Anyone been to Keywest whilst staying in Florida?

[tinkintraining]

My family and I are going to Orlando (Davenport to be precise). We are obviously doing Disney but my DDad wants to "drive down the coast road" to Keywest He is aware that it is an 8 hour drive and so we have booked into a hotel overnight. My question is ..... can anyone advise of any places we could maybe visit on the way down and recommend any "must sees" in Keywest?

 

[kazzie]

Hi,

We drove from Orlando to Duck Key a couple of years ago.It is about halfway down from the first Key (is it Key Largo) to Key West. It took us almost 8 hours to get to Duck Key.When we went to Key West for the day it took almost 2 hours (I think it's hard to remember now ) The small road you have to go on when you get past Miami to the Keys took absolutely ages for a short joureny as it was in built-up area,until you get to the Keys.

Are you sure that drive is feasible? I might be wrong and not remember properly,hopefully someone else has advice on this but I would have thought it was a major slap

 

[kazzie]

Of course the major 'must see' would be the Everglades

 

[Hilary]

We didn't go as far down the Keys as Key West, and we were driving from Miami, not Orlando, so I don't think I can give much help here However, if it's going to be a full day's driving, maybe you don't want to be stopping off at too many places!

The Everglades are certainly worth a visit, but you may need more time than you have to see much here. We stopped to feed the tarpon (for $1) at a very small roadside cafe with some stalls between Kay Largo and Duck Key - entertaining if you like fish!

The 7-mile bridge is pretty spectacular, and the 7-mile grill just the mainland side of it is a good road-side diner. Try their Key Lime pie or Penaut Butter Pie (but I don't recommend both at the same time!)

 

[Celestine]

I can't answer any of your bits, but in terms of "must sees" in key west, try posting on the cruise board as this is the first stop on the western caribbean cruise & I'm sure that you'll get lots of experts able to answer

 

[vernon]

It's a long way to go, and it might be something that the kids don't enjoy too much.

If you were flying into Miami I would say it's workable to land in Miami, drive to Key West, drive from Key West to Orlando a few days later then back to Miami to fly home, but the attractions for kids are fairly limited. Sure they have a great beach and nice pools at some of the hotels, but if that's all you're going to do that is available much nearer to Orlando with out a 8+hour drive.

It's certainly a workable trip for a couple of adults, perhaps if your dad has someone to go with it would be an ideal chance for them to take a 3/4 day break mid holiday to recharge their batteries , do something that is more adult orientated and do something they are interested in ( as opposed to focusing on the kids). IMHO the drive and lack of child friendly attractions (compared to Orlando) mean that the kids may feel it's valuable attraction time wasted on a side trip with nothing for them. There are few things worse than being trapped in a car for 8+ hours (TWICE) with discontented kids ( heck it's bad enough when you're taking them somewhere they actually want to go to LOL).

If you're looking at taking I27 for a lot of the way down there, whatever you do DO NOT drive at night/in darkness it's a difficult drive in the day due to the large amount of trucks that use I27 ( avoiding using the toll roads) night time makes that a dangerous drive. Using the Florida turnpike is a safer route , but neither of these would be "the coast road". To do that you'd have to take AIA which is very scenic, but it's a very slow route. The motorways are much quicker, but with the exception of the parts that take you over the Keys it's unlikely to be the romantic journey he's imagining.

IMHO it's one of those trips that seems great when you dream/think about it , but the reality is that it's never going to live up to the expectation. Certainly not with having kids along for the ride. I understand that when travelling with family it's nice to try and include a little "something special" for all those on the trip, but I think you're risking sacrificing a lot for the majority of the group to give one (or two) members something that will fall short of their expectations. If it's something he REALLY wants to do, I would try and encourage him to plan it as a side trip, without the whole group. Key West's best attractions are the nightlife and it would be much easier for him to be able to fully enjoy the area without having to worry if everything is "kid appropriate".

I don't want to put a complete damper on the idea, because I enjoyed my time there, but I don't think the plan, as I see it, is one that's going to meet with universal appreciation. JMHO.

 

[LJP]

Hi - we flew into Miami last year, just in time for the last hurricaine!! Our initial stop was 2 nights in Fort Lauderdale, but thanks to the storm, didn't manage to see any of it. Our next 2 nights were at Key West - both DH and i were surprised by how long the drive was. Yes, the scenery was great but i would have to agree with Vernon, that a drive from Orlando with kids may just prove too much. Key West itself was quaint, not really what i imagined but still sitting watching the sunset was really special. Lots of nice restaurants to choose from too. Enjoy yourself if you go, but don't underestimate just how long a drive it will be.

 

[samphe]

I did the drive with my DH about 8 years ago now. I have to say that there was some great scenery, especially along the bridges that link the islands but don't underestimate the distance. We stayed in Fort Lauderdale (which was o.k. as a pit stop but i wouln't rate it highly) on the way up to Orlando. On the way down to the Keys we drove down the west coast where there were some much nicer places to stop along that coast around Sanibel Island etc.

I now have 2 children and I personally wouldn't contemplate doing that drive with them. Children don't appreciate scenery, sunsets etc that adults do.

However if you are still determined to go then the one place that we went to in Key West that was very small and relatively unknown which my hubby and I still talk about was a very small place called the Tortuga Bar. Now as I said this was 8 years ago and it may not even be there now. From the outside it doesn't look anything special at all but inside everyone was soo friendly and the atmosphere was great. I don't remember where on Key West it was although I have an idea that it was near the "southernmost point" where every one goes to have their photo taken. I'm sure if you ask a local near there and the bar still exists they'll point you in the right direction. The oysters were soo cheap which my husband loves although i don't like seafood so there were other things to choose from.
Whatever you decide to do i'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[cbird]

My family and I are going to Orlando (Davenport to be precise). We are obviously doing Disney but my DDad wants to "drive down the coast road" to Keywest He is aware that it is an 8 hour drive and so we have booked into a hotel overnight. My question is ..... can anyone advise of any places we could maybe visit on the way down and recommend any "must sees" in Keywest?

A few years ago we drove from Orlando to Islamorada it took us nearly 6 hours only stopping when absolutely necessary. Key West must be around 3 hours further on so you would be looking at a journey of around 10 hours. Only you can decide if this is feasible, but it isnt a journey I would be rushing to take!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We drove there several years ago whilst staying in Naples - drove across to Miami and then on to Key West.

It is not an unpleasant drive but I would agree that going direct from Orlando would be too much.
Additionally whilst KW is very different to anything else in Florida personally I do not think it is a place suitable for children, I guess you just have to visit and make your own mind up.

 

[Stuartpaul]

We drove from Orlando to Key West last year with 2 kids!! (11 and 14).

We worked on the basis that it was somewhere we really wanted to at least see and we would have some 'chill' time while we were there (stayed two nights). It was a long drive but using the Turnpike (toll road but fast and boring!) we made Miami in about 4 hours (includng a short stop on the way). The road from there on is much slower but (IMO) much more fun with more to see. Took another 3 hours but the views made it worthwhile. As I like driving over there it really wasn't a chore for me.

We then basically had some fun, snorkelling trip and jet skiing (now that I do recommend!!) as well as just taking it easy by the pool.

It gave us enough of a taster to want to go again and see the things we missed. It really is horses for courses and for us made a great break from the parks (more to Florida than just Disney!!) but then we do like to get out and about a bit when over there.

If you want any more info let me know.