The keys

[happyj]

Next year before our cruise we want to do a road trip to the keys and back to port canaveral. We would like to take 7-10 days. Has any one suggestions or recommendations on hotels and where to go how long to stay in each place. Actually you can all plan our trip

 

[dixonsontour]

Been a few years since we have been.

Nicest place we stayed was ocean key resort in old key west - great location.

On way down i'd recommend a night or two in or nr key largo. There is john pennycamp state park - we did a glass bottom boat tour. Eating wise we enjoyed a diner called harriets for breakfast and mrs mac's for dinner.

The drive is spectacular - over the 7 mile bridge. There is also a pub on a key nr key west called no name pub - you sign a dollar and pin it on the wall.

Key west itself has a little train you can use to get around if you want (we didn't use it) Very lively at night - lots of bars. There is also the square where they do the sunset celebration and a garden with statues of people from key west.

Where do you fancy on the way down to the keys? We like Miami but again few years since we have been. There is an art deco outdoor pool at coral gabels which would be on my must do list aswell as a south beach.

If you are a shopper there is an outlet mall south of miami enroute to the keys. Always used to get decent bargains there was really quiet.

There used to be a fodors guidebook for miami and keys - not sure if they still do it. Edited to say yes there is a 2013 version on amazon called fodor's south florida.

 

[happyj]

Well coming from uk thought we might fly into Tampa and do a bit of the coast hen coenack thro Miami.

 

[dixonsontour]

If you go down to Naples you could go through everglades and across to Miami that way.

 

[happyj]

That sounds fun.

 

[flortlebap]

Been a few years since we have been.

Nicest place we stayed was ocean key resort in old key west - great location.

On way down i'd recommend a night or two in or nr key largo. There is john pennycamp state park - we did a glass bottom boat tour. Eating wise we enjoyed a diner called harriets for breakfast and mrs mac's for dinner.

The drive is spectacular - over the 7 mile bridge. There is also a pub on a key nr key west called no name pub - you sign a dollar and pin it on the wall.

Key west itself has a little train you can use to get around if you want (we didn't use it) Very lively at night - lots of bars. There is also the square where they do the sunset celebration and a garden with statues of people from key west.

Where do you fancy on the way down to the keys? We like Miami but again few years since we have been. There is an art deco outdoor pool at coral gabels which would be on my must do list aswell as a south beach.

If you are a shopper there is an outlet mall south of miami enroute to the keys. Always used to get decent bargains there was really quiet.

There used to be a fodors guidebook for miami and keys - not sure if they still do it. Edited to say yes there is a 2013 version on amazon called fodor's south florida.

I think this post sold me too!!

 

[dixonsontour]

I think this post sold me too!!

Will hopefully go back when DD is a bit older. Been to the keys a few times before we had her.

Would recommend it to anyone fancying something a bit different one year.

 

[All Star Paul]

I would agree that one or two nights for Key Largo is enough, and Mrs Macs is a good place to eat. There is more to see and do in Key West I think. On the way down we stopped at Shark Valley. They have a visitors center and they have cut a road out of the everglades. It is a loop, think it is about 15 miles. You can walk, hire bikes or take a little tram. We biked and it was great, saw lots of wildlife up close. It was very hot so we did not do the complete loop.

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi Janet. We are doing a trip to the Keys in August. We are staying at the Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key. It looks absolutely spectacular but is expensive. We managed to get a great rate through Expedia

We are flying into Miami and spending our first night at Ocean Pointe Suites, Key Largo, and plan to stop for dinner at Mrs Macs.

We are also going to spend a day at John Pennekamp State Park and a day in Key West, where we plan to visit Hemingway's House, ride the trolley and have dinner at Turtle Kraals.

If you can wait till September, I will be writing a trip report on my return

 

[happyj]

Cannot wait for the trip report.

 

[Netty]

Bookmarked those Jo for our keys trip in September!

 

[jeffn5631]

For your consideration, I live just outside of Tampa and from here it is 489 miles. I have driven down a few times and it is a long, long and tiring drive mainly because of Rt 1 starting at Homestead being a 2 lane road and the speed limits imposed from place to place because of endangered wildlife, some places it is 35 mph and warning signs everywhere you had better take notice of that limit or else. For motels the first choice is Key Largo and then next is Marathon and of course Key West has many places to pick from. I would also recommend that you try to go during the off season which is starting now and it is a more pleasant atmosphere in Key West during this time of year. Like another person mentioned, this a "bucket list" thing to do and you will always remember making the journey to really a one of a kind destinations that the U.S. has to offer.

 

[happyj]

Thank you for the advice. In the uk we have many roads like that.
We Are going in September.

 

[Netty]

Thank you for the advice. In the uk we have many roads like that.
We Are going in September.

Janet what date are you going to be there??
oops just realised your going next september!

 

[happyj]

Hi Netty we are going September 8thseptember 2013. Planning is fun.

 

[Eliza32]

Hi
We (Me 48 and DH 44) did this kind of trip a few years back. Where you stay depends on the kind of accomodation you want. We decided as it was a road trip, we wanted more hotel/motel type accomodation than resort.

We flew into Miami, stayed in Fort Lauderdale for 1 night, then drove Aligator Alley and based ourselves in a private apartment in Fort Myers for the first 7 days, doing 'day trips' to Naples, Sarasota, the Ford Estate etc.

We then drove back across Aligator Alley and straight on down to Key Largo, stayed at the Ramada for 2 nights, before moving on to Key West and the Best Western for 4 nights. (The Best Western was just what we'd envisaged....motel where you park right outside the door, could walk to Southernmost Point easily)

Finally we went back and spent 3 nights in Miami (one day at the Aventura Mall to stock up on things we 'needed') and stayed at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami, just across from Bayside. The entire time we were in Miami, we used the local buses to get to Aventura and South Beach, it was nice not to have to drive and the buses were really good.

We went all over the place, state parks, quiet beaches, shopping malls the lot. We were out every morning by 8:00 and usually not back to our room until 10:00pm. We went last week of May, first week of June. The trip was all the better as our flights with Virgin were free - compensation for the overbooking of a previous flight home from New York!!!!

 

[aaronandterri]

Hi Janet. We are doing a trip to the Keys in August.

If you can wait till September, I will be writing a trip report on my return

Really...?

Arent you still writing last years!?

 

[wilma-bride]

Really...?

Arent you still writing last years!?

Cheeky Actually, Theresa is writing last years. I am completely up to date with all my trip reports

 

[happyj]

I am getting so much information. We was supposed to do this
10 years ago. The names of keys and resorts are becoming familiar.