Waterfront Specialists

Marathon
Fishing
Whether you go with a professional guide or on your own, the fishing off of these islands is definitely "World Class". Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin are waiting for you. In addition, the reef, bridges and wrecks are famous for snapper, grouper and amber jack.

Marinas & Boat Ramps
There are plenty of public and private facilities. Marathon has a greater selection of marina dockage and services than anywhere else in the Keys.

Diving & Snorkeling
From the experienced wreck or reef diver to the beginning snorkeler comfortably exploring the shallows, divers easily find the opportunity of a lifetime.

Beaches & Parks
The wonderful beach areas and coral coves to explore and enjoy are found in the Marathon Islands. Sombrero Beach is right at your back door along with several City of Marathon parks. In addition there is nearby Bahia Honda State Park which boasts the highest rated beach in the Continental U.S.

Water Sports
Boating of every type is available for rent or charter…power, sail, rowing and backcountry kayaking. For those that are more adventuresome try the jet skis, wave runners or even experience parasailing.

Bicycling
A bike trail runs the entire length of the Islands of Marathon. There are also trails to the beach, around the golf course and out to Pigeon Key.

Camping
The nationally known Bahia Honda and Long Key State Parks are only minutes for the heart of Marathon.

Accommodations
Elegant resorts with marinas, quaint quest cottages and even botels, where you can moor your boat a step away from your vacation get away are waiting for you in Marathon.

Restaurants & Shopping
The year round tropical climate of Marathon makes outdoor dining a favorite pastime, as the local restaurants highlight their menu with offers of lobster, stone crab and shrimp and other fresh seafood. The quaint boutiques can help you to begin your collection of art and hand crafts by local artists.

Attractions
Museums & Nature Center of Crane Point
Visit the largest native Florida thatch palm hammock (65 acres), historic Adderley House, and the Natural History Museum. Experience a hands-on family atmosphere, an interactive pirate ship, rain forest, butterfly habitat, touch tank, trail system, and wild bird center. Free for kids under 6.

Dolphin Research Center (Grassy Key)
Discover the unique family of dolphins and humans who have lived and learned together since 1958. The facility is open from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. with narrated dolphin demonstrations throughout the day. Want to get close to a dolphin? Ask about our exciting new Meet The Dolphin program.

Flamingo Island
Flamingo Island is close to everything (golf course, shopping, dining) yet is off the "beaten path" and secluded. For those who like to take cocktail cruises or just ride around looking at the many lovely homes in Sombrero, the area is known for its only protected waterway system. For those days when you want to boat, but the wind determines otherwise, the nearby Boot Key Harbor area is a unique 10 minute ride when you can enjoy several restaurants, dancing spots and marinas. WATERFRONT SPECIALISTS, INC has historically maintained a sizeable market share of the properties sold on this beautiful island.

Coco Plum Beach is located on one of the ends of Marathon, a rarely visited place where you can enjoy beachcombing and bird watching before go back to your hotel. Coco Plum Beach is also on the Atlantic Ocean with a natural beach area.

Talking about birds, Marathon�s popular water birds are birds that you cannot see anywhere along the Middle Keys except here. In Coco Plum beach, a small lagoon, and surrounding mangroves, scrubs and sand makes bird watching an exotic experience.

Coco Plum Beach is a turtle nesting beach also. From April through October it is not unusual to have Loggerhead Turtles coming on to the beach at night to lay their eggs.

Pigeon Key
Pigeon Key was born as a camp for the railroad workers and their bosses who built and then maintained the Seven Mile Bridge between 1908 and 1935. In its heyday, 410 people lived on the tiny four-acre island, many in tents. This tropical "company town" bustled with a school, post office, store, dining hall and other buildings. Earlier in the century, when only a few scattered pineapple farms and fish camps dotted the nearly deserted Middle and Upper Keys, Pigeon Key was a virtual oasis of civilization.

After the railroad folded in 1935, the Flagler company sold the easement for the line to the state - along with Pigeon Key - with the stipulation that it could never be privately owned. Afterward, the island was used as headquarters for the early toll road and bridge district, leased first for use as a roadhouse in the early 1940s

Today you can enjoy the Pigeon Key Foundation's shuttle rides on "Henry," the Pigeon Key Train (regulations prohibit private cars on the Old Seven Mile Bridge). No matter how you get to Pigeon Key, you are welcome to visit the island. Note to boaters: check with gift shop staff before bringing your boat to the island.

This area is truly Waterfront Specialists' "country" indicative of the sales transactions our office has made over many years. Sprawled over nearly 100 acres of lush lagoon-linked tropical land, is a first rate golf, tennis and Country Club. Sombrero Country Club, with over 230 members from all over the United States and indeed all over the world, is one of the best preserved secrets of the unique and magnetic Florida Keys. Sitting 75 miles down the island chain from Florida mainland and 50 miles this side of Key West, Sombrero Country Club is the only non-residential development country club or golf club in the entire Keys. It was founded as a private club in the early fifties by Stanley Switlik, a Keys pioneer and philanthropist from New Jersey, and it was named after the famed Sombrero Lighthouse, marking the live reefs in the seas off Marathon. The original traditions of quality fun, sport and companionship have been faithfully maintained ever since.

The Sombrero Golf Course was designed in the mid-fifties by Mark Mahannah, a Well known golf course architect of his time who built well over 100 courses, mainly in South Florida and the Caribbean. Playing about 6500 yards in length from the tournament tees, Sombrero can provide a real challenge to the touring pro, while providing enjoyable play from the other tees for everyone from the good amateur player to the casual player.

Protected Boot Key Harbor is known worldwide for its safe harbor. It allows easy access to the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. For nature lovers this area is known for bird life galore. From the water birds of every kind; ibis, osprey, roseate spoonbills and even burrowing owls, bird watchers are in their heyday. The waters of this area are known to spawn bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon and snapper.

Sombrero Isle is comprised of a 22 acre island connected by a causeway and just walking distance to our city owned Sombrero Beach. All properties are oversized (over 1/3 acre) with at least 100 ft of waterfront. The average home starts over $1M. Just five miles out via Sister's Creek is Sombrero Reef with 20+ mooring buoys providing some of the best snorkeling in the Keys. Every 4th of July, a fireworks demonstration is set off at Sombrero Beach for a spectacular 50 minute display.

Formed as city in 1958, Key Colony has its own police department, city hall, public golf course ( No tee times are required on this challenging, nine-hole Par 3 public golf course.Clubs and pull carts available. Open 7:30 a.m. to dusk daily. All you need is the desire!) and tennis club. As you enter the city, there is water on both sides of the causeway. On the left is the Key Colony Marina charter fleet and a full service dive shop. Three restaurants are located within walking distance from just about anywhere one stays in the city. From luxurious town homes and condominiums to economical hotels, Key Colony Beach is a great place for the family to visit. It's quiet and convenient, in fact, it Key Colony Beach has it all---a real Gem of an island.

Many do not think of Duck Key as an old Key. It was bypassed by the railroad in 1912 and the Overseas Highway then rebuilt after the 1935 Hurricane. As it is today at MM 61, it is a new Key. Bryan Newkirk purchased the island in the early 1950's for about $4M and with a group of partners pumped several million dollars along with many million cubic yards of fill to make a 400 acre island community..

On January 2, 1953, the million dollar causeway from US 1 to Duck Key was officially opened for vehicle traffic. State Representative Bernie C. Papy was the master of ceremony.

Developer Newkirk was smarter than the other developers and made all his canals through waterways so they could flush with the tidal changes. Actually, he made five islands, Indies, Centre, Harbour, Plantation and Yacht Club islands. There are about 10 miles of paved roads and four decorative stone bridges not including the entrance causeway.
Ownership changed in 1983 when the Pompano Beach Barrington Group purchased the holdings and made extensive changes. The resort was the Hawk's Cay Resort and Marina. Additional swimming pools and recreational facilities were added in the late 1990s.

In the middle 1990s the Hawk's Cay Village was developed. This added several hundred Caribbean style cottages all with water views, porches and the traditional white picket fence.

All in all there must be approaching 400 homes, multiple recreational facilities and complete convention facilities on Duck Key.