The Overseas Highway acts as the spine of the Keys. Beginning with MM127 just south of Homestead and ending with MM0 in Key West, you can see the railroad's original green-and-white mile markers, still in use today, as you drive down the highway. Besides driving, the only way to get around is by boat.

Best Time to Go

Florida's Keys boast the only tropical climate in the United States — where you can count on near-perfect weather with sunny skies and ocean breezes all year long. Temperatures range from winter highs in the 70s to over 90° in summer. And though humidity increases during the summer season, the constant sea breezes make it bearable.

Cautions and Safety Concerns

Generally, the Keys are safe. However, you'll need to make sure to wear sufficient sunscreen and, in the summer, insect repellent if you walk any of the trails through the tropical hammocks, which are pockets of woodland on ground only a few feet above surrounding wetlands.