At Marathon's Crane Point , visitors can hike through a wondrously preserved tropical hardwood grove

Located mainly on Vaca, Fat Deer, and Grassy Key, Marathon is a 10- mile-long family-oriented island community rooted in a heritage of fishing, and reflects the old-Keys lifestyle that residents, snowbirds and visitors enjoy so much.
Undeniably, Marathon's natural environment has activities tampa florida airport hotels for everyone, of any age, interest or nationality. Spectacular sailing , fishing , diving , snorkeling and SNUBA appeal to families, as do the island's impeccably maintained Sombrero Beach , and a host of eco-attractions and marine-based tampa florida airport hotels environmental programs such as dolphin and turtle encounters.
At Marathon's Crane Point , visitors can hike through a wondrously preserved tropical hardwood tampa florida airport hotels grove and visit the home of an early 20th Century settler family. Visitors to Pigeon Key venture back in time to a tiny island that played a tremendous tampa florida airport hotels role in the Florida Keys of today.
Sombrero Reef, a federally protected section of the United States' only living coral barrier reef, lies just a few miles offshore. tampa florida airport hotels Beyond it are the deep blue waters of the Florida Straits, which host world-class wreck diving on artificial reefs.
To an angler's delight, the waters tampa florida airport hotels offshore teem with billfish and tuna in the winter and dolphin tampa florida airport hotels fish in the summer. tampa florida airport hotels On the north side of the island lie the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Bay and the Keys backcountry.
tampa florida airport hotels Many of the island's marine activities are situated nearby Boot Key Harbor, a peaceful tropical cove in the center of the island. The harbor is famous for its sunset views and is home to the City Marina , which administers a 226-ball mooring field and a large anchoring area.
Food aficionados can enjoy fresh local fish prepared simply or gourmet style, and many of these restaurants are located right on the water. tampa florida airport hotels Perhaps best of all, visitors need not scrimp when it comes to selecting accommodations . They can choose among private homes, condominiums, tampa florida airport hotels small motels and tropical resorts.