There are many places to explore and fun things to do in the Florida Keys for everyone. The Florida Keys is ideal for boating and fishing! While enjoying your stay in one of our stunning Island Breeze Vacation Rentals, you can also visit several of our unique attractions! Browse Attractions and must “sea” places in the Middle Keys on our PremierKeys.com Website or give us a call at 305-432-1193 for more information about our Vacation Homes or Local Attractions.
The Turtle Hospital opened its doors 1986 with four main goals: 1) rehab injured sea turtles and return them to their natural habitat, 2) educate the public through outreach programs and visit local schools, 3) conduct and assist with research aiding to sea turtles (in conjunction with state universities), and 4) work toward environmental legislation making the beaches and water safe and clean for sea turtles. The Turtle Hospital (Hidden Harbor Marine Environmental Project, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. The Hidden Harbor Motel provides the space and buildings needed to house and care for the sea turtles. The Turtle Hospital offers Guided Educational Experiences to public daily 7 days a week. Please call 305-743-2552 for further information and reservations. The Turtle Hospital contains up-to-date equipment needed to perform a variety of surgeries on different species and sizes of sea turtles. More than half of this equipment has been donated by local hospitals and doctors, and some equipment has been donated by environmentally- friendly organizations and individuals.
At the heart of their mission is the desire to successfully introduce people from all walks of life to the magic that the ocean and its majestic creatures provide through close, or even one-on-one interaction. Create lasting memories of positive experiences with marine life and an appreciation for the continued health of our marine environments.
Spend an hour or the whole day with the Dolphin Research Center family. Whether you come in under general admission for an up close look at dolphins and sea lions during behavior sessions, or choose a fun-filled interactive program including swimming with dolphins, you`re going to have a great time! Visit the Dolphin Research Center during your Florida Keys Vacation and see what fun awaits. Dolphin Research Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Closed on Christmas Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day.)
The Blue Hole is an attraction on the island of Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys. It is an abandoned rock quarry that was used for nearby road fills and Henry Flagler`s Overseas Railroad.The water it contains is mostly fresh and is used by various wildlife in the area, such as birds, snakes, alligators, key deer and green iguanas. It is part of the National Key Deer Refuge.
The Dry Tortugas offers a variety of exciting activities and amazing scenery while providing a rich sense of history. Located on a remote island off the southernmost city in the United States, The Dry Tortugas is guaranteed to offer you a unique experience and plenty of stories to take back home. Let us plan your trip and make your new adventure as comfortable as possible. Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life and its legends of pirates and sunken gold. Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts ever built, is a central feature. To clear up some confusion, Dry Tortugas National Park is located inside Fort Jefferson which sits on Garden Key.
Nature abounds at Crane Point….find glorious views, exotic creatures and the true beauty of the Florida Keys… expose yourself to Crane Point Museum and Nature Center. Museum of Natural History – Provides the visitors with interesting and educational interpretative displays of local wildlife, marine-life, dioramas and dramatic exhibits featuring artifacts and objects of cultural interest. Gift Shop – Our gift shop offers a wide selection of items. Spark a child`s imagination with great books, puzzles, and unusual toys. Treat yourself, family or friends to a special gift that might included homemade soaps, and lotions, unique jewelry, or a delightful perfume. Assorted tropical themed gifts, decorations, specialty foods, and a large collection of enjoyable and educational materials can all be found in our beautiful gift shop. Nature Trails – Explore the many trails that exist on the 63-acre property and enjoy the natural Florida Keys hardwood hammock. The Trails include a visit to the Hammock Loop, here you`ll learn to identify the hammock trees. Also, Creature Feature is a changing exhibit featuring hermit crabs, lizards, snakes, and insects. You can also observe a real beehive on the deck. The Butterfly Garden is a joy to see and many fragrant flowers are in this meadow. Next, the Adderley House, the oldest house outside of Key West. Continue to the end of the nature trail by seeing the Crane House. Francis and Mary Crane, for whom Crane Point is named, lived in this house in 1954. And, the last place you`ll find is The Point, a beautiful view of Florida Bay. The complete trail is 1.5 miles. For those people that do not want to walk, we have a trolley which will take you on the tour, free of charge, with a volunteer who is well educated about the Crane Point Hammock. Marathon Wild Bird Center – Stop and see Florida Keys and migrating wild birds at this rescue center for injured or sick wild birds. This facility has rescued, rehabilitated, and released close to 6,000 injured wild birds since it was founded in 1998.
Welcome to Theater of the Sea! We are an educational and entertaining marine animal park where performances are up close and personal. At Theater of the Sea you can swim with dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays in their natural salt water lagoons through our interactive swim programs. The lagoons, and lush, tropical gardens at are home to Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, sea turtles, tropical and game fish, sharks, stingrays, alligators, marine invertebrates, colorful parrots, and birds-of-prey. MISSION STATEMENT To provide a wonderful home for our animals while sharing them with visitors in ways that inspire awareness and sensitivity towards animals, the environment, and conservation issues. While some of our animals were collected and others were born here, many are non releasable as a result of imprinting and/or injuries sustained in the wild. The health and well being of the animals takes precedence over all other interests and their care and maintenance is supported by patronage alone. Theater of the Sea is open 365 days a year. The ticket counter opens at 9:30 a.m. EST daily.
Robbie`s rests peacefully among coconut palms with shimmering views of the nearby islands where the unspoiled Florida Bay and the exquisite Atlantic Ocean converge. Cooled by the gentle trade winds, and cantilevered over crystal clear aquamarine waters, with a private sandy beach, one cannot help but understand why so many artists have chosen this place to immortalize in paintings. Robbie`s comprises quaint and discreet pavilions surrounded by lush tropical landscaping offering a taste of everything the Keys have to offer. An eclectic fusion of nostalgic Florida Keys understated elegance with the more modern conveniences of shopping for everything from beads to fine art and hammocks, and dining at eateries from sidewalk vendors to five star cuisine overlooking the water, in one of Islamorada`s most discreetly placed restaurants, even the most discriminating of visitors will find themselves captivated by everything Robbie`s has to offer. Whether your passion leads you kayaking the mangrove creeks and streams of the Bay; hand feeding the majestic silver king from the dock; battling deep sea fish a la Ernest Hemingway; captaining your own boat around the islands; island hopping with a guide; snorkeling the country`s largest barrier reef; sipping cold beers as you watch the kids feed the tarpon and pelicans; or shopping for that perfect Keys souvenir, Robbie`s has it all. As a jumping off point to visit the historic islands of Lignumvitae Key and Indian Key, Robbie`s offers tours to each historic and fascinating island; or disembark on a luxury houseboat to spend the night following your own itinerary traveling as you choose through the myriad of islands that have made Florida Bay famous. As a world famous family favorite destination, where pets are always welcome, come enjoy a taste of the Keys. Visit for an hour or enjoy the whole day, either way, like all of the adventurers, artists, and sportsmen who`ve come before you, we are confident you will be back!
Location: 77522 B. Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL
Located about five nautical miles offshore of Big Pine Key is Looe Key, which is not an island but a groove and spur reef and part of the reef system that parallels the Atlantic side of the Florida Keys. This reef got its name from the HMS Looe which supposedly ran aground there in 1744 while towing a captured French ship, the Snow. While crossing the reef, the HMS Looe hit hard in only 25 feet of water and quickly burned to the waterline, taking the accompanying ship with her. Recent archeological studies say that the ship that went down with the Looe was named Billander Betty and that ballast stones located at the eastern end of the reef are from those two ships. But some pieces of thin copper, possibly hull sheathing, and a piece of concrete located in that area of the reef seem to indicate that the ballast and wreckage found there may be from a wreck more closely resembling a 19th century merchantman. The reef at Looe Key, roughly 200 yards wide and 800 yards long is generally U shaped, and is comprised of both patch and outside reefs. It became a National Marine Sanctuary in 1981 due, in part, to the success of the Key Largo Sanctuary created in 1975. This sanctuary designation means that there are absolute restrictions on spearfishing, tropical fish and shell collecting and wire fish traps. Marine police patrol the reef and keep a close eye on activities there. Because of its unique shape and varying depths, Looe Key is an excellent SCUBA and snorkeling site for people of all skill levels. Water clarity is mostly excellent and sea conditions are generally moderate. The reef is home to over 150 species of fish including yellowtail, angelfish, parrotfish, barracuda, sergeant majors, and moray eel. The lucky diver can also see several shark and ray species. After 7000 years of coral growth, about fifty species are present, many named for the shapes of their namesakes on land. These corals include staghorn, elkhorn, star, brain, and fire corals. In 1998, a special diving attraction was added to this area offshore of the Lower Keys. About 3 miles west of Looe Key, lies the Adolphus Busch, sunk in 110 feet of water in December of 1998 as an artificial reef. This 210 foot long ship was well prepared for experienced advanced divers with large holes cut for swim throughs. Large Jewfish, some weighing as much as 400 lbs., live on the wreck.
