Marathon doesn’t get as much attention as some of the other keys like Key West and Islamorada. But there are so many things to do in Marathon that make it such a great place to visit.
Marathon is in the middle to lower keys. It is a good destination for boating, fishing, seeing sea turtles, and dolphins. And it also has one of the best beaches in all of the keys.
Here is your guide to Marathon!
Quick Guide to Marathon
Short on time? Here is my quick list of the best things to do, where to stay, and best restaurants in Marathon.
Best Resorts in Marathon
- Isla Bella Beach Resort – My top pick in Marathon. Luxurious without being overly expensive (although busy weekends will definitely be more). It’s great for families and couples. Fun fact: they filmed Couples Resort from the 90 Day Fiance franchise here (any other junk TV watchers?!)
- Hawks Cay is technically in Duck Key just outside of Marathon. They just built a brand new waterpark that just opened this year, plus there are 5 pools and tons of amenities.
Best Things to do in Marathon
Here are our favorite things to do in Marathon and the things I’d prioritize if I only had a little bit of time:
- Visit the turtles at the Turtle Hospital
- Explore Bahia Honda State Park
- Go kayaking at Curry Hammock State Park
My Favorite Restaurants
- Keys Fisheries
- No Name Pub (on Big Pine Key)
- Sweet Savannah’s (dessert)
Beaches
Before I tell you where to go to the beach, let’s talk about beaches in the Florida Keys.
In my opinion, they are some of the most beautiful beaches you’ll ever see. The color of the water is almost indescribable!
But it’s important to know what to expect so you’re not disappointed. You generally will not find long stretches of white sandy beaches in the Florida Keys. The shoreline is often scattered with coral, which doesn’t feel good to step on.
The other thing that you might find, especially in summer months, is sargassum (seaweed). It’s not super pleasant to look at or step on. And if it’s been washed up sitting in the sun for a few days, it can smell, too.
Hopefully you will not have any on your visit. But to keep things real, it can look like the picture below (which was taken in Key West).
It’s quite possible there will be no sargassum when you visit. And I personally love beaches in the Florida Keys. But I’ve also heard from disappointed tourists when the beaches aren’t what they thought they would be.
Pro tip: If the beaches have sargassum when you visit, book a tour to the sandbar!
Sombrero Beach
Sombrero Beach is the most popular beach in Marathon and honestly probably one of the most popular beaches in all of the Keys.
This is your best bet for the most traditional “Florida beach” in the Keys. It’s also lined with palm trees which makes it feel like a quintessential island beach.
They also have nice amenities. There are restrooms, covered picnic tables, and an amazing playground.
There are a lot of parking spots right in front of the beach, but on holidays and weekends they can fill up.
Coco Plum Beach
Even though Sombrero Beach is the most popular, I also love Coco Plum Beach. It’s not as good of a swimming beach as Sombrero, but it stays shallow very far out. It’s a great spot for wading and fishing.
There are restrooms here but not too many parking spots.
Pigeon Key
Pigeon Key is a very small island located just south of Marathon. It used to house workers who built the Florida East Coast Railroad.
Pigeon Key has a museum where you can learn more about the workers who lived and worked on the island.
You can’t drive to Pigeon Key. The best way to visit is by train, which leaves from the Visitor’s Center four times per day (at the time of this writing, the times are 10, 11:30, 1, and 2:30 pm).
The admission cost ($30/adults, $25/children aged 4-12) includes the train ride as well as access to the island and a one hour guided tour. If you prefer not to do the tour, then you can spend 2 hours on the island on your own.
The island is popular for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing.
If you would prefer to walk or bike, you can do that. It’s 2 miles one way (4 miles round trip) and there is no shade, so make sure you bring plenty of water and sunscreen. You’ll also pay an admission fee of $15/adults and $12/children aged 4-12.
Crane Point Hammock Museum and Nature Center
This is a 63 acre preserve home to several historical buildings, a museum, and nature trails. There are quite a few things you can do at Crane Point Hammock:
The Florida Keys Children’s Museum has a wooden pirate ship to play on, touch tanks, and more
You can learn about native inhabitants of the Florida Keys, the shipwrecking industry, key deer, the early explorers, and those who built the Overseas Railroad at the Crane Point Museum of Natural History. It also has a 600-year-old canoe, remnants of pirate ships, and a simulated coral reef cave.
Crane Point Hammock Museum and Nature Trails protects some of the last Florida thatch palms in the world
Their Wild Bird Center has rehabilitated and released over 16,000 wild birds. It is located on the northern section of the nature trails.
Adderley House is a traditional home where a Bahamian pioneer lived more than 100 years ago.
But one of the best things to do is to get a fish pedicure! There is a little tidal pool where you can put your feet in the water and fish will nibble on them.
Geocatching is very popular here as well.
They do have guided tours of the property led by volunteers if you’d really like to learn as much as you can about this area. They are very knowledgeable about various plants, the people who used to live on the land, and more.
You can also go kayaking or stand up paddleboarding in the bay.
Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters
If you’re visiting the Florida Keys with kids, you should definitely visit Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters.
It’s more hands on than your average aquarium. You can touch a stingray, feed tarpon, and pet a shark. There are also alligators and turtles.
There are tickets for animal encounters where you can do things like go snorkeling with sharks (the sharks are separated by a clear divider).
It’s not large but the kids will like it.
And if you are visiting the Florida Keys with kids, you might find these other articles helpful:
- Things to do in Key Largo with kids
- Things to do in Islamorada with kids
- Things to do in Key West with kids
The Lagoon on Grassy Key: Keys Cable Park
The Lagoon on Grassy Key is kind of a hub of different things. They have a surf shop and it’s also home to Bongos Botanical Beer Garden, a cute outdoor bar and restaurant.
But what they’re most known for is Keys Cable Park, a 50 acre waterpark on a man-made lake. They have wakeboarding, waterskiing, and kneeboarding. They have a cable system that will pull you around the lake.
They also offer lessons for all levels if you want to learn how to do any of these water sports.
They also have a really fun aquapark – a super large inflatable “park” in the water with trampolines, a rock wall, slides, and more.
The owner of the park also owns Grassy Flats, which is a boutique hotel just a mile down the road from The Lagoon.
Dolphin Research Center
This is the place to go if someone in your group loves dolphins.
All of the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center have been rehabilitated and are unable to be returned to the wild.
While dolphins are the stars of the show, they also have sea lions, seals, parrots, and tortoises.
General admission gets you into the facility to see the mammals. They do have shows with them a few times per day. We got lucky and happened to be visiting right before the start of one of the shows.
There are activities you can do for an additional cost. There is a wide range from seeing sea lions up close to swimming with dolphins to accompanying the trainers for an entire day.
They also have a splash pad and this was our son’s favorite part of the visit.
While I felt good about our money going towards a good cause (it goes towards keeping the facility open and caring for the mammals), we did find it pretty pricy. It is a fairly small facility and we only spent around an hour there.
Snorkeling
I cannot recommend snorkeling in the Florida Keys enough. The reef is the third largest barrier reef in the world so it a magical experience. There is nothing like seeing bright, colorful fish and coral in their natural habitat.
The Sombrero Reef, just off the coast of Marathon, is one of the most popular places to snorkel in the Marathon area.
Click here to go snorkeling at the Sombrero Reef in Marathon
Curry Hammock State Park
Curry Hammock is just a few miles from Marathon. There are over 1000 acres where you can find a nature trail, mangrove forests, a kayak launch (and kayak rentals), and a beach.
It’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever kayaked. We started in the mangroves then kayaked out to a little sandbar.
It’s also a very popular spot for kiteboarders. If you happen to be there on a windy day, watching them is a lot of fun.
You can also camp here. The campground has 28 sites located close to the water (some sites even have an ocean view). The sites accommodate tents or RVS up to 70 feet. You need a reservation and they sell out quickly so I recommend booking as far in advance as you can.
Deep Sea Fishing
One of the most popular things to do in the Florida Keys is deep sea fishing and Marathon is no exception.
This tour is family-friendly, so if you have kids with you they will also enjoy themselves. You can book 4, 6, 8, or a 10 hour fishing trip.
Florida Keys Turtle Hospital
If you want to see sea turtles in the Florida Keys, this is the absolute best stop. Best of all, the Florida Keys Turtle Hospital is a working hospital. It’s not a zoo, it’s a facility actively helping injured sea turtles.
Their mission is to get the turtles back to the wild. Sadly, there are some conditions that prevent turtles from being able to go back to the wild. In that case, the hospital will either keep them or find a safe home from them (such as a zoo).
Since it is a working hospital, the only way you can visit the turtles is through one of their tours. The tours run every 30 minutes starting at 9 am with the last tour starting at 4pm. Adults are $38, kids aged 4-12 are $19, and kids under 4 are free. The fee goes towards helping the hospital.
The full tour is around 90 minutes. Around 20 minutes or so is learning about the facility, the turtles, how they are treated, and how you can play a role in protecting marine life. Then you get a quick tour of the hospital facilities. The offices have windows so if they are actively working on a turtle patient, you can watch them actively working on the turtle. After that, you get to visit (and feed!) the turtles currently residing at the hospital.
While we’ve always been able to show up without a reservation and take a tour, the tours can fill up fast. This is especially true during busy times like holidays and weekends. I recommend you book your tour in advance if possible.
Shady Palm Art Gallery
Stop by the Shady Palm Art Gallery for some local art.
The gallery is home to artwork by more than 50 artists! There are several exhibits, so you’re likely to find something that you enjoy.
Seven Mile Bridge
When the 7 mile bridge was born in the early 1900s, it was the world’s longest segmental bridge (a segmental bridge is a bridge built in sections).
It was closed to vehicles in the 80s and a new bridge (what you drive on today) runs parallel to it.
The drive itself is a fun experience. You’ll have some of the most beautiful views of the waters in the Florida Keys.
The side bridge also has a pedestrian path for a little over 2 miles. The path ends at Pigeon Key. If you decide to walk, make sure you bring plenty of water and sunscreen because there’s no shade and the Florida sun is no joke.
Fun fact: even though it’s called the 7 mile bridge, it’s technically a little shorter than that. It’s officially around 6.79 miles.
Marathon Air Museum
The Marathon Air Museum is located in an old Navy hangar. You’ll see vintage aircraft and memorabilia while you learn more about the history of aviation in the Florida Keys.
This is a great activity for a rainy day.
Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda State Park is located on Big Pine Key, not far from Marathon and it’s one of the most beautiful state parks in Florida (personally, I think it’s the most beautiful state park in Florida).
It’s popular for kayaking, snorkeling, camping, boating, and enjoying the beach.
You’ve probably seen pictures of the stunning, crystal-clear turquoise water with the iconic old railroad bridge in the background. It is iconic.
And you can climb up part of the old railroad bridge for even more incredible views.
The bridge was once part of Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad, which connected mainland Florida to Key West by railroad.
A devastating category 5 hurricane damaged much of the railway in 1935 and it was never rebuilt. You can visit a memorial for those who were lost in the hurricane in Islamorada.
I have an entire post on visiting Bahia Honda State Park, which is helpful if you plan on visiting!
Take a Day Trip to Key West
One nice thing about staying in Marathon is that you’re not too far from Key West (or Islamorada for that matter).
Key West is a much different vibe. While it is more lively and there is a lot of nightlife, it is still laid back. Duval Street is home to restaurants, bars, and locally-owned shops. If you enjoy history, there are quite a few museums.
Key West also has a lot of good food.
Sunset Cruise
The only thing better than a gorgeous sunset is seeing it from the water. If you have the chance to take a sunset cruise, I highly recommend it.
This cruise comes with complimentary champagne and also has restrooms on board.
Best Restaurants in Marathon
It’s hard to narrow down the best restaurants in Marathon. And to be honest, my favorite ones change by the week. I’m working on an entire post for you highlighting where you should eat but until then, here are some options.
Sunset Grille and Raw Bar
Sunset Grille is unique because not only is it a bar and restaurant, but they also have a pool that overlooks the 7 mile bridge.
They have everything you’d expect from a bar and grill type of place.
Keys Fisheries
This is a casual restaurant and it’s also the best place for fresh seafood. They have both a restaurant and a market on site.
It’s located right on the water and you can watch the boats come and go.
I always recommend Keys Fisheries, but especially during stone crab season, which is mid October through mid May. If you visit then, you’ll want to head to the upstairs bar (next to the main restaurant) for the best deal on stone crab claws in the Keys.
No Name Pub
No Name Pub is a funky little place. It’s technically on Big Pine Key, not Marathon but it’s worth the drive.
Before the days of GPS, it was a bit harder to find so you’ll notice their tagline “A nice place if you can find it.”
They’re most known for their ice cold beer and pizza. The pizza is actually a recipe from 2 cooks from Italy who worked there in the 60s.
Sweet Savannah’s
Technically, this isn’t a restaurant. But it is a must stop for your sweet tooth!
Sweet Savannah’s has every single dessert you could imagine. They have key lime pies (whole or by the slice, plain or chocolate covered, basically any way you could want it), ice cream, cupcakes, and more.
They also double as a really cute shop. They have really cute things in the shop and I always love browsing there.
Where to Stay in Marathon, Florida
Isla Bella is a luxurious resort but isn’t pretentious. It is pretty affordable compared to other resorts that are considered to be luxurious throughout the Keys.
It has a mile of waterfront, has 5 oceanfront pools (including 1 adults-only pool), and a beach.
The rooms are more spacious than average and they have large balconies or beachfront walkouts.
The resort also has several restaurants, a marina, a spa, bikes, mini golf, and more.
Hawks Cay is another great option and it has a ton of amenities.
For starters, there are five pools. They opened up a brand new waterpark this summer (2026), the only one like it in the Keys. It is also located directly on a marina so if you want to get out on the water, you have plenty of options right at your fingertips.
There are tennis and pickleball courts, a spa, and a fitness center.
And they have something that no other resort has – an enclosed saltwater lagoon fed directly by the ocean. It is a safe beach with calm waters perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding.
The downside of Hawks Cay is that Duck Key is a 20 minute drive to Marathon or a 30 minute drive to Islamorada. It’s not a big deal when you’re spending the day out and about, but if you’re exploring and want to freshen up at your hotel then go out for dinner or something, that drive time can be a little annoying.
Ready to Visit Marathon, Florida Keys?
Marathon is a true tropical paradise and hopefully this gave you some ideas on some of the best things to do on your visit. Whether Marathon is your final destination or just a quick stop on a Florida Keys road trip, I know you’ll love your time here.
