Which "Key" would you choose???

[hmwnick]

Florida Keys that is........
DH has just been sent back to FL for work (for about 6 months)
We plan to fly to see him for Easter & then again in early June. He will be south of Miami & I thought we might stay a few days in the Keys but know nothing about that area. Suggestions for places to stay & stuff to do??? Thanks!

 

[Jillpie]

I would hop on over to the cruise board and ask for Shirley. Everyone knows her, she's a sweetheart. She runs a basket business in Port Canaveral, but came from Key West. She knows everything there is to know about it. She'll be a great resource for you.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

aA few years ago I had the pleasure of staying on Key Marathon in a houseboat, it was lovely. Jusat know that July/August is prime Lobster season, thus might be just a little higher in rats.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

It really depends on what you like to do. Key West has the most to do, but it is also the most crowded and has the party scene. Our favorite for relaxing is Islamorada. We stay at Pelican Cove, which is right next to Theater of the Sea. If you Google them, you can check out their web sites.

 

[robsmom]

Not sure what your budget is but check out the Cheeca Lodge or Hawk's Cay. i think they are both in islmarado. This is about 1/2 down the keys so a day trip to key west can be done.

 

[JimB.]

Definitely Islamorada or Marathon. Maybe a day trip to Key West, but not stay there.

 

[bettyann29]

Key West is beautiful.. very serene.. We have been there twice and both times loved it very much..

 

[Tantor]

LOVE Key West!!

 

[lucas]

Gotta go for Key West! The other keys are nice but not a lot to do. It is one of the US great drives to drive from Key Largo to Key West. Lots of beautiful views going over bridges, water on both sides.

 

[minkydog]

It depends. I love Key Largo--it's really Old Florida. John Pennenkamp State Park is wonderful and there is lots of fishing & snorkeling in the area. Stay on the Florida Bay side so you can watch the sunset--it's outstanding. You might even see som manatees. Marathon and Islamorada are also good family keys.

I'm not a big fan of Key West--too weird for me. There are some interesting things to do, like Hemingways house and the Conch Train tour, but there is too much emphasis on drinking for my taste. A bit like spring break. Also, the beach is terrible--rocky coral everywhere and little bitty waves;there are coral reefs right off the coast that break up the waves.

 

[lucas]

We love Key West. Dh and I aren't drinkers/spring breakers. But you can't beat having a frozen drink while watching the sun set in Key West. We have stayed in many quaint conk cottages in Key West but we love staying at the Ocean Key Resort, Zero Duval Street, and being in the heart of downtown in walking distance to everything. We love Key West for the great seafood restaurants, quaint shops, we always like doing the trolly tour. We enjoy checking out the southern most point area, the Turtle Kralls area with all the boats and we especially love the architecture which greatly reminds me of New Orleans. One negative is that I don't like the crowds that go to the sunset celebration - but when we stay at the Ocean Key Resort, we watch the sunset from their pool area that is for guests only. The rest of the Keys are too laid back and seem like sleepy fishing villages to us. Plus, if we are driving that far we might as well go all the way to Key West. To me it would be too far to drive back and forth from one of the other Keys. From Marathon, it is approximately 50 miles to Key West.

 

[momrek06]

Gotta go for Key West! The other keys are nice but not a lot to do. It is one of the US great drives to drive from Key Largo to Key West. Lots of beautiful views going over bridges, water on both sides.

ABSOLUTELY!!! Key Largo has that HUGE lovely Marriott. We stayed there and had cabana massages. AWESOME
Then we traveled down to Key West and stayed at the "Southern Most Hotel On The Beach"....and that is EXACTLY what it is the SOUTHERN MOST HOTEL in the U.S.A......Cuba is next....awesome ocean and scenary and sights. GO TO KEY WEST you will be thrilled.

THE SUNSET!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!

 

[hmwnick]

Thanks for the tips...

what are the beaches in Marathon like?

Sadly, DH will not have much if any time off while we are there so we will probably do some short 1 or 2 night excursions. Key Largo wouldn't be that bad of a drive from where he is working. He is living in our 5th wheel camper & will be stir-crazy by then!

 

[Talking Hands]

Thanks for the tips...

what are the beaches in Marathon like?

Sadly, DH will not have much if any time off while we are there so we will probably do some short 1 or 2 night excursions. Key Largo wouldn't be that bad of a drive from where he is working. He is living in our 5th wheel camper & will be stir-crazy by then!

Exactly where is your husband. Is he already in the Keys. Reason I ask is you say he is south of Miami and really all there is south of Miami-Dade County is the Florida Keys.
Personally I like Key Largo, Marathon and Islamorada. Key Largo is fairly close as far as driving. Beaches are nice but better on the west coast of the state. We enjoy John Pennykamp State Park and Harry Harris Park.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

We've stayed on Long Key, between Islamorada and Marathon, taken a day trip to Key West. Depends on what you're looking for. Key West definitely has all the night life, but the rest of the keys are beautiful, and more peaceful.

Bahia Honda State Park just south of Marathon was nice, we rode bikes and it had a nicer beach area than you'll find in Key West.