DESTINATIONS
E COTO U R I S M A N D T H E
FLORIDA KEYS
T
he famed Florida Keys remain one of Florida’s primary tourist destinations. Tourists flock to this coral cay archipelago for the tropical weather and world-class fishing, lobstering and diving, not to mention the island lifestyle and the legendary restaurants and bars. Increasingly, too, especially in the last decade, tourists make the Florida Keys their destination because of the opportunities to visit natural places and to learn about those natural environments. Marine environments dominate the Florida Keys, and tourists from all over the world come to the islands to snorkel and dive in the subtropical waters. The seven celebrated
64 | GuyHarvey.com
Florida Keys reefs provide tourists with the freedom to visit and learn about these threatened environments that are home to more than 75 species of coral, more than 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical fish, as well as sponges, lobster, crab, shrimp and sea urchins. (See page 56 in this issue for more about work to protect and restore these remarkable reefs.) In addition to the Florida Keys reefs, tourists now visit the Keys for the unique opportunities to kayak or paddleboard through the natural tidal creeks that flow among the mangroves throughout the islands. These creeks and mangroves are home to more than 285 species of shorebirds and seabirds and are a fantastic destination for amateur and
RICHARD MCCRACKEN / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
BY SID DOBRIN
