Things to Do in Key Largo, Florida

How about ordering a drink at the Caribbean Club, the site of the filming of "Casablanca?" Or visiting the actual boat used in the film "The African Queen?" Or even diving to see an enormous underwater statue of Christ? All these activities and much more can be discovered while touring Key Largo, Florida.

Key Largo's John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Home to the only living coral reef in North America, Key Largo�s crystal blue, warm waters invite divers to explore to their hearts content. The first underwater state park in the United States, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park showcases coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps over its approximately 70 nautical square miles. In addition to the almost 54,000 acres of submerged land, 2,350 acres of uplands provide non-divers a chance to glimpse many rare and endangered plants. The park is named for John Pennekamp, a Miami Herald newspaper editor who fought for its preservation. For both expert and novice divers and snorkelers, highlights include the reconstructed wreck of a Spanish galleon, several real shipwrecks, and, of course, the Christ of the Deep statue. Other above-water activities include glass-bottom boat tours, rental canoes and sailboats, two man-made beaches, and a 30,000-gallon aquarium featured in the visitor center.

Bahia Honda State Park

The Bahia Honda State Park, located to the south of Key Largo, is another attraction not to be missed. The channel here is one of the deepest natural channels in the Florida Keys, providing spectacular swimming and snorkeling. The Bahia Park, housing many rare and endangered flora, encompasses 635 acres and has a climate found nowhere else in the United States. The Key Largo limestone, which provides the geologic building-block of the Bahia Park, was formed from pre-historic coral reef that can be seen only here at Bahia Honda. Some of the activities available in the park include picnicking, guided walks, swimming, Tarpon fishing, and camping. Most of Florida�s state parks are preserved as closely as possible to the state they were in when the first Europeans arrived. In an effort to maintain this pristine condition, one needs to remember all flora and fauna in the park are strictly protected.

Fishing When Visiting Key Largo

While diving and snorkeling are mainstays in Key Largo, fishing certainly has its place on any visitor�s "Must-Do" list. Whether you decide to charter a deep-sea boat complete with guide or merely rent a sailboat with a few friends, Key Largo�s waters are overflowing with game fish. In fact, more than ten percent of the IGFA saltwater line class and fly fishing world records have been recorded in Key Largo.

'The African Queen' and 'As Time Goes By' Filmed in Key Largo

Fans of the movie star Humphrey Bogart will not leave Key Largo disappointed. Two of his most memorable movies are captured here. On the island, the original boat from "The African Queen" can be viewed and even ridden. Furthermore, though Top 40 music has replaced "As Time Goes By," fans of the movie classic "Casablanca" can still patron the Caribbean Club, site of the movie filming.

Other Key Largo attractions include the Theater of the Sea, the Maritime Museum of the Florida Keys, the Key Largo Undersea Park, featuring the world�s only Undersea Hotel, and, finally, just relaxing in the shade with a cool drink in hand.