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Information about the Lower Fl Keys-Big Pine Key through Sugarloaf Key-Part 2

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Co.

Big Pine “Metro”

The Lower Keys or what I’ll call “Big Pine metro”, includes the islands of Big Pine, Little Torch and Big Torch Key, Ramrod and Summerland, Cudjoe and Sugarloaf. Each Island is unique in its environment and boating access, which does translate down to home prices. More on that below.

When you enter the Lower Keys, you will see right away that it is much more laid back. Generally, the further you get away from Miami, the more the Bahamian feel. And to some extent, particularly on Big Pine and its attached No Name Key, and a couple of other spots in the Lower Keys, that sensibility is well-preserved despite the rapid development of the very limited remaining land available for new building. Parts of Sugarloaf preserve this same feel, and residents of the Torches and Ramrod would claim that too. It’s less true on Cudjoe and Summerland, but they have other advantages.

A few other general reflections about this area, why it’s different, will help bring it into focus.

* Teddy Roosevelt started the national wildlife refuges here about 100 years ago, to save the birds; and the bird life is definitely a terrific part of the Lower Keys special ambience

* Looe Key is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in the whole Keys chain. It wasn’t always so tranquil: it got its name when a British ship of that name went down centuries ago, and it was long a principal cause of shipwrecks in this part of the Keys. Today its main problem is the worldwide bleaching of coral reefs, happening here too (30% since the early 1990’s), but so far I don’t notice fish reduction. Come enjoy it while you can!

* Fishing is outrageously good: backcountry including flyfishing for tarpon, or offshore in the Gulfstream or along the reef line, near American Shoal lighthouse, or any drifting weed line; or try barracuda from a kaya

* Key West in general: you can go to Fantasy Fest, for example, and go home afterwards. Someday you’ll be able to go to Cuba with ease, since you’re only about 90 miles away!

* Biggest drawback, but hey, why did you come here in the first place? There’s only one lane each direction, and getting off the rock to Miami can seem like it takes forever. Fortunately the half hour to 45 minute drive to Key West traverses nice scenery, much of it slowly enough (45 mph) to enjoy it; but if you don’t slow down the police will ticket you.

* Boating is different here: water pretty shallow, big boats more rare than middle and upper keys, or Key West; forget sailboats in most areas. We’ve tried to differentiate that for you island by island, see below, but as a general rule of thumb, you have to look harder for deep water access here than, say, in Marathon, Key West, or Oceanside Key Largo.

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