Tavernier

The small island of Tavernier, Florida is located 15 minutes south of Key Largo, along the stretch of US Highway 1 running through the Florida Key Islands. Tavernier is located 131 miles south of West Palm Beach. The year 2000 census shows that the population of Tavernier was 2,173.

Although Tavernier is one of the smaller Florida Key Islands there are still a few hotels and motels and even some houseboats to handle accommodations for visitors and tourists.

Most of the activities and attractions in and around Tavernier involve wildlife observation and of course; fishing, boating and swimming. Visitors interested in wildlife, nature trail hiking and photography won’t want to miss a trip to the Keys Wild Bird Center, a natural habitat and recovery center for sick or wounded local birds. The facility operates on a non-profit basis and charges no admittance fee, but donations are accepted. Here, visitors can take a self-guided tour and have the opportunity to photography beautiful and sometimes rare, Florida wild birds.

A visit to Tavernier wouldn’t be complete without getting in some night diving among the beautiful dive sites or chartering a boat out to soak up some rays and watching the beautiful south Florida sunset.

When you’re ready to kick back and relax, Harry Harris Park provides the perfect setting for a relaxing activity. Complete with a beautiful sandy beach, tidal pool, children’s playground, and covered picnic areas with barbecue grills.

Tavernier is also set close enough to the mangrove islands, a series of small offshore islands; that it’s easy enough to paddle a canoe or kayak through the winding lagoons. Here visitors can experience the natural beauty of the Keys backcountry, featuring hundreds of wild bird species and the tropical mangrove trees, for which the islands are named.

Visitors to Tavernier can also easily tour other islands located in the Florida Keys. Driving southwest along US Highway 1 you’ll find several other captivating islands including Islamorada, Marathon and Key West which is only an 85 mile drive. Tavernier is also conveniently close to several south Florida cities, such as Miami, an hour and a half drive to the north along US Highway 1. Another 30 minutes to the north will take you to Fort Lauderdale. The Key West International Airport is only an hour and a half from Tavernier.