| The USA is one of the best destinations in | | | | the nearby coral reefs. |
| the world for a driving or road touring | | | | |
| holiday. The sheer diversity and stunning | | | | The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, a |
| beauty of the country combined with high | | | | multi-use bicycle and pedestrian facility |
| quality roads, which are often uncrowded away | | | | running along old Flagler railroad bridges, |
| from major urban areas, produces a long list | | | | allows you to cross between bayside and |
| of classic drives. This classic drive takes | | | | oceanside. The Trail has interpretive |
| place in the far south eastern corner of the | | | | signage, maps, and benches. The Grassy Key |
| country. | | | | Bikeway, part of the trail, offers areas for |
| | | | hiking, running, bicycling, in-line skating, |
| On the scenic 113-mile Overseas Highway, the | | | | sightseeing, fishing and kayaking. |
| southernmost leg of U.S. Highway 1, you cross | | | | |
| 42 bridges on your journey from Miami to the | | | | Past Plantation Key, at Windley Key, the |
| southernmost point in Key West. With the Gulf | | | | Theater of the Sea has performing sea lions, |
| of Mexico to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean | | | | sharks, and dolphins. After Islamorada in the |
| to the east, much of the highway is built on | | | | Middle Keys, the uninhabited 280-acre |
| the route of a former railway line started | | | | Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site, with |
| early in the twentieth century. An | | | | its rare virgin tropical hardwood forest, is |
| engineering marvel, the line was partially | | | | accessible via boat tours from |
| destroyed in the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, | | | | Robbieís Marina. |
| and afterward converted to a roadway. It was | | | | |
| rebuilt in the 1980s, including the | | | | You can also take a boat tour from here to |
| well-known Seven Mile Bridge at Marathon. | | | | the Indian Key State Historic Site, and take |
| | | | a walk around the remains of an old village |
| The journey, mostly over water, can take less | | | | established to salvage ships that had run |
| than four hours, however, if you take time to | | | | aground on the reefs. Past the heavily |
| enjoy the ocean and mangrove vistas along the | | | | developed commercial center of the Middle |
| roadway, plus the glorious sunrises and | | | | Keys, you island hop to Marathon, then cross |
| sunsets, there is potential for the journey | | | | the spectacular Seven Mile Bridge, one of the |
| to take longer. And holiday traffic | | | | world's longest, with its sweeping views of |
| congestion can add to the drive time. | | | | the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Across |
| | | | the bridge, Bahia Honda State Park has |
| South of Miami, the highway skirts the | | | | white-sand beaches. |
| southern edge of the Everglades and hops | | | | |
| across the chain of isles, hummocks and reefs | | | | The road travels southwest, past isolated and |
| running off the tip of Florida. Passing | | | | less-populated keys, over Big Pine Key, with |
| through the tropical vegetation of Key Largo, | | | | its large slash pines and endangered Key |
| with its fishing fleets and flashy tourist | | | | deer, towards Key West. This southernmost of |
| traps, you reach John Pennekamp Coral Reef | | | | US cities, with its Caribbean atmosphere and |
| State Park, an underwater state park, where | | | | distinctive ambience, is the perfect place to |
| you can take glass-bottomed boats to snorkel | | | | kick back and relax. |