Did you know?

Key Vaca is a modern rendition of the old Spanish name of Cayos de Vaccas, once applied to all the Keys from Knight to Duck. A direct translation would be Cow Keys, but none of the old records mention the presence of cattle in this region. However, a number of early explorers commented upon the great number of sea cows (manatees) that were common here until the late 1700's.

Welcome to Marathon - the Heart of the Florida Keys

Marathon is considered the heart of the Florida Keys because of it's location ... about the middle of the Florida Keys island chain. The area of Marathon consists of many Keys or islands starting with Long Key, the Conch Keys, Duck Key, Grassy Key, Boot Key, Crawl Key and Pigeon Key. Marathon is separated from the Lower Florida Keys on the south end by the Seven Mile Bridge. This bridge is famous and has been seen in many movies and is host to the Seven Mile Bridge Run each year.

Duck Key is home of the Hawk's Cay Resort & Marina. Grassy Key is the closest to Marathon Key and the Dolphin Research Center is there. This is a great attraction in Marathon offering a day long learning experience for adults and children. Learn all about the bottle nose dolphin and even swim with them in a limited session at the Research Center.

Marathon is a quaint place to take a very relaxing vacation. There are many great amentities including some great restaurants that serve fresh seafood and some good shopping with many gifts and crafts from local artists. Marathon has some very nice communities including Key Colony Beach and Sombrero Beach.

If you are into a family vacation with some relaxation, fishing, diving, eco tours and shopping right at your disposal, then Marathon is a great place to stop on your travels through the Florida Keys.

To learn more about the history of the Marathon area, click here.