Florida Keys Packed With Tourists

Above, a couple of islands near Key West, Florida. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the pandemic is (hopefully) winding down, people are hitting the road in droves after months of imposed (by the government) exile at home.

This has changed things for different places.

For the Florida Keys, this is generally the "slower" time of the year. Not this summer.

Travel Pulse reported:

Typically, tourism in the Florida Keys is slower during summer months, before the snowbirds arrive, allowing many Floridians to enjoy a close-to-home escape that’s easily accessible, budget-friendly and relaxing—but not this summer.

This year, it’s quite a different story for the string of tropical islands scattered off the Sunshine State’s southern tip. Non-local visitors are flocking to the Florida Keys for their post-pandemic domestic vacations, sending hotel rates soaring and creating long lines at landmarks, attractions and restaurants.

“Every tourist attraction has a long line,” Boca Raton resident Dara Krauss, who visited Key West and Islamorada last week, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “The resorts were full and hotel prices were high. There was almost nothing to be had.” Her family is one of those that usually vacations abroad during the summer but has opted to stay stateside this year because of COVID-19 restrictions. “We’re taking a lot of smaller trips within the U.S.,” she said.

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