How about a Florida Keys vacation with your family!

Many Florida family vacations stay in Orlando. Break the mold and take a Florida Keys vacation with your family instead. There are tons of things for you to do like getting your scuba diving certificate (if you don't have one already), tons of snorkeling and swimming, and endless beaches to rest on.

The Florida Keys expand over 120 miles, covering 882 islands or as the Floridians say, "keys." Many families that are from the midwest or the east coast love watching the beautiful sunsets in the Florida Keys, the main reason being that they can see the sun set over the ocean and not land. Key West, the southernmost key, allows you to both watch the sun rise and set, which is a unique opportunity.

Sailing the Florida Keys

If you plan to visit Key West on your Florida Keys vacation, you will find many things to do. We highly recommend chartering one of the boats (preferably a sailboat) and sailing out on the ocean to a reef and go snorkeling. You will get to see some amazing fish and wildlife; like sharks and baracuda. Don't worry, it is pretty safe, most sharks could care less about you, just make sure that if you have any cuts or scratches, they are properly sealed or just wait for them to heal. You could also take your kids scuba diving, and you will have no trouble finding shops that offer diving equipment for rent (more on this in a bit). If you like art and history, Key West has an interesting blend of museums, cafes, galleries, old bars (Like Hog's breath saloon and Captain Tony's Saloon). Ernest Hemingway, perhaps Key West's most famous resident (sorry, not trying to disrespect Jimmy Buffett), wrote several of his most famous books while staying in Key West. He often frequented Sloppy Joe's Bar (now called Captain Tony's Saloon at 428 Greene St.) and even immortalized the owner of Sloppy Joe's in the book "To Have and Have Not." Joe "Josie" Russell was the inspiration for "Freddie" the captain of Queen Conch in that book.

Now if scuba diving is your gig, the Florida Keys offer some of the best options available.

You will find that Key Largo, which is the northern most island in the Keys, has what the locals consider the "Diving Capital of the World." This is hard to argue when you have places like the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. At this underwater paradise, you can dive to the wrecked Spiegel Grove and view a 510 foot Navy ship that was sunk in order to create a reef ecosystem. Key Largo is also home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park a protected park that will allow you to not only go diving, but also boating, snorkeling or fishing. Speaking of fishing, Key Largo is also very famous for it's sport fishing. Many of the world's premier fishing guides and captains work in Key Largo, so if you child or spouse is into fishing, they could generate one great "fish story" in these beautiful waters and make this Florida Keys vacation very memorable indeed.

Your Florida Keys vacation should be relaxing as well as exciting so we recommend you take some time to kick back and enjoy the white sand beaches and perhaps stay at one of the many nice hotels or resorts that are available. The best ones are in Key Largo, by the way.

Perhaps you are feeling a little adventurous and would like to try some famous "Conch cooking." A Florida Keys vacation would not be complete without some food prepared conch style. Check out "The Fish House" or "The Fish House Encore" at 102401 Overseas Highway or at 1-888-451-HOOK.

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