Top 10 "Must-See" Hidden Gems

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Located right in the middle of crowded Old Town Key West, this place is an "island in the stream." Owner Nancy Forrester has somehow managed to face down the pressure of development and the tree-tearing fury of hurricanes in order to keep this 30-year-old garden pristine and magnificent. Here you will see the tropics in all its foliage glory with exotics such as orchids nestling in branches, huge ferns, bromeliads, red ginger, pink heliconias and a "sunburn" gumbo-limbo tree. Some plants are rare and endangered; others are extinct in their original habitats. A group of exotic birds resides among the lush foliage.

Bring a picnic lunch and tour the onsite art gallery, as well. Admission fee.

The entrance is on Free School Lane, off the 500 block of Simonton Street between Fleming and Southard streets.

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Whether you're discovering Key Largo, which sprawls across more than 10 miles or just passing through on your way to one of the other Keys, a stop at Harry Harris Park, mile marker 93.5 oceanside, makes for a pleasant visit.

At this waterfront park, you can walk the beach, give the children a break in the toddler playground, join a game at the sports field or enjoy lunch on a covered picnic table for a lazy afternoon of sun, sand, wine, cheese and watersports.

Entry is free Mondays through Fridays. On weekends, children age 12 and under are free.

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Okay, this is where you need to drop all pretense and just have FUN. Not only is Robbie's a marina, but the business has one party boat, one offshore boat and a recently acquired snorkel boat in addition to backcountry captains and fishing guides. The owners strive to make it more of a tourist attraction/destination within Islamorada, by adding eco-tours and a cultural environment - they bring in artists on the weekends. Robbie's is a place where you come in and you feel you've stepped back in time to the Florida Keys of the past. As for the fishy residents, the beloved tarpon they have been hand feeding for over 30 years, they're part of the family just like a dog or cat might be. For a couple bucks you can get a bucket of bait fish and drop it into a 100-pound tarpon's mouth - watch your fingers! Robbie's Marina is located at mile marker 77.5 bayside in Islamorada.

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You'll see this delightful park as you travel the Overseas Highway. It's just a half-mile south of MM 74 and stretches alongside the ocean, making it a popular stop for a brief stop, sunning and swimming. You can also set up a picnic here and enjoy the quiet tropical environment. A winding boardwalk that passes through short, leggy mangrove trees also offers a scenic stroll. There is no admission fee.

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Another sneak-up-and-grab-you kind of entertaining museum that is chock full of everything diving. Even if you are interested in treasure, archeology, history, or scuba, the low-tech diving museum is an inexpensive and educational stop that highlights ancient and antique equipment. Anyone walking through the galleries can be heard saying, "How Did They Do That!?" Take a self-guided, "timeline of diving" tour throughout, and don't miss the wall of helmets, called the "Parade of Nations," an unparalleled collection of historic hard-hat dive helmets from around the world. Helmets from 25 nations are displayed side by side with narration as to the styles and origins. A separate gallery is dedicated to Art McKee, referred to as the father of recreational diving; he was the first underwater treasure hunter to turn his work into a tourist attraction. Galleries featuring the development of underwater lighting and communication lead into the scuba gallery, where today's divers can check out some of the earliest scuba gear. The final gallery, "Into the Abyss," features authentic deep-diving suits - some weighing up to 900 pounds, that allowed divers to work at extreme depths.

Admission $12, $6 children ages 5-12, children under five are free.  Memberships only $25/year for Iron Helmet.

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If you're interested in local history or want to see odd island sites, include a visit to this museum on your itinerary. Designed by a ship's carpenter and built around 1829, this one-and-a-half-story house has unusual architectural features, including portholes and a detached kitchen building. The house also features antique cooking utensils and antique appliances such as a beehive oven. Admission fee.

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Windley Key is one the few places where you can see a coral reef that isn't underwater. This one rose to the surface eons ago and here it sits in fossilized splendor. Railroad entrepreneur Henry M. Flagler's construction crews quarried the rock from this site. Today, you can visit the Environmental Education Center, where regional history is chronicled. Nature trails wander through mangrove hammocks and in the quarrying area, you can take rubbings of ferns and coral. Quarry trails has a minimal admission fee; the educational center is free.

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This remote island is a prime example of how the Keys appeared before thousands of tourists, highways, etc. converged on the region. William J. Matheson purchased the key in 1919 for experimentation with native plants found in tropical hardwood hammocks. The island is appropriately named Lignumvitae, meaning "tree of life." The species is one of the hardest native woods in America. A modest historical visitor center bearing his name offers exhibits and book sales.

The key is accessible only by boat. Private tour boats leave the southern end of Upper Matecumbe Key Thursday through Monday. Times vary per season. The park office provides the most current information. If you arrive by private boat, moor at the main dock and join a guided walk. This is a park requirement.

Folks wishing to fish, scuba dive or snorkel may explore the 10,000 acres of submerged parkland. Mooring buoys on the northwest side of the island must be used.

Wildlife viewing is prime! On the trip over, keep an eye out for manatee in the seagrass and bottle-nosed dolphins in deep waters. The crystal-clear aquamarine water affords the opportunity to view a variety of marine life including stingrays, sea turtles and the colorful parrot fish. Fabulous bird watching opportunities wait. You'll be treated to sights of white-crowned pigeons, brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and a plethora of wading birds, terns and gulls. If visiting during he spring and fall migration period, look for warblers and vireos in the hammocks. Other less obvious inhabitants include colorful tree snails, swallowtail butterflies, and the golden orb spider.

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Tucked across from the hubbub of activity that occurs daily at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a short nature trail that will surely enhance your tropical tree knowledge. The trail is a mere 20-minute walk that twists and turns through a small parcel of land dividing Highway 1 and the park's core of activities. Wild Tamarind Trail has over a dozen interpretive stops. With zero elevation change and two resting benches, this trail is possible for most individuals. It is not wheelchair accessible but easily toured with a cane. What is so special about this trail besides the plant knowledge? It is an ideal way to pass time while waiting on your guided scuba dive, glassbottom boat trip, or paddle excursion (tickets available inside tour house ­ beyond visitor center). You will learn about fiddlewood, soapberry, Jamaica dogwood, coffee colubrine, poisonwood, antwood, West Indian mahogany, cinnamon bark, gumbo-limbo, and many others. The myriad of semi-tropical and tropical plants found in South Florida provides a purpose for both man and animal. Examples include fruit for songbirds, hardwood for industrial and entertainment items, soap resins, spices, and wildlife shelter. In particular, the poisonwood tree is an important food source for the endangered white-crowned pigeon. Across the parking lot from the easily spotted trailhead, are two picnic shelters. Just beyond the shelters is beautiful Cannon Beach overlooking Largo Sound.

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If you find yourself somewhere on the south end of Duval Street, exhausted by the heat and longing to escape to the water, try this tiny beach. Despite its name, this strip of sand bears no resemblance whatsoever to the famed South Beach of Miami Beach, but it has its own delights on a hot day. Parking is a problem around this small but popular area, so if you're staying in a nearby resort, it's best to walk. You can also walk to a number of restaurants in the vicinity.