oh boy, lots of questions, so here i go:

going to dolphin research center (in grassy key) next month (4/01) and i am trying to figure out where to stay. not so interested in key west, (been there), would rather try another area. i am also planning on snorkeling at looe key marine but where in the keys is this and where would i stay? also, are the dry tortugas worth it? where do the trips leave from? by boat or plane?

i would like to see mangrove swamps, too. must i go to key west for this?

are there hotels near bahia honda? i heard this beach is amazing.

is there anything else that i must do on my trip? i have between 3 and five days (not sure yet)

thanks so much!

Probably have to go to the Everglades to see a mangrove swamp up close and personal. As to accomodations around Bahia Honda, the closest would be Marathon. I recommend Islamaroda and stay and recommend either the Moorings or the Cheeca Lodge. Do a text search on Florida Keys and you will get more info.

Lizzy,

Here are some websites that will answer all or most of your questions:

http://www.theaterofthesea.com/
http://www.dolphinworld.org/
http://www.dolphins.org/
http://www.seaplanesofkeywest.com/
http://www.sunnydayskeywest.com/
http://www.floridays.org/
http://www.fastcatferry.com/
http://www.nps.gov/drto/
http://www.fortjefferson.com/
http://islamorada.fl.us/
http://www.casamorada.com/
hthttp://www.themooringsvillage.com
http://www.cheeca.com/
http://www.pcove.com/
http://www.greenturtleinn.com/

Bahia Honda is a great state park beach, but remember, all keys beaches are man-made & yes you have selected the best one. Just a note about swimming with the dolphins, you ususally need advance reservations, but maybe you can get in anyway, just depends! Hope this helps!

Lizzy,

I forgot to let you know about one more website for all the keys beaches & state parks:

http://www.travelflkeys.com/

Also, forgot to let you know where Looe Key is located. This key is located in the lower keys, in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Big Pine Key, (305) 292-0311. This sanctuary protects a submerged section of the Florida reef located 6.7 nautical miles southwest of Big Pine Key. It is a popular spot for scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating. Hope this answers all your questions!

Please make reservations @ the Dolphin Research Center. They are booked up well in advance. You can see a magrove swamp @ John Pennecamp State Park. It is very interesting and informative. I went to Bahia Honda expecting to see the awesome beach you are referring to and was sorely disappointed. I'm used to the natural beaches of Lake Michigan and the manmade ones in Florida don't even compare. But is was in December and -3 in northern Indiana and 65+ in Florida so I wasn't complaining.

i don't classify the beaches (bahia honda or otherwise) as being beaches....there more like small strips of sand that collect seaweed and other muck....oh, and how i love to walk through the rotting vegetation sludge that coats the bottom of the ocean floor.

as a diver, i found looe key to be very disappointing...as compared to the upper key dive sites....not much sea life..at least on the day we dove. we stayed on ramrod key...can't remember the name of the "dive resort" we stayed at....and would not recommend it....it was the only place to stay on ramrod that we could find.

.....don't write me off as a jaded, keys snob.....i love it there.......but i don't go for the beaches and i'll only dive the upper/middle key reefs. rent a boat for the day ($120)and find your own beach......and don't stay in marathon if you like to get away from it all.....i gave up on that place years ago.

ttt