14 Unusual Reasons Why the Florida Keys Are Worth Visiting

Ahhh, the Keys. Just thinking about them makes me want to put my swimsuit on with a pair of shorts and stroll around outside. But I’m in Denver right now, where that’s neither practical nor socially acceptable.

The Keys were recommended to me by a friend, who described them as “something else.” That friend went on to say that he didn’t care much for Florida, but “there’s something about the Keys.”

Intrigued, I wanted to know what that “something” was. I knew I wanted to spend a good chunk of my time as a nomad in warm climates, and the Keys certainly fit the bill. So I did some research and learned all about the delightfully weird place that is the Florida Keys and added it to my itinerary.

So read on if you want to know some unconventional reasons why you might like visiting the Florida Keys!

1. You like weird

It’s no secret that the Keys are an unusual place. You get a lot of small seaside towns with bright, vibrant art displays that can best be described as “Florida.” Think neons, flamingos, etc. Add the unusual characters who live there to the mix and you’ve got a recipe for cool. Here are just a few of the weird things you can do in the Florida Keys:

Feed live tarpon with your bare hands

At Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada, you can pay 5 bucks to get a bucket of dead fish to hand-feed to giant tarpon. You dangle the bait above the water, and once a tarpon sees it, it will jump out of the water and grab the fish (and your arm, sometimes up to your elbow)!

I admit I was too squeamish to actually feed the giant tarpon and only watched. If you decide to do this, be prepared to shoo hungry pelicans away from your bait.

Snorkel to underwater Jesus

In Key Largo, there’s a statue of Jesus at the bottom of the ocean. It’s one of the most-visited snorkel and scuba dive sites in the world. Located in John Pennekamp State Park, there are many tour companies that lead snorkel tours out there. Here is the one I used. And you’ll need a tour. The statue is in the middle of the ocean, and there are no markers showing where it is.

It has a very interesting history. There are 2 other statues like it in the world—one in Grenada, the other in Italy. It was meant to commemorate those who have died at sea.

But naturally, a religious statue is going to upset some people. This one pissed off both the Christians and the atheists—the Christians because Jesus walked on water, not the ocean floor. And the atheists because it’s a religious statue in a state park.

In the ’90s, a South Florida atheist group demanded it be removed (after it had already been there for nearly 30 years–the statue was placed in the ’60s).

Luckily for the statue, though, it’s covered in endangered fire coral, which is illegal to remove.

So…ocean Jesus gets to stay forever.

Which means you get to visit it from now on! And it’s absolutely worth the trip.

Visit the toilet seats in Islamorada

Okay, hear me out on this one. Toilet Seat Cut, as it’s called, is a channel in Islamorada where 250+ toilet seats are perched on poles rising out of the ocean. People decorate toilet seats to commemorate all kinds of things–engagements, vacations, the passing of a loved one, etc. Then they attach the toilet seats to poles and prop them up in the ocean. Even the cast of Bloodline has a toilet seat out there. It’s kind of like a love lock bridge, but…Florida.

The only thing is that you can’t see the toilet seats from land at all. Well, maybe you can, if you peer through people’s fences. But for a better view, you’ll need to rent a kayak or a boat. Somehow this silly channel represents the weirdness of the Keys so well.

Drive across the Seven-Mile Bridge

I don’t know if this falls under “weird,” but it’s definitely unusual. Connecting the middle keys to the lower keys is the Seven Mile Bridge, and it has views like no other. You can drive across or walk or bike across. I got to drive across only twice. Had I stayed in the lower keys, I would have come back to walk across. The best views are at sunset!

2.) You like the water, but You want to do more than go to the beach

Not gonna lie, lying on a beach sounds pretty amazing right now. Sometimes, though, you just want to do more. The Keys have a few great beaches, but that’s not what they’re known for. They’re more known for water activities, such as scuba and snorkeling. Or boating and fishing. You’ll find plenty of water activities besides relaxing on the beach. I enjoyed snuba, a combination of snorkeling and scuba.

3. You’re celebrating something, or you just want to celebrate in general

Key West has your back. It’s a party there pretty much all the time. From the sunset celebration every day in Mallory Square to Fantasy Fest once a year, there’s always something going on. You’ll want to check out Duval Street if you’re in a partying mood. I’ll have to do a whole post just on Key West!

4.)You have a sweet tooth

I uh, couldn’t help myself in the picture above. Sadly, that’s the best key lime pie picture I captured. Key lime pie was invented in the Keys, and it’s EVERYWHERE down there. I didn’t even like key lime pie that much before I came to the Keys (gasp). But after sampling each and every kind that I could get my hands on, I wonder how I ever went without it. Here are some of my favorite places to get key lime pie:

The Blond Giraffe in Tavernier. This is a must-stop if you’re in the Islamorada area. It hit every. single. time. I had the plain kind, meringue, chocolate covered (pictured above, half of it anyway), frozen on a stick… I can’t count the number of times I went there. You can’t go wrong.
Key Lime Pie Bakery in Key West. If you’re in Key West, this is an excellent choice. They have everything key lime here, from pie to ice cream to souvenirs.
Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in Key Largo. This is an excellent stop for a piece of pie or an entire meal. And it was my first key lime pie in the Keys! An excellent introduction.

5.) You want to meet new people

Key West is going to be the easiest spot to do this, but really, people everywhere in the Keys are friendly. In Key West, everyone’s partying and in a good mood. It’s super easy to go on a sunset cruise or to any bar on Duval Street and make a new friend.

In the smaller towns, though, you meet very interesting characters. For example, I stopped at a little hole-in-the-wall spot in Islamorada and met a local who pointed out some other interesting locals to me. I’ll never forget the barefoot guy with flip-flops tattooed on his feet. The owner of the pub I was in told this guy that he had to wear shoes in the pub. His response? He got flip-flop straps tattooed on his feet and kept walking in there barefoot. Problem solved.

6.) You want to get away from people

The Florida Keys are a great place to go to get away from it all. The upper and middle keys will be what you’re looking for. You’ll have plenty of activities to do, but you’ll be in a much quieter environment than Key West. Go to the seldom-crowded Founder’s Beach in Islamorada, which is free if you’re a “resident” (includes staying in a hotel or AirBnB in Islamorada) and relax. Find a hole-in-the-wall pub and meet the locals if you have a social moment.

7.) You’re an American looking to take your first solo trip

The Florida Keys have everything you could want in a solo trip. If you want to try the whole solo travel thing but don’t know if it’s for you, this is a great spot with plenty of adventure that isn’t too far from home. Key West is more of a party town while the middle and upper keys are more relaxing. You won’t have to worry about learning a new language, renewing your passport, or suffering through a super long flight. Just pack some beachwear and ocean-safe sunscreen (or buy it when you get there), fly there, and have fun.

8.) You want to see some of the best sunsets in the country

Key West loves its sunsets so much that they celebrate them every single day in Mallory Square. And Key West sunsets are spectacular. But really, you can go anywhere in the Keys and see an amazing sunset. I recommend a sunset booze cruise. I did the cruise to Alligator Reef at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada.

9.) You want to visit one of the least visited U.S. national parks

The Dry Tortugas is like no other place on earth.

10.) You want a day trip or an overnight getaway from Miami

Miami to the Keys is a wonderful road trip. It’s about a 3.5-hour trip from Miami down to Key West. You’ll get to drive across the Seven Mile Bridge, stop for key lime pie, and do whatever else sounds good to you. If you’re looking for a shorter trip, Miami to Key Largo is just over an hour. Head to Key Largo for the day and do some snorkeling (and eat key lime pie).

11.) You’re directionally-challenged

I know I am. But it’s hard to get lost in the Keys. It kind of reminds me of that South Park episode where they’re in Canada and singing “Follow the Only Road.” For the most part, all you have to do is take the Overseas Highway north or south to your destination. Everything is marked by mile marker. Key West is a little more complicated than the rest of the keys but still super easy. And if you do manage to get lost, the Keys are small–you’re not far from your destination.

12.) You’re a cat person

The famous Hemingway House in Key West is a must-see for cat lovers (and literature lovers). It was Hemingway’s home in Key West and is famous for all the six-toed cats that roam the property. There are approximately 60 cats that live there, and many are descendants of Hemingway’s pet cat. About half of them are polydactyl (six-toed). Even the ones that aren’t polydactyl carry the gene, so their offspring could potentially be polydactyl.

Some of the cats are nice, some are mean. Our tour guide knew all their names and which ones were nice and mean. And the cats are everywhere. Inside, outside, on the furniture. You can pet the cats, but you can’t pick them up. 

13.) You’re looking for a different kind of Christmas this year

Want to replace the traditional Christmas with lit-up flamingos and palm trees? Come to the Florida Keys. Bring your family (or just yourself) down south for some Christmas parasailing or sunset cruises. And be sure to check out the light displays!

14.) you’re tired of wearing pants and shoes

I’m sure there are fine dining options in the Keys where you dress up. But for the most part, going just about anywhere in swimwear with a coverup or shorts and flip-flops is acceptable. I walked my dog every day in a swim top and shorts. No, I didn’t go to the beach most days. That’s just what I put on to go outside. And no one cared. And it was fantastic.

Which of the Florida Keys Is right for you?

That depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to spend your days snorkeling or scuba diving, Key Largo is your best bet. If you want chill (but with plenty of activities), you’ll love the middle keys. And if you want a party–I think you already know the answer. Key West, of course!

Are the Florida Keys good for digital nomads?

Yes! I had fast internet in Islamorada, which is a pretty small town. You can take your laptop to the beach or post up in a cafe. A note though, there didn’t seem to be many cafes where you could work in Islamorada. I recall a sign at their Starbucks saying it was the last one for 80 miles (until Key West). So if you prefer to work outside of your home base, I’d look at Key Largo or Key West.

are the Florida Keys good for solo travelers?

They’re perfect. Like I mentioned earlier, the Keys have everything you could want in a solo trip. Beach, nightlife, relaxation, fun activities. All of it. Whether you’re looking to befriend new people or just want to get away from it all, you’ll find what you’re looking for in the Keys.

Are the Florida Keys Good for Introverts?

Yes! Though the Keys may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think about introvert travels, they’re actually perfect for introverts. I’d recommend the middle keys. You can recharge your introvert batteries in peace, and if you feel like it, venture down to Key West and let loose!

How do you get to the Keys?

If you’re not driving all the way there, like I did, there are two ways. You can either fly directly into Key West or fly to Miami and take a road trip to your Key of choice.

Where do you stay in the Florida Keys?

In the upper and middle keys, I’d look for a short-term rental. I stayed in an AirBnB in Islamorada. There are also a few resorts around if you prefer that. In Key West, I would either look for a hotel downtown or if you’re on a budget, the Seaside Hostel is the best deal in town.

To sum it up

The Florida Keys are a fabulous U.S. getaway. They’re especially great if you prefer things a little on the quirky side.

Digital nomads will love the work-fun balance.

Solo travelers will experience the freedom of traveling alone but still feel connected.

Those looking for a tranquil getaway will enjoy the upper and middle keys best.

Those looking for a party will feel right at home in Key West.

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Have you been to the Florida Keys? Does it sound like your kind of place? Comment below!