Life in the Florida Keys has long captured the hearts of travelers. Novelist Ernest Hemingway, rhapsodizing about the flowers, tamarind trees, guava trees, and coconut palms of his adoptive home of Key West, once called this destination "the best place I've ever been anytime, anywhere."

When it comes to vacation getaways, Florida is more than spoiled with options—whether you're the type that pines for a cosmopolitan city or wide swaths of white-sand beaches. But when you live in the land of vacation, where do you go for your escape? For many Sunshine Staters, the answer is to the Florida Keys.

A heavenly chain of tropical islands off Florida’s southern tip, the Florida Keys sit between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Here we present 6 must-see highlights for when you visit this idyllic archipelago.

Please read below for a description of each of these US Gulf Coast Dessert Trail stops along with dozens of our other favorite Gulf Coast bakeries and sweet spots.