About 45 minutes south of Homestead along Highway 1. This becomes especially apparent the farther south you travel, the farther you range from what dictates and concerns life on the mainland. Incidentally, the farther south you drive, the smaller the numbers become on green markers alongside the road. The numbers tell you how far you are from Key West, which lies at the end of the road. Since all waters surrounding the keys were designated as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in 1990, they are protected, making them a diver's paradise where angelfish, barracuda, octopi, conch and lobsters hang out at the local coral bar.
Fish are prime tourist bait in the Keys.
The area is particularly noted for its bonefish, tarpon, dolphinfish, grouper, sailfish and marlin. Fishing charters and party boats are found at most large resorts and marinas. Marathon About a half-hour south of Long Key on Highway 1. The Seven Mile Bridge that crosses between Marathon and the Lower Keys, also known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, affords a magnificent view and is the longest segmental bridge in the world. It was built in 1982 in pieces in Tampa and shipped to the Keys to be assembled.