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.It s also the only road in and out, so you must use it todrive from Miami (or fly into Key West and rent a car).Of course,you can also arrive by boat the best way! There are a few sidestreets in Marathon, but other towns in the Middle Keys are littlemore than wide places in the road.The Florida Keys Marathon Airport, MM 52 BS, Marathon305-743-2155, is large and modern.Is it used only by privateplanes and charter companies; sharp rent increases and variousother fees have forced major airlines to take their business else-where.Florida Coast Airlines, 888-435-9322, www.flyfca.com, offers flights from Ft.Lauderdale.Several major car rental agencies have offices in the MarathonAirport, including Avis, 305-743-5428, 800-831-2847, www.avis.com; Budget, 305-743-3998, 800-527-0700, www.budget.com; and Enterprise, 305-289-7630, 800-325-8007, www.en-terprise.com.Area History& Highlightsarathon and the Middle Keys experienced the same periodsMof boom in sponging, wrecking and a little piracy but due tolack of freshwater and the area s inaccessibility, there were nevermore than a handful of settlers until the railroad was built.TheLabor Day hurricane of 1935 did much less damage here than inthe Upper Keys.Fishing and small market farming were the oc-cupation of the few settlers that made the area their home. Area History & Highlights 141AUTHOR TIDBIT: There is speculation thatthe town of Marathon was named after a rail-road worker who expressed his opinion that thework was a marathon. The settlement wasoriginally known as Cayo de Vacas (Spanishfor Island of Cows).In 1814, a Spanish Land Grant awarded the island to Don Fran-cisco Ferreira.In 1824, he sold it to Isaac Cox for the grand priceof $3,000.The first town was called Conch Town and was lo-cated near what are now 109th and 112th streets.Pigeon Keywas the site of a major railroad encampment and some of theoriginal buildings still remain.During World War II the area ad-vanced into civilization, with electricity, water and an airport.In 1960 Hurricane Donna blasted directly across the island doingsignificant damage.Although Marathon does not have the ro-mance created by the Humphrey Bogart movie Key Largo, TrueLies does feature a few scenes from the area.Most visitors come to the area for fishing, diving or other activi-ties that involve sun and sea.The area is a good base from whichto explore Florida Bay and some of the more remote parts ofEverglades National Park.Spectacular coral reefs lurk just a fewmiles offshore.Tackle-busting game fish of various types can beMarathon/Middle Keys 142 Information Sourcecaught year-round.Other than the Hurricane (see page 172), agood blues bar, there s not much to do after dark except hangaround in Tiki bars enjoying frozen concoctions with tiny cocktailumbrellas.If you want nightlife and action you need to head ondown to Key West.But if outdoor delights are more your style,then the Middle Keys are great.Information Sourcearathon Chamber of Commerce, MM 53.5 BS, 305-M743-5417, 800-262-7284.SightseeingSuggested ItinerariesIf You Have One DayIt s a little too much to go to the Middle Keys from Miami1and have enough time to be able to appreciate whatDAYmakes this area special.If you drive down very earlyand back very late at night, you can squeeze in a half-day fishing,diving or backcountry exploring.Leave Miami early and, where the Overseas Highway splits justpast Homestead, take Card Sound Road, stop at AlabamaJack s, 305-248-8741, for refreshments.Continue on CardSound Road until it joins back up with the Overseas Highway onKey Largo.If you need a kick, stop at Denny s Latin Café, MM100, for a cup of Cuban coffee then enjoy the view out overFlorida Bay and the Gulf Stream as you head toward Marathon.If you arrive in the early afternoon, spend a few hours kayakingwith Marathon Kayak, MM 50 OS, Marathon at Sombrero Re-sort, 305-743-0561, www.marathonkayak.com.If you still havetime after kayaking, take a walk out on the old Seven MileBridge, MM 47 BS.Park in the lot at then end of the bridge. Suggested Itineraries 143Have a seafood dinner at Castaway s, MM 47.8, 1406Oceanview Ave., Marathon, 305-743-6247, 305-849-0472.Ifyou need a shot of coffee for the drive back, stop again atDenny s Latin Café, MM 100, for a cup of Cuban coffee.If You Have Three DaysThree days is long enough to properly appreciate the3fishing, diving and wildlife viewing opportunities.TheseDAYSactivities can be booked as half-day trips.EvergladesNational Park is not far out into the bay and backcountry touringand fishing is a good way to see some of the more pristine areas ofthe Keys.Since a three-day trip means you probably have onlyone full day in the Keys, a half-day trip to the reefs for diving orsnorkeling would be a good way to spend the first afternoon.Day One should be planned as above.Start Day Two with an early breakfast at the Wooden Spoon,Marathon, 305-743-8383, then head for Adios Charters,Marathon, 305-289-9892, for a day fishing with Captain BobTittle (get the Wooden Spoon to pack you a lunch).If you arelucky enough to catch your dinner, head to the HurricaneGrille, MM 49.5 BS, Marathon, 305-743-2220, where they willprepare your catch.That night, take in the blues show at theHurricane Lounge, MM 49.5 BS, Marathon, 305-743-2220.The best bands usually play on weekend nights starting at about10.Call ahead to see if the Charlie Morris Band will be playing.On Day Three you should check out a few interesting things to doin the Upper Keys on your way back north.Everglades NationalPark is only a mile into the bay and guides offer backcountry fish-ing, birding and eco-touring near mangrove islands and over thefascinating turtle grass and sand flats.Reserve several weeks inadvance with Florida Bay Outfitters, MM 104, Key Largo,305-451-3018, for a morning guided kayak tour in Florida Baythrough the Everglades.Head back to Miami stopping in Homestead at Shivers, 28001Dixie Hwy, a great BBQ joint on the right as you go north.Marathon/Middle Keys 144 SightseeingIf You Have a WeekA week gives you plenty of time to enjoy the best of what7the area has to offer and still leaves time for a day in KeyDAYSWest and a day in Everglades National Park.On Day One, check out the beaches and bridges, which offer a de-cent chance to view birds and sea life up close.Goodbeachcombing can be found on Coco Plum Beach at the eastend of Marathon.The best bridge in the Keys for seeing turtles,sharks, rays and horseshoe crabs is the old Overseas Highwaybridge at the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge.It s a nice rideacross the bridge and a spectacular walk over the flats.For Day Two, I suggest a full day with a fishing guide in thebackcountry (reserve in advance), allowing you to get a good lookat birds and remote mangrove keys.Captain Diego withFlat-Out Sport Fishing, Marathon, 305-743-7317, www.floridakeysflats.com, will show you more than just the fishy de-lights of the area.The morning of Day Three can be spent diving or snorkeling atSombrero Reef.The Reef Runner in Marathon, 305-289-9808,800-332-8899, www.floridadivecharter.com, will pick you up atyour hotel.You should be back in time for lunch at Keys Fish-eries, Gulf View Ave
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