Marathon, Florida

Marathon is affectionately known as the ‘Heart of the Florida Keys.’ Very laid back and proud of it, the island is home to fewer than 13,000 permanent residents. Even though the island is small, there are ample hotels and motels as well as vacation rentals, ranging from quiet and quaint to plush and luxurious.

While you’re in Marathon, take a trip out to Pigeon Key. This tiny three mile island; located just under the Old Seven Mile Bridge, served as the engineering headquarters during the early 1900’s while the modern Seven Mile Bridge was constructed. Today it is home to an education center dedicated to promoting the beauty of the Florida Keys and hosting cultural events and concerts. Pigeon Key is accessible to visitors and tourists by a quaint train affectionately dubbed “Henry.”

Children and adults alike will enjoy the opportunity to explore the tranquil waters of the ocean with dolphins. Interactive dolphin explorations are available at Hawk’s Cay Resort, located on Duck Key and the Dolphin Research Center, located on Grassy Key.

Crane Point Museum offers a number of activities for both the young and old alike. The winding nature trail will give you a beautiful vantage point of all the exotic flora and wildlife the Florida Keys have to offer. Visitors can also view ancient ocean fossils along the nature trail. The Museum of Natural History contains a variety of wildlife native to the Florida Keys such as Key deer and tropical fish. The kids will love taking a trip to the Children’s Museum where they can climb aboard a pirate ship.

Located at Mile Marker 50, Sombrero Beach is a perfect beach getaway with playground, picnic tables and restroom facilities. A few miles down the road visitors can investigate the natural trails that wind through Curry Hammock State Park and Coco Plum Beach offers beautiful facilities and activities along a pristine stretch of Florida Keys coastline.

Just a two hour drive from the lights of Miami, Marathon is the perfect location to kick back and relax while still being close to big city amenities. Marathon airport schedules weekly flights to locations such as Dry Tortugas, one of the outlying Florida Keys islands.

Official site for Marathon Chamber of Commerce, offers events calendar, accommodations and activities information.

Nearby cities to check for activities and attractions: As the unofficial center of the Keys, you can travel from Marathon north or south with equal ease. Visit Bahia Honda State Park or Fort Jefferson National Monument in the Dry Tortugas.

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