|
In this section, we cover the major attractions of Key Largo. The Tourist Development Council offers a very good calendar of events covering all the Keys.
The Key Largo area, being located so close to Miami and other parts of South Florida, is a popular weekend getaway for residents of those areas. Key Largo offers excellent fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and other outdoor opportunities.
 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (MM 102.5 Oceanside), a major area attraction, has spectacular coral reef wildlife that cannot be found anywhere in the United States except in the Keys. The State of Florida has a web site for the park, but a more interesting and useful site is the one by the company who has the boating and snorkeling concession at Pennekamp park.
Key Largo is the home of the Spiegel Grove, the largest vessel ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. The vessel is 510 feet in length, 84 feet wide. She lies on her starboard side at Dixie Shoals just off of Key Largo. Most of the Spiegel Grove can be explored at depths of 50-85 ft, but you can also see it just by snorkeling.
 
Above you see pictures of the ship while being sunk (May, 2002) and what it looks like now. The sinking itself was a fiasco - the ship sank on its own, hours before it was due to be scuttled. It rolled over and landed upside down. A marine salvage team was able to roll it on it's side. The original plan was that the Spiegel Grove sit nicely upright on the bottom, not on it's side. It is nonetheless an impressive sight.
Dolphin Cove (MM 101.9, Bayside) offers in-water interaction with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The price is $100 per participant, but you can watch at close range from land and ask questions for $8. A couple of miles down and across the road, you will find their sister facility Dolphins Plus (MM 100.5, Oceanside), a marine mammal research & educational center affiliated with Pennekamp Park. Well worth a visit.
The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center (MM 93.6 Bayside) works to rescue sick and injured birds, and prevent future injuries through education. Contributions are always appreciated, and the center is also open to the public. Stop by!
Had enough of educational experiences? Head out on the SunCruz Casino gaming boat for a different type of education. Enjoy full Las Vegas style gaming in the comfort of a cruise ship. Free hors d'oeuvres, as well as a free Rum Cocktail upon boarding. Located at the Holiday Inn Key Largo. Call 305-451-0000, or toll-free 1-800-THE-KEYS for details.
The Holiday Inn Key Largo also has a FREE public display of the "African Queen", the original boat used in the 1951 movie with the same name starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Cruises are also available on request by reservation (call (305) 451-4655).
Driving further south, you will pass Rodriguez Key on your left and enter the town of Tavernier. Tavernier is conveniently located for those who want to enjoy the attractions that a major destination like Key Largo offers, yet wish to retire to a quieter and smaller town at night. Worth mentioning is also that Tavernier offers it's own little cinema. Tavernier Towne Hall Cinema (MM 91.3) is open 7 nights a week. Call (305) 852-4488 for details.
As far as we know, neither the City of Key Largo or Tavernier have Internet sites. However, both are located in Monroe County, which does have a site.
 Interesting fact: you may have heard of the 1948 movie "Key Largo", starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Edward G. Robinson, and directed by John Huston. It is a classic. The movie tells the story of a disillusioned WW II veteran who travels to a broken-down hotel in Key Largo to pay his respects to the family of a buddy who was killed in the war. Only one problem - the town wasn't called Key Largo in 1948 - it was called Rock Harbor. The movie generated so much publicity that Rock Harbor changed it's name to Key Largo. Talk about life imitating art !
This section contains general information about Key Largo & Tavernier. If you are visiting the Keys, you owe it to yourself to stop and discover the unique atmosphere and wonderful wildlife that each part of the Keys offers. Each area is unique!
Just a 1/2 mile south of Pennekamp Park, there is the non-profit Maritime Museum of the Florida Keys (MM 102). The museum features the Atocha Treasure, treasure salvage techniques and many Kids "Hands-on" exhibits. Call (305) 451-6444 for details.
Call the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce at 800-822-1088 if you have any questions about Key Largo that are not answered here on Keysdirectory.Com.
|
