Lodging in a Nutshell |
Andrew Blum, Contributing Writer |
 Ever heard of a place where you can have an underwater wedding or stay in an underwater hotel? Where on earth might you guess this exists?
Where else, but the Florida Keys, of course. But you have to know how to scuba to reach the hotel!
Everyone knows about Key West, its party scene, its open arms to gay travelers and the 90-miles-to-Cuba sign, but what about the other Keys? They are perhaps lesser known but no less magnificent. You’ve probably heard of at least one of them: Key Largo; Marathon; Islamorada; and Big Pine Key, and they boast fishing, diving and a host of other water-related activities.
Naturally, there are a variety of hotels on each Key to suit each kind of traveler’s needs. Not only are hotels available on each Key, but campsites and RV parks also abound. Rates range from $20-odd a night for campsites up to $1,000 a night for luxury accommodations. Many places in the Keys also offer weekly and seasonal rates for those who like their Keys in large doses.
And even though each Key is distinct, the numbers tell a traveler where something is on the Keys. For example, did you know that guidebooks refer to the location of hotels in these other Keys as MM (Mile Marker) 1 through 126 (designating the 125-mile Overseas Highway - U.S. 1 - that connects the Keys)?
When you drive this highway, at some points you are literally right on the ocean - well on the Atlantic and the Gulf. The view is fantastic on a clear day, but it’s a place you don’t want to be in bad weather. Throughout the Keys, meanwhile, visitors can find some of the best sunsets just about anywhere.
But as you’ll see, each of the Keys is similar with their proximity to water, but each has its own special characteristics and activities.
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