Come with us as we explore the Florida Keys a little more. First some more obligatory shots of the impressive Overseas Highway.
This humungous expanse of over water road is a 113-mile highway carrying U.S. Route 1 (US 1) through the Florida Keys to Key West at the very end of the Keys.
Large parts of the highway were built on the former right-of-way of the Overseas Railroad.
Completed in 1912, the railroad was badly damaged and partially destroyed in the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
The Florida East Coast Railway was unable to rebuild the destroyed sections due to the costs, so the roadbed and remaining bridges were sold to the state of Florida for $640,000.
Then we’re heading to the quiet little Anne’s Beach for some morning sea air.
This sandy (and free!) beach features a 1,300-foot boardwalk amongst the mangroves. Plus there are pavilions with tables offering a perfect viewing spot.
Anne’s Beach can be found at Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida and is dedicated to local environmentalist Anne Eaton
The beach re-opened in 2019 after it was devastated by the highly destructive Hurricane Irma.
Then we’re heading to the ramshackle delight that is Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada.
This curious roadside attraction is a mish mash of water sports, kayak and boat rentals, tourist souvenirs in the open air market and local food.
I am delighted to find lots of the Key’s most recognisable icons here, the Pelican!
So here’s a load of them for your enjoyment!!
They are quite ferocious, very good at sneaking fish out of buckets and did make a lot of visitors squeak and fall over in their haste to get away.
Another more elusive resident is the manatee and we spot several of the potato shaped critters!
One of the main tourist attractions here is to feed (or watch in amusement as other people) feed the huge tarpon fish!
These huge dogs of the sea really are incredibly large as the video below shows!
There is a wealth of aquatic wildlife to marvel at (and be wary of) including this orange nurse shark who is nosing around after the scraps!
Below I am keeping my wary distance from the flappy predator!!
A few more cheesy snaps then we’re off!
We’r off to see the second most photographed sight in the Florida Keys next – but first a quick pitstop and bite to eat at another little roadside pull in.
