10 Things to Do in Big Pine Key (Itinerary + Tips)

This post was written by Nicole Edwards, a solo-sailing freelance writer for BMTM.

Big Pine Key reminded me of the Bahamas, at least what little I remember from my childhood there. My heart throbbed as I biked through the peaceful island, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. I enjoyed coasting along the back roads, sighting deer, and then taking a short trip to stunning Bahia Honda State Park via the Overseas Highway. 

Big Pine will never make the news as the most touristy island in the country, as it simply surpasses all others when it comes to that “true keys” feel. Here’s how you can experience it, too:

Things to Know Before You Go

Big Pine Key (which you can reach via Flixbus) is a haven for tropical wildlife and nature. The island is about ten square miles, and most of the land is devoted to protecting the endangered key deer that live here.

If you love biking, then Big Pine Key could very well be a good destination. With tens of miles of safe paths, you can easily explore the quiet back roads that go into the heart of Key deer country. 

Not to mention, surrounding keys, like Bahia Honda, are accessible via the Overseas Highway, which also has a designated bike path. If you are not a biker, then a car is the best way to explore. 

If you visit Big Pine, please be aware that the deer and alligators are very used to humans and will not be disturbed by your presence. Regardless, you cannot feed or touch the wildlife.

Things to Do in Big Pine Key

1. National Key Deer Refuge

Almost the entire island of Big Pine (and also nearby No Name) is devoted to the National Key Deer Refuge, which is accessible via Key Deer Boulevard. Simply ride down that road and look for deer. 

There is also a visitors center off of US1. When I went inside, they told me the best time to see deer is after 4pm, when the animals come out to feed.

The Key deer, the smallest species of North American deer, are found nowhere else in the world. Their dwindling population is protected by the Endangered Species Act. 

I saw two on my bike ride. One male barely even looked at me, choosing instead to meander across the road while cars slowed down for him to pass. They are so little that I thought they were babies, but they were fully grown!

2. Blue Hole

Blue Hole is the largest body of freshwater in all of the Florida Keys, but it’s actually quite small. It was a rock quarry in the early 1900s, during the construction of the Henry Flagler Overseas Railroad,…