Planning a trip to The Florida Keys, often called “America’s Caribbean?” This string of tropical islands off of Miami is a great destination for beach bums, adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. With many different islands and towns, there’s a seemingly never ending list of things to do.  There’s so much to do in The Florida Keys, but it’s also perfectly acceptable to lounge by the pool or beach. For the days you want to get active, here are the ten best things to do in The Florida Keys!

If you’re planning a vacation to The Florida Keys check out my full Florida Keys Travel Guide.

1. Explore Sunset Key

Sunset Key is a small island off the coast of Key West. It’s a residential island with a resort, Sunset Key Cottages, and a delicious restaurant (my favorite in The Keys!) called Latitudes. A small number of passes to visit Sunset Key’s beach are distributed daily, first come first serve, at Margartiaville Hotel in Key West.

Only people with a dining reservation or a beach pass are allowed to board the small water taxi to access Sunset Key. I highly recommend making a reservation and heading over! The island is gorgeous and beautifully manicured. I had dinner at Latitudes and arrived about 30 minutes early to take a short walk around admire Sunset Key before my meal.

2. Feed the Tarpon

One of the most popular activities in The Keys is feeding the famous Tarpon at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada. Robbie’s is an eclectic hidden gem in The Keys; it’s part souvenir shop, bazaar with vendors, restaurant, bar and water activity hub. If you didn’t know about it, you’d probably drive right by.

At the marina you can purchase a small bucket of fish to feed the tarpon. If you haven’t seen one before, tarpons are massive fish that look scary, but they actually don’t have teeth. Hang out on the docks and watch the huge tarpon jump to grab the bait. Aside from feeing the tarpon, you can book water activities at Robbie’s and also grab bite at their on-site restaurant.

3. Snorkel in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp is the first state park in the US that’s located underwater! The park is located in the Upper Keys, about 90 minutes from Miami, and it’s a great first stop on a Florida Keys road trip.

The park spans over 70 nautical square miles and is known for its coral reefs and seagrass beds, so it’s a great snorkeling or diving destination. If you prefer to stay above the water, the park also has many mangroves and inlets for kayaking. On my visit to Pennekamp I took a snorkeling boat tour. The boat took us out into the ocean and made stops at popular coral reefs for snorkeling.

4. Visit the Dolphin Research Center

The Dolphin Research Center is the premier destination to learn about and spend time with dolphins. It was founded as a nonprofit in 1984 with the goal of ensuring dolphins had a home, and to establish a unique education and research facility. Today, visitors can participate in a variety of programs with the dolphins from watching them work with a researcher, to swimming together to even becoming a dolphin trainer for a day!

5. Observe Rehabilitated Turtles

The Turtle Hospital is a small non-profit that’s dedicated to the rehabilitation of sea turtles. The hospital opened in 1986 with the goal of rehabbing injured sea turtles to release in their natural habitat, to educate the public and to conduct sea turtle research. To date, the hospital has successfully rehabbed and released over 1,500 sea turtles.

Visitors can take a guided educational tour through the hospital facilities and the rehab area. The tour lasts around 90 minutes and provides a presentation on the critters as well as a look behind the scenes.

6. Try a Local Beer

The Florida Keys Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in the Upper Keys. The brewery has an indoor tasting room as well as a beer garden with lawn games. The brewery always offers a selection of their most popular brews, and also has a rotating list of seasonal and barrel aged beers.

Florida Keys Brewing Company is a great way to get a taste of local ingredients. You’ll find locally sources fruits and flowers, like key limes and hibiscus in their beer. The brewery frequently holds live music events and festivals throughout the year, the event calendar can be found here.

7. Catch a Famous Key West Sunset

Key West is the southernmost destination in the continental US and sunsets here are a special occasion. Every night visitors and locals alike flock to Mallory Square for a “Sunset Celebration.” This nightly ritual is not to be missed, and bonus points- it’s free! About two hours before the sunset people head to Mallory Square, which stretches along Key West’s harbor, and juts out to Mallory Pier.

The nightly Sunset Celebration includes a variety of street performers, musicians, tarot card readers and other eclectic shops and stands. It’s a uniquely Key West experience, and one that locals love. You’ll often hear them say “see you at sunset!”

8. Explore Historic Key West

The historic downtown of Key West is a charming area with colorful homes, unique architecture and old buildings.  In fact, Key West has the largest historic district on the National Registrar of Historic Places. Much of the architecture you’ll see dates back to the 1800’s. In addition to grand historic mansions Key West is also known for its “conch homes” which are brightly colored bungalows. You’ll see these candy colored cottages lining many streets in Key West. I recommend spending an afternoon strolling around the historic downtown. The next activity on our list can be combined with a day in this area.

9. Tour the Hemingway Home

One of the island’s most famous residents was Ernest Hemingway. His former mansion, The Hemingway Home, stands in the center of town and is open for tours. It’s a grand mansion that was built in 1851 for a maritime salvage wrecker. Hemingway moved in in 1931 and resided there for 10 years. The home is decorated beautifully and a tour is well worth it. But aside from antiques and old relics, one of the most unique things you’ll discover at Hemingway’s home are resident six-toed cats! About 50 of these cats live on the property and are descendants of Hemingway’s six-toed pet.

When you’re done visiting Hemingway’s home you can grab a drink at one of his favorite haunts, Sloppy Joe’s bar.

10. Visit The Dry Tortugas National Park

The Dry Tortugas is a remote national park comprised of seven islands, an old military fort and a coral reef. It lies 70 miles west of Key West and is accessible by seaplane or ferry. It’s a bit of a trek to get there; the ferry ride takes over two hours. It’s a very unique national park, and if you have the time, the trip is worth it.

The park is 100 square miles and is mostly made up of open water. Since much of the park is in the water, the best way to see it is to jump in. The reef surrounding the islands is a popular dive and snorkeling site. If you’re looking to extend your trip camping is allowed in the national park.