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AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS
Miami to Key West
WHERE : FLORIDA
This grand tour of the Sunshine State takes in the bright lights of the Magic City and the sparkling waters of the Keys . Between them are 165 miles of coastal road and an opportunity to skate across the ocean on the magnificent Overseas Highway , which spans 42 bridges .
What ’ s normally a three-and-a-half-hour commute can be easily spun into a weeklong road trip , with plenty of downtime to soak up some of the region ’ s islands . Plan to hit the road between March and May for pleasant temperatures and blue skies .
Leaving Miami ’ s towering skyline in the rearview , trace the contours of Biscayne Bay . Then enter the Everglades : an eerie Arcadia of mangrove swamps , marshes and pine flatwoods . At the heart of the Everglades National Park , board an airboat in search of gators , manatees and leatherback turtles .
En route to Key West , each island offers something different . Go diving in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park off Key Largo , hand-feed hungry tarpon at Robbie ’ s marina on Islamorada or rent a kayak to visit the remote Indian Key . Keen to hook a blackfin ? Head for Duck Key by crossing the Seven Mile Bridge , an iconic highway over the sapphire Gulf of Mexico . image : GETTY
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