Hey Guys!
Didn’t you miss me?
Here I am, and today is the time to talk about the Florida Keys, the most interesting place in the USA for lovers of white sand beaches, beautiful sunsets over the sea, snorkeling on coral reefs, and unforgettable impressions of boat trips and fishing.
When we traveled to the Florida Keys, we set off on a trip from Miami to the Florida Keys along the scenic Overseas Highway, which passes through the islands of Key Largo, Islamorada, the city of Marathon, Bahia Honda Park, Big Pine, and dozens of other coral islands to Key West, the southernmost city in the United States.
In the article, I will tell you about two popular destinations in the Florida Keys: Marathon and Key Largo, and what we saw on our trip.
Marathon vs. Key Largo Comparison Table
Marathon | ||
Place Characteristic | It is known for its wonderful white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, beautiful barrier reefs, and colorful inhabitants. | The resort town is famous for its snow-white beaches, magnificent landscapes, and panoramic views. |
Location | It is a small resort town near Miami Beach, which is located on an elongated chain of closely spaced 13 coral islands (the main ones are Vaca Key, Fat Deer Key, and Grassy Key) about 10 miles long, located in the central part of the Florida Keys along the coast of the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other side. | Key Largo is located in the southeastern United States, in the state of Florida. |
What is the vacation like? | Recreation in Marathon is primarily a variety of family activities related to water. There are no noisy bars, clubs, or youth entertainment, but there are many fishing boats and speedboats. | Key Largo is the perfect place for an active educational holiday. Here there is something to see, something to do, and a lot of new and interesting things. |
Population | 9700 | 9500 |
What is better, Marathon or Key Largo?
Both places are ideal for beach vacations, and they can be great getaways for couples and families.
If you like diving and snorkeling, then definitely choose Key Largo because it has more options for these activities.
Nature lovers can head directly to Marathon to escape from all the noise.
It is customary here to enjoy a leisurely and measured life in the old Keys style, catch fresh fish, crabs, and lobsters, and also participate in culinary festivals with all kinds of seafood dishes.
Key Largo is famous not only for its snow-white beaches, magnificent landscapes, and panoramic views.
Key Largo is a recognized center for diving, snorkeling, yachting, boating, and sport fishing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Only a few miles separate the island from the picturesque lines of coral reefs.
There are a number of national parks in the vicinity of the town.
It is worth visiting Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, where you can see American crocodiles, white doves, and mangrove cuckoos, as well as rare species of flora.
The popular underwater park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, offers tourists an underwater statue of Christ the Redeemer and a tour of the bay in glass-bottomed boats.
As for Marathon, here people do not rush and devote their time to outdoor recreation, while at the same time visiting the best beaches of the Florida Keys: Sombrero Beach with sea turtles and Bahia Honda, known for excellent conditions for snorkeling on a coral reef.
How Far is Marathon From Key Largo?
Marathon and Key Largo are located close to each other.
Only 50 miles separate Marathon from Key Largo in a direct drive.
From Marathon to Key Largo, the drive lasts about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
For example, you can drive from Miami to the Florida Keys along the scenic Overseas Highway, which passes through the islands of Key Largo, Islamorada, the city of Marathon, Bahia Honda Park, Big Pine, and dozens of other coral islands, to Key West, the southernmost city in the United States.
What is Marathon, Florida, Known For?
It is known for its beautiful and unique nature and white-sand beaches.
Tourists come to Marathon to stay at the luxury hotels with a pool and spa for a relatively secluded pastime and relaxation, kayaking, individual trips to marine life on boats, unforgettable fishing, and evening gatherings in cozy restaurants for dinner with cocktails and baked fish delicacies.
To Marathon, you should not go here just for the sake of idle interest; it is better to prepare in advance and allocate a fairly tangible budget for a good rest with spa treatments, boat trips, fishing, and scuba diving along beautiful reefs.
Prices here are always higher than in Miami, which is quite understandable given the resort status of the city of Marathon and its exceptional popularity among wealthy vacationers.
If you are wondering how to get to Marathon, you can get there from Miami or Key West on your own by car or by bus.
The distance from Miami to the city of Marathon, Florida, is 106 miles, and travel time is 2.5–3 hours, depending on traffic.
Why Do People Go to Key Largo?
There are plenty of reasons why people choose Key Largo.
Well, here is how I tried to list them all:
because of warm, crystal-clear, azure coastal waters.
People who love sport fishing come here.
Every year, thousands of scuba divers and snorkelers come here from all over the world.
They gave Key Largo the nickname “Diving Capital of the World”.
It was near the shores of Key Largo that, in 2002, in order to create a new coral reef for divers, the US ship Spiegel Grove was deliberately sunk.
Key Largo Island is a great place to rent a boat during the day for fishing or to see the coral reef from the surface of the water.
Through the glass bottom of the boat, you can watch dolphins, colorful fish, and other marine animals.
If you’re looking for a place where kids can play safely in the water, check out Jacob’s Aquatics Center.
Here, a model of a pirate ship rises from the center of a shallow pool.
This is truly a breathtaking sight.
Because of the sheer beauty of Key Largo, many people choose to have their wedding ceremonies on the beach, in the park, or in the garden.
For more romance, they even take a sunset cruise.
Especially for you, at your request, an unforgettable dinner can be organized on board, or you can just sail and enjoy the beautiful scenery with light snacks.
Take a vacation and come to the Florida Keys for an unforgettable vacation!
Marathon and Key Largo are so varied and interesting that when we visited, we immediately understood why the Florida Keys are so popular with tourists of all ages who come here to spend their holidays in Florida.
