Swinging in the trees Key West-style

Whatever fabulous beatnik tales you might have heard about the Florida Keys, little on this hundred-mile chain of beautiful islands reminds of that hippie vibe or those frantic, 1980s cocaine-fuelled days.

The islands - in their brilliant Caribbean blue setting - are connected by a series of bridges from the Miami area to the self-appointed capital of the island chain, Key West, which lies just 90 miles from Cuba.

Much of the Keys are an outdoor-lover's paradise, offering brilliant fishing, snorkeling and diving around the Florida Reef and in Dry Tortugas National Park, where 100 square miles of shoals and coral gardens lie protected.

An infectious individualism and laid-back tolerance prevails in wealthy Key West whose lush Caribbean feel is supported by a slew of convivial bars, ideal for whiling away the hours and watching the spectacular sunsets.