A MAP of our little Key Largo piece of Paradise

This will give you an idea of our places in Key Largo.   It is not completely to scale......it will give you a good idea!

Sweetest little park: Croc Butterfly Park in North Key Largo, Florida

This park is just so sweet;  Yes, it is the size of someone's back yard; however, it is a nice little bicycle  destination, or, on the way back from the upper Dagney State Park hiking trails, and you are not ready to leave the woods.

 The plants are labeled and sculpture is throughout the park.

One of America's fantastic parks in Key Largo, Florida

The park is home to our wonderful coral reefs off the coast of Key Largo.  They are not swimming distance- must take a boat.  The John Pennecamp’s facilities include a beach: still fun to snorkel around the rocks but no substitution for getting out to the reef; a boardwalk trail through mangroves: no substitute for getting out into the creeks with a paddle board or kayak; kayak and motor boat rentals, place for picnicking, glass bottom boat and snorkel tours of the coral reefs.  If you wear glasses for distance, bring them if you plan on taking the glass bottom boat.  You can camp via tent or motor home, however, you can often rent a vacation rentals, for just a bit more money.      When friends or family come to visit, it is a destination we take them too. Although, living on the Key Largo bay side, we have access to beautiful waters and mangroves for kayaking too, the coral reef is where you will find the tropical fish and coral reef.    Plan on at least 4-5 hours in order to visit the reef and enjoy the nature walks.  Because the weather can be beautiful it may not be great for snorkeling out on the reef, so its always best to check first and try to get your coral reef visit in early.   There are many snorkel/dive shops in Key Largo that are also a good option for your snorkel trip.  The captains all know the weather conditions and the better reefs to visit on what days.  However,  at John Pennecamp it is more like one stop 'shopping' and is a destination that should not be missed if you are coming anywhere near the Florida Keys!

Luigi, my dog talking with Lester, one of our manatee

Captain Sterling and his eco-tours

There is so much nature, birds, fish, crocs, of course our beautiful manatee.  As a vacationer, with a limited time to see all that you want to see, it is a good idea to ask those in the know- Captain Sterling runs eco-tours out and about.
He brings guests on his boat in our canal at the Silver MOon Houseboat to see our manatee.  This is how our Manatee Queen got her name.
check out his link

Happy Camper Key Largo fishing! caught some big ones!

Henry the Hog Fish- He doesn't like fishing, but I think he will play scrabble

This fellow is really quite personable. He loves company; loves playing with dogs and is intelligent and engaging.   No, it isn't a personal ad; just the description of a new member of the 'family', Henry the Hog fish.  

Henry the Hog Fish

At least that is my thought since he goes out of his way to swim to you, follow you, hang out with you and look up at you with these truly intelligent eyes.  It's the same fish from before- same markings, distinctive since he had a fish hook in his mouth.
In Key Largo today, we had a tremendous wind storm, dark skies; a nice warm wind:) 

Luigi was at the water 'talking' to Henry. There was Henry at the edge hanging out with the dog, Luigi.   The coral matching the sunset's orange color maybe what they were chatting about:)

BEachES, Key Largo? bEAches, the beach, BEACHES, BeAcHeS: Ann's beach here

Ahhh, so this is one example of a Florida Keys beach-- not in Key Largo but a short drive south and on the ocean side.
Last week, Chanoch and I took a drive south to look at another houseboat.  No go on the houseboat.  It has to have the potential to be as cute as the SilverMOon houseboat or no deal:)
Best part of the day was stopping at Ann's Beach.
Ann's beach is lovely, sand like baby powder. It reminds me of Siesta Key's beach.  The land is very narrow at this point in the Keys.  Try to hit going to this beach during low tide if you want to walk on some sand.  There is a catwalk built for hightide.  It is a nice place for views and having a lunch.  a good break on the way to/from Key West. I often recommend our guests staying with us in Key Largo to stop at Chad's for sandwiches- they are great! or for breakfast/lunch at Cafe Biton MM 84.  Michel has wonderful food!

This is Ann's beach in the Florida keys, south of Key Largo.  It is low tide so you see some shore line in front of the mangroves.

When it is closer to high tide, there are catwalks along the shore.

When there isn't a beach to sit on, there are these lovely 'rooms'

Chanoch and Luigi overlooking the water from one of Ann's beach's 'rooms'.

Please note, it is low tide so you can see some sand, but it is also very shallow for a long distance- wonderful for walking:)

The shore line at low tide- I am trying to show the texture of this baby powder/clay sand.  It feels good on the feet:)

BEachES, Key Largo? bEAches, the beach, BEACHES, BeAcHeS: Tel Aviv beach here

No matter how you spell it, the beach is most often a great relaxation, vacation playpen!
No all beaches are the same.  Part of the charm, I guess.    The geography of the sea or ocean often determines the function and the kind of 'scene' that is generated.

There is the Jersey Shore, the Maine Coast, South Beach, Laguna Beach, Hawaii beaches, Tel Aviv beach, South Pacific AND the beaches of the Florida Keys!

One of my favorite beaches? Depends on what I'm looking for...but to be honest, I love Tel Aviv beach:) in Israel.

We have warm clean waters like Tel Aviv just not as salty!

Our friend Danny's sculpture; Key Largo's 'sculptures' are the roots of the mangroves

Now, that's a beach:)  The Florida Keys' beaches are not like this.  They have a different kind of charm however:)

On our beaches here in Key Largo you won't find high rises:)

Wonderful magical sky in Key largo

OK, What it is, is magical things happen here in Key Largo all the time.  It’s not just in BrooklynJ  

I have noticed the last few nights at dust the sky has been two tone- lower half is absolutely lavendar, like one of the homes in my neighborhood and the top have aqua.  I haven’t quite seen that intensity of those colors before.  This morning, those colors were there, but  not quite as intense. 

Here Fishie fish fish: beautiful Hog fish at the doc

That big beautiful fish is a Hog fish.  He was watching me while he was swimming.  When I stopped and walked backwards, he turned too! Too funny!   These fish are really good eating.   Frankly, in my canal, I prefer seeing the fish!

Its not just at John Pennekamp that has beautiful fish to look at:)
Seriously, exploring the coral reefs of Pennekamp State Park is a must do; snorkeling, diving or glass bottom boat.

Dog friendly Key Largo: Thanks to rescue efforts we found our rescued, fostered , adopted dog Luigi

Here is our dog Luigi.   He has been in the foster care system, waiting for a permanent home.   Lucky dog that he had been in loving homes, Marrveous Pet Rescue foster homes until we met him at one of Key Largo's Yappy Hours.

 Here in Key Largo, once a month, a restaurant hosts dogs needing adoption and there are other events as well in order to help match families with dogs needing adopting.  Here are two cuties at one such event, in front of Keys Kritters pet store and Dr. Bailey's vet office.

So when you come to one of our vacation rentals you may meet our Luigi- he would love playing fetch, swimming with you or playing with your dog!   Don't worry, it is not a necessity  to hang with the dog, my two cats, MommyKat and Emerson are two such vacationers that choose no dog:)

 SEE YOU IN THE KEYS!

clear waters in our Key Largo's canal

Our new place where we can host RV’s with hook up has a wonderful canal right at the bay.  We are lucky in that this canal has a whitish bottom/sides so all the wildlife is visible.   Yesterday there was a large starfish by the boat ramp, tiger fish, mangrove snapper, needle-nose and we have coral growing.   Luigi loves watching the fish jump.   The canal bed is all old coral and white.  But this is bright orange living coral. 

sharks beware!!

the puppy is near!!  Jaws has nothin' on Luigi here!   This shark happens to be his favorite toy:)

There's nuthin' like a vacation seeing the wilds of Key Largo and her Manatee...

OK, so I love animals, dogs, cats, fish, horses, dolphin, fox, birds, people, and especially the manatee.

The manatee in general just make me laugh at their antics, marvel at their grace and calm communicative  energy, swim with them, them with me in the canal and bay, and when they fart- run and hold my nose!  (Although my 85lb puppy black lab also fits the description!)

  Every morning when I am in Key Largo, (a bit harder to do from my home in Brooklyn, NY)  I walk to our dock and see which individuals are around that morning.  After these 5 years, I don't tire experiencing and watching them.

I get the most pleasure when our guests encounter our wild life, including the manatee.  It makes wonderful memories for a vacation.
Here is a selection of photos of our manatee and rides out to the bay to see dolphin, manatee, birds, sting rays, fish jumping around, and just to enjoy the breezes and sunset!

Here is Big Moma & Baby Boo (yes, Moma, like the museum of mod.art)

here by the houseboat is Super Mom & Sparkles.  She was very injured by a powerboat's propeller the previous year.   I worked with her right arm to improve her function.  It really helped her.   Then we had that terrible cold spell and we lost about 400 of the manatee herd.   What a glorious surprise to see her.  I called to her and she swam over to me, not only survivingthe winter but bringing her new baby with her!.

WE often take our guests out on our boat for a spin in the bay- catch the sunset;

watch for birds in the mangroves;

These children were so much fun to watch- right along with the manatee! 

Then there is the 'after glow' of being out on the water, fishing, or swimming or just sunning at the beach!  Friends are made around our dock:)  Good feelings all around.

These young children learned about water safety.  They just wanted to learn about everything & see the wonderful manatee.  

The wonderful Manatee of Key Largo

The manatee are some of the most interesting, endearing and gentle creatures.







They are huge. Just their size can be intimidating. However, they are very gentle,













curious creatures.





This young lady explored a freshly touched-up moored sailboat in the bay-







These photos are all taken from our dock. They frequent our canal year round.



We have some springs in our canal and they must drink fresh water.












They are mammals, bear their young and have mammary glands for feeding.













You got to admit, baby Boo is cute!

check out the belly button!













They are related to the elephant.










When you look at their flippers,
they have toenails just like an elephant.