Paddling The Florida Keys

Everyday can be extraordinary in the Florida Keys, especially when seen from the deck of a shallow-draft kayak that can take you where power boats cannot. From mangrove-lined creeks around Key Largo to Magnificent Frigate birds soaring above the remote Dry Tortugas, these shallow tropical waters possess wonders unmatched in the continental United States. Paddling to Paradise, 100 miles along the Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail, is the trip of a lifetime. By day we traversed flats alive with fish, rays and coral. Night found us pulling our kayaks up on a deserted island beach or a high-end resort.

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The 100-mile Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail extends from Key Largo to Key West. Plan a day or an overnight trip, or do the entire trip in about a week. Dining and lodging is not a problem along this island paradise.

Linked by highway and historic railroad bridges, the Florida Keys remain a water world and boater’s playground. Every boater needs a good chart, and the Florida Keys Paddling Atlas provides just that for kayaks and other shallow-draft boats.

US Highway

1 is the main (and only!) route along the 100-mile Florida Keys island chain. Directions are given by small green mile marker signs on both sides of the highway, i.e. MM 104.5 B/S (bayside), or MM 22 O/S (oceanside).

Crocodile or alligator? Since they need freshwater, it’s very unlikely to see an alligator in the Florida Keys. Conversely, the endangered American Crocodile lives in saltwater, and unlike their ferocious African counterparts, are extremely shy. Most of Florida’s crocs reside in a refuge in Key Largo and on Everglades beaches.

State park campgrounds in the Florida Keys, like Pennekamp and Bahia Honda, are extremely popular. If visiting in the busy season, January-April, go to http://www.reserveamerica.com/ to book your site up to 11 months in advance.

Click to see how our tours display--tons of images with either text or narration--much better than any audio tour because you can see the sites. It's like having a friend show you around, with priceless advice and insider information, to enjoy at your own pace. Our samples feature different locations throughout the year.

Provider: Mary & Bill Burnham

Bill & Mary Burnham are full-time travel writers and part-time kayak guides who specialize in hiking, paddling and off-the-beaten-path travel in Florida and Virginia. They spent three years poking their bows into every mangorove creek and island of the Florida Keys for their "Florida Keys Paddling Atlas," a chartbook just for human-powered travel. They blog their adventures at www.BurnhamInk.com