5 Essential Key Largo Experiences for Making Memories

Whether you’re traveling to Key Largo for a special getaway or you’re simply looking for a tropical escape, the island offers plenty of opportunities for making wonderful vacation memories. The next time you’re planning a trip, consider checking out a few of these activities for a truly memorable stay.

Swim With Dolphins

If you’ve ever dreamed about swimming with dolphins, a stop at Dolphins Plus is for you. This marine mammal home offers several different programs and experiences for you to enjoy. You can shadow a dolphin trainer for a day and discover what it’s like to work with these creatures on a daily basis. There’s also a guided natural dolphin swim or structured swim with dolphins. You can even sign up for the Painting with a Dolphin experience and help your dolphin create a special masterpiece.

Explore the Reef

One of the most popular and beautiful attractions in Key Largo is the John Pennekamp Coral Reef, State Park. There are several ways you can explore this first undersea park in the United States. If you prefer to stay dry, there are glass-bottom boat tours that go over reefs and sunken ships for a unique view of the colorful coral and fish in the area. However, perhaps the best way to see the underwater beauty of the area is to take one of the snorkeling or scuba tours.

Take a Cruise on the African Queen

Made famous in the 1951 movie “African Queen” starring Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, the distinct steamboat with the same name now cruises the canals around Key Largo for daily tours and dinner excursions. Select the 1.5-hour canal cruise, and you’ll travel down the Port Largo Canals toward the Atlantic Ocean before turning around to make the return trip. Choose the two-hour dinner cruise, and you’ll enjoy a trip to the Pilot House Restaurant to savor a specially prepared three-course menu before getting back on the boat for the return trip.

Book a Fishing Charter

Between inshore fishing near Everglades National Park and deep-sea fishing just 5 miles from shore, you’ll find several incredible opportunities to throw a line in the water. Select one of the charters in the area and test your skills against mackerel, grouper, mangrove snapper, and more. Then use Hotel Planner to find Key Largo hotels with kitchen facilities or outdoor grills, and you can cook your catch that evening.

Volunteer at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area that preserves the habitat of several endangered species, including the American crocodile, Schaus’ swallowtail butterfly, Key Largo cotton mouse, and Key Largo woodrat. In order to protect the land as much as possible, the refuge is closed to the general public. However, if you sign up to volunteer at the park, you get a unique chance to experience the area. Opportunities include planting trees, building woodrat nests, and even completing crocodile nesting surveys.

If you want to create unforgettable memories during your next trip to Key Largo, consider taking part in one of these unique experiences.