Located right in the middle of the Florida Keys, Marathon is a great option for a vacation with the family. These are the best things to do in Marathon FL!
Be sure to book your accommodation in Marathon FL ahead of time to ensure availability! Here are my top picks:
🛌 Best places to stay in Marathon, FL (and nearby):
- Isla Bella Beach Resort and Spa (5-star with pool, hot tub, and delicious restaurant)
- Tranquility Bay Resort (4-star beachfront property)
- Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway (mid-range with outdoor pool)
🚗 Looking for the best way to get around the Florida Keys? Click here to check rental car rates for Florida!
Known as one of the best spots for fishing in the world, the island community boasts pristine beaches, warm weather, and all kinds of activities, bringing in thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.
If Marathon is on your list of towns to visit in Florida, you’ve come to the right place! Below are my picks for attractions and activities that you shouldn’t miss in Marathon. If I missed anything – please let me know in the comments!
Best Things to Do in Marathon, Florida
1. Check Out the Crane Point Museum, Nature Center, and Historic Site
Crane Point is located 63 acres away from the highway behind a group of trees, preserving the last remaining undisturbed thatch-palm hammock.
The multi-use facility houses the Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys, featuring local wildlife, educational programs for both adults and children, a seashell exhibit, and a marine life display that makes you feel like you’re underwater.
The first thing to do here is to visit the Museum of Natural History and learn more about sea turtles. Then, you can check out a 600-year-old dugout canoe, ruins of pirate ships, and much more hidden behind the huge copper doors.
If you are traveling with children, make sure to visit the replica of the 17th-century galleon, pirate dress room, and Cracker House with exhibits.
Other attractions are a gift shop, a butterfly habitat center, the Marathon Wild Bird Center, and the historical George Adderley House. The center is open 7 days a week with an entrance fee of $17.95 for adults in 2025 (military and children discounts available).
Address: 5550 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
2. Enjoy Dinner at Herbie’s Bar & Chowder House
One of the original eatery staples in Marathon, Herbie’s Bar & Chowder House, is the heart and soul of the Keys and one of the most sought-after dining locations in Florida.
Open for over 80 years, the venue started as Maggie’s Chowder House, and in the 1960s, it changed its name to Herbie’s Bar & Chowder House.
To make your visit even more memorable, make sure to try the best-smoked fish dip with a fantastic combination of spices and fresh shrimp tacos with craft beers on tap.
Don’t miss out on the exclusive key lime pie, their signature dessert. Herbie’s Bar & Chowder House is open daily from 11am until 9pm, and on Sundays from 9am until 2pm.
Address: 6350 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
3. Visit the Turtle Hospital in Marathon
The Marathon Turtle Hospital is a nonprofit organization that specializes in turtle rescue and rehabilitation, education, environmental legislation, and awareness of endangered sea turtles. It is the only state-certified veterinary hospital of its kind in the world.
Each year, over 100 sea turtles are treated at the oceanfront hospital, including hatchlings that become disoriented and cannot find their way to the sea.
If you are in the lower Florida Keys, you can take a guided educational tour of the hospital facilities to the sea turtle rehabilitation center. Throughout the 90-minute tour, you will learn about sea turtles and see the rehabilitation area behind the scenes.
Visitors are invited to feed the permanent residents at the end of the program. The education center is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm.
Address: 2396 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
4. Stop into the Shady Palm Art Gallery and Photography
Located in the heart of the Florida Keys, Shady Palm Art Gallery and Photography is the perfect stop to see crafts, original paintings, fabric art, carved wood, jewelry, and much more.
With affordable custom framing, you can get a unique present and a nice memory to take home with you from the Florida Keys.
The art gallery exhibits items from over 50 local artists available for purchase. Shady Palm Art Gallery and Photography is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm.
Address: 2888 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
5. Relax at Sombrero Beach
Sombrero Beach is a gem located in the Middle Keys with soft sand beaches, turquoise waters, and shady picnic areas. This family-friendly beach with calm waters is a popular destination for water activities like snorkeling, kayaking, diving, or simply enjoying the waves on the beach.
This stretch of public beach is one of the Marathon’s main beaches. It is mostly busy on weekends, so arrive early or during the week to get a good spot by the water.
Additional information:
- The nesting sites of loggerhead turtles on the beach are closed from April to October
- Free public parking
- It is open from 7am until dusk
6. Indulge Your Sweet Tooth at Sweet Savannah’s Bake Shop
This Florida Keys’ premier bakery and ice cream shop is a must-visit place when traveling to Marathon! Sweet Savannah’s offers baked goods, ice cream, books, toys, and gifts.
It also serves gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free desserts and award-winning Key Lime pie to satisfy your sweet tooth. Custom-designed cakes, wedding cakes, desserts, and cupcakes are always in demand at Sweet Savannah’s bakeshop and ice cream café.
Sweet Savannah’s is open daily from 11am until 9pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am until 10pm.
Address: 8919 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
7. Spend the Day at Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda is a remote white-sand beach on a spur between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico with some of the clearest waters in Florida!
Far away from city lights and practically light pollution-free, the park offers an amazing starscape with the Milky Way’s misty veil visible (this is visible for those camping).
However, the Bahia Honda Key isn’t just for beachgoers and stargazers. It provides something for everyone who enjoys the outdoors, whether on land, air, or sea.
It’s a destination for day-trippers and overnight campers, beachgoers, and seafarers. You can choose from three different trails with amazing views to tropical hardwood hammocks, sea grapes, and Jamaican dogwood for hiking.
There is an entrance fee of $8 per vehicle to enter Bahia Honda State Park (with a limit of 2-8 people per vehicle). Pedestrians are $2 per person.
8. Visit the Marathon Air Museum
From Islamorada to Marathon, the EAA Air Museum is a must-see for aviation lovers of all kinds.
The Florida Keys EAA Air Museum displays a collection of several aircraft (Beech 18, DC3, an experimental project, and Cessna display model under restoration by the members) and a variety of models representing different periods of flight.
There’s also an extensive collection of aviation equipment donated by “Keys” aviators and EAA Chapter 1241 members. Each morning, you’ll find an active roundtable of local pilots drinking coffee and discussing the issues facing the aviation community and the world.
The museum is open daily from 10am until 4pm but it is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
Address: 9850 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
9. Discover Gorgeous Curry Hammock State Park
Curry Hammock State Park spans more than 1,110 acres across a chain of islands and protects rare Florida Keys habitats. These tropical islands’ hardwood hammocks support one of the largest populations of thatch palms in the United States.
The beach of Curry Hammock with shallow waters and weak currents is ideal for families with children. The park is open from 8 am until sundown all year round. Entrance fees are per person in a vehicle (you can see more here). One person in a vehicle is $4.50, two is $6, three is $6.50, four is $7, etc).
Address: 56200 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
10. Embark on a Sunset Catamaran Tour
You can take a 4-hour sunset tour with Lillian V Sailing Adventures where you’ll have the most spectacular sunset views and colors around Marathon or take a shorter, 3-hour cruise enjoying wine and tapas on the boat.
You can even stay on the boat for up to 5 days exploring the reefs and nearby islands for special occasions. You will find all the prices on their page (and do know that sometimes they stop tours during hurricane season).
11. Get Active at Keys Cable Park
Located mid-way to Key West on Grassy Key, Keys Cable Park’s main attraction is a pristine 7-acre lake with two cables. The cable system replaces the need for a boat by pulling riders across the water via overhead cables.
With an independent 2-point system, the operator can control the speed and stop the ride if you fall. Even if you fall, the operator will bring the handle to you, and you will continue the ride from that point in the lake.
Keys Cable Park includes cables, paddleboards, foilboards, kiteboards, surfboards, and beautiful beaches for recreation. Find Bogos botanical beer garden with tropical fruit trees where you can taste 20 craft beers on tap, cocktails, and light snacks.
The park is open daily from 9am to 6pm and you can find out more on their website.
Address: 59300 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
12. Explore the Underwater World with the Deep Blue Dive Center
Get your chance to explore one of the world’s most expansive and versatile scuba diving and snorkeling destinations when traveling to the Middle Keys. You can explore all that (and more!) with Deep Blue Dive Center in the Keys.
Take a tour to Sombrero Lighthouse, Coffins Patch, the world-famous Thunderbolt, and dozens of other diving locations around the Middle Keys.
They also offer boat tours to the Islands, romantic sunset cruises, tours for weddings, and rental services. The Deep Blue Dive Center center is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
Address: 13205 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
13. Get Fueled Up at Curly’s Coffee and Marina
Curly’s Coffee and Marina is an open-air concept offering good coffee, iced almond lattes, berry smoothies, and fantastic service. It also has affordable kayak and paddleboard rentals (and delivery!) for your comfort.
They are open daily from 6:30am until 6pm except on Sundays when they open from 7am until 6pm.
Address: 11601 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Where to Stay in Marathon
If you are looking for the best places to stay in Marathon and nearby – check out my recommendations below!
- Isla Bella Beach Resort and Spa (5-star with pool, hot tub, and delicious restaurant)
- Tranquility Bay Resort (4-star beachfront property)
- Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway (mid-range with outdoor pool)
Did I miss out on any amazing things to do in Marathon, Florida? Let me know your favorite Marathon attractions in the comments!
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now lives in Finnish Lapland after previous stints in Norway, Germany, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ (2020) and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.