Things to Do in Key Largo, Florida

Key Largo Things to Do

Easily accessible to the mainland of the United States, Key Largo is a perennial favorite for both Americans and visitors from abroad because of the many things to do while vacationing.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

This state park is one of the most visited attractions in the Keys, and is also the nation’s first underwater state park. The Key Largo coral reef is the third largest in the world and the protected area of the park is over 70 nautical square miles. At the park you can book a glass bottom boat tour, snorkeling and scuba tours and rent canoes and power boats. If you choose to bring your own boat there is a boat ramp and marina. The park also has a number of camping sites that must be booked in advance especially during the winter tourist season. The Key Largo coral reef is considered to offer some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in North America, and the reef and the mangrove islands of the park offer excellent saltwater fishing.

Dolphin Cove Research Center

At the Dolphin Cove Research Center you can swim with bottle nosed dolphins, which are very intelligent marine mammals that react well with humans. Dolphin Cove also offers back country ecology tours in the Everglades National Park and back country kayaking.

Saltwater Fishing

Key Largo and the Florida Keys offer some of the best saltwater fishing in the United States. Depending on the time of the year, it is possible to go offshore fishing and catch marlin, sailfish, shark, tuna, and mahi mahi. On the reefs you can catch snapper and grouper and barracuda. While in the bays and back country you can catch tarpon, permit, bonefish, snapper, and grouper.

Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

This non-profit organization relies primarily on donations for sustaining their care for sick and injured wild birds. The healing birds and their stories are told in the guide pamphlet, and at 3:30 each day they feed the pelicans on the beach which is great to see! There is also a gift shop where you can purchase bird related items that also help to fund the organization. While there is no admission fee, it is suggested that a donation be made.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Key Largo, Florida.