First Timers Keys Trip Report

Ok, just got back from our (wife and I) week trip to the Keys, here goes...

Day 1 - flew in to FLL, picked up rental, and drove to Florida City for overnight. No hitches at the airport, ontime, and cars available. Stayed at the Travelodge on Florida City - excellent value and friendly service I would suggest it as a first stop en route. I WOULD NOT suggest straying from US 1 in Florida City/Homestead area as it seems to be a very shaky, drug infested area off the main route. We found this out going to a grocery store early evening and seeing addicts wandering the parking lot aimlessly - scary.

Day 2 - toured the Everglades all day. One of the highlights of our trip. Anhinga trail was a highlight, as well as the other trails we did. Spent this night down in Key Largo at the Ramada Limited - nice hotel, ask for room 399 it is worth it! Ate at Encore and we both had Mahi - excellent meal but the priciest of our trip. Things starting to feel %26#39;Keysey%26#39; now.

Day 3 - spent some of the morning at Pennekamp park - did not plan to snorkel/dive there and a big word of advice, ONLY go there if you plan to do those things (aka get wet). Not worth it if going to stay on dry land. Drove to Marathon/Key Colony beach in afternoon, our home for two nights was the Continental Inn in KCB. Nice place, privately owned units, were well kept and the pool was great on a hot afternoon. Front desk personnel a bit quirky. Did my only swim in the Ocean there. Managed to find Key Lime Pie Bars at a small store in Marathon and became addicted! Ate night meal at Porky%26#39;s (BBQ) in Marathon - good food and reasonably priced, seemed very much like vintage Keys.

Day 4 - spend the AM at Crane Point in Marathon. Lots of trails and info about local ecology and history. I liked it, felt it was worth it. The ladies working there were volunteers and were very kind. We then spent our afternoon kayaking, which was the highlight of the entire trip! Booked thru Marathon Kayaking with Dave as our guide. Group of 6 of us took off from Sombrero Beach, kayaking both thru the Mangroves and open water alike. Experience was very much worth it, highly recommend! Wound up the day walking part of Seven Mile bridge at sunset and ate night meal at Sparky%26#39;s Landing - had a nice fish sandwich there.

Day 5 - drove to Key West. Stopped by Bahia Honda State Park on way down, happened to catch Earth Day celebration there and admission was free. Nice beach, great photo area. Lots of people that day (but duh, free admission:) Pulled in to our home for 2 nights, Key West Harbor Inn, mid afternoon. Beautiful grounds and pool area. We had the Aruba room in the main building (cheapest one) and it was very nice for 2. Happy hour is each afternoon and we caught it both days, good time with different mixed drink each day. Breakfast was even better with a variety of pastries, fruit, cereals, etc. One bad note, very hard to park in Key West, VERY HARD. Its the one thing I did not care for at all there. Once I found a spot, I kept the car there and we walked or biked. Ate at Turtle Kraals for night meal - good seafood enchaladas there and no wait at all to get in. Took in the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square at night - a lot of people but a good time.

Day 6 - took bikes around to various sites in Key West. Little White House, Southernmost Point, and Lighthouse. There was a crowd at Southernmost Point and a line for pics - we did not bother and just snapped a shot when other people were walking away . In the afternoon, we walked Duval. It may be the highlight for some, not for us. We%26#39;re not into bars and drunkeness. At night, ate at Conch Republic, with a night cap slice of Key Lime Pie at Blond Giraffe.

Day 7 - drove from Key West back to Ft Lauderdale. Of course, had to stop en route for another Key Lime Pie Bar (we had Key Lime Pie like 5 different ways on our trip and all were good!). Spent the afternoon back in the Everglades at the Shark Valley entrance and felt this was worth it. Last night spent at the Comfort Suites FLL West - nice hotel super nice rooms.

Day 8 - leisure morning at the hotel and flew out of FLL back home in the early afternoon. Terminal was very busy for a Tuesday, seems cramped for number of airlines and flights that leave there. Expansion?

Great trip - would I live there, No (would miss the seasons too much). Would I visit again, possibly yes in the distant future.

First Timers Keys Trip Report

Thank you for taking the time to write the trip report! Enjoyed reading it.

First Timers Keys Trip Report

Nice report. Thanks for taking time to write it down.

Sounds like day 4 was one heck of a busy day. You must have slept well that night (I need a nap just reading about it).

What was the name of the place you got key lime in Marathon? Which place was ';best';?

FLL can be busy if there are cruise shippers coming and going. The lines for security can get NASTY. You probably hit one of those times.

rodents