We are middle-aged, just about fit, with a stroppy 14-year-old daughter. We love art, she hates it, but we are all interested in snorkelling. Is Key Largo a good idea for a holiday in December/January? Vivien Bradley, by email

Doc Holiday responds: Key Largo is the first Florida key you come to driving south of Miami, after about two hours - so not too long a drive for your daughter. And although it's not the prettiest island along the chain, it makes a terrific base for exploring the more southerly keys, and it's close to the Everglades too. The main pull for anyone into snorkelling though, and a cert to thrill your daughter, is the superb John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (www.pennekamppark.com) right off the island's shoreline. It was the first undersea park in the US, created in 1960, and now attracts novice holidaymakers and keen divers alike.

The park is protected from spear fishing and coral collecting, and is now a part of the 2,800-square-nautical-mile Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Basically, that means you'll see tons of coral and a huge diversity of marine life. As well as the fish, there is also the Statue of Christ of the Abyss, a famed bronze statue that is close enough to the surface to allow easy viewing by snorkelers.

They offer a range of tours, including trips out in glass-bottomed boats, and escorted snorkelling tours to the reefs. And for more serious divers, there are several good shipwrecks in the area, the largest being a 510-foot Navy transport ship.

Keep in mind that December and January is peak season for the Keys. From 21 December to 31 December for example, British Airways Holidays (0870 243 3406, www.ba.com) has seven nights at the 4-star Sheraton Beach Resort (www.keylargoresort.com), from £1,261 per adult and £632 per child (children ages 2-11 years). Prices include BA flights from Heathrow to Miami, room only accommodation and fully inclusive car hire. The same package from November to the 20th of December starts at £666 per adult and £317 per child (children ages 2 - 11 years).

Or try Virgin Holidays (www.virginholidays.co.uk), Kuoni (01306 742888, www.kuoni.co.uk), or Jetsave (0870 161 3402, www.jetsave.co.uk).

Alternatively, you might like to put you own trip together, but it's very hard to beat the deals offered by the big tour operators. BA (0870 8509850, www.ba.com) still has some flights to Miami in December and January, from £481. Or take a loo at Virgin Atlantic (0870 380 2007, www.virgin-atlantic.com), or American Airlines (0845 7789 789, www.americanairlines.co.uk). Key Largo Hotels (001 239 931 4700, www.keylargohotels) has a range of properties on the island, for example, the Bayside Resort has special deals from £60. Room rates are higher in peak season, and it advisable to book as early as possible. Or try Hotels.com (0871 200 0171, www.hotels.com).

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