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EcoGuide Florida Keys | Key Largo & Tavernier
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Key Largo & Tavernier
by Richard H. Stewart
AUTHOR/PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Before Henry Flagler completed his overseas railroad in 1913, travel to the Keys was
without a doubt a challenge. The eleven mile road from Florida City to Card Sound met up with the Key Largo Ferry until the wooden draw bridge was completed in 1928. Flagler’s railroad project linked Miami to Key West at a cost of 50 million dollars only to be destroyed by a hurricane in 1935. By 1938, the state had finished what is now known as the
Overseas Highway.

Today, driving to the Keys, and into Key Largo is a twenty minute ride from Florida City along newly paved and widened roads. Key Largo is the first of five districts in Monroe County, lying between mile markers 107 and 89, and is most commonly referred to as the “Dive Capital of the World” because of its expanse of healthy tropical reefs just off the coast. Some say Key Largo was made famous by the Humphrey Bogart movie of the same name but, there is no doubt to the local “conch”?residents that Key Largo’s attraction is a combination of both its thriving reefs and its local charm.

Every year, tens of thousands head to Key Largo to scuba dive, snorkel, kayak and fish. Dotted all along the overseas highway can be found great seafood and specialty restaurants, dive operators, fishing charters and gift shops. If you are a scuba diver or snorkeler you can relish the fact you are in the most sub-tropical environment in the continental U.S. The reef system is amazing, offering excellent shallow reef dives with mounds of Staghorn and Elkhorn corals, sponges and an array of fish life. Some of the most interesting reefs have tunnels running throughout — a product of the ocean eroding the limestone base. The marine life is vibrant — Grouper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Green Moray Eels and even Nurse Sharks linger in the sandy valleys between the coral mounds. It all makes for an exciting dive for all.

Let’s not overlook snorkeling! If you are not a SCUBA diver but would like to see Key Largo’s natural wonders beneath the surface — then you are a candidate to become a snorkeler! No training is required — though it will be helpful to have someone show you how to clear the water out of the snorkel. Key Largo has the most famous protected reefs in the continental U.S. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park — named after a visionary Miami Herald journalist — has a world renown reputation for its incredible reef life and, as a snorkeler there are so many wonderful shallow water sites to experience that do not require SCUBA certification.

As you drive from south Miami along the Overseas Highway towards Key Largo enjoy the panoramic views to the west — part of the Everglades and the Florida Bay. This is one of the best kayaking environments South Florida has to offer. From Key Largo up to Florida City there are many bays, lagoons, marsh lakes and canals to kayak, one could spend a life time paddling and still not see it all. Key Largo has the location advantage for kayaking as there are hundreds of trails and launches and an endless array of wildlife to view along the way. One day you are paddling throughout the maze of mangroves in the bay, the next day you are paddling and hiking the razor grass trails of the Everglades — all within 30 minutes of Key Largo.

Diving and kayaking are just two of the many activities Key Largo has to offer. Birding — otherwise known as the art of observing wild birds — is an activity that everyone from eight to eighty can enjoy and appreciate. The Keys, and in particular Key Largo, offer an amazing and diverse population of feathered friends. The water around Key Largo is an ecologically fascinating place where freshwater from the Everglades mixes with the saltwater of Florida Bay. Ever since John James Audubon visited the Keys in 1832, birders have been taking notes — on the bird life of the Upper Florida Keys. The birds diversity of this coastal landscape is due to habitat nesting, and migration.

The wildlife in the Florida Keys varies with the contrast in habitat. It is in the protected shallow flats and mangrove shoreline of the Upper Keys where most of the water bird species inhabit coastal Florida. Within the Florida Keys there are seven types of herons and four types of Egrets, along with Cormorants, Osprey, Frigate Birds, Vultures, Roseate Spoonbills, Bald Eagles, Kites, Owls, Hawks, Stilts, Brown Pelicans, White Ibis and many more species. The Upper Keys are most interesting in terms of wild life, trees and flowers and there are over eighteen million visitors a year that “flock” here for bird-watching vacations! Every year, the Upper Keys are visited by shorebirds traveling from North America to South America. Hawks, songbirds and shorebirds stop here on their migration south as the Keys are an important feeding and resting place for these migrating birds — many of whom fly thousands of miles round trip from place to place.

But for many who visit Key Largo fishing is what counts the most! The Key Largo and Islamorada Flats, Flamingo & Everglades National Park are among their favorites — as is the deep sea fishing along the Atlantic. Backcountry and flats fishing the water of Key Largo is not only one of the best experiences you can have fishing, it is also a lot of fun. Whether you come with your own boat or charter an entire boat, you are sure to come back with catch of Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, Snook, Redfish or Trout!

Conservation efforts designed to enhance fish stocks have been driving the fishing ethic in the Keys for decades. Keys guides pioneered catch-and-release fishing. Size and bag limits, and more recently bans on gill nets and fish traps in state water, have enabled stocks to grow and stabilize.


GUIDE TO ACTIVITIES
Beaches | Birding | Boating | Fishing | EcoTours | Eco & Glass Bottom Boat Tours
Kayaking | Paddle Boarding | Parks | Sailing | Scuba & Snorkeling

Birding
Most popular bird watching areas around Key Largo area are Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks Botanical State Park, Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida Keys Wild Bird Center and Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. Expect to see Frigatebirds, “Great White” Heron, Reddish Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, White-crowned Pigeons, Mangrove Cuckoos, Antillean Nighthawks, Gray Kingbirds, Black-whiskered Vireos and Yellow Warblers.

For more information, call: Florida Keys Wild Bird Center at 305.852-4486, 93600 Overseas Hwy
(MM 93.6 Bayside), www.flwbc.org. Note: FKWBC is on the edge of the Tavernier city limits. Highly reccommended even if staying in Key Largo.

Boating
If you brought your own boat there are three ramps available for launching. Card Sound boat ramp on Card Sound Road, Bayside at Sunset Point Park (MM 95.2) and at Harry Harris Park (MM 92.5). If you are looking for a rental contact: Tiki Watersports at 305.852.9298 (MM 94.2).

Fishing
Key Largo has some of the best fishing in the Keys. Offshore, you will find Sailfish, Dolphin (mahi-mahi), Tuna, Wahoo, King Mackerel and Blue Marlin. On the bayside you find Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit and more. Deep sea fishing charters, backcountry and reef fishing — Key Largo offers experienced guides and captains for individuals and groups. For fishing information and packages contact: Dove Creek Lodge, a member of the International Game Fish Association, 305. 852.6200, or visit www.DoveCreekLodge.com.

Eco & Glass Bottom Boat Tours
The waters around Key Largo is an ecologically fascinating place where freshwater from the Everglades mixes with the saltwater of Florida Bay. Everglades National Park just west of Key Largo. An array of wildlife is within easy reach of the dock, including Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Crocodiles, Sea Turtles, Alligators, and Manatees. Highly skilled boat captains and eco-tour outfitters are available.

For more information contact: Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort, 305.451-3595, 104250 Overseas Highway (MM 105-104), wwwAmoray.com, or Captain Slate’s Atlantis Dive Center, 305.451.3020, 51 Garden Cove Drive, www.CaptainSlate.com.

Kayaking With Eco Tours
Key Largo and Everglades National Park are year round sea kayaking regions. Whether you bring your own kayak or rent one from an outfitter and join a guided tour, there are dozens of locations to satisfy all levels of ability — from an easy 2 mile trip to a 10 mile trek! From Key Largo to Tavernier, there are the favorite paddle trails. Starting from the north, just as you enter Key Largo there is Garden Cove, reached via Garden Cove Drive. This is a pleasant, mostly protected trail of around 2.5 miles. Further south, near the Florida Bay Outfitters location (adjacent to the Caribbean Club, MM 104) there is a launch site that will get you headed toward Dusenberry Creek. This is a moderate paddle of around 5.5 miles. Near the middle of Key Largo is Sunset Park, Swash Key and Plantation Key (MM 95.3) lie about 1.5 miles away. On the north side of Tavernier, launching from Harry Harris County Park, there is a pleasant soft paddle — Dove Creek, that is approximately a 2 mile trip. One of the benefits of basing your kayak adventures in Key Largo is the proximity of the Florida Everglades National Park with nearly100 miles of kayak trails and an abundance of wildlife.

For more information on the various trails, tours and rentals contact: Coastal Kayaking, 305.894.5045, www.Coastal-Kayaking.com, or Florida Bay Outfitters, 305.451.3018, www.KayakFloridaKeys.com.

Paddle Boarding
One of the fast-growing water sports, stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is an easy way to play on the water. With a minimum of equipment, you can paddle anything from ocean surf to the bayside flats. This is an amazing full body workout and since you’re standing at your full height, you’ll enjoy excellent views of marine life, as well as along the shore on the horizon.

For more information on paddle boarding call: Florida Bay Outfitters, 305.451.3018, www.KayakFloridaKeys.com or Pro Fit Paddle at 305.283.3518, www.Pro-FitPaddling.com.

Parks
The Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is located on County Road 905, one-quarter mile north of the intersection with the Overseas Highway (US 1).

The Everglades National Park
The only ecosystem of its kind in the world, encompasses more than 1.4 million acres. Visitors see bald eagles and nearly 300 additional species of birds, as well as Alligators, Deer and Bobcats. Gateway — Florida City. www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm.

Harry Harris Park Beach
This Tavernier Beach is inside the Monroe County's Harry Harris park and is another man-made beach on the Atlantic Ocean. There is a wide expanse of white sand with a number of covered picnic tables and a bath house. (Mile Marker 92.5 oceanside). www.florida-keys-guide.com/harry-harris-park.html.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
As one of Florida's most fascinating natural parks, this preserve includes the Coral Reef Theater, a reconstruction of a living reef in a 30,000 gallon aquarium, snorkeling, diving, glassbottom boat tours, kayak, canoe, camping, fishing and more (MM102.5), http://www.pennekamppark.com.

Sailing
Key Largo offers catamaran charters as well as mono hull and Hobie Cat rentals. For more information contact: Tiki Watersports, 305.852.9298 (MM 94.2). www.tikiwatersports.net.

Scuba & Snorkeling
Without a doubt Key Largo’s most recognized activity is SCUBA diving. From the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — great for snorkeling — to the first few stops on the Wreck Trek, Key Largo has it all. Beautiful shallow reefs teaming with fish, the 100 year old wreck of the Benwood, to Key Largo’s greatest artificial reef — the Spiegel Grove. At 510 feet in length and an 84 foot beam, the Spiegal Grove is one of the largest artificial reefs in the world. The Duane, a Coast Guard Cutter that was named after the Secretary of the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson, is near the Bib, a patrol and escort ship that served in the North
Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Viet Nam and the Pacific Ocean. If you are not a certified SCUBA diver, Key Largo a great place to begin! A resort course offers you an opportunity to “TRY SCUBA” under the supervision of a certified instructor who will provide pool training and a closely monitored open water experience. Just enought to wet your appetite so when you go home you can get an Open Water certification.

For more information about SCUBA and snorkeling contact the following oporators:
Amy Slates Amoray Dive Center, 104250 Overseas Hwy (MM1040}, 305.451.3595, www.Amoray.com. Captain Slate Atlantis Dive Center, 51 Garden Cove Drive, 305.451.3020, www.CaptainSlate.com. Island Ventures, 103900 Overseas Hwy (MM 103.9), 305.451.4957, www.IslandVenture.com.
Keys Diver and Snorkel Center, 99696 Overseas Hwy, Unit 1, 305-451-1177, www.KeysDiver.com. Horizon Divers, 100 Ocean Drive, 305-453-3535, www.horizondivers.com.
Scuba Do Dive Company, 100750 Overseas Hwy, 305-451-3446,


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