Starting in Key Largo at mile marker(MM) 100 before our final destination, Key West, we opted to explore key attractions along the way.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

A must-see attraction, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the last remaining coral reef on the Continental U.S. For the adventurous, the park provides the chance for a morning of excellent kayaking through the mangrove forests. Mangroves are trees native to the southern coastal shore that thrive in briny saltwater conditions. They have exposed root systems that look as if they walk on water. Indigenous bird life, like the Mangrove cuckoo, feel safe to nest their young in their tree limbs.

If you want to relax on the water, take the Glassbottom boat tour on The Spirit of Pennekamp for a view of underwater life. Tours are available daily.

Florida's state park system defends a unique and delicate ecosystem and it's the extraordinary preservation efforts that keep the Keys protected from Florida-loving land developers.

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

Just off the tony town of Islamorada, catch a tour boat to the tiny off shore island, Lignumvitae Keys, where endangered hardwood Hammock trees that once populated the Keys are protected. Take the nature trails through the lush, green tropical hammock forests. But be prepared with plenty of sunscreen and insect repellant.

Kayaks are also available to circumnavigate the little island. The blue green waters are transparent enough to see marine life creatures such as sea turtles and the endangered manatee.

Off the beaten path: Ann's Public Beach

Ann's Public Beach, a tiny strip of beach on the roadside that you could miss with the blink of an eye, allows beachgoers to claim a public gazebo built along the boardwalk for barbecuing, picnics or simply lounging. Each gazebo offers beach access to the rugged, untouched sands and if you follow the boardwalk, it will take you on a nature walk where you can see burrowing blue claw crabs, cranes, pelicans, gulls, warblers and shorebirds just to name a few, in their native habitat.

Bahia Honda State Park

After crossing the famous expanse, Seven Mile Bridge, pull off the highway to enjoy one of Florida's most beautiful beaches, Sandspur, at Bahia Honda State Park, a 452 acre island maintained by the state.

Sandspur Beach is rated #5 as one of Florida's top ten beaches because of its pristine location, crystal blue waters and white sand beaches. There's also a wild bird sanctuary trail that you can hike.

Beach house rentals are available at the park, but book in advance, houses are few and the list is long. Beach camping, bike riding, ocean kayaking, wind surfing, parasailing are just some of the activities available at the park.

Key West: The Conch Republic

Key after key, you'll reach the end of your drive down the peninsula in Key West. Key West, unlike other Key towns, is crowded with visitors, attractions and packed with fun. For dining, try Pepe's Cafe & Steakhouse, est. in 1909 by a Cuban fisherman and the oldest restaurant on the island. For a drink, walk down Duval Street and participate in the Duval Crawl, which requires that you stop in every bar along the way. You can easily spend the day shopping and stopping for drinks.

A must for souvenir shopping is the Official Conch Republic Store, whose lofty motto, "We seceded where others failed, " is legend. The story goes in 1982, U.S. Border Patrol began searching cars leaving the Keys for drugs and illegal immigrants. The roadblocks caused traffic snarls that affected tourism, so in true American revolutionary spirit, the Conch Republic was born and seceded from the U.S. in protest. It lasted a day and the republic surrendered requesting one billion dollars in foreign aid. Since then, the natives refer to themselves as "conchs" pronounced "conks" and have had to take up cause on 2 separate occasions or whenever U.S. policy aims to tamper with the laid-back Key West lifestyle.

Before evening falls, check out Sunset Celebrations, the official sunset at Mallory Square where crowds dance, drink, applaud and worship the end of the day. Tourists and revelers alike enjoy the "one human family" spirit that makes Key West, the southern most tip of the United States, a cool place to visit.