Key Colony Beach vacation rentals

Among the many islands and beaches of the Florida Keys, Key Colony Beach stands out for its white sand, small but loyal local community, and the canals that give waterfront boat access to nearly everyone in town. The main portion of Key Colony (a tiny bit of the city spills onto neighboring Fat Deer Key) sits on what was once known as Shelter Key. In the Middle Keys, adjacent to Marathon, a small road leaves U.S. Highway 1, also known as the Overseas Highway; the one-lane causeway with a small bridge provides the only road access to Key Colony Beach. In the mid-1950s, developers dredged around the island, nearly tripling its size and creating its now-famous canals. Most houses on Key Colony face one of these canals, making it easy to head out into the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean to enjoy the fishing, boating, and diving for which the region is known.

Summertime is high time in Key Colony Beach. Though temperatures may spike, and the humidity can have a way of making you feel as if you’re wearing a second skin, it’s still the season that draws the most visitors. If you can get here in March or April, spring offers significantly more moderate weather and a far lower likelihood of rainfall. Spring also coincides with some of the town’s biggest festivals, including Key Colony Beach Day, celebrating the birthday of the city, and a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Fall is nearly as pleasant, with the caveat that, as in late summer, it brings the concern of hurricane season and requires keeping an eye on alerts.

Sunset Park

As its name implies, this park facing Vaca Cut Bridge is an excellent place to enjoy an evening and watch the sun go down over the water. Prior to the main event each day, the pier makes for great birdwatching, including brown pelicans, ospreys, and cormorants. Walking paths trace through the park’s meadow portion; it also hosts occasional live music.

Thunderbolt Shipwreck

Dive among the rusted remains of this former Navy ship and research vessel from the 1940s. Resting on the ocean floor just four miles from Key Colony in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Thunderbolt was intentionally sunk in 1986 as part of a mission to create artificial reefs. Now, with three decades of growth on it — and 120 feet of water above it — it’s become home to many fish as well as a favorite spot for divers.

Valhalla Sandbar

A nice island just a short boat ride from Key Colony Beach, this sandbar has become a popular place to wade, snorkel, and enjoy the gentle blue-green waters. The shallow saltwater draws not just humans looking to float but also a fascinating array of local sea life worth watching for.