The Florida Keys: Nature, History, and Island Charm
Author: Victor Block
Published: 2025/03/22
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Disability Travel America - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: Discover the Florida Keys' stunning wildlife, accessible adventures, and unique island charm. A must-read guide for travelers of all abilities.
Why it matters: This article offers a vibrant and engaging exploration of the Florida Keys, blending its natural wonders, historical landmarks, and quirky local charm. It highlights the region's diverse wildlife, from Key Deer to rehabilitated sea turtles, as well as accessible outdoor activities like snorkeling, birdwatching, and fishing. The piece is particularly valuable for travelers, including seniors and individuals with disabilities, as it details ADA-accessible accommodations, wheelchair-friendly tour options, and even adapted fishing boats. With its mix of practical travel tips and evocative storytelling, this article serves as both an informative guide and an enticing invitation to experience the laid-back beauty of the Keys. - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
One afternoon while visiting the Florida Keys I photographed my wife Fyllis swimming with sting rays and other denizens of the sea in a huge tank of water, then shoving live fish through an opening in a plexiglass wall to feed sharks on the other side.
Main Item
Driving back to our temporary home away from home, we passed houses fronted by mailboxes shaped like dolphins, manatees and sea horses.
The island chain, which stretches southwest from the tip of Florida, combines Mother Nature encounters with occasional touches of crass commercialism.
Magnificent parks adjoin shops selling sandals, shells and T-shirts. Recreational vehicle and trailer lots are neighbors to upscale resorts.
Key West offers a variety of tempting things to see and do, from funky and fashionable to historical and hysterical. For starters, there's the setting itself, dots of land so narrow that we were able to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean, then stroll across the highway later to see it set into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Keys include some 1,700 islands, about 40 of which are inhabited. The journey by car takes roughly three hours without stops, following the 113-mile-long Overseas Highway.
Florida state laws require that at least 5 percent of guest rooms in licensed lodgings meet specified handicapped accessible criteria. Because these features vary, it's recommended to check ahead in advance of your trip. Public theatrical venues throughout the Keys are ADA-accessible, featuring wheelchair-accessible seating, convenient parking and ramps for people with a disability.
Public and tour transportation with wheelchair access is available, and wheelchairs may be rented at some locations. There even are fishing boats that are equipped for wheelchairs, have accessible bathrooms, and offer a lift to lower disabled passengers into shallow water for swimming and snorkeling.
Soon after leaving the mainland, travelers are immersed in local atmosphere. Bridges and piers are lined by fishermen seeking their dinner. Boats harbored in marinas are available for deep sea fishing excursions, and rides to snorkel and dive sites.
The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park covers 178 square miles of coral reefs, mangrove swamps and seagrass beds. Divers and snorkelers enjoy close-up encounters with over 50 varieties of multihued coral and 600-plus species of fish, while landlubbers may spot a multitude of resident and migratory birds.
The park has two man-made beaches. Many people are surprised to learn that they are among the few stretches of inviting sand in the Keys. That's because reefs strung out east of the islands reduce the beach-building action of the surf.
Fortunately, there are inviting exceptions. Anne's Beach on Lower Matecumbe Key is fronted by an elevated wooden boardwalk that meanders through a wetland hammock. White sand Sombrero Beach is a favorite among locals because of its isolated location off the main drag. Many sun worshippers rank the baby-powder soft sand at Bahia Honda State Park among the best anywhere.
The fact that there are few outstanding beaches on the Keys has its upside, because that leaves more time for discovering other treasures. One of these is the variety of animal life encountered both in the wild and at national refuges and state parks.
Most appealing is the tiny and adorable Key Deer, a subspecies of white-tailed North American deer found only in the Keys. The miniscule animals stand about two feet tall. Most live on Big Pine and No Name Keys, in a federal refuge.
Other encounters with wildlife are available elsewhere. The Blue Hole on Big Pine Key, an abandoned quarry, is home to wading birds, turtles, numerous fish and at times an alligator.
During spring and fall migrations, refuges provide habitat for more than 250 species of birds. While I'm no ornithologist, I enjoyed searching the skies for winged visitors with intriguing names like sooty shearwater, brown noddy and dark-eyed junco.
Inhabitants of the Florida Keys Wildlife Bird Center on Key Largo are protected as they recover from accidents and disease. Those nursed back to health for release have included peregrine falcon, red-shouldered hawk and roseate spoonbills.
Sea turtles are patients at the Turtle Hospital, which treats animals that have been injured and, when possible, returns them to the wild. The facility even has a Turtle Ambulance which, on occasion, may be seen driving on a rescue mission. Our tour included views of examination and surgery rooms, and face time with resident reptiles including those identified as Brianna, M&M and my namesake Victor.
A personal favorite site was the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center, a preserved pocket of thatch palm hammocks which represents the natural habitat of the Keys. We began our visit in the Museum, viewing exhibits that range from a 600-year-old dugout canoe to remnants of pirate ships and a realistic simulated coral reef cave. Then we checked out the labyrinth of nature trails, wild bird center, butterfly meadow and other park features.
Another chapter of the Keys story is the Seven Mile Bridge. It was completed in 1911 as part of the railroad built by industrialist Henry Flagler to connect the islands to the southern tip of the mainland.
After the demise of the railroad, it became part of the Overseas Highway. When a new span was built alongside it in 1982, the old structure became a favorite route for walkers, bike riders and so many fishermen that today it's referred to as "the longest fishing pier in the world."
Fishing from bridges and boats is so popular that I include it in "Victor's laws for people who wish to live in the Keys." If you don't know how to fish, learn. Develop a taste for all kinds of sea food. Relax.
That last admonition was spelled out on a roadside sign we spotted, which succinctly summarizes perhaps the greatest appeal of the Florida Keys. "Honestly now, what's your hurry? You're here!"
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Beyond its sun-drenched shores and vibrant marine life, the Florida Keys tell a deeper story of conservation, accessibility, and cultural charm. Whether you seek adventure or tranquility, this island chain offers something for everyone - provided you embrace its unhurried pace. - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Victor Block has been a travel journalist for many years, and has written for major newspapers, magazines and travel websites and served as an editor of Fodor's Travel Guides. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Victor is a regular contributor of reviews to the Disabled World travel section. Visit Victors's biography for further insights into his background and expertise.