The Keys, a string of islands strewn like beads along the southern tip of Florida, have a way of life that is different from the rest of the state. The focus is on the water, because the area is home to some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the United States. Fishing is also a popular pastime for those who don't want to venture beneath the water's surface. The keys are also a state of mind, where people spend their days on the water and their evenings in bars and nightclubs. There are three main groups of islands, the Upper Keys, the Middle Keys, and the Lower Keys. Most of the larger islands are connected to the mainland by a causeway.

Key Largo

The north entrance to these islands is Key Largo, just south of Miami. The island is home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, a haven for divers and snorkelers. Visitors without the proper equipment and supplies will not be disappointed; boats, canoes, and snorkeling equipment are available for rent. A popular destination for divers is the 9-foot-tall statue of the Christ of the Deep, located beneath 20 feet of water near the Key Largo Dray Rocks.

Visitors to the Middle Keys may choose to camp on the beach at Long Key State Recreation Area. Nearby is Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Park, which is accessible only by boat. Only 50 visitors are allowed at this park at any time. The best beaches in the keys are said to be in the Lower Lower Keys at Bahia Honda State Park. South of that, on Big Pine Key is the National Key Deer Refuge, home to a miniature subspecies of the white-tailed deer.

Key West

Key West is a popular destination for cruise ships, in part for its pleasant tropical climate, in part of its easy way of life. The city is famous for its restaurants and bars, many of which are located on or near Duval Street, one of the town's main thoroughfares. Although many of the main hotel chains are located in Key West, the best accommodations are said to be at the island's quaint bed and breakfast facilities. Key West is famous for its connection to the writer Ernest Hemingway, who bought a house here in the 1930s. Visitors can tour the home, and there is a Hemingway Festival every July.