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Started By
Message
Planning a Vacation in Florida Keys
Posted on 6/27/17 at 8:48 am
Posted on 6/27/17 at 8:48 am
I am planning a trip to the Florida Keys in August and im trying to figure out the best way to spend our 5 days.
(Flying into Miami and out of Key West) Looking for a laid back vacation, but with lots of potential for getting outside, snorkeling, eating at good restaurants etc.
I have never been...so for anyone who has I am just looking for thoughts on can't miss items on the drive down. And whether you would do anything different?
Current Plan:
Day 1: Fly into Miami and spend the day around South Beach
Day 2: Drive to Islamorada and spend the day/night there
Day 3: Drive towards Key West and stop at some of the state parks, cool stops along the way. Be in KW for dinner
Day 4&5: Spend the day in KW.
Updated Plan based on suggestions:
Day 1: Fly into Miami and drive to Islamorada
Day 2: Snorkel, beach lounge day
Day 3: Drive to Key West & Stop off if there is anything worth seeing on the drive down
Day 4: Spend the day in KW exploring the city
Day 5: Hang out in KW until flight @ night
(Flying into Miami and out of Key West) Looking for a laid back vacation, but with lots of potential for getting outside, snorkeling, eating at good restaurants etc.
I have never been...so for anyone who has I am just looking for thoughts on can't miss items on the drive down. And whether you would do anything different?
Current Plan:
Day 1: Fly into Miami and spend the day around South Beach
Day 2: Drive to Islamorada and spend the day/night there
Day 3: Drive towards Key West and stop at some of the state parks, cool stops along the way. Be in KW for dinner
Day 4&5: Spend the day in KW.
Updated Plan based on suggestions:
Day 1: Fly into Miami and drive to Islamorada
Day 2: Snorkel, beach lounge day
Day 3: Drive to Key West & Stop off if there is anything worth seeing on the drive down
Day 4: Spend the day in KW exploring the city
Day 5: Hang out in KW until flight @ night
This post was edited on 6/28/17 at 8:29 am
7
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:10 am to cajuntiger26
August? Warning - It will be hot as eff and there's not much in the way of breeze.
You'll want to spend an extra day in Key West. Best food rec - go eat at Salute'.
Also, don't expect much in the way of beaches at Key West.
If you want great snorkeling, take the boat (Yankee Freedom)to Dry Tortugas. It's going to eat up a whole day but it's absolutely worth it.
You'll want to spend an extra day in Key West. Best food rec - go eat at Salute'.
Also, don't expect much in the way of beaches at Key West.
If you want great snorkeling, take the boat (Yankee Freedom)to Dry Tortugas. It's going to eat up a whole day but it's absolutely worth it.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:17 am to AstroCajun
quote:
take the boat (Yankee Freedom)to Dry Tortugas. It's going to eat up a whole day but it's absolutely worth it.
Seconded.
Bahia Honda is probably the best park to stop at on the way to KW.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:29 am to AstroCajun
quote:
August? Warning - It will be hot as eff and there's not much in the way of breeze.
I figured it wasn't going to be cool...But guess it can't be much worse than south Louisiana or Gulf Shores at that time of year. We don't have much flexibility on when we can go unfortunately.
quote:
If you want great snorkeling, take the boat (Yankee Freedom)to Dry Tortugas. It's going to eat up a whole day but it's absolutely worth it.
This is the only i've really struggled with, would love to go, but the 2.5 hours there and back really suck. But sure seems like everyone says it's worth it.
This post was edited on 6/27/17 at 9:32 am
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:33 am to cajuntiger26
quote:
Day 3: Drive towards Key West and stop at some of the state parks, cool stops along the way. Be in KW for dinner
You are going to need more stuff to do. Unless you are going to spend all day in Bahia Honda.
quote:
Day 4&5: Spend the day in KW.
Key West can pretty much be seen and experienced in one day and one night, FWIW.
Not sure when you are going in August but the main Lobster season opens.
The keys really are night and day different by water. You will be very underwhelmed if you arent out on the water at least a few days.
Jet ski tour, kayaks, tortugas, snorkeling or scuba, lobstering, fishing, etc....
Blue Heaven in KW for Breakfast or dinner, sunsets at mallory square, Hemingway house, southernmost point for a photo.
This post was edited on 6/27/17 at 9:36 am
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:35 am to cajuntiger26
quote:
I figured it wasn't going to be cool...But guess it can't be much worse than south Louisiana or Gulf Shores at that time of year. We don't have much flexibility on when we can go unfortunately.
it's much better. it's not that hot, like mid 80's, but the winds stop a bit.
quote:
This is the only i've really struggled with, would love to go, but the 2.5 hours there and back really suck. But sure seems like everyone says it's worth it.
There is only so much to do on the island. it's kind of like being in the quarter(except far less food and stores), you can only walk the same strip so often
Posted on 6/27/17 at 11:53 am to NYCAuburn
We enjoyed Islamorada and Marathon areas more than Key West. But, that's if you want to spend some time in the water and on the beach. We also felt like Key West was basically the French Quarter on the water. Just depends what you want.
Miami Tuto's Place Family owned Cuban restaurant that is really good and the owner is really nice. He will bring you all kind of free things to sample if he knows you are a tourist.
Latin Cafe 2000 Great Cuban food and really good value
Marathon Baracuda Grill. It is only open for a few hours for dinner and basically closes when they want to. It's a really popular place and the food was great. Definitely check it out if you can.
Sombrero Beach in Marathon is also really nice.
Key West really good food truck that does specialty tacos in the downtown area called Garbo's Grill.
The Bier Boutique if you want a good burger from a tiny little shack for lunch.
Better Than Sex for some ridiculous dessert after dinner in Key West. That's all they serve. It looks like a cheesy strip club from the outside but it's great.
Miami Tuto's Place Family owned Cuban restaurant that is really good and the owner is really nice. He will bring you all kind of free things to sample if he knows you are a tourist.
Latin Cafe 2000 Great Cuban food and really good value
Marathon Baracuda Grill. It is only open for a few hours for dinner and basically closes when they want to. It's a really popular place and the food was great. Definitely check it out if you can.
Sombrero Beach in Marathon is also really nice.
Key West really good food truck that does specialty tacos in the downtown area called Garbo's Grill.
The Bier Boutique if you want a good burger from a tiny little shack for lunch.
Better Than Sex for some ridiculous dessert after dinner in Key West. That's all they serve. It looks like a cheesy strip club from the outside but it's great.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 12:01 pm to cajuntiger26
If you enjoy history stop by the Little White House, Mel Fisher museum and Hemingway house.
Conch train tour was entertaining and good way to pick up tidbits of key west
Conch train tour was entertaining and good way to pick up tidbits of key west
Posted on 6/27/17 at 2:16 pm to kaaj24
take a dive at Pennekamp state park on key largo. stop in and say hi to underwater JESUS. 
Posted on 6/27/17 at 6:48 pm to cajuntiger26
I'll be down there in August as well
August 5-12.
It's lobster season so try to go dive for lobsters.
The keys doesn't have beaches like destin( from my experience) so don't expect that.
I'm lucky and go with a friend who has a house and a boat. We spent the entire day on the water, every day. And it was amazing. Snorkeling, fishing, spear fishing, lobster diving. I wouldn't want to go to the keys and not have a boat at the ready.
We went to key west for one day and I wasn't impressed.
I tell everyone that's curious that if you want a relaxing beach trip you are better off going to destin. If you are ready to spend all day every day on the water snorkeling fishing etc and willing to spend a bunch of money then go to the keys.
August 5-12.
It's lobster season so try to go dive for lobsters.
The keys doesn't have beaches like destin( from my experience) so don't expect that.
I'm lucky and go with a friend who has a house and a boat. We spent the entire day on the water, every day. And it was amazing. Snorkeling, fishing, spear fishing, lobster diving. I wouldn't want to go to the keys and not have a boat at the ready.
We went to key west for one day and I wasn't impressed.
I tell everyone that's curious that if you want a relaxing beach trip you are better off going to destin. If you are ready to spend all day every day on the water snorkeling fishing etc and willing to spend a bunch of money then go to the keys.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:08 pm to cajuntiger26
I've been to a bunch of places all over the world.
For me, visiting Dry Tortugas is worth a day all to itself.
Have fun.
For me, visiting Dry Tortugas is worth a day all to itself.
Have fun.
Posted on 6/27/17 at 9:18 pm to cajuntiger26
If you're staying in Islamorada, Cheeca Lodge is sweet.
Posted on 6/28/17 at 7:33 am to Sprung
quote:
If you're staying in Islamorada, Cheeca Lodge is sweet.
Yeah it's looking like were going to do 2 nights in Islamorada now.
I had narrowed it down to Cheeca and Amara Cay at this point.
Posted on 6/28/17 at 7:39 am to cajuntiger26
Not a whole lot to do in islamorada either. Eat and sit by the pool or fish . But that might be what you are looking for.
It's a really big fishing area.
It's a really big fishing area.
Posted on 6/28/17 at 8:25 am to NYCAuburn
quote:
Not a whole lot to do in islamorada either. Eat and sit by the pool or fish . But that might be what you are looking for.
Yeah we would really like a low key day or two go snorkeling, kayaking and being by the water. Seems like this is the best place to do that before we get to KW.
Posted on 6/28/17 at 8:46 am to cajuntiger26
quote:
kayaking and being by the water. Seems like this is the best place to do that before we get to KW.
Both are good for this. KW also has a lot of little areas you can kayak around on the north side and not be in open water, but its also going to be a lot more crowded.
If you are interested in lobstering, content keys(near big pine and torch keys) is a pretty sure fire spot to find some, but you would need to rent a boat, nothing too big is needed though.
otherwise with commercial season open during your visit, lobster prices you be fairly cheap, so eat up....
There is also a walking trail on Big Pine, if that's your thing. you will be sure to see some key deer and iguanas, among other things.
This post was edited on 6/28/17 at 8:48 am
Posted on 6/29/17 at 4:46 am to cajuntiger26
Try Lorelei's for dinner one night if your in Islamorada. Really great scenery and live band.
And we have been there in August, and it wasn't that bad. Spring or fall would have been better though. It was hotter in Louisiana the entire time we were there.
LINK
And we have been there in August, and it wasn't that bad. Spring or fall would have been better though. It was hotter in Louisiana the entire time we were there.
LINK
This post was edited on 6/29/17 at 4:50 am
Posted on 6/29/17 at 10:21 pm to cajuntiger26
Check with your airline that you are flying out of KW. It is my understanding that each passenger can only check 1 bag. Just an fyi.
Went to Key West in February. Had a blast.
Went to Key West in February. Had a blast.
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