10 Must-See Sites in the Florida Keys for Animal and Nature-Lovers

Made up of nearly 1,700 islands covered in lush plant life and diverse animal species, the Florida Keys is the perfect destination for animal-lovers and nature-lovers alike. These are some of The Keys' must-see sites for tourists looking for a unique wildlife experience. For additional information, visit fla-keys.com/.

Located in Key Largo, the Coral Restoration Foundation is dedicated to creating offshore nurseries and restoration programs for threatened coral species. Florida is home to the only continental coral reef in the United States, and this foundation is one of several organizations where tourists can learn about and volunteer to help restore the most endangered habitat on Earth.

Located in Duck Key, Hawks Cay Resort is home to a pod of rescued bottlenose dolphins within an on-site lagoon. Guests can get up close and swim with these friendly creatures, or simply appreciate their playful nature from ashore.

The lionfish is a well-known invasive species to Florida's oceans and poses a serious threat to the reef ecological systems in the area. To combat this, owner John Mirabella goes on daily excursions to spear as many lionfish as he can to serve for his delicious signature lionfish sushi at his Marathon-located restaurant.

Located in Marathon and opened in 2014, this family-friendly attraction hosts a large array of Florida fauna, from rays to sharks to tropical fish. Guests can participate in an immersive coral reef tank encounter, in which they can enter the tank to personally feed fish and manta rays.

Located in Marathon, this facility is billed as the world's only state-licensed veterinary hospital dedicated solely to the treatment of sea turtles, treating injured sea turtles and when possible and returning them to the wild. Educational tours introduce visitors to the several species of sea turtle that are patients at the hospital.

Located in Big Pine Key and the home base for The Keys' four national wildlife refuges, the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Nature Center accepts volunteers to help preserve Florida's wildlife such as the endangered Key Deer.

Located in Summerland Key, this facility is a fully equipped marine science facility dedicated to marine research and education in the Florida Keys. Like the Coral Restoration Foundation, Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research accepts volunteers to help restore Florida's barrier reef.

Located in Key West, the Audubon House is an interactive historical landmark where guests can tour the 19th-century artwork within the house and the lush, tropical gardens outside. Typical for Key West, cats and roosters can occasionally be found roaming the gardens.

Located in Key West, the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is a tropical oasis for any nature-lover. The conservatory is home to 70 to 90 different species of butterfly, 20 to 30 different species of bird, four turtles, two Mandarin ducks and, most famous of all, two flamingos named Rhett and Scarlett.

Located in Key West. visitors taking a dolphin watch tour with Honest Eco Sustainable Nature Tours have a new eco-friendly option: SQUID, Key West's first electric-powered charter boat.