacation. 

A similar distance to that travelled above will take you from Bahia Honda Key to Long Key, via Marathon, a major sport fishing town of 10,000 people surrounded by the bountiful sea. Stop a while and enjoy a seafood lunch, or you may prefer to do Marathon on the return. At Long Key enjoy the natural surroundings, the greenery and the birdlife. 

Perhaps after two days of sailing that have taken you from Key West more than half way to the mainland, you're ready to take it a bit easier. Less than ten nautical miles onward you'll come to Indian Key Historic State Park at Islamorada. Nearby is the San Pedro Underwater Archeological Preserve, another one of the numerous state parks along the Keys. The San Pedro was a Dutch ship sunk during a hurricane in 1733. What remains lies in 18 feet of water 1.25nm south of Indian Key, easily accessible to good swimmers. 

From Indian Key, it's a further 20nm sailing distance to Key Largo. Apart from the shops, bars and restaurants, most of the attractions are aquatic-based as they are all along the Keys. A visit to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center can be rewarding, a reminder of the fragility of nature in this delicate place. 

If you enjoy walking while on vacation, the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is accessible to many points along your sailing route. 

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Charter a cruising sailboat during daylight hours in most wind and sea conditions. This Private Live Aboard Class is taught aboard our Irwin 34 This is the Class the Bareboat Charter Companies want you to have. Offered all year long on demand based on your travel plans. 7 Days and 6 Nights…Privately Living Aboard at our Dock

3 DAY FAST TACK TO CRUISING ASA 101 & 103

It’s the fastest and least expensive way to get the first 2 – ASA Certifications. Both combined into a 3 Day / 2 Night Live aboard Class. Prior sailing experience before enrolling is advised. Only $2,039 per student! And better yet…a second student enrolls for FREE!

5 - DAY FAST TACK TO BAREBOAT CRUISING ASA 101, 103 & 104

It’s the fastest and least expensive way to get these 3 - ASA Certifications. All 3 are combined into a 5 Day / 4 Night – Live aboard Class. Prior sailing experience before enrolling is advised. Only $3,599 per student! And better yet…a second student enrolls for FREE!

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A Guide to Sailing in the Florida Keys

There are over 880 reasons why the Florida Keys are the best yacht charter destination in America. This endless chain of coral islands wiggles from Miami to Key West in a sandy necklace licked by the sun. Only 30 of the islands are populated – mainly by lucky park rangers and oyster shack shuckers. Anchor off the hundreds of other Florida Keys for dolphin spotting, mangrove kayaking, desert island picnics and whirlpool-warm seas. Access? Solely by sea.

For a seamless day sailing the Florida Keys.

What to see and do in the Florida Keys

Heading south from Miami, Key Largo is first in line. This Florida Key hosts America’s first undersea sanctuary – the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Step off your yacht with snorkels, scuba tanks, or a glass-bottomed kayak. Finding Nemo? He’s right here, along with yellow snappers posing for selfies and lobsters peeking out from coral reefs.

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Shhh. The Florida Keys extend just under another 100km (62mi) west from Key West in the form of the Dry Tortugas. This little-known collection of coral islets is protected within a National Park that’s 99% water. The archipelago is linked by an irregular ferry service and hosts a single rustic campsite, making a chartered yacht the ultimate way to arrive. From the deck, spot loggerhead turtles, bottlenose dolphins and magnificent frigatebirds.

Best mooring locations in the Florida Keys

Key West’s line of petite marinas is sheltered on the northern side of the island – a stroll away from dozens of oyster shacks and lobster houses. Conch Harbor Marina offers free bikes, document printing and hammocks to sailors who tie-up – plus iced beers, two restaurants and a fishing store. Call ahead or contact them on open VHF Channel 16. Paradise is a tie-up to a mooring buoy off Looe Key – while the island is a National Marine Sanctuary where sea life congregates in droves. Leap over the side to see parrotfish, butterflyfish and jacks. As with all coral reefs, look but don’t touch.

Where to eat and drink in the Florida Keys

The sustainable larder of the Florida Keys is stocked with stone crabs, mahi-mahi and lionfish – where your menu should include shrimp tacos, Cuban pork and conch fritters. All crowned by a calorific wedge of key lime pie. No establishment on Key West can be considered fancy – Red Shoe Island Bistro simply gathers top drawer ingredients then serves them on the half shell, au beurre, or simply grilled. Harpoon Harry’s is as unabashed as its name – Join salty seadogs for a lobster po’boy or a seafood platter with the works. Pair with Bigger Boat White, a malty pilsner beer brewed in the Waterfront Brewery in Key West.

Best charter options in the Florida Keys

Sailing a motorized catamaran is a cinch . You can cruise the Florida Keys – with or without a skipper – with horsepower under the bonnet and not a single sail to worry about. Hire a vessel with Dream Yacht Charter , from skippered charters to bareboat fleets, let the captain do the work unless you’re a sailor.

Where to get groceries in the Florida Keys

New Market is the marina neighborhood store for pickles and mayonnaise to accompany your lunch on Picnic Island – yes, there’s a clue with that name. The Sunbeam Grocery, a few blocks east of Key West’s marina strip, is bigger and less expensive. Stock up on all-American snacks, international beers and Taittinger Champagne to bring out your inner James Bond.

Key annual sailing events in the Florida Keys

The Buccaneer Blast kicks off from Key Largo’s Upper Keys Sailing Club each February. The two-day race sees scores of younger sailors compete in Lasters, Optimists and Open Skiffs.

Climate and weather in the Florida Keys

As a yacht charter destination, Florida is fabulous for up to 10 months per year. Easterly winds promise 10-knot breezes through spring and autumn, rising to 15-knots in winter. Best of all, the reefs that surround the “American Caribbean” ward off choppy seas. Sunny? The Florida Keys and Miami Beach are the only places in the continental United States that have never recorded a frost. Winter highs average 25°C (76°F) while sea breezes stop summers from scorching. The only poor period for sailors is between late August and early October when sultry squalls and the occasional hurricane drift in. Sailors are advised to keep a keen eye on tides, too.

How to get to the Florida Keys

Most travelers fly into Miami International airport. The Florida Keys start a one-hour drive south at Key Largo. From here, it’s a sun-drenched 148km (92mi) drive down Highway 1 to Key West. Here, minor airport Key West International welcomes smaller jets from North American cities, including Chicago and New York.

Set sail around the Florida Keys.

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See & Do

How to spend days island hopping in the florida keys.

Moor Up at These Alternative Marinas in the Florida Keys to Avoid the Crowds

Places to Stay

The best vacation rentals to book in the florida keys.

The Best Beach Hotels to Book in the Florida Keys

The Best Beach Hotels to Book in Key West, Florida

Secret Keys: Hidden Attractions in Florida’s Tropical Archipelago

Key Largo to Key West: Island Hopping Like a Local in the Florida Keys

The Best Hotels to Book in the Florida Keys

The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in the Florida Keys

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Better Sailing

Best Boating Destinations in the Florida Keys

Widely called the Sunshine State, Florida is regarded by lots of travelers from around the globe to be the ‘boating capital’ of the world. For boaters, a destination with lots of sun and water with lots of boats, and a paradise for a natural setting, as in the case of Florida, can only pass as the choicest place for boating.

Therefore, it is no surprise that every year, thousands of recreational, commercial, and pleasure boaters visit the Florida Keys to sail, dive, fish, snorkel, and savor a wealth of activities on the water, including paddle board sports and kayaking.

The Florida Keys are coral reefs off the southern coast of the city. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) protects their surrounding waters, which stretch from Miami’s southwestward to include the Dry Tortugas. FKNMS boasts unique and spectacular resources like shipwrecks, coral reefs, fisheries, and seagrass beds that are a source of recreational and commercial activities like boating, diving, and fishing.

Bear in mind that boating in the Florida Keys can be difficult, especially for first-time boaters taking on shallow island waters. However, the areas have some of the world’s best boating scenes. Here are some of the best boating destinations in the Florida Keys:

Key Largo (Upper Keys)

One of the best places to boat in Florida is Key Largo. The upper Florida Keys begin south of Miami and extend into the lower corners of the state. The most popular attraction in this section of the Keys is the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. 

 Key Largo is the northernmost island in the Florida Keys and the first island reached by North-South sailors. You will find resorts and rental homes here, as well as several marinas that welcome passing boaters. Marinas, such as Kings Kamp and Bluefin Rock Harbour, also serve as RV parks if you want to take a land cruise to Key Largo. 

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park remains one of the major highlights in Key Largo. There you can sign up for snorkeling and diving trips, board a glass-bottom boat, or rent a kayak or paddleboard (if you haven’t already). Another must-see in Key Largo is the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Here you’ll find the Eco-Discovery Center with interactive exhibits, including a model of Aquarius, the world’s only underwater oceanographic laboratory.

>>Also Read: 10 Best Boating Destinations In Miami

Tavernier (Upper Keys) 

The largest island in the Upper Keys is Tavernier. Hotels in Tavernier offer a cross-border option for Key Largo but are still close to most of the fun. If you want a night or two away from the boat, consider the scenic cottages at Island Bay Resort or the Coconut Palm Inn, which has a marina for guests. 

 If you are boating with friends or acquaintances, the Coconut Palm Inn can also help arrange events such as weddings, fishing competitions, and yoga retreats. Family reunions aren’t uncommon here as well, and corporate retreats and birthday parties.

Islamorada (Upper Keys) 

Islamorada is home to the legendary marina, Bud’ n’ Mary’s, which serves as the launch pad for different kinds of sport fishing. There are temporary moorings here, but they are limited, so please call to make a reservation before visiting. With or without a local guide or charter boat, once in, you will find some of the world’s best fishing for mahi-mahi, tarpon, shark, and swordfish. 

 After a day of boating, proceed to any of the modern restaurants and bars nearby. You will find an assortment of menus, including a children’s menu that will satisfy the whole family. Raw tuna nachos are also a delicacy only available at the water’s edge for many establishments. The restaurant will cook whatever you bring after you catch it yourself (grilled, seared, black-grilled, or whatever you prefer).

>>Also Read: Living on a Boat in Florida – Best Liveaboard Marinas, Costs, and Tips

Long Key (Middle Keys) 

The central part of the Florida Keys begins at Long Key and stretches further to the Seven Mile Bridge, which links Knights Key (Middle Keys) and Little Duck Key (Lower Keys). If you prefer to explore at a slower pace, this middle portion of the Florida Keys is often quieter than the hotspots of Key Largo and Key West. 

Fiesta Key RV Resort & Marina is situated on a 28-acre property in Long Key with its own marina, RV parking, and hotel. It has a restaurant and beach bar and is close to Long Key State Park, famous for bird swimming and birdwatching. For a different experience, you can leave the boat to visit campgrounds nearby overlooking the water.

Duck Cay (Middle Quays) 

Duck Cay is home to Hawks Cay Resort and is so popular that the entire island is sometimes referred to as Hawks Key. The property has 6 on-site restaurants that deal in everything from surf and turf to ceviche. The property’s Oasis Cay Bar is famous for being an adults-only facility by the pool if you want to observe a me-time after taking the kids out for other activities.

The natural patterns you will find here are not only gorgeous, but they also form a great destination for boating. And regardless of your expertise, navigating Duck Cay would not be too demanding. Just make sure you have a well-thought itinerary.

>>Also Read: Best Boating Destinations in Florida

Sugarloaf Key (Lower Keys)

The lower Florida Keys span from Big Pine Key to its terminus in Key West. Key West is arguably the most famous island in the entire Florida Keys, with a myriad of attractions and boaters of all kinds weaving through the local streets. 

Sugarloaf Quay attracts many kayakers who love exploring the backwaters and all its mangroves. You will find guides and rentals at locations like Backcountry Sugarloaf Marina and Boat Rentals. The Sugarloaf Marina has a kayak launch as well as a boat launch.

Key West (Lower Keys) 

Key West is a paradise in its own right. It is the last stop towards Cuba, about 90 kilometers away. This place has been a haven for flamboyant personalities, including Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway. Several U.S. presidents have also holidayed here, especially Franklin D. Roosevelt, who took a special interest in the place.

Boaters usually go ashore to participate in the Duval Crawl, a DIY bar crawl along Duval Street in the center of town. There is the Sloppy Joe’s Bar, established in the 1930s. They serve drinks in the morning and host live music on most nights. Bull and Whistle Bar is full of wall paintings that tell the town’s history and offer coolies to keep your drinks chilled when on board. 

Visitors who visit Key West will want to snap a photo at the giant land “buoy” that marks the southernmost tip of the continental United States. 

 Next, visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum on Whitehead Street opposite the lighthouse. Hemingway lived there in the 1930s. The legendary writer’s mansion has been a museum since the 1960s. Many officials believe the mansion is a more popular tourist attraction than the bars on Duval Street.

 Marinas are everywhere in Key West for most size boats. Try Galleon Marina if you want to anchor near the Sunset Tiki Bar or Key West Bight Marina, which accepts online reservations and offers an online 360-degree tour of the facility.

>>Also Read: Best and Cheapest Liveaboard Marinas in Florida

Best Boating Destinations in the Florida Keys – Summary

Only a few things are more genuinely pleasing than a Florida Keys boating or sailing itinerary to an avid boater. From Key Largo at the archipelago’s tip down to Key West at the end, the Keys have scintillating sceneries, fun-filled activities, and great year-round boating. These feature destinations are boaters’ paradises with pristine freshwater to catch the attention of anyone. There is a possibility that your boating expeditions take all your attention. However, try to explore on your own and see other attractions that these boating destinations have lined up for visitors. It’s Florida! You won’t regret it.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Exploring the Joys and Challenges of Living on a Boat

Living on a sailboat.

L iving on a sailboat is a dream for many adventurous souls. The thought of waking up to the gentle sway of the ocean, feeling the salty breeze on your face, and exploring new horizons every day is incredibly alluring. However, just like any lifestyle choice, living on a boat comes with its own set of joys and challenges. In this article, we will explore the various aspects of living on a sailboat and provide insights into the unique experiences it offers.

Embracing the Boat Community

One of the most rewarding aspects of living on a sailboat is becoming a part of the vibrant boat community. Whether you choose to dock in a marina or anchor in a secluded cove, you will soon discover a network of fellow boaters who share your passion for the sea. This close-knit community becomes your extended family, always ready to lend a helping hand or share their seafaring wisdom.

Spending time with like-minded individuals who understand the joys and challenges of living on a boat can provide a sense of camaraderie that is hard to find elsewhere. From impromptu dockside gatherings to organized regattas, your social calendar will be filled with exciting events that celebrate the boating lifestyle. The boat community truly embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration.

Challenges of Coastal Living

Living on a boat also presents its fair share of challenges. While the idea of constantly being surrounded by magnificent coastal views may seem idyllic, the reality is that coastal living can be unpredictable. Inclement weather, rough seas, and shifting tides are all part of the daily routine for a boat dweller.

Adapting to the ebb and flow of life on the water requires resilience and adaptability. Simple tasks like grocery shopping or doing laundry can become more complicated when you have to factor in weather conditions and boat accessibility. However, these challenges also teach valuable life skills, such as problem-solving, resourcefulness, and a deep connection with nature.

Exploring Coastal Living Adventures

Despite the challenges, living on a boat opens up a world of unparalleled adventures. Coastal living offers an ever-changing playground where each day brings new discoveries. From secluded anchorages with crystal-clear waters to picturesque fishing villages steeped in history, there is always something to explore and experience.

The freedom to chart your own course and navigate the open waters is a feeling like no other. Whether you long for solitude and serenity or seek adrenaline-pumping water sports, coastal living has something to offer everyone. Imagine waking up to dolphins frolicking alongside your boat or witnessing a breathtaking sunrise over the horizon – these are the moments that make living on a boat truly extraordinary.

Living in Harmony with Nature

Living on a sailboat inherently fosters a deep connection with the natural world. Unlike traditional land-based living, boat dwellers are constantly immersed in the elements – the sun, wind, and sea become an integral part of their daily existence. This symbiotic relationship with nature instills a profound sense of appreciation and respect for the environment.

Boat dwellers often strive to live in harmony with the ecosystems they encounter. Responsible boating practices, such as minimizing waste, conserving water, and respecting marine life, become second nature to those who call the water their home. The ocean becomes not only a playground but also a cherished resource that should be protected for future generations to enjoy.

Tips for Aspiring Boat Dwellers

If the idea of living on a boat has captured your imagination, here are a few tips to help you on your journey:

• Start with sailing lessons: Before diving into the world of boat living, it's essential to gain basic sailing knowledge and experience. Take sailing lessons or crew on boats to hone your skills and learn from seasoned sailors.
• Research boat options: Choosing the right boat for your lifestyle is crucial. Research different types of boats and assess their suitability for the environment you plan to live in.
• Minimize possessions: Living on a boat requires downsizing and embracing a minimalist lifestyle. Assess your belongings and prioritize what is truly essential for your new life on the water.
• Prepare for maintenance: Boat ownership comes with ongoing maintenance and repairs. Learn basic boat maintenance skills and be prepared for regular upkeep.
• Connect with the boat community: Reach out to fellow boaters, join boating associations, and participate in events to connect with the boat community. Their knowledge and support will prove invaluable throughout your boating journey.
• Embrace the unknown: Living on a boat is an adventure filled with surprises and uncertainties. Embrace the unknown and approach each day with an open mind and a sense of curiosity.

Living on a sailboat is a unique lifestyle that promises both incredible joys and inevitable challenges. From forging lifelong friendships within the boat community to embracing the freedom of coastal living, the experiences gained from life on the water are truly priceless. So, if the call of the sea resonates deep within you, consider following your dreams and exploring the wonders of living on a boat.

The post Exploring the Joys and Challenges of Living on a Boat appeared first on Things That Make People Go Aww .

What is YOUR best boat for the Florida Keys?

by [email protected] | Mar 3, 2022 | Fishing & Boating | 0 comments

Photos courtesy of Keys Boat Rental www.keysboat.com

It is all about being on the water. . .

Living or vacationing in the Lower Florida Keys is all about being out on the water as much as possible. From unrivaled big game fishing, spectacular lazy days on the sandbars and snorkeling and diving our world class locations, the reasons for being on the water are countless. But what is the best boat for your favorite water activities?  I’ll attempt you help you choose.

Here I’ll take you through a quick description of the most commonly seen boat types you will encounter in the Lower Keys and tell you why they are so popular.

What is your dream day on the water?

Knowing exactly what your favorite activity(s) is on the water is obviously the first step in deciding what you are looking for in a boat.  Are you primarily big game fishing or love floating on a raft at the sand bars with the family? Make a list in order of preference before you read through this article.  I did this before I started boat shopping, this is my list:  snorkeling/diving offshore reefs, big game fishing, family days at the sandbars and surf trips out to the Bahamas. Knowing this, 3 of my 4 items were offshore activities that can large waves and sudden storms, quickly eliminated 3 of the 5 boat styles I present below.

Center Console Boats

• Flats Boats

Think of Center Consoles as the full-size SUV of boats.  Big, comfortable and you can pack almost everything into them for almost any adventure.  Easily the most popular boat type you will see in the Lower Keys and for a lot of really good reasons.  Center console boats are built for offshore waters.  They are great for trolling for mahi and tuna, drifting over reefs and wrecks or anchoring to dive reefs or wrecks.  You can also access a lot of the back country waters to reach some of the sandbars and islands of the Gulf – with limitations.

These boats typically have high bow sections and gunwales (sides of the boat) allowing them to take on larger waves and chop. They have 360 degrees of walk around capability for fighting the biggest fish.  The design also makes the great for getting out to reefs and wrecks for snorkeling and diving – but if this is your game look for boats with stern or side dive doors.  These allow easy in and out access to the water.  The stern door is a favorite feature on my own boat.

The typical deep V hulls found on offshore center consoles are great for cutting through waves and big chop, but they also cause these boats to draft more water than the other boats on this list. Our Angler 2600 draws 26 inches of water which may not sound like much; However, a lot of the skinny back country water is off limits to our boat, including some of the best sandbars. Another positive/negative for these boats is they often come with rigid or fixed T tops. Great for shade, mounting GPS and radar gear, plus added rod holders. Unfortunately, these tall rigid tops also limit which bridges you can pass under to get from the Atlantic side to the back country (Gulf side).  For us it adds an additional 7 miles each way to reach the back country as we cannot get under the closest access point to the Gulf – The Bow Channel Bridge only provide 7′ of clearance from the water.  Even the higher clearance bridges can have their limitations – I learned the expensive way by snapping my fiberglass antennae when I forgot to lower it going under a bridge I use on a regular basis. It was sickening to hear the whap, whap, whap of it slapping the underside of the bridge!

Our 26′ center console.

Disclaimer alert – I LOVE cat boats and should be number one on this list. I searched for a used cat boat for months before, happily, settling on our center console pictured above. I just could not find a used cat boat in my budget in good condition – they are just really in demand.  In fact the gentleman I bought our center console from was selling since he just purchased a new World Cat 30.  During our first visit to the Lower Keys we rented the 23′ Twin Vee pictured below.  It did everything we wanted and more, of all the boats we have been on, this one is still our favorite.  Here is a quick list of what makes these boats so sought after:

• Their wide stance makes gives them a huge amount of deck space compared to comparably sized monohulls.
• The wide stance of twin hulls makes them more stable when trolling or drift fishing.
• They have an extremely smooth ride through choppy waters and bigger waves.
• The twin hull design allows them to draft much less water than their monohull counterparts. I can’t emphasize how important this is here in the Lower Keys.
• With twin engines they have a wide-open stern section in between the hulls for really easy access in and out of the water. A lot of models come with a fold down staircase.  A dream for getting out of the water loaded with dive gear, or coolers.

My personal opinion is that cat boats are the best all-around boat for the Lower Keys.

This is the Twin Vee we rented during our first trip to the Lower Keys.

I love the massive swim platform of this Glacier Bay

Twin engines and shallow draft.

Deck boats are the soccer mom mini-vans of the boat world, but much cooler.  If family time at the sandbars, swimming and snorkeling on the inshore waters are your top priorities a deck boat may be the best boat for you in the Lower Keys.  Deck boats have loads of deck space (hence the name!) for brining all your friends and toys out on the water.  Their hull designs allow access to all but the skinniest of back country waters.

Deck boats also have low profile bow and stern design, most with boarding ladders at both ends, making getting in and out of the water a breeze.  On the weekends you see they are hugely popular with the sandbar crowds.  They are also great for towing tubes, wake boarding and skiers.  These are great family fun boats.

We do see them frequently at the offshore reefs and shoals on calm days.  You just need to keep an eye on the weather, they low profile bow and gunwales and not conducive to a dry safe ride in rough and choppy waters.  If we had the ability (meaning money) we would add a deck boat as a second boat for the family.

I love the fold down ladder on the bow of this deck boat.

A fantastic boat for a day of family fun on the water.

Bay Boats are among the fasting growing segments of the boating market in the Lower Keys.  They are like mini center console boats (they have center console controls).  Designed with a deep v hull up front, but tapering into a flatter bottom in the stern, allows them to cut through wave and chop while the flatter stern gives them a shallower draft then a full-length V hull.  Their smaller size makes them more fuel efficient than their big brother center consoles.  On calm days you will see them out in the gulf stream trolling for mahi and I’ve seen them on the flats polling for bone fish.

We looked a number of bay boats, we just wanted better offshore capabilities and a longer range to reach the Dry Tortugas and the Bahamas. if you are looking for a great all-around boat for the Lower Keys – take a look at a Bay Boat.  Pathfinder makes some of the most popular and versatile bay boats: Home Page – Pathfinder Boats

The ultimate sports car of boat, built with one mission in mind, to get you exactly where you want to go – fast. If you are coming to the Lower Keys for our world-famous bone fishing, then these sleek machines are your best boat for the Lower Keys. Flats boats are highly specialized to put you into the skinniest waters in the back country.  You’ll be able to hunt bone fish in their prime habit, the back country flats.  These boats draft just inches of water giving you virtually unlimited access in the back country.  I’ve been in mangrove channels dragging the fin on my stand-up paddle board only to come across a flats boat happily floating along hunting fish.

If you have never boated in the Lower Florida Keys, renting a flats boat may be a great way to explore the back country without the risk of an expensive grounding of a larger boat.  Just remember, the super shallow draft comes at the expensive of comfortable family seating.

You can see the polling stand over the engine for spotting bone fish.

This rental has a bimini top for shade, not commonly seen on these fly fishing machines.

Still undecided, try them all!

I strongly recommend getting out on the water with each style boat.  It may seem expensive but spending the money to learn what really fills your mission on the water is well worth the time and investment.  If you are just visiting for a few days, the rental companies can really help direct you to the best boat for each day’s condition.  During our first trip to the Lower Keys we rented from Keys Boat Rental . Although we reserved a deck boat for the 10 days of our trip, we had really windy conditions most of the time.  Captain Joe let us switch boats every day of our trip which really shaped and changed our idea of what we wanted for our permanent boat.  Captain Joe’s knowledge of the local waters is unmatched, and he will definitely point you in the right direction for whatever you want to do on the water.  He also has the largest variety of boat types to rent in the Lower Keys.  Keys Boat Rental in on Summerland Key, with easy access to both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

I also recommend Cudjoe Key Boat Rental . They also have easy access to the Atlantic (its a straight shot out to American Shoals) and the Gulf of Mexico.  An added bonus here, their marina is a favorite hangout for the local manatee population.

Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy each day!

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Scuba diving, sport fishing and six-toed cats: exploring the Florida Keys

Time stands still on this archipelago

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For a true tropical getaway, head to the Florida Keys. These islands draw scuba divers, recreational fishers and beachgoers looking to take it easy. You will find a little adventure here, too — but nothing that can't be done without a Mai Tai in hand! Here's how to find bliss in the laid-back Keys.

But first, what are the Florida Keys?

The Overseas Highway is 113 miles long

The Florida Keys are an island chain stretching across 125 miles at the southern tip of the state. The Overseas Highway and its 42 bridges connect the islands, bringing travelers to Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys and Key West. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, home to more than 6,000 wildlife species like whales, dolphins and manatees — plus the world's third-largest barrier reef — protects the water surrounding the islands.

Key Largo: dive right in

Divers could spend weeks in Key Largo and still not see all the underwater hot spots

What to do: Key Largo is where the divers go. Crystal clear water and spots like the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — the first undersea preserve in the United States — beckon scuba divers and snorkelers seeking underwater beauty. The park covers 70 nautical square miles and you can even dive down to see Christ of the Abyss , a nine-foot-tall bronze statue 10 feet below the water. East of the park is Molasses Reef, a popular diving spot teeming with marine life. If diving is not your thing, enjoy the sparkling water with less of a commitment; book a glass-bottom boat tour or go canoeing and kayaking. 

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Where to eat: Locals love Key Largo Conch House , where diners devour key lime macadamia pancakes for breakfast and crab-stuffed mahi-mahi for dinner. If you can't tell by the name, conch is well represented on this menu, from the conch chowder to the lobster and conch ceviche. Travel + Leisure also said the restaurant should be "your introduction to the conch fritter, a Florida Keys specialty."

Where to sleep: Hang your hat at the all-inclusive, adults-only Bungalows Key Largo . All meals, poolside and beachside refreshments, yoga classes, paddle board and kayak rentals, and entertainment are part of the deal — you just have to show up at the right place at the right time. The spacious bungalows are lined up along the property's 1,000 feet of gorgeous shoreline.

Islamorada: a sport fisher's paradise

Boats leave at sunrise for all-day fishing expeditions off Islamorada

What to do: Islamorada earned its nickname as the Sport-Fishing Capital of the World due to its geography — the village is situated between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean with access to the Gulf Stream. Visitors can charter boats and hire guides to take them out on the water in search of delicious kingfish, mahi-mahi and sailfish.

Where to eat: Grab dinner and see a show at Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar . Order the tuna nachos, key lime peppercorn snapper and "frozen" key lime pie before settling in for a night of live music or magic. If you went fishing earlier in the day, you can even bring your own catch into the restaurant and have the chef prepare it! This is true sea-to-table dining. 

Where to sleep: Coastal chic is the aesthetic at the luxurious Cheeca Lodge & Spa . The rooms are decorated in soothing shades of blue and boast views of the Atlantic Ocean and the 9-hole Islamorada Golf Course. Guests are spoiled for activity choice, with the option of tennis clinics, water aerobics, sunrise yoga, snorkeling tours and eco marine science classes.

Marathon: family-friendly fun in the middle of the Keys

The nonprofit Turtle Hospital gives injured sea turtles a second chance

What to do: The halfway point of the Keys, Marathon attracts families eager to participate in all-ages activities. This community is home to Sombrero Beach, where turtles nest from March through October. The marine creatures are beloved in Marathon, and the nonprofit Turtle Hospital welcomes visitors; here, injured endangered sea turtles are rehabilitated, with the goal of getting them back out to sea on their own. You can take guided tours of the hospital and rehab area, and even feed the reptilian residents.

Where to eat: There's fresh seafood, and then there's seafood that has been pulled out of the water and brought straight to the restaurant. At Keys Fisheries , the menu abounds with local delights like Key West shrimp, conch chowder and jumbo stone crab claws. Try the lobster Reuben for a particularly decadent option — but whatever you choose for your main course, be sure to save room for key lime pie, which is clearly a Florida Keys' specialty. 

Where to sleep: The aptly-named Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort was designed with relaxation in mind. Set on a private white sand beach, amenities include three swimming pools, a putting green, volleyball courts and in-room spa services. The roomy two- and three-bedroom villas come with big front porches, while the comfortable garden guest rooms are tucked back in the palms. At sunset, head over to TJ's Tiki Bar for killer sunset views and nightly jazz performances.

Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys: nature at its finest

The diminutive Key deer is only found here

What to do: Stroll down any street in Big Pine Key and the other Lower Keys and you will likely encounter wildlife, whether it be a Lower Keys marsh rabbit hopping along or a tiny Key deer in the pinelands. The latter creatures, an endangered subspecies of the white-tailed deer found only in the Keys, also roam freely at the National Key Deer Refuge . You can spend a day here hiking trails, snapping photos, working on a plein air masterpiece or birdwatching. If you are in the mood for something a little toothier, head to the Blue Hole observation platform to catch a glimpse of the alligators living in the freshwater pond (the largest body of fresh water in the Keys). Just be sure not to dangle your feet!

Where to sleep and eat: Keep the deer theme going at the Deer Run on the Atlantic . A quaint spot with just four rooms, guests receive a daily organic plant-based breakfast and the use of kayaks and bicycles to get around the island. For lunch and dinner, stop by No Name Pub for one of their famous pizzas (try the Caribbean Chicken) and homemade smoked fish dip made with yellowfin tuna.

Key West: where things go south (in a good way)

More than 60 six-toed cats, many likely related to Ernest Hemingway's cat Snow White, live on his property

What to do: Key West is the southernmost point in the continental U.S. — you can even visit the buoy that proves it — and was once home to legendary American writers Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams . For some literary inspiration, head to their museums; feline fans will especially appreciate the six-toed cats who still roam Hemingway's property, the same place he penned several of his most famous novels. Today, the island's most eminent residents can be found at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory . Visitors flock to this glass-domed habitat filled with butterflies, birds and two flamingos. 

Where to eat: Being only 91 nautical miles from Havana means Key West hosts some top-notch Cuban restaurants. At the colorful El Meson de Pepe in Old Town, highlights include Pepe's Cuban nachos with homemade plantain chips and ropa vieja and the cayo hueso Cuban mix, "Key West's version of the traditional Cuban sandwich." Sit out on the patio to enjoy live salsa music while sipping a mojito and indulging in a slice of the torta del limon, El Meson de Pepe's homemade spin on key lime pie.

Where to sleep: Established in 1891, La Pensione is a sweet nine-room bed and breakfast with a pool and lovely verandahs wrapping around the historic Classical Revival mansion. While it's peaceful, you'll only be a hop, skip and a jump from the action here — just three blocks away is lively Duval Street, known for its restaurants, bars, shops and drag shows.

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Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com . Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com , The New York Times , The Book of Jezebel , and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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The top 3 adventures in The Florida Keys & Key West

Dive or snorkel colourful coral reefs, kayak in subtropical mangroves and pedal along winding trails in this southern oasis full of outstanding outdoor pursuits.

A 125-mile-long archipelago at the southernmost tip of the US, the Florida Keys are made up of around 1,700 laid-back islands. Stretching like a string of pearls across the teal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Keys are best known for sandy beaches and bohemian culture. Beyond sun-worshipping and sipping rum runners (the area’s signature cocktail), there are also boundless activities for outdoor enthusiasts keen to explore this palm-fringed paradise. From snorkelling and sailing to biking and kayaking, the Keys offer a multitude of fun ways to inject adventure into a classic Florida holiday.

Snorkelling & diving in coral gardens

With a wealth of coral-lined islands rich in marine life, the Keys are an ideal spot to sink into balmy waters and discover delicate reef systems. Just off Key Largo lies the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — the first underwater park in the US. Glide through clear waters and explore vivid coral gardens teeming with aquatic life. With 48,000 acres of protected ocean to explore, you’ll find a rich ecosystem of tropical fish, sea turtles, lobsters and fierce-looking barracudas that call this diverse region home. Book a PADI scuba dive tour to get up close and personal with Christ of the Abyss — a towering bronze sculpture of Jesus below the surface of the water.

Kayaking through the mangroves

Grab a paddle and venture into the ethereal mangroves of Key West — a dense labyrinth of jungly tunnels and crystalline creeks. Guided kayak tours take you deep into this watery haven, where you’ll paddle through narrow passages shaded by the jade-green mangrove canopy. Wait until the sun sinks below the horizon and take a guided night kayak tour for the chance to see nocturnal marine life such as manatees emerging in the fading light. Family-owned tour operator Night Kayak Key West offers an evening excursion through the mangroves, where you’ll paddle a glass-bottomed kayak with LED lights illuminating the world below.

Biking the Overseas Heritage Trail

Discover the Keys on two wheels by cycling over 90 miles of paved roads on the expanding Overseas Heritage Trail , which traces the historic Overseas Railroad. With its ultimate aim of connecting Key Largo to Key West, this multi-use and largely car-free trail is perfect for those wanting to explore this scenic region under their own steam. Cycle over former rail bridges, traverse tree-lined beach tracks and glide along beside turquoise waters. Key Largo Bike and Adventure Tours offers rentals and self-guided bike tours where you can set your own pace and distance, with planned routes, luggage delivery and bike pick-up in Key West.

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One of the rarest fish on the planet is dying in the Keys. Scientists are struggling to find out why

On a windy winter morning in January, Joyce Milelli was leading a kayak tour through the Lower Keys when the group rounded a mangrove island and encountered a startling sight: a rare, endangered sawfish, as big as Milelli’s paddleboard, wedged under a low clump of mangroves.

The discovery would set off alarms amid an ongoing mysterious fish disturbance , littering the scrubby islands between Key West and Big Pine with sick and dying fish.

“I knew right away something was not right,” said Milelli, a former nurse who grew up on Key Largo without ever seeing one of the rare sawfish. “I paddle all over the Lower Keys, all the way down to Dry Tortugas and the backcountry, where you don't see many people paddling. My number one thing was to see a sawfish. So I knew this was really special, but why is it tucked under the branches?”

Five days later, the sawfish appeared again, this time flopping on a nearby shallow flat, where it quickly died.

READ MORE: Mystery in the Keys: Sawfish deaths rise as scientists search for clues

In the months since, about 60 sightings of endangered smalltooth sawfish have been reported, thrashing on beaches and flats, with images and video spreading across social media. At the Geiger Key Paddle Hut , where Milelli leads her tours, state wildlife officers this week hauled in a dead sawfish and wrapped it in a blue tarp.

Altogether, 20 of the very rare fish have been collected and examined by researchers, said Dean Grubbs, a Florida State University fish ecologist and member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s sawfish recovery team. But so far testing done by toxicology experts has gotten no closer to providing answers. And as numbers climb, concern grows.

“I do think we’re probably underestimating the number here in terms of figuring it out,” Grubbs said. “It's puzzling to me, too, that there'd be so many sawfish compared to other species. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.”

Only five species of sawfish exist around the world, all at perilously low numbers. The smalltooth sawfish is the only sawfish found in U.S. waters and was added to the endangered species list in 2003 after it nearly vanished in the 1950s, wiped out by catch netting and loss of habitat in shallow estuaries where it gives birth to pups.

Grubbs and Florida researchers studying the fish have tagged over 100 to track their movements and found sawfish are typically found in deeper water, up to 200 feet deep, in January and February. (None of the dead fish found so far were tagged.) In March and April, they move north, near the Ten Thousand Islands, the Caloosahatchee River and Charlotte Harbor to give birth. Because tracking data is only uploaded twice a year, it’s not clear if their movements have changed this year.

And the unusual behavior observed in the Keys has never before been reported by sawfish experts, Grubbs said.

“They should not be swimming in circles. They should not be coming that close to the shore. And certainly there's no reason for their rostrum to be out of the water,” he said.

“I do think we’re probably underestimating the number here in terms of figuring it out. It's puzzling ... It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.”

Fish behaving strangely were first spotted in early November as far north as Biscayne Bay, when alarmed fishing guides began collecting reports and contacted the nonprofit Bonefish Tarpon Trust as sightings mounted in December.

By early January, the Lower Keys Fishing Guide Association and BTT had formed a working group and recruited two toxic algae experts from Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of South Alabama. The incidents mostly remained concentrated in near shore waters, along a nearly 25-mile stretch, from Summerland Key south to Sugarloaf, although Grubbs said sightings appear to be spreading.

“It’s very violent,” said Gregg Furstenwerth, a technical diver, who began spotting the fish in November. “You can see them doing gentle spinning after they've essentially, I guess, exhausted themselves. But when it first starts, it's very, very violent.

Furstenwerth moved back to the scrubby islands between Big Pine and Key West, where he’d grown up, two years ago to introduce his wife to a playground of seagrass meadows and reefs teeming with fish, sponges and colorful coral that filled his childhood.

Instead, the couple has spent the fall and winter documenting the mysterious outbreak, filming pinfish, snook and jacks swirling and flopping.

Last week, he encountered a Goliath grouper, struggling to stay upright.

“It was scooping matter off the bottom as it was spinning and then spitting it out of its mouth repeatedly,” he said. “They seem to be unable to control themselves, to reach equilibrium. They can't stay upright at all, like they're just in all other directions except for upright.”

Word spreads, but officials remain tight-lipped

The worrisome behavior remained mostly under wraps. State agencies participating in the study group made no public announcements. But when endangered sawfish started turning up dead in late January, the 'Conch Telegraph' started buzzing.

Facebook lit up with pictures: sawfish swimming into the rocks at the White Street pier in Key West. A dead stingray on Higgs Beach. A Goliath grouper slamming its head into a muddy bottom.

“If something is going on, word spreads fast,” Milelli said. “If this continues, there's a lot of fallout from this potentially.”

Neighbors began asking Fursternwerth what he knew.

“People are noticing. People who work at the gas station are telling me they know about it. They just heard about it in their local coffee shop,” he said. “Anybody who's seen it is scared by it.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has provided few details about the investigation. Requests for information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Monroe County were referred back to the FWC. When contacted by WLRN, FWC asked for a list of questions. But in response, the agency provided only confirmation of sawfish deaths, details about six sawfish, and no information about other sick fish.

Initially, FWC media staff released the number of reported sightings for the endangered fish as well as the number of bodies examined by scientists, but stopped.

Scientists say only reporting confirmed deaths likely underestimates the true count. In response to a records request last week, a clerk initially said the information had been processed but had been forwarded to Tallahassee for review before being released. A supervisor later said the request was still being processed.

Algae experts say pinning down the culprit is difficult. Initial water testing showed elevated levels of a tiny dinoflagellate found in the algae, called gambierdiscus, that causes ciguatera. The algae is naturally occurring and grows on reefs, where fish eat it, and typically doesn’t sicken fish. But humans who eat the fish can become very ill , suffering from nausea, vomiting and even neurologic symptoms.

When fish were tested, scientists found multiple toxins in addition to gambierdiscus, said Mike Parsons, an algae expert at Florida Gulf Coast University and a member of the state’s Blue Green Algae Task Force.

“We didn't find a smoking gun. That doesn't mean it's not buried somewhere,” he said. “But it's not as easy as some of us were hoping it would be.”

It’s possible that what’s making fish sick is a new affliction, or at least one never diagnosed by scientists, he said. The toxin produced by gambierdiscus was only identified last year, he said, and can change form after it enters a fish.

“Which means you have a moving target,” Parsons said. “So it just makes it really hard. Yeah, it's really difficult.”

A resilient ecosystem under threat

It’s also possible that what’s ailing the fish is related to the unprecedented ocean heat wave that hit South Florida over the summer, drove up temperatures by about 5 degrees and bleached coral across the Keys.

“The system that's impacted here in the Lower Keys is a very resilient ecosystem system that has endured a lot of change,” said Martin Grossell, a fish ecologist at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School who specializes in how fish work and the toxins that harm them.

But at some point, he said, mounting stresses like nutrient pollution from leaky septic tanks or other chemicals flushed into the sea from stormwater and ships, or rising ocean temperatures, start to trigger changes.

“We are adding to this environment and eventually may reach a threshold where now this balance is perturbed,” he said. “Then you start seeing things that you haven't seen before and things that we have a hard time explaining.”

That’s left Keys residents to worry that time is running out.

“I tell people that the ocean doesn't give up its secrets easily,” Furstenwerth said. “I was one year old when the (sea urchins) died, and they didn't figure out what it was until this year,” he said, referring to the mass die-off of long-spined sea urchins that wiped out 98 percent in just 13 months in the 1980s.

“Is it going to take 41 years to figure I was doing this?” he said. “I don’t think it has 41 years.”

As the investigation continues, researchers are asking the public to report sightings of distressed fish to either the state fish kill hotline at 800-636-0511 or online at MyFWC.com/ReportFishKill . Sawfish sightings should be reported to 1-844-4SAWFISH via email to [email protected] .

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Man charged months after victim falls off boat, dies in Biscayne Bay

Fwc: eric rodriguez, 24, had been drinking, was speeding prior to crash.

Amanda Batchelor , Digital Executive Producer

MIAMI – A 24-year-old man was arrested Wednesday, nearly six months after a passenger on his boat died after falling into the waters of Biscayne Bay, authorities said.

Eric Rodriguez, of Miramar, is charged with manslaughter while boating under the influence and vessel homicide/operating in a reckless manner.

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According to his arrest report, Rodriguez was driving his 26-foot Sea Hunt boat at a high rate of speed on the night of Sept. 23, 2023 as it was dark outside and raining.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers said the boat was heading north in the Intracoastal Waterway in Biscayne Bay with Rodriguez and six passengers onboard.

GPS data shows that the boat had left Miami Marine Stadium and had been traveling in and out of the channel at about 46 mph in a 30 mph zone, the report stated.

According to the report, as the boat was passing the 79th Street Causeway, one of the passengers, Justin Sosa, moved from the back of the boat to the starboard (right) side of it.

FWC officers said Rodriguez then struck a channel marker in the water, causing Sosa to be thrown from the boat and strike his head on the channel marker.

Rodriguez didn’t stop the boat until other passengers alerted him that Sosa had fallen overboard, authorities said.

Officers said the group searched for Sosa and one passenger called 911.

Rescue divers found Sosa’s body a few hours later in the morning at the bottom of the bay near Channel Marker #20, the report stated.

According to the report, an autopsy revealed that Sosa died from blunt force injuries.

Officers said Rodriguez smelled of an alcoholic beverage as they were speaking with him and said passengers onboard his boat confirmed that he had been drinking vodka while at Miami Marine Stadium.

Toxicology results showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .079 about six hours after the crash, according to the report.

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About the Author:

Amanda batchelor.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.