Key Largo Area
 

We are taking 3 teenagers to Key Largo. Any suggestions for activities? Snorkeling, fishing, good beaches,restaurants, etc.?

I'm looking for the same thing. going down for just one day in march looking for beaches? Try www.flausa.com

We took our two teenagers to Key Largo a couple years ago and had a great time. There a several snorkling companies which offer day trips out to the reefs. We used 'Sharkeys"and it was great. We did a day trip down to Key West and spent another day in the Everglades. Actually, the kids weren't real excited about the everglades! Their favorite thing was simply laying on the beach at our resort. 80 degrees and sun every day - can't beat it. Unfortunately, we missed a pod of manatees right at our beach all day by one day! We did see one for about a spit second though. Have fun.

Mark - I'm sure I sound like a broken record on this subject, but there really are no great beaches in the keys. All the beaches are man-made and most are very tiny. There are, however, tons of water sports available all over the keys.

D, Snorkeling, fishing are good, try to stay off "cattle boats" (too much of a crowd) find an operation that takes out smaller number. Water is cold now, rent a wet suit jacket. It can also be very rough when we have alot of wind. We don't have beaches, your resort may have a man made beach, nothing to write home about. And you will not find waves breaking on a beach, water is too shallow. Teenagers may find out about "Holiday Isle". Depending on their age and maturity, you may not want to allow them a visit there at night. Check it out in the afternoon when the fishing boats are coming in with their catch. Go to Islamorada for dinners, good restaurants there, if you like local seafood. Try Pierre's ($$$$), Bentleys, or Lazy Days. We are packed here now because of spring break, <BR>major delays on highway (only one), lots of accidents and it is a major pain! Wish these people would leave their money and go home.

John Pennekamp State Park has some of the best snorkeling, fishing and hiking in the Keys. <BR> <BR>Theater of the Seas in Islamaroda has sharks, dolphin shows, sea turtles etc. <BR> <BR>Maritime Museum of the Florida Keys in Key Largo offers artifacts, silver, gold coins retrieved from local shipwrecks. <BR> <BR>Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, Tavernier. Some birds are rehabililitated others are permanent residents because they can't be returned to the wild. <BR> <BR>Kayak at Florida Bay Outfitters, Key Largo. <BR> <BR>And if they get totally bored you can rent playstations and vcrs at Blockbuster Video in Key Largo. <BR> <BR>As for Holiday Isle-The place is a big drinking and party place. I don't know if you want your kids exposed to that. <BR>

Do any of you know of a great seafood buffet somewhere in the Keys, right off the main road?

Hungry: <BR> Whale Harbor (Islamorada) has an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. The last time I went there was several years ago, I was impressed by the amount and diversity of the seafood, but less so with the quality. Not that it was bad, I guess you can't expect top-notch seafood at a buffet. <BR> For D: <BR> A couple good restaurants in Key Largo are the Quay and my favorite, Sundowners. Both are not cheap but are very good. For breakfast and lunch "Keys diner" style, try Mrs. Mac's Kithcen. <BR> I'm not sure I agree about the water being cold right now, I was at Islamorada last weekend and the water was fine, plenty of people were swimming.

The Coral Grill has a pretty good seafood buffet. They are located in Islamaroda at mm 83.5.

I have to agree with Larry regarding the seafood buffet at the Whaler. While they have ample food, it was cold and tasted as if it were several days old. The seafood buffet at the Coral Grill has less choices than the Whaler, but the food is definitely better.