Marathon is the place to go for larger chain stores and hotel chains, and it also has a small airport. Although on the surface it holds the most familiar sites to landlubbers, much of Keys history is evident here as well. Henry Flagler's original railroad, which predates the modern Overseas Highway, can still be seen in stretches along the scenic Seven Mile Bridge. Much of it was destroyed in a hurricane in the 1930s, but pieces remain and are a favorite roost among fishermen and birds. The historic housing Flagler built for his railroad crew still stand on Pigeon Key, and are open for tours.
Marathon is centrally located, directly in between Key Largo and Key West. The Museum of Natural History and the Crane Museum offer fascinating glimpses in to the area's past natural and human residents. In fact, the Crane Museum is an archeological dig site where an entire Indian village was unearthed. The Dolphin Research Center is among the facilities which provide an opportunity to swim with the dolphins themselves.
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800.2.MARATHON
marathoncc@aol.com
Lower Keys
Be careful while driving the Overseas Highway through the Lower Keys, because this is the home of the Key Deer. A type of miniature deer not found anywhere else in the world, Key Deer are the size of small dogs. At dawn and dusk, they roam the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge and can be spotted from the highway.
The Lower Keys also offer reef and wreck diving at, among other sites, the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, named after a wreck from the 1740s. Divers should also visit the Adolphus Busch Senior, a 210-foot freighter that now serves as an artificial reef. Couples can kayak at Watson's Hammock. Some of the most spectacular beaches in the Keys are found at Bahia Honda State Park, which offers cabins, camping areas, marinas and picnic spots. The area has been named as one of the top ten beaches in the United States.
In nearby Little Torch Key, the Little Palm Island Resort and Spa is often cited as one of the best resorts in the world. Approachable by ferry just off Mile Marker 28.5, the resort is the ideal spot for couples who want an island paradise far removed from the rest of the world.
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800.USA.ESCAPE
lkchamber@aol.com
Little
Palm Island Report and Spa
305.872.2524
