Turquoise Waters: Ultimate Florida Road Trip

Alligator Reef Light House courtesy of Visit Florida

Historic Forts & Glass Bottom Boats via Miami

Words by Ashley Bowling & Jerod Morales

Airports to Check Flight Deals: MIA, FLL
Good Deal Alert: $75-140 for a round trip flight from AUS

Peaceful beaches and colorful sea life fill this ocean-packed road trip.

Whether landing in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, make your way to the beach where the salty blue water crashing on soft creamy sand wait to greet visitors in a steamy, peaceful bliss at the southernmost tip of the United States.

First stop upon arriving in the Keys is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Glass bottom boats are a theme here; however, adventurists are encouraged to swim the coral reef for an unforgettable sight: swimming over the Christ of the Abyss Statue that rests 25 feet below the surface.

Make a pit stop at Florida Keys Brewing Co. to throw back a flight of their tropical- and seasonal-inspired brews before heading out. At Turtle Hospital, learn about sea turtles and what conservationists are doing to rescue and rehabilitate this incredible and endangered species. 

Next stop is Islamorada, a village made up of six separate keys, known for picturesque sandy beaches and Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. Keep your eyes peeled for fossils; you just might find a one-of-a-kind souvenir at this former quarry. From here, visit Alligator Reef by boat where sea life abounds, waters are crystal clear, and where its famous lighthouse anchors a lively snorkel location. 

Paddleboarding at Islamorada courtesy of Visit Florida

Continuing south, Seven Mile Bridge is a historical landmark in its own right due to its massive span. Also known as the Overseas Highway, this epic part of the trip gives the illusion of floating over the water as if you’re in the middle of the ocean with no dry land in sight. Once on solid ground, visit Bahia Honda State Park to experience the white sand beaches: Calusa Beach on Florida’s Bay and Loggerhead Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. From there, drive to Big Pine Key for a miniature-deer (Key Deer) sighting, and visit No Name Pub covered from wall-to-ceiling in currency signed by visitors past. Be sure to bring cash and leave your mark too. 

Hemingway Home by Rob O’Neal

In Key West, visit the historical Hemingway Home and be inspired by the salty breeze and towering palms that emerge from the well-manicured grounds. After taking your picture with the ‘Southern Most Point’ marker (only 90-miles to Cuba!), make your way to Stock Island for a unforgettable kayaking tour through the Mangroves. Then head back into Key West to explore its Old Town or hop on Conch Tour Train for a narration of the eclectic city. Last, but not least, be sure to stop in for a taste of the namesake dessert at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe.

Dry Tortugas National Park courtesy of Visit Florida

Start the day with a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, an island 70 miles off the coast of Key West, making it the least visited national park in the U.S. Half of the excursion is getting there, soaring over a calm, yet vibrant, sea while keeping an eye out for dolphin pods, shipwrecks, and sea turtles. On the island, explore massive Ft. Jefferson and its historic architecture now covered in bright green grass. The trip there (whether by boat or seaplane) will include snorkel gear. So get ready for close encounters with sea life in the still, warm waters at Garden Key. 

There is truly so much to see at this little slice of heaven (or slice of pie—key lime to be exact). The southern tip of the Sunshine State has even more to explore within an hour or two of the Keys themselves, a good excuse to extend the trip and bask in the sun, eyes closed, listening to the waves as they steadily crash ashore.