·
93.6 — Florida Keys Wild Bird Center,
gulfside. Wander along a boardwalk through a mangrove forest at this
volunteer-run wildlife-rehab facility with an informal, backyard feel.
The center is free, though you may want to stuff some dollars into the donation
box. It’s open from sunrise to sunset. You’re free to wander without anyone
hassling you. It’s a great place to bring kids; a stop will only take 15 or
20 minutes, unless you decide to linger.
·
86.7 – Rain Barrel Artisan’s Village. It’s fun to
browse the arts and crafts here. And everybody has to get their picture taken
with the giant lobster out front. This anatomically correct Florida lobster is
30 feet high and 40 feet long. It was created by Marathon artist Richard Blaze
about three decades ago and it has a name – Betsy.
·
85.3 — Windley Key State Fossil Reef Geological Site,
gulfside. Windley Key is worth a stop. It’s an old quarry where
fossilized coral was acquired for use in building Flagler’s Overseas Railroad
in the early 1900s. Visitors can walk along 8-foot-high quarry walls to see
cross sections of the ancient coral and learn about the quarry and its
operation. There are also some short self-guided trails through the native
vegetation. The park has picnic tables.
· 84.2 — World
Famous Holiday Isle Tiki Bar. Traditional stop for your first
rum runner in the Keys, home of the “Original Rum Runner” and “Kokomo”
beach.
·
73.4 — Anne’s Beach,
Oceanside. Anne’s beach is a lovely, sandy, free beach, so
shallow you can wade great distances. The shore is lined with mangroves,
through which a boardwalk, with periodic picnic tables, weaves. Anne’s Beach
has limited parking and is very popular. If you can get a space, it makes
a nice 20 minute stop in your roadtrip to wade in the shallow water.
·
47.0 — Old Seven Mile Bridge/Pigeon Key.
Bayside. Pigeon Key visitor’s center is oceanside. Here’s another
road-trip must-do: You have
to get out and take a stroll or ride your bike
on the Old Seven Mile Bridge.
·
39.9 Veterans Memorial Park. This
small, free oceanside park just south of the Seven Mile Bridge is a great place
to stop for a picnic or to use the restroom. Picnic tables are under
chickee huts, there’s a beach where you can wade or swim and palm trees lean
like they are waiting to be captured in a postcard. It’s also an easy kayak
launch. If it’s crowded, there’s also a large parking area and a small boat
ramp bayside.
·
8.5 — Tourist welcome center
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