Keys trip: upper vs middle

[Blue_Heron]

I agree with Tucker. The middle keys are much more family friendly too. We stay on long key at Limetree Bay Resort. Been going there for mini season for 10+ years. There are several nice snorkeling reefs in the vicinity of coffins patch just off Marathon, 5'-12' deep with a great variety of sea life.

And if you want to take the kids fishing, there's plenty of mangrove snapper on the bay side in the 10"-16" size range, perfect size for preteen kids. If you drift the banks along the boundary of Everglades National Park about 10 miles north of marathon, you might find a few spotted sea trout mixed in with the snapper. Try a Berkeley Gulp on a lead head jig under a popping cork.

If you end up at Key Colony Beach and want to go bay side, be aware that the tide sometimes rips through Vaca Cut at 6+ knots. I've seen it throw up an 18" wake from the bridge pilings. It can get treacherous if you're not expecting it.
Dave