-One "close encounter" attraction in the Florida Keys left me in a total state of awe, and I would like to reccomend The Dolphin Research Center to you. The center has tours for groups of twelve, so that visitors get a spectacular opportunity to see the many animals and meet the dolphins. The attraction is not expensive, and I came away with an impression and a memory that has expanded many of my concepts. The tour doesn't take an extremely long "bite" out of your vacation time, and it is well worth the stop at Grassy Key (see "Arianrhod's Links" to go to The Dolphin Research Center's beautiful web site).

Of course, free fishing and swimming abound all along US 1 through the Florida Keys as well as on the Atlantic side of Key West, but I want to reccomend a boat ramp in the lower keys to those who would like to get their first "hook-biter" in a short time: Shark Key. This boat ramp has an amazing assortment of little "hook-biters". It also hosts some really large Stingrays, and (about 25 to 50 feet off shore) you can catch snappers and sharks. The water is clear, the fish are hungry, and the sunsets are beautiful!

The tropics are exemplified at Bahia Honda State Park on Bahia Honda Key. It's a good place to visit for swimming, camping, picnicing, gift-shopping and dining, but best of all, it's a place where you can pose everyone for beautiful pictures that will "make the folks back home drool in jealousy".