OT: Key West

[RU848789]

If you like driving, drive - have done it several times and it's a gorgeous drive. Keep an eye out for the Key Deer (half size deer). Tons of interesting stops along the way. And I'd highly recommend staying at the Curry Mansion, if you can. Much smaller than some of the big hotels - beautifully appointed and very friendly staff.

 

[colbert17]

If you like driving, drive - have done it several times and it's a gorgeous drive. Keep an eye out for the Key Deer (half size deer). Tons of interesting stops along the way. And I'd highly recommend staying at the Curry Mansion, if you can. Much smaller than some of the big hotels - beautifully appointed and very friendly staff.

I stayed at the Curry Mansion many years ago. 50 yards to Duval St. and right around the corner from the aforementioned Bull & Whistle

 

[RC1991]

Drive from Miami.....it's a great drive. Take Card Sound Road at Homestead and stop at Alabama Jacks for conch fritters in Key Largo. Then continue down to Key West.....it's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours but the drive over 7 mile bridge is worth it.

 

[fg7321]

Was also thinking of taking a trip to Key West. Is it a good destination for kids around 10? Or more geared towards adult activities?

Not a great town for kids open drinking on the street and more of an adult experience...also their really are not wide open sand beaches like we have in NJ or other Florida towns.

 

[gunboat]

Do you mean Banyan, as in the guy from seinfeld? Looks pretty nice. Looks like the drive is the way to go for me, i really do love driving and seeing different parts of the country.

Sorry, my bad. Named after the tree. Someone mentioned Palm Island. A very very must see. We stayed there one night with our boat on the way down to the Dry Tortugas, another must see. They filmed the movie PT 109 on Palm. They have a model of the boat behind the front desk. When we tied up the deck hand said no kids under 16, Brian was 12. We all agreed he was a small 16 year old. That night they laid a wooden platform on the sand on the beach, table and chairs with tiki torches on each corner, and we had dinner watching a full moon rise out of the ocean.

 

[The_Senator]

Drive from Miami.....it's a great drive. Take Card Sound Road at Homestead and stop at Alabama Jacks for conch fritters in Key Largo. Then continue down to Key West.....it's about 2 1/2 to 3 hours but the drive over 7 mile bridge is worth it.

Alabama Jacks is a great suggestion particularly on a Saturday or a Sunday when the local 'country dancers' are there.
Another great place to stop for lunch on the way down is Lorelei's in Islamorada

 

[RUich]

Nice place to visit. I have driven down there and taken the boat trip. Drive was long but I do not like driving all that much.
Boat trip was pretty bad. Very noisy and bumped all over the place.

 

[RU85inFla]

Sorry, my bad. Named after the tree. Someone mentioned Palm Island. A very very must see. We stayed there one night with our boat on the way down to the Dry Tortugas, another must see. They filmed the movie PT 109 on Palm. They have a model of the boat behind the front desk. When we tied up the deck hand said no kids under 16, Brian was 12. We all agreed he was a small 16 year old. That night they laid a wooden platform on the sand on the beach, table and chairs with tiki torches on each corner, and we had dinner watching a full moon rise out of the ocean.

Little Palm Island is actually Munson Island and is separated by about 30 feet of water from Big Munson Island which is actually owned by the Boy Scouts and maybe 10 times the size. At the Boy Scout base on Summerland Key they have old pics of the filming that happened out there on both of the islands. One of the oldest trees in the United States is on Big Munson and they have pics of it from the movie as well as show it to you when you are out there.

I've been out there twice camping. It's kinda cool to camp for next to nothing just feet from where you neighbors are paying close to $1000 a night. Beautiful place though.

 

[RUtimes5]

Definitely should drive if you've never done it. I also think Ft Lauderdale is better option. Much easier to navigate airport and surroundings. It's a tip I got from people who go to the Keys regularly. Worked out well.

 

[MrsScrew]

Definitely should drive if you've never done it. I also think Ft Lauderdale is better option. Much easier to navigate airport and surroundings. It's a tip I got from people who go to the Keys regularly. Worked out well.

just took this advice and booked us out of Ft. Lauderdale. Hotel is next...

 

[herdof3]

Stayed at the Westin right by Mallory Square in 2015. Great location. Rent bikes and just bike everywhere. Kayak trip through the mangroves was fun too. My kids went with us...14 16 18 @ the time and had a blast. They want to go back. Have also stayed at the Southernmost motel which is at the other end of Duval.

 

[keywestRU]

Favorite restaurant is El Siboney...A Cuban restaurant...really tasty and priced right.

Was once; not anymore.

 

[keywestRU]

Was also thinking of taking a trip to Key West. Is it a good destination for kids around 10? Or more geared towards adult activities?

Not really a great place for kids.

 

[mikefla]

Looking to go down in February for 4-5 days w/ my wife. Trying to decide if I should fly all the way in or just fly to Miami and drive down. I love driving and think the drive itself would be pretty nice and probably not much longer if you add in airport transfers and waiting time, etc. Thinking of staying at the Doubletree Hilton, prices and reviews seem reasonable.

Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated.

Absolutely make the drive!
You will be just stunned by what you see along the way
the blue water in itself is just mesmerizing
the trip is a feast for the EYES!!!
My 2 fav recommendations would be(BOTH are Fla State parks).......simple stops
1-John PenneKamp State Park...at least take a boat tour if not a snorkle/dive boat
2-Bahia Honda State Park is one of the absolute best

The Keys is like another country...make that PLANET!
& IMO the most exotic destination in the entire USA
Thats why I live in Key West !!!!

 

[Debtbubble]

Stop at the hungry tarpon, eat and feed the tarpon off the pier. Stop at the fish house in Key Largo. Great seafood.


Go to Theater of the sea in Islmorada, it's fun.

 

[The_Senator]

Absolutely make the drive!
You will be just stunned by what you see along the way
the blue water in itself is just mesmerizing
the trip is a feast for the EYES!!!
My 2 fav recommendations would be(BOTH are Fla State parks).......simple stops
1-John PenneKamp State Park...at least take a boat tour if not a snorkle/dive boat
2-Bahia Honda State Park is one of the absolute best

The Keys is like another country...make that PLANET!
& IMO the most exotic destination in the entire USA
Thats why I live in Key West !!!!

Mike-What are your restaurant recommendations in Key West.
I'm been going the last (8) years and am always up for suggestions.
Garbo's, Blue Heaven, Santiago's. Latitudes and Hogfish are some of our favorites but there are a lot more to enjoy.
It's the one place in Florida I could get my wife to retire to.

 

[zappaa]

Where are the best beaches in the Keys, my experience down there is great fishing, great diving off a boat...lousy beaches

 

[RUBubba]

If you are going into Ft Lauderdale, use an app like Waze to get down to Key West.

My wife chose to not listen to me (what else is new?) and trusted our old GPS. That calculated the "shortest" distance instead of "quickest". It took her off the Turnpike and sent her on Rt 1 straight through Miami... at rush hour! 5 and half hours later...

I was not with her on that trip!

 

[rutgersal]

just took this advice and booked us out of Ft. Lauderdale. Hotel is next...

its crazy expensive to rent a car from fort lauderdale airport due to extra taxes they've levied to fund expansion. to get a reasonable rental car rate, you have to go to an off airport site like SIXT, which is right near the airport, but less convenient.

 

[MrsScrew]

its crazy expensive to rent a car from fort lauderdale airport due to extra taxes they've levied to fund expansion. to get a reasonable rental car rate, you have to go to an off airport site like SIXT, which is right near the airport, but less convenient.

Nothing about this trip is going to be "reasonable" in price. Although I did just book us at the Curry Mansion based on the reviews here and on Trip Advisor. It was actually pretty reasonable and easy walking distance to Duval Street and Mallory Square. (and free 2 hour happy hour every night)

 

[rutgersal]

Where are the best beaches in the Keys, my experience down there is great fishing, great diving off a boat...lousy beaches

the keys beaches are pretty crappy. the best beach in FL is Siesta Key on the west coast in Sarasota.

 

[demauroj]

just took this advice and booked us out of Ft. Lauderdale. Hotel is next...

Erin and I stayed here and loved it. It is at the north end of the Island and they have free shuttles down to Margaritaville at the heart of Duvall. We kind of like being away from Duvall at night but only being a 5 minute cab ride from the hotel.
It also has the Best Steakhouse on the Island in house.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/eywmc-key-west-marriott-beachside-hotel/

Other Dinner Recommendations:
Hot Tin Roof
https://issuu.com/noblehousehotels/docs/20160203_okr_flipbook_dinner_drinks?e=4413990/33347738