On arrival pick up your hire car and drive to Islamorada where you will stay for two nights. 

Islamorada, just 90 minutes south of Miami, is a paradise your family will love to explore by land and by sea. Known as the 'Sportfishing Capital of the World', Islamorada hosts the largest fishing fleet per square mile in the world. Activities in, under, above or near the water are available 24 hours a day. 

Islamorada is known for its sport fishing and there are captains who will take you off-shore for marlin, pike and tarpon fishing, or do a spot of back-country fishing on the bay, either with or without a guide. Or go shark diving and get up close and personal with sharks in their natural surroundings. The Florida Keys is home to some of the largest numbers of sharks in the world. Whether you are an experienced shark diver or a novice looking to see a shark for the first time, the operators here will take out to the ideal viewing spots. Islamorada is also a great place to try kite boarding and lessons are available for all levels and ages. Catch air and go fast with this exhilarating alternative to surfing. Warm, knee-deep water is ideal for launching and riding, heading out to deeper channels for popping jumps and steady, ride-able wind carries kites from all directions. For an exhilarating rush over the sea grass flats, try a backcountry safari where ‘kiters’ slip through estuaries past marine life.

Rent a kayak and paddle out to Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, just one mile west off U.S. 1 (or take a boat tour) and explore the virgin tropical hardwood hammock that thrives on this island. Ranger-guided tours are given twice daily at the weekend. Or paddle east to Indian Key State Park, an easy 20-minute trip from Islamorada. Park your kayak and explore the remnants of the old wrecking colony destroyed by a surprise Indian attack.

Overnight Cheeca Lodge two nights. 

Today you’re heading further south to the Lower Keys. Make sure you take your time and stop at Bahia Honda State Park. Featuring an award-winning beach and historic bridge, Bahia Honda State Park a 524-acre state park located on Bahia Honda Key. It offers deep near-shore waters for swimming and snorkelling, as well as water sports such as kayaking and fishing. Another great place to stop, unique to the Florida Keys, is the Key Deer Refuge. Big Pine Key is famous for its pine trees and the miniature version of the white tail deer that has evolved among them. Park along one of the roads passing through the National Key Deer Refuge and you are almost certain to see one of these unique deer.

Summerland Key is a popular spot for paddle boarding, and you can rent a board and take a leisurely paddle through the mangrove trees, along the beaches or in the backcountry flats.

Arriving in Key West, adventure can take on a different meaning, and usually starts with a sunset celebration. Mallory Square has artists, street performers and vendors to keep you entertained. Then move on to Duval Street for the Duval Crawl. For an adrenaline fuelled adventure you can do a tandem sky-dive, and if you dare open your eyes the views are incredible! After that you might want to spend the day on the beach either at Fort Zachary Taylor or Smather’s Beach, or book a day trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park. These uninhabited sand spits and coral formations are located nearly 70 miles west of Key West and can be reached by ferry or seaplane. Locals call this area “The Lakes”, and once there, you can hop onto a kayak and paddle over patch coral formations or along mangrove fringes. You can even grab your snorkel gear and study the fish, grasses, and soft corals. Whilst there you can also visit historic Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era fortress in the Dry Tortugas. Your adventure doesn’t have to take you all the way to the Dry Tortugas, and there are plenty of knowledgeable nature guides who can take you to explore the wondrous and mysterious mangrove islands, paddling through a maze of mangrove-canopied canals and streams. Witness an incredible tropical array of birds, stingrays, sharks, sport fish, and more. Guided snorkelling tours take you to the calm and protected waters of the Florida Keys backcountry for an exceptional underwater experience.

Overnight The Gardens three nights.

The city of Marathon boasts some of the best boating activities anywhere, including deep-sea, reef or flats fishing. Add to that waterfront restaurants, plus jet-ski tours, kayaking, paddleboarding or just cruising the turquoise waters.

Visit the Turtle Hospital, a former bayside motel that has been converted to a facility where injured and sick sea turtles are being cared for, or the Dolphin Research Center where you can learn about their rehabilitation programme for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. The Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters is designed to inspire visitors to adopt a passionate stance on conservation and preservation of the fragile marine ecosystems, and offers guests the opportunity to interact with the native inhabitants of the Florida Keys marine ecosystem.

Take a hike or walk at Crane Point, a slightly elevated patch of land referred to as a ‘hammock’, tucked away amid the heart of Marathon. This 64-acre tropical oasis of hardwood trees, nature trails and educational exhibits has been preserved from development and is another land-based option for exploring this part of the Keys. 

Overnight Tranquillity Bay two nights.

Drop your car off at Miami International Airport and fly back to the UK.