Location: Key Largo, Florida Keys, FL Nearest cities: Miami (1 hr), Fort Lauderdale (1.5 hrs), Orlando (4.5 hrs) Best time to visit: November through May for dry weather and calm seas
Key Largo sits at the top of the Florida Keys, and that position matters. It puts you within reach of the only living coral reef in the continental United States, the largest subtropical wilderness in the country, one of the most storied wreck dives in the world, and a string of waterfront towns that stretch all the way to Key West.
Staying at Bayside Sunsets puts you right in the middle of Key Largo town, half a block from the water, with 12 guests worth of space and a kitchen built for serious cooks. The area around the house rewards exploration. Here is where to start.
1. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 5 minutes by car Best for: Snorkelers, divers, families, first-time Florida Keys visitors Season: Year-round
This is the anchor experience of Key Largo and the reason most people come here in the first place. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was the first underwater park in the United States, protecting roughly 70 nautical square miles of living coral reef alongside mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and two sandy beaches.
The reef itself is extraordinary. Tropical fish, sea turtles, lobsters, nurse sharks, and rays all move through the same coral formations. You can access it by snorkel tour, scuba dive, or glass-bottom boat if you prefer to stay dry. The glass-bottom boat runs out to Molasses Reef with narration from the crew the entire way.
For families, the park also has an aquarium in the visitor center, picnic areas, and a campground. Cannon Beach inside the park has a Spanish shipwreck about 100 feet offshore visible from the surface at low tide.
Practical notes:
- Snorkel tours depart from the park marina multiple times daily
- Scuba certification required for dive tours; discover scuba courses available for beginners
- Glass-bottom boat is the best option for non-swimmers and young kids
- The park is adjacent to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which extends the reef further
2. Kayaking the Mangrove Tunnels
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 5 to 10 minutes by car Best for: Nature lovers, families, anyone who wants to feel genuinely off the grid Season: Year-round; early morning best for wildlife sightings
The mangrove forests around Key Largo are one of the most underrated natural environments in Florida. The trees grow so densely over the water that paddling through them feels like navigating a tunnel, canopy overhead, roots below, and wildlife at every turn.
Guided eco-tours run two to three hours and cover the best channels, lagoons, and hidden openings in the mangroves. Herons, ospreys, sea turtles, manatees, and the occasional shy alligator are all realistic sightings. Florida Bay Outfitters on the Overseas Highway offers full-day kayak and paddleboard rentals for those who want to explore independently, along with suggested routes based on skill level.
3. Scuba Diving the USS Spiegel Grove Wreck
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 15 minutes by car to the dive shop, then boat Best for: Certified divers, wreck enthusiasts Season: Year-round
The USS Spiegel Grove is a 510-foot retired Navy vessel intentionally sunk offshore to create an artificial reef, and it is one of the best wreck dives in the world. The superstructure starts at around 60 feet depth and the seafloor sits at about 130 to 140 feet. The ship now hosts a dense ecosystem: grouper, barracuda, goliath grouper, sea turtles, and coral formations covering every surface.
This dive is for certified divers only, and advanced certification is strongly recommended given the depth and current. Multiple dive operators in Key Largo run daily trips to the wreck, and most combine it with a reef dive to round out the day.
For newer divers, the same operators run beginner-friendly reef dives at Molasses Reef and other shallow sites, and discovery scuba courses are widely available for guests who want to try diving for the first time.
4. Fishing Charter in Florida Bay or the Atlantic
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 5 to 10 minutes to the marinas Best for: Fishing enthusiasts, group adventures, anyone who wants the full Keys experience Season: Year-round; offshore species vary by season
Key Largo calls itself the Diving Capital of the World but the fishing credentials are just as strong. The island sits between Florida Bay to the west and the Atlantic reef system to the east, which means you have two completely different fisheries within a short boat ride of each other.
Florida Bay and the Everglades backcountry produce tarpon, snook, and bonefish on the flats, some of the most technical and sought-after sport fishing in the US. The Atlantic side produces reef fish like snapper and grouper on half-day trips, and offshore charters go after sailfish, mahi-mahi, wahoo, and tuna depending on the season.
Bayside Sunsets host Debora can help point you toward the right charter for your group's experience level and target species. Most half-day trips run four hours and accommodate groups up to six to eight people per boat.
5. The African Queen Canal Cruise
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 5 minutes by car Best for: History buffs, couples, anyone who appreciates genuine movie history Season: Year-round; departs daily at 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm
The African Queen is not a tourist gimmick. It is the actual steam-powered vessel used in the 1951 Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn film, and it has been operating tours in Key Largo since the 1980s. The boat was fully restored for its centennial in 2012 and departs daily from Marina Del Mar.
The canal cruise runs about an hour, winding through the Port Largo canals and out toward the open water. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the dinner cruise version takes passengers to Pilot House Marina for a waterfront meal before returning by boat. It is a genuinely memorable way to spend an evening and a strong choice for the night your group wants something different.
6. Sunset Cruise on Florida Bay
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 5 to 10 minutes to the marina Best for: Everyone; particularly good for groups celebrating something Season: Year-round
Key Largo is bay-side, which means the sunsets go directly into the water in front of you. Several charter operators run dedicated sunset cruises from Key Largo Harbor Marina and nearby docks, ranging from private boats for your group to shared sailing charters.
The standard format runs about two hours, passing through mangrove estuaries on the way out and positioning offshore for the actual sunset. Dolphins and manatees are common sightings. For a group of 12 staying at Bayside Sunsets, a private charter makes the most logistical sense and is well worth the booking.
7. Day Trip to Everglades National Park
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 45 minutes by car to the park entrance Best for: Wildlife seekers, outdoor enthusiasts, families wanting variety Season: November through April (dry season) recommended; summer brings mosquitoes and afternoon storms
The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and one of the most ecologically unique places on the planet. Alligators, crocodiles, West Indian manatees, the Florida panther, roseate spoonbills, ospreys, and over 300 bird species all live here. The landscape is unlike anywhere else in North America: vast sawgrass prairies, mangrove estuaries, and slow-moving freshwater rivers flowing toward the sea.
From Key Largo, you can approach the park from the west via the Everglades City entrance or take an airboat tour from the north. Either way, plan for a full day. Guided kayak and canoe trips through the mangrove tunnels inside the park are outstanding. If you are visiting during tarpon season, the combination Everglades backcountry fishing trip is one of the best outdoor experiences in Florida.
8. Day Trip to Islamorada
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 20 minutes south on the Overseas Highway Best for: Fishing, waterfront dining, laid-back Florida Keys atmosphere Season: Year-round
Islamorada calls itself the Sport Fishing Capital of the World, and with good reason. The waters around the island sit at the convergence of the Atlantic and Florida Bay, producing one of the most diverse fisheries in the hemisphere. Even if fishing is not your thing, Islamorada is worth the short drive.
Robbie's Marina in Islamorada is a mandatory stop. You can hand-feed schools of massive tarpon directly from the dock for a few dollars, watch pelicans compete for scraps, and browse the open-air market stalls on the waterfront. The restaurant scene in Islamorada is genuinely excellent, particularly for fresh seafood. Plan to stay for lunch or dinner while you are down there.
The Islamorada Sandbar is another local favorite: a shallow, social stretch of exposed sandbar accessible by boat where locals anchor up, wade around, and spend the afternoon. Charter boats from Key Largo run half-day trips that combine the sandbar with snorkeling at the nearby reef.
9. Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 5 minutes by car Best for: Hikers, birders, nature lovers who want land-based exploration Season: Year-round; mornings best for birding
Most visitors to Key Largo head straight to the water, which means Dagny Johnson State Park stays genuinely quiet. It protects the largest remaining tract of West Indian tropical hardwood hammock in the United States, a dense and unusual forest ecosystem more characteristic of the Caribbean than the Florida mainland.
Trails wind through the hammock, home to over 84 species of plants and dozens of bird species. White-crowned pigeons, mangrove cuckoos, and various warblers nest here. Gopher tortoises cross the paths without concern for whoever happens to be watching. It is a peaceful, unhurried few hours and a complete change of pace from the water activities around the island.
10. Glass-Bottom Boat Tour to the Reef
Distance from Bayside Sunsets: 5 minutes to John Pennekamp State Park marina Best for: Non-swimmers, kids, seniors, guests who want the underwater world without getting wet Season: Year-round; morning tours offer calmer conditions
For guests at Bayside Sunsets who prefer to stay dry, the glass-bottom boat tour at John Pennekamp is among the best introductions to the Florida reef system available anywhere. The boat runs out to Molasses Reef, roughly 45 minutes offshore, and a crew member narrates the marine life visible through the hull in real time. The visibility on a clear day is exceptional.
The tour lasts about two and a half hours from the marina. Combine it with a walk through the park's land trails and a stop at the beach for a full morning without getting in the water.
Practical Travel Notes
Getting around: A car is essential for exploring beyond walking distance. Key Largo is a linear island along the Overseas Highway, so navigation is straightforward. Uber and rideshare are available but limited compared to Miami.
Overseas Highway: The drive south toward Key West is one of the most scenic roads in the US, crossing dozens of bridges over open water. Worth doing at least one stretch of it during your stay even if Key West is too far.
Miami and Fort Lauderdale: Both are within two hours. Miami's South Beach, Wynwood, and the Design District are all easy day trips if the group wants a city day.
Best months: December through April offers ideal water clarity, comfortable temperatures, and dry weather. Summer brings warmth, afternoon storms, and fewer crowds on the water.