Key Largo was about a 3 hour drive south from Jupiter, Florida. We were looking forward to being in the Florida Keys again, even though they can be hot and humid in December.
Key Largo, Florida
Key Largo is the northernmost of the Florida Keys. U.S. Highway 1 becomes the Overseas Highway, connecting the mainland to the Florida Keys. On the weekends there can be a lot of traffic from Miami. Key Largo has the largest land section of the Keys.
Key Largo is known for scuba diving and snorkeling, especially at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. A manatee swimming.
It was the first underwater park in the United States. Jellyfish.
At mile marker 81.5 in Islamorada there is a monument to those who endured and 423 who perished from the 200 mph winds of a Category 5 hurricane that devastated the area on Labor day weekend in 1935. Many of the dead were WWI veterans who were a part of Roosevelts New Deal to build the highway through the Keys. Disgruntled by the way the government handled the evacuation, Hemmingway wrote the book “Hurricane” about the storm of 1935.
There are no shortage of bars and restaurants in Key Largo. Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen delicious food and wine and that laid back island vibe.
Robbie’s, on Islamorada was a bit touristy, but their “trailer trash Bloody Mary” was filled with shrimp, pickled green beans, beef jerky and celery. It was a meal in itself.
Robbie’s is also know for Tarpon feeding, which attracts Pelicans.
Happy hour at the Big Chill with a Florida Bay sunset view was perfect.
Keys Palms Luxury RV Resort, Key Largo
They had full service, decent wifi, and good satellite reception. We faced the water and enjoyed the daylong views.
There is something about a sunset and cold beer that makes the mind quiet and tranquil.
Everyday, the sunsets did not fail to please.
Each morning sunrise was peaceful also.
Even though we stayed at a marina, we were amazed by the wildlife.
Other than the usual shore birds, we saw kingfisher, nurse shark, sting ray, jellyfish and manatee.
The iguanas are not native to the area. They are an invasive species first noticed in the 1960s. Kind of like pythons and lion fish, they are here to stay. Jake enjoyed watching them.
Everglades National Park
What an amazing National Park. It’s filled with scenery and animals, but not many tourists like at the other popular National Parks.
There were so many alligators. They are primarily in fresh water, but can tolerate some salinity for short periods of time. American alligators can reach 15 feet in length They have a broad snout and primarily eat fish, turtles, small mammals, and birds.
The American crocodile inhabits brackish and salt water. It can reach up to 20 feet in length and has a tapered snout with more exposed teeth. They are a lighter grayish color compared to the darker alligators.
We enjoyed the boardwalks which provided easy access to see the Everglades numerous animals. Surprisingly, the mosquitoes and no-see-ums were not bothersome on this particular day.
Manatees at the Flamingo marina. They are primarily herbivores, but occasionally eat fish. Jake loved seeing them again.
Fresh water turtles were prevalent, usually balanced precariously on a log and sunning themselves in the warm Florida climate.
A Wood stork.
We always enjoy seeing a great blue heron.
Snowy egrets and Great egrets were prevalent.
This one we couldn’t identify, but thinking a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.
Anhingas look like cormorants, but their bill is straight.
Cormorants have a hooked bill.
An osprey eating a fish.
A red-shouldered hawk.
Purple gallinule and a brown pelican.
Black vulture.
The Everglades are an amazing place to visit with an incredible biodiversity.
