Cruising the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys offer the American Sailor a unique oppurtunity to expereience carribean style cruising without international travel. US-1, the Overseas Highway, puts this cruising experience withing driving distance for many sailors. The keys offer the full line-up of cruising highlights including easy sailing, excellent diving and snorkeling, temperate weather, great fishing, social spots, and the rich history of key west. Spanning roughly 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West, the keys are a dream trip for the cruising enthusiast.

Easy Sailing: Hawk's Channel is the name of the main waterway along the eastern or Atlantic side of the Florida Keys. Any decent chart shows a recomended route through the shallows and reefs that fringe the edges of the channel. While you do have to know what is under you at all times, there is a relatively deep run all the way from Miami to Key West. The Gulf side of the Keys is very shallow and much less interesting, unless you are an inshore fisherman. You may find a nice marina along the intracoastal route, but there are limited number of bridges that can accomodate a sailboat mast and crossing from the gulf to the ocean side could become the driver of your itenerary. We suggest choosing the ocean side whenever possible.

Excellent Diving & Snorkeling: The Keys are a highly protected environment under a national marine sanctuary that spans from Florida City all the way to the Dry Tortugas. The sancutary protects the reefs and sea grasses so that they remain pristine. There are countless reefs and wrecks for diving and snorkeling, mostly on the Atlantic Side. Tom Witmer, is a local dive instructor can point you to all the best diving and snorkeling the keys have to offer.

Temperate Weather: While winter cold fronts will can create a chill and some brisk wind, the Keys are normally very temperate. Water temperatures run between 65-85 F and the air temperatures run between 60 - 95 F. The summer months tend to be hot and less windy. November through May is the best time to visit the keys if you are looking for great breeze and more moderate temperatures.

Great Fishing: The Gulf Stream Current runs very close to the Ocean Side of the Keys. Depths in the Atlantic Ocean drop to several thousands of feet just a few miles beyond the barrier reef of Hawk's Channel. This combination of nutrient rich gulf stream, ample mangrove breeding grounds, reefs, and sea grasses all add up to fantastic fishing potential. Both offshore big game and inshore back bay fishing in the keys are as as good as it gets in the US.

Fun Social Spots:Key West is World famous for its fabulous restaurants, nightlfe, museums, and galleries. In fact, several cruise ships and ferries runningdaily direct from Miami and Fort Myers on the West Coast. Marathon, Key Largo,and Islamorada are more family friendly offering low key, but ample entertainment for the term of a weeky vacation with ood restaurants and cute marinas

Rich History of Key West: Known to be the stomping ground of the famous and infamous, Key west is full of rich historial tourism. Some of the highlights include the Ernest Hemingway Estate, Mel Fischer's Treasure Museam, Audubon House, Truman White House, and Fort Zachary, and the Old Key West Ligthouse.