As the world changed before our eyes, travel followed suit. Grand international adventures have taken a back seat to exploring within our nation’s borders. Luckily, domestic travel within the United States is far from second-rate; we’re the fortunate stewards of some of the most diverse and mind-blowing landscapes in the world, from deserts and forests and mountains to—yes—a tropical paradise.
Whether you live close enough to drive or plan to use South Florida as a jumping-off point, the Florida Keys beckons with the ultimate in easy-breezy island living, as close as we can get—for now—to an exotic Caribbean getaway. There’s azure water, swaying palms, and that sort of laid-back vibe that promises to quickly erase all your routine worries. Take a quick day trip to the Upper Florida Keys, the stretch of islands from Key Largo south to Islamorada, for a transportive experience guaranteed to rejuvenate. Key Largo, the first island in the Florida Keys archipelago, is about two hours south of West Palm Beach or an hour south of Miami by car, so the island chain is easily accessible on any vacation to South Florida.
