[Harbor Hopper]

I'm from SW FL but will be in Key Largo one Day (Monday). Any suggestions for a must-see or must-do activity for 2-6 hours? I've done the snorkeling several times but will have an older gentleman with me this time, so that's out. Not really sure what else there is to do...

[1insider]

If you're willing to drive a few miles to Islamorada you can hand feed big tarpon off the dock at Robbies. It's a blast. Robbie's in Islamorada, Florida Keys: Fishing, boat rentals

[alex_ct]

Robbies is a very good recommendation, can also take the boat across to Lignumvitae Key from there, then do lunch or dinner at Lazy Days or Morada Bay...If you STRICKTLY have to stay in Key Largo, go to Pennenkamp state park, take the boat ride there..

[OptimusPrime69]

I mean not for nothing, but aside from water activities and the like.... what does one do in key largo?

nothing really.

[StarfishKey]

If your guest is interested in the reef, you can take him there on a glass bottom boat from Pennekamp. Be advised, these can cause some sea sickness, so be sure to bring some Dramamine if prone, and look frequently at the horizon in between staring at the window galley.

If your guest likes hiking, the weather is cooling down and there are fewer mosquitoes, so you could check out Dagny Johnson Hammock Botanical State Park.

You can swim with dolphins at Dolphins Plus or Dolphin Cove, which both have very good reviews on TripAdvisor. MarineLab Undersea Laboratory and Island Dolphin Care also have specialized programs that allow for additional interaction and learning with the marine life in Key Largo.

Tourists love Shell World (the 2nd and largest one near MM97 in the median - it's huge), and Key Lime Products on Tavernier near MM95 Oceanside (tons of kitschy yard ornaments out front, an outdoor cafe serving conch fritters and the like, nearly everything possible to be made of Key Lime including shampoos inside, and their famous frozen key lime pie on a stick, regular or dipped in chocolate). Tourists also tend to love visiting Key Largo Chocolates. Each of these 3 places have good TripAdvisor reviews.

Kona Kai Resort has an art gallery, orchid house, and small botanical garden with tours available if that sounds more to his liking.

If your guest is a fan of the old Bogart/Hepburn movie African Queen, you can take a canal cruise in the very same boat that was used for filming, which was brought to Key Largo I think by Bogart's son - in any event, he has taken pictures with it and visited Key Largo numerous times.

If your guest likes flea market type things, you can check out the indoor Island Market and small Farmer's Market/food trucks/mini nursery next to and behind the Dollar Tree, which is Bayside around MM100 or so.

If you wanted to change your plans you could check out Jules' Underwater Lodge, which is the world's only underwater hotel and requires putting on dive equipment to get to your room! It is also the sight of the world-record-breaking longest stay ever underwater by scientists just a year ago, which was for research purposes.

If you're a good kayaker, you could rent a two-person kayak and take him for a journey through the backcountry, with endless amazing sights and islands to visit both Bayside and Oceanside. Key Largo is only a half of a mile to the Everglades border, and only about a mile in shallow, usually calm water from points of interest Oceanside, so you don't have to go far or work very hard to see something amazing. Don't go out without a working marine radio, which you can buy for as little as $60 at one of the local marine shops.

Of course, you can also pay for a tour of the backcountry/Everglades, either as an eco-tour or a fishing trip.

You could also drive up to Ocean Reef Club in Northern Key Largo/Card Sound to check out where the fabulously wealthy live. Ocean Reef is where the President stayed on a recent trip to SFL, and where Kathy Lee Gifford and other celebrities have homes. They have an event called "Vintage Weekend" where vintage yachts, airplanes, and cars are showcased, but unfortunately you are just missing it, as it happens in the first week of December.

Tavernier also has Harry Harris Park, which has a beach and an enclosed atoll, and I think is free to non-residents on weekdays... If you have the time to drive that far, there is also Anne's Beach on Islamorada, or you could pay to go to Founder's Park. (If you go down to Islamorada there is also Theater of the Sea, the History of Diving Museum, and Rain Barrel Artisan Village.)

In Tavernier you also can visit the Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, which used to be truly great but there has been a lot of internal upheaval lately with the organization, so if you want to check it out I'd call ahead and find out if they still have their full collection of birds and are open for visiting. It is only a donation to get in. Normally you can see things like roseate spoonbills, hawks, etc., plus there is an observation deck where you can sit and look out on the Bay.

Tavernier also has the Old Road Gallery, which also has good reviews on TripAdvisor.

On your way down you can also check out Robert Is Here tropical fruit store, which is a popular place for tourists in Florida City near the entry of US-1 into the Keys.

Of course the Keys are known for being laid back and relaxing, so the number one thing on any Keys visit is to sit back and watch the sunset with a drink or meal. There are many, many places to do that. A few you might want to consider are the restaurants at the Marriott Beach Bay Resort (stunning view!), or local hangouts like Sundowner's or Snook's Bayside.

On any given day there are also events and lectures to attend across the Upper Keys, which often focus on the local environment or history. Plus, nearly every month of the year there is at least one festival if not more. But as it turns out, I don't see that there are any this coming Monday, in the middle of the day. Most lectures happen at night, and Monday is too close to Thanksgiving for a major festival. Some, but unfortunately not all, Key Largo calendar events are listed here: http://www.keylargochamber.org/events But remember that each island has its own community, and its own separate list. There was a unified master Keys calendar, but that site seems to have gone defunct.

There are of course multiple eateries in Key Largo, all with online reviews, depending on what you're interested in.

It's pretty hard to tell you specifically what is most worth your time, without knowing more about what specifically you like and don't like, if there are medical limitations, etc. There are more things to do than I listed here, but some involve a high level of physical activity, or a large amount of money. I wrote more about things to do in the Upper Keys on a separate thread, but I can't find it right now.

Good luck!

[Harbor Hopper]

Originally Posted by 1insider

If you're willing to drive a few miles to Islamorada you can hand feed big tarpon off the dock at Robbies. It's a blast. Robbie's in Islamorada, Florida Keys: Fishing, boat rentals

Thanks. I've done this several times in the past and won't have time this trip. Appreciate the thought though!

[Harbor Hopper]

Thanks StarfishKey! That helps a LOT!