Florida Keys....really expensive for vacation?

Yes, anything on the keys is pricey, so expect to pay more for the same thing you would get at other beach vacations. But the rates are lowest during the summer. You can find hole-in-the-wall motels with reasonable summer rates, especially around Islamorada and Marathon, or you can go high-class at several top tropical resorts around Key Largo.

There is no doubt that snorkeling in the Florida Keys is the very best place in the continental 48 states. Between Biscayne National Park (mostly in the water), John Pennekamp State Park, and Bahia Honda State Park, the snorkeling is exceptional. Most anywhere in the keys where you can get public access to the water, the snorkeling is terrific. If you don't have your own boat and want to see some fantastic stuff, boat tours at John Pennekamp Park will take you out a couple of miles where you can snorkel among some gorgeous reefs and big sea creatures. You'll probably be talking about it for years.