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Which Key Should I ChooseSo you've heard of the "Lower Keys", but what's the difference between each Key and is it important to know before you decide on a rental property? quick-links to specific KeysBig Pine Key | The Torches | Ramrod | Summerland Key | Cudjoe Key | Sugarloaf Key Upper, Middle & Lower Keys: Overview 
The Florida Keys are divided into three distinct area's. Upper, Middle and Lower. All of the Keys are quite unique. The Keys begin in Miami-Dade county and continue into Monroe County, ending in Key West. The Overseas Highway (also known as US Highway 1) spans more than 126 miles and has 42 bridges connecting the islands. The Keys are speckled with mile marker signs, abbreviated as "MM". Every passing mile has a green post on the side of the road telling you how far from Key West you are. The Upper KeysThe Upper Keys begin with Key Largo at MM107 and extend through Lower Matecumbe Key at MM75. Driving down the Overseas Highway from mainland Florida, the 18 mile stretch connects Key Largo to the mainland. The stretch is just as it's name implies, 18 miles of road surrounded by water and wetlands on both the east and west. The stretch is currently under construction, so if you're driving, be prepared for possible delays. Because of its short distance from the mainland, the Upper Keys are a popular weekend get-a-way for many Floridians and day trippers to the Keys. The Middle KeysThe Middle Keys Begin with Craig Key at MM 71 and travel though Key Vaca or what is now know as the City of Marathon which encompasses Vaca Key, Boot Key, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, Crawl Key and Grassy Key. The Middle Keys end at the south end of the 7-Mile Bridge. The Lower Keys
The Lower Keys begin at the south end of the 7-Mile Bridge or MM 47. Because of the distance from the mainland many Miami day-trippers tend to stay north of the bridge. It's at the south end of the bridge that the Keys turn from north/south to a more east/west direction. The Lower Keys are a bit more laid back, slower-paced, and more isolated in most ways than on the "mainland". The Lower Keys are comprised of Little Duck Key, Missouri Key, Ohio Key (also known as Sunshine Key), Bahia Honda Key, Spanish Harbor Keys, West Summerland Key, No Name Key (yes, there really is a No Name Key), Big Pine Key (home of the endangered Key Deer), Little Torch Key, Middle Torch Key, Big Torch Key, Ramrod Key, Summerland Key, Knockemdown Key, Cudjoe Key, Sugarloaf Key, Park Key, Lower Sugarloaf Key, Saddlebunch Keys, Shark Key, Geiger Key, Big Coppitt Key, East Rockland Key, Rockland Key, Boca Chica Key, Key Haven, Stock Island, Key West, Sigsbee Park, & Fleming Key. The Overseas Highway ends at MM 0 which is Key West. If you want to be near world-famous Key West but have a quiet neighborhood and homes that are larger, have boating access, sit right on the water, are more secluded and certainly more affordable, the Lower Keys area is the answer. A Little HistoryThe Lower Keys are different geographically from the Upper and Middle Keys (which run east-west). Colonial Spain considered the Lower Keys as a different group of islands altogether. They were administered from Cuba, not from St. Augustine like the rest of Florida. When Spain sold Florida to the United States it did not intend to include Key West and the Lower Keys; the young (then Lt.) Admiral-to-be Perry was sent in the USS Shark (true story) to enforce the USA’s claim to the contrary. Teddy Roosevelt started the national wildlife refuges here about 100 years ago, to save the birds; and the bird life is definitely a terrific part of the Lower Keys special ambience. Looe Key is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in the whole Keys chain. It wasn’t always so tranquil: it got its name when a British ship of that name went down centuries ago, and it was long a principal cause of shipwrecks in this part of the Keys. Home to the Looe Key Marine Sanctuary, snorkeling and diving is absolutely awesome here. Fishing & Boating
Fishing is outrageously good in the Florida Keys. Backcountry, light-tackle and deep sea fishing are all excellent in the Keys. Every month seems to be seasonal for a particular style of fishing and a specific breed of fish. Boating is different here than just about anywhere in the country. The water is very shallow in areas, super big boats are more rare, and in most areas, simply too shallow for sailboats. There's still a wide variety of boating here, just be aware that some of the areas warrant GPS navigation and depth technology. If you don't have your own boat, rentals are available from many marinas. Should you not want to attempt to navigate the waters on your own, Captains and full charters are also available. Big Pine KeyBig Pine is one of the largest Islands in the Keys. It has a population just over 5,000. Water depths and boating access varies; some areas have 15 inches and some have 3-4 feet. Obviously this means you can have a certain kind of boat in some areas that won’t work in others. It depends what you’re looking for. Big Pine is sometimes considered more “remote,” caught 1/2 way between Marathon and Key West. However, Big Pine does have it’s own major grocery store, post office, banks and restaurants. It also has unique retail shops and art galleries. On Saturdays, it is known for the very popular Big Pine Flea Market. There are a lot of activity choices on Big Pine. Big Pine offers quick and easy access to the Gulf, Atlantic, and great backcountry venues. The island also offers nature trails that wind through Federal Refuge land where you can observe Key Deer and bird life. There's also excellent kayaking through shallow backcountry. And don't forget to snorkel or dive Looe Key, some of Florida's best underwater areas when it comes to coral reefs. The TorchesThe Torch Keys are located just west of Big Pine Key and are comprised of three separate islands know as Big, Middle, and Little Torch Key. Little torch Key is primarily residential, with the majority Little Torch offers excellent boating access to both backcountry and offshore for both small and slightly larger boats. Some of the canals can be tricky to get out of, so it’s surprising to find that a number of residents here keep fairly large sailboats tucked behind their houses and in the wintertime the cool evening breezes and the sounds of the sailboat halyards lull nearby residents to sleep. Ramrod is a very quiet and primarily residential island with pleasant neighborhood developments located both north and south of the highway. It is described by residents as being more "laid-back", more "keysey" than the islands found further down the chain. Ramrod offers some commercial amenities including a dive shop, gasoline, restaurants and bars. Boating control depths are typically 2-2 1/2 feet with good access to both offshore and back country boating and fishing. Small boats are typical here. Summerland Key Summerland is an area for larger boats and private pilots. Summerland has one of the few remaining private, residential air-strips in the country that also offers boating access.
The island offers unusually wide flow-through canals and a private air strip for local residents. The majority of homes on Summerland are located on the Atlantic side of the Overseas Highway. And of course, you can visit Action Keys Realty of The FL Keys, Inc. located at mile marker 24 (gulf side) - right next to First State Bank. Cudjoe Key
Cudjoe is a peaceful residential island surrounding its own bay, probably the best bay in the area for water sports. The island’s "fishhook" geography and bay are such distinct features that they can be easily identified in satellite pictures. Cudjoe Key provides a wide variety of housing ranging from ocean front executive homes to standard canal homes. There is also an upscale gated mobile home park, Venture Out, on Cudjoe's eastern shore. Nearly all the homes are on the Atlantic side of the Overseas Highway. Boating access on Cudjoe is excellent, almost no matter where you reside. Boating drafts generally range from 2-4 feet, but some canals on the "fishhook" are narrow and have shallow entrances to Cudjoe Bay. The area known as Cudjoe Gardens at the west end of the island has much bigger and deeper canals that will accommodate larger boats. Sugarloaf KeySugarloaf Key offers quiet solitude to its residents. If you are looking for larger floorplans, more luxurious landscaping and privacy, this may be the Key for you. The majority of homes are located south of the Overseas Highway looking out onto the waters of Upper and Lower Sugarloaf Keys. Large ocean front estates rim the outside of the island facing out to the Atlantic. Boating is excellent for shallow draft boats with quick access to the backcountry, but access for large boats and sailboats is extremely limited. The Sugarloaf backcountry is legendary for flats fishing. If you are a pilot, Sugarloaf has a very small public airstrip you can fly into. It also offers a popular sky diving operation, and you’ll definitely see a lot of people "falling" from the sky on a daily basis. The houses along the airstrip get together at Christmas and the “Ho-Ho-Ho” lights can be seen for miles (we LOVE the Ho-Ho-Ho lights!). If you are looking for rental or sale properties in the Lower Keys we are the office to help you find it. We have the knowledge to find you your perfect home. So if you’re looking to purchase a home in the Florida Keys or are looking for the perfect vacation rental, let us share our experience with you. |
of development nestled into the canal systems just south of the Overseas Highway on the ocean side. While there is some residential development on both Middle and Big torch Keys, these islands are largely protected by state and federal wetlands and hardwood hammocks.
Action Keys Realty Of The FL Keys, Inc. | P.O. Box 421063, Summerland Key, FL 33042 | (305)745-1323 | (800)874-1323
Specializing in real estate sales and vacation rentals throughout the Florida Keys
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