FLORIDA PLACES AND DESTINATIONS - MARATHON
Among the islands found within Marathon’s city limits in the heart of the Florida Keys are Boot Key, Knight Key, Hog Key, Vaca Key, Stirrup Key, Crawl Key, Little Crawl Key, East and West Sister’s Island, Deer Key, Fat Deer Key, Long Point Key, and Grassy Key.
The historic old Seven Mile Bridge near Marathon cuts through Pigeon Key, a small island that once housed workers who aided the effort to build Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad.
Visitors to Marathon can tour the The Turtle Hospital, the world's only state-certified veterinary hospital for sea turtles. The Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key is one of several venues in the Florida Keys that provides interactive opportunities to learn about these intelligent mammals.
Marathon hosts the Original Marathon Seafood Festival every March. It features local delicacies like Florida lobster, stone crab claws, pink shrimp and smoked fish. Keys chefs offer conch in chowders, salad and fritters. Attractions include a nautical flea market, a boat show, arts and crafts booths and entertainers.
Photo: Bob Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau
