Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are the tropic paradise of the United States, immortalized in song and story. Moderate temperatures, lush islands, endless views of the Gulf of Mexico and beyond . . . all these attract visitors. The Keys may not be entirely wild any more - in fact, the major, larger Keys are connected to the mainland by highway for ease of travel - but many of the smaller islands are virtually untouched.

Don't expect long stretches of white sand beaches, though. The Keys are formed from an ancient coral reef and even the "domesticated" ones have rough edges, edges you can explore while houseboating the Gulf. There's nothing quite like the slow approach of a Key, as it appears as a speck in the distance and as you move your boat closer, it grows gradually larger and more beautiful. Or imagine zipping over the ocean waters with a sleek watercraft. Fishing in the Keys is also a rare treat, with such large sea-born species as sailfish and redfish populating the waters.

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