By Lauren Tjaden
Nestled in the heart of the Florida Keys, you’ll find Marathon, a little enclave surrounded by emerald-hued waters.
Here are just a few of the activities you can enjoy there.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
Kick back on the sand
Relax on the shores on Sombrero Beach (Sombrero Beach Rd, Marathon, FL 33050, phone (305) 743-0033). Nestled against the Atlantic Ocean, and fringed with palms, Sombrero Beach boasts a shady park complete with picnic pavilions, volleyball courts, restrooms and showers. The park is also a favorite with nesting sea turtles. From April through October it’s common for Loggerhead Turtles to visit the beach at night to lay their eggs.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
Hook into some fun
Nothing's more fun --or delicious-- than catching your own dinner on a fishing expedition. You can choose from a variety of charters that include Flats/Backcountry Fishing, Light Tackle Fishing, Offshore Fishing and Party Boats.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
Lend a hand
Meet rescued sea turtles and learn how to help them at The Turtle Hospital (2396 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050, phone (305) 743-2552). The Hospital is a small non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
Get the kiss of a lifetime
Kiss one of Flipper's relatives at the Dolphin Research Center (58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, FL 33050, phone (305) 289-1121). This not-for-profit facility features a 90,000-square-foot series of saltwater lagoons, and is home to a family of bottlenose dolphins that descended from a dolphin named Mitzi, who starred in the original Flipper series. Its mission stresses education, research and rescue.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
Explore the depths
Go for a SNUBA, Scuba, or snorkeling adventure. Tilden’s Scuba Center (4650 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050, phone (305) 743-7255) offers all three. It’s ideally situated in Marathon, since the longest living barrier reef in North America runs parallel to the Florida Keys. In addition, the waters tend to be shallow and calm, so there’s no better place to wonder at the underwater world.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
Recharge your batteries
Enjoy a spicy cup of gumbo or some killer seafood at the Island Fish Company (12648 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050, phone (305) 743-4191).
Where and How to Meet Dolphins in Florida
- 11 minute read
Except perhaps for alligators, few animals are associated more with Florida than the dolphin. Here's where to see, feed, touch, paint with,...
Shipwrecks & Scuba Diving in Fort Lauderdale & Key West
- 7 minute read
The waters off Fort Lauderdale and the Keys hold many underwater ship wreck treasures for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. By Greg Johnston The...
The Florida Keys: The Sea Turtle Hospital on Marathon
- 3 minute read
Jeff Klinkenberg Richie Moretti, the famous sea turtle man, is one of the great environmental heroes of the Florida Keys. More than three decades ago...
5 Things to Do in Marathon Key With Kids
- 5 minute read
Marathon Key, a Florida Keys vacation spot, keeps the family happy with a distinctive natural history and scenery, along with unforgettable wildlife...
