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If you've had enough of an overcrowded and weary world, the islands of the Lower Keys are the place for you. You can snorkel or dive over the Looe Key coral reef, ride a bicycle through Key Deer country, or take a fishing adventure in the back country or troll the deep blue waters beyond the reef. At the end of the day, you can trade stories with family and friends at one of this area's tiki bars, RV parks, campgrounds, quaint resorts or licensed vacation homes. The Earthy fragrance of mangrove forests and wetlands is never far away. The Lower Keys begin where the Florida Keys island chain takes a graceful westerly turn toward the sunset, shortly after the famous Seven Mile Bridge. It is a quiet region of small resorts, down-home restaurants, single-family homes, untrammeled wildernesses and rich history. Nearby, you will find Bahia Honda State Park and Recreation Area at mile marker 37. With its white sandy beaches and abundant wildlife, Bahia Honda Key frequently makes the list of most beautiful beaches in America. Big Pine Key, at mile marker 33, is the main shopping hub of the Lower Keys. Yet, if you prefer solitude, you need only turn onto one of its lovely side roads. Explore the National Key Deer Refuge, a large expanse of mostly undeveloped pine lands where the diminutive Key Deer live, or venture out to No Name Key. If you're looking for an off-shore adventure, Big Pine is also the jumping off point for numerous snorkeling and dive charters to Looe Key reef. Don't forget about the other islands of the Lower Keys. They are famous for their homey resorts, family-oriented neighborhoods and easy access to the water. Look for intriguing names such as Summerland Key, Big Torch and Little Torch Keys, Cudjoe Key, Sugarloaf Key or Big Coppitt Key. All are an easy drive to Key West. In fact, the uninhabited Saddlebunch Keys are a network of sandy lagoons and mangrove islands that make the jaunt a memorable one, especially at sunset. The Lower Keys are an oasis in a mad and rushed world.