When the calendar says fall, much of the country starts thinking about cooler temperatures, changing leaves and sweaters. In the Florida Keys, the season looks a little different.
Here, palm trees are still swaying, the water is still inviting and flip-flops remain perfectly appropriate. From Key Largo to Key West, fall offers another chance to soak up the sunshine, spend time on the water and enjoy the laid-back island lifestyle.
If you're not quite ready to say goodbye to summer, you don't have to. Here are a few reasons to keep it going in the Florida Keys.
Trade Fall Colors for Tropical Blues
There’s something about arriving in the Keys and seeing that first stretch of brilliant blue-green water that immediately puts you in vacation mode.
Fall is a chance to swap changing leaves for palm trees, backyard chores for waterfront views and busy schedules for days that don't need much of an agenda. Take the Overseas Highway south, roll down the windows and let the scenery set the pace.
In the Keys, summer doesn't disappear just because September arrives.
Spend More Time on the Water
The water isn't simply something to look at in the Florida Keys—it's part of everyday life.
Go snorkeling or diving along the coral reef. Rent kayaks or paddleboards and explore quiet mangrove trails. Head offshore for a day of fishing, take a boat trip, or find a waterfront spot and watch the world go by.
And you don't have to plan an adventure every day. Sometimes a morning cup of coffee beside the water or an evening spent watching the sunset from the dock is exactly what a Keys vacation calls for.
Discover a Different Side of the Islands
Fall brings its own personality to the Keys.
It's a great season to slow down and explore the communities along the Overseas Highway. Stop for lunch somewhere overlooking the water. Browse galleries and shops. Visit local attractions. Listen to live music. Find a great seafood dinner and stay long enough for sunset.
From the diving and waterfront escapes of Key Largo to Islamorada's fishing culture, Marathon's easygoing island atmosphere, the natural beauty of the Lower Keys and the unmistakable energy of Key West, every part of the island chain offers a different way to spend a fall getaway.
Enjoy the Flavors of the Keys
There may not be pumpkin patches around every corner, but the Florida Keys have plenty of flavors of their own.
Think fresh local seafood, stone crab when the season arrives, Key lime pie, waterfront cocktails and dinners where the sunset is part of the experience. Fall is also filled with festivals and events celebrating the food, culture, music and wonderfully quirky character of the islands.
It's a distinctly tropical take on the season—and that's precisely the point.
Give Yourself a Break Before the Holidays
The stretch between summer vacation and the holidays can fill up surprisingly fast. A fall trip gives you something else to put on the calendar: a few days to simply get away.
Come down for a long weekend, make it a weeklong vacation or stay awhile and settle into island life. A vacation home gives you the freedom to create the kind of getaway that works for you, whether that means spending every day exploring or barely leaving your pool and patio.
There doesn't have to be a packed itinerary. Sunshine, water and nowhere you need to be can be reason enough.
Keep Summer Going in the Florida Keys
Summer may be winding down somewhere. It just doesn't have to be where you are.
Head south this fall and trade cooler days for tropical views, time on the water and one more dose of summer. Seven Keys Vacations offers vacation homes throughout the Florida Keys, with options for nightly, weekly and extended stays.
Ready for a Different Kind of Fall?
Explore Florida Keys vacation rentals and keep summer going a little longer.
