Exploring the Florida Keys: My Remote Work Adventure from the Everglades to Key West
- Karen Israel
- Dec 20, 2025
- 8 min read
The Florida Keys offer a unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and laid-back island life. I recently had the chance to experience this for myself while working remotely, and it turned into an unforgettable adventure. From my first visit to the Everglades to staying in Marathon and exploring Key West, I discovered how to balance work and play in one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. Here’s a look at my journey and some tips for anyone thinking about working from the beach.
Discovering the Everglades: A Wild Start
My trip began with a visit to the Everglades, a vast wetland ecosystem just north of the Keys. It was my first time there, and the experience was eye-opening. The Everglades stretch over 1.5 million acres and are home to unique wildlife like alligators, manatees, and countless bird species.
Our flight left Denver at 1AM MT and landed at 7AM ET which meant no sleep for us that night. Upon landing in Miami we rented our vehicle (a convertible!), grabbed some giant coffees, and headed to Everglades National Park.
We drove through the park to the coast only to find the trail we wanted to hike, Coastal Prairie Trail, was closed due to flooding (apparently this has been a very wet dry season). We decided to check out Snake Bight trail instead. Turns out it was the mosquitos that were biting, not the snakes! We weren't prepared with proper clothing or bug spray for this hike and ran half of it just to get through faster! Luckily when we reached the end, another couple there was kind enough to share theirs. It made the hike back much more enjoyable.
On our way out of the park we stopped by the Anhinga trail which is mostly just board walk. We were lucky enough to see two alligators there, one of which we a little baby!
After that we headed towards our VRBO at Coco Plum Beach, stopping for a delicious seafood lunch at The Catch Restaurant & Bar along the way.
Exploring Key West: Culture and Adventure
We still had time let in the weekend for some exploration so we headed south to Key West, the southernmost point of the continental U.S. Key West is known for its colorful architecture, lively nightlife, and rich history. It’s a place where you can easily spend days wandering through museums, art galleries, and historic sites.
Along the way, we then set out for the Dolphin Research Center. The Dolphin Research Center is a nonprofit working research facility focused on studying our intelligent aquatic mammal neighbors. It also offers visitors a chance for an "edu-vacation" where you can learn about and interact with the dolphins in an all-natural outdoor lagoon. We enjoyed getting to see them playing and performing tricks.
From there, we drove the rest of the way down to Key West to explore Duval St., Mallory Square, and the southernmost point in the US. Of course we had to get some Cuban food too! We had several chickens wandering through the patio of the restaurant where we ate.
We stopped by Bahia Honda State Park located on Pine Key on our way back to our VRBO. This park, encompassing over 500 acres and an offshore island offers some of the best snorkeling and beachcombing in Florida. Unfortunately, it was too cold to get in the water and snorkel but we still walked along the shore and checked out the old train bridge.
Marathon: The Perfect Base for Remote Work
Marathon is a quieter town in the middle of the Keys that turned out to be an ideal spot for working remotely. The slower pace and beautiful surroundings helped me focus and recharge.
We stayed in a VRBO on Coco Plum Beach, where I could start my day with a cup of coffee on the beach or a walk along the shore. The internet connection was surprisingly reliable, which is crucial when you need to attend video calls or upload files - it even reach all the way to the beach! Here are some tips I learned for working remotely in Marathon:
Choose accommodations with strong Wi-Fi: Not all places in the Keys have fast internet, so check reviews or ask hosts before booking.
Set a clear work schedule: I started working at 7AM ET which was 5AM MT, would take an extra long lunch in the middle of the day to relax and explore, the back on until 6PM ET, 4PM MT.
Create a dedicated workspace: Even a small desk by a window made a big difference in staying productive.
Take breaks outside: Stepping out to the beach or a nearby park helped me clear my mind and avoid burnout.
Marathon also has great local spots for grabbing coffee or lunch, which made working away from home more enjoyable. I recommend trying the local seafood and chatting with friendly locals who often have great tips for hidden gems.
Work Life Balance: Integrating Sightseeing into the Work Day
Alright, this may not be exactly what they mean when they talk about work life balance but it's what it means to me! Balance getting my work done with living my life. As I mentioned before, I would usually try to start my work day earlier to take a longer break during the day. Other days I would just use that early start to end early and have the afternoon to explore. Below are a few of the places we managed to see in these breaks:
Coco Plum Beach
This one was easy. Our VRBO was on Coco Plum beach so any chance I got, I was down here. This is one of the few white sand beaches in the Florida Keys so I was very grateful to get to spend my time here. Most days, it felt like my own personal beach. There was one day I came out here to work and it was literally just me and a pelican on the beach!
Seven Mile Bridge
The historic Old Seven Mile Bridge, was located just a short drive from our VRBO. This bridge is a former railroad/roadway now used as a scenic pedestrian/fishing pier, connecting Marathon to Pigeon Key. It offers stunning views and a glimpse into the Keys' past. We spent my lunch break one day walking the length of bridge. There were plenty of other people here walking, running, or fishing.
Curry Hammock State Park
Curry Hammock State Park is the largest undeveloped piece of land between Key Largo and Big Pine Key. My favorite part of this park was the 1.5 mile nature trail. This trail allows you to see what the Florida Keys looked like before people came. As we started walking, other hikers informed us that a manatee could be seen from the shore. You could only see a small part of it's back, but just knowing it was out there made my day.
After the nature trail, we went to to other side of the key to the main part of the park. Here we walked along the beach where we spotted many Portuguese man o' war. Surprisingly not a jellyfish but a colonial hydrozoan, made up of small individual animals called zooids. Each zooid has their own specific function. They can't live separately and function together as one "animal". They live at the surface of the open ocean, held afloat by a gas-filled bladder. This has a crest like structure at the top which acts as a sail. They are unable to swim, leaving them at the mercy of the winds. There was a lot of wind to be had on the beaches of Curry Hammock that day. Perhaps that is why so many of them had washed ashore. Aside from the Portuguese man o' war, we saw many windsurfers out taking advantage of the strong winds.
Adventures in the Florida Keys: My Non-Work Days
While working from the beach is better than being in my cubicle or home office in snowy Colorado, I did take a few PTO days during our stay. I needed some time to fully enjoy the Florida Keys! Below are some of the ways we spent our time on those PTO days and our final weekend in the Keys:
Renting Bikes
The weather this day wasn't the best but I had the day off of work so we made the most of it! We rented bikes in the morning because the rain wasn't supposed to start until the afternoon. Unfortunately, shortly after we started out, it began to pour! We raced back to our condo as fast as we could to wait out the rain. After about 30 minutes it started to let up and wasn't supposed to come back until 5 so we hoped back on the bikes and off we went. The weather was reasonable for a while but we ended up with a bit more rain on the way back. Luckily we had our rain coats so we just made the most of biking in the rain.
Snorkel and Sand Bar Tour
We finally experienced some great weather, so we took advantage of it by going on a snorkel and sand bar tour. The snorkeling took place at a reef near a lighthouse, which was amazing because of all the fish swimming around. After snorkeling, we went to a sand bar, which turned out to be my favorite part! Even though we were out in the middle of the ocean, the sand bar made the water levels so low you could just get off the boat and walk about. Several spots weren't deeper than a few inches! It was clear this was a popular place as there were dozens of boat anchored here with people relaxing, chatting with friends, and enjoying the Florida sun. There was even a boat food truck here, something I had never seen before!
Once we were dropped off, we headed to dinner at Sunset Grill & Raw Bar and watched the sun set over the ocean. No matter how many times I see it, I will never get tired of watching the sun set into the ocean.
Mangrove Kayaking Tour
For something a little more adventurous and unique, we spent the day kayaking through the mangroves. We were fortunate enough to end up on a tour that was just us! The tour started in the harbor and eventually reached a path through the trees so narrow we couldn't even use our paddles and had to pull ourselves along through the mangroves. I felt like a monkey swinging through the trees! When we reached the turnaround point, the guide pointed out the upside down jellyfish at the bottom. I even got to hold one! I didn't know you could do that! Without a doubt this is one of my favorite experiences I've had yet.
Making the Most of Your Time in the Keys
Working remotely from the Florida Keys is about more than just the view. It’s about immersing yourself in a unique environment that inspires both work and play. Here are some ways to make the most of your stay:
Explore nearby parks and nature reserves: Places like Bahia Honda State Park offer stunning beaches and trails.
Try local activities: Kayaking, paddleboarding, or fishing can be great ways to unwind.
Connect with other remote workers or locals: Coffee shops and co-working spaces sometimes host meetups.
Sample the local cuisine: Fresh seafood and tropical fruits are highlights of the Keys’ food scene.
Respect the environment: The Keys are ecologically sensitive, so follow guidelines to protect wildlife and habitats.
Wrapping Up My Keys Adventure
My time in the Florida Keys showed me how remote work can blend seamlessly with adventure and relaxation. Starting with the wild Everglades, settling into Marathon’s calm, and ending with the adventure of kayaking through mangroves created a perfect balance. If you’re a traveler, nature lover, or remote worker looking for a change of scenery, the Keys offer a unique opportunity to work with a view and explore some of Florida’s most beautiful places.
Whether you want to paddle through mangroves, snorkel over coral reefs, or simply watch the sunset from a beachside café, the Florida Keys can be your office and playground. Pack your laptop, sunscreen, and sense of adventure — the Keys are waiting.
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