Driving down the Keys...

[The King of Sheba]

Hello,

I'm thinking of spending 2-3 days of our holiday driving from Orlando to Key West and back. From what I can work out it takes about 7 hours to drive, which is fine by me.

I just wondered if anyone has any advice, places to stop off on the way, places to avoid etc.

Ideally we would like to spend longer than 2-3 days, but we will be leaving the kids behind in Orlando with grandparents, so don't want to be gone for to long.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...Shane...

[becbecs]

Hi Shane

We did Orlando to Key Largo in August last year.

We took the Turnpike all the way down to Key Largo with 1 stop. Took us about 5 hours. Stayed at the a hotel called the Sheraton at Key Largo with its own private beach. We also from Key Largo had a day trip down to Key West which was approx 2 hours journey.

The more scenic route to the Keys I would think would be to head down the US27 / Gulf Coast side, haven't done this trip but there are people on here who have and would probably be able to advise you.

One thing we did in Key Largo is a Natuarl Dolphin swim which is excellent. We also did Scuba Diving at the John Pennekamp State Park.

Good Luck with the trip

[floridageoff]

If you visit Key West we highly recommend Louie's Backyard for a meal. We visited at lunchtime and the food was excellent. They have their own website http://www.louiesbackyard.com/ if you want to check it out.
A hotel owner in Islamorada recommended it to us and it certainly did not disappoint. You can have your meal outside overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Whilst in Key West we took The Conch Train Tour and the Key West Trolley Tour, both were first-rate.

[RIS]

If looking for somewhere to stay in Key West I can recommend the Peir House Hotel. Fantastic. [msnsmile2]

[GrahamC]

This is something I have always wanted to do. I will be interested to see how you get on.

[CERICROWLEY]

If you want to drive down to the Keys. Key Largo will take you about 7 hours from Orlando, but if you want to drive to Key West add another 5 hours on top of that. We did this last Christmas, it is a very long drive, but we loved in Key West and would go back again.

[villavirgin]

We can recommend the Howard Johnson's in Key Largo, great pool and dinky beach, but it also has a small creek alongside the hotel which is a magnet for manatees. We were lucky enough to see a family of manatees two days whilst we were there.

There is a great diner for breakfast a couple of miles further south than the HOJO, called Ganim's. Looks like a derelict shop from the outside, but has the most wonderful food and service inside, our dd was completely overwhelmed by the fresh cooked, piping hot, crispy and light strawberry and whipped cream waffle for breakfast..... so good she didn't even leave any for me!!![msncry]

I think the Hojo is at mile marker 105, and Key West is mm zero, so that gives you an idea how long it will take to driver at about 45 mph

VV

[ellie]

Hi Shane

I can thoroughly recommend a trip down through the Keys,and I would suggest the Florida Turnpike all the way donw to US Highway 1, but it is a long journey so allow plenty of time for stops on the way.

The Keys are home to the longest living coral reef in the western hemisphere, and there are more dive shops per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Key West is the southernmost point of the USA, but before you reach it you will have to cross 42 bridges over the sea, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge - that alone is worth the drive! Key West is approximately 159 miles from Miami, and the road is quite narrow, frequently with no passing allowed, so allow plenty of time for this part of the drive. In peak holiday times this road can become very busy and can slow you down considerably, particularly as you try to return to Miami it can be literally nose to tail. On the way to Key West you will drive through Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys, and Big Pine Key.

Key Largo, called the ‘Dive Capital of the World’, is first, with the Everglades National Park. To the west are the tranquil waters of Florida Bay, whilst to the east are the clear blue waters of the Gulf Stream, and the nation’s only living coral reef. If you want information, then stop off at the Florida Keys Visitor Centre, where there is a picnic area, clean restrooms, plenty of maps and lots of information on restaurants, diving and snorkelling, shopping water sports, accommodation etc. We have always found them very friendly and it is useful to pick up some good maps which will point out places of interest.

On the way you will see the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and Key Largo National Maritime Sanctuary. There are daily snorkel and scuba trips, glass bottom boat tours, sailing and canoe and kayak rentals. If you like fishing then you can chase tarpon or bonefish. But if you like dolphins then you can visit one of the educational dolphin facilities, and interact one-to-one with the bottleneck dolphins there.

Tavernier, a historic place with nature trails and dolphins, is also the final resting place of the ‘African Queen.’ This boat was the used in John Houston’s classic film of the same name, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn, and you can see it free of charge. But perhaps you are too young to remember this classic film? (unfortunately, I can![msnwink])

Islamorada is next, called the ‘Sport Fishing Capital of the World.’ You can try your hand at fishing for Mahi-mahi, Tuna, Sailfish, Groupers, Wahoo and Snappers, but I would suggest stopping off at the ‘Theater of the Sea,’ which is a marine mammal adventure park, with stingrays, dolphin and sea lions, set within 17 acres of lush tropical gardens. You can see live performances of dolphins, and sea lions. For an extra charge you can join a special Marine Mammal Swim Program, and get close to dolphins, sea lions and sting rays. You can learn all about them, and then get in the water to swim and play with a dolphin or a sea lion. If you haven't been able to visit Discovery Cove then this might be worth trying.

We stopped off at the Bayview Motel, on Conch Keys, just past Long Key Bridge at Mile Marker 63, to take a look round and have a drink. Made famous by a British television programme about living in Florida, this run down motel was purchased by a British couple seeking the good life. It was fascinating to see what they had done to the place, and how enthusiastic they still were about their new life, despite the many difficulties they encountered. We sat on the dock behind the motel sipping a cool drink, and we were fortunate enough to see a large manatee glide gently into the dock. This fascinating and gentle creature stayed for a while, allowing us to get really close, before it turned tail and slipped out into open sea. I have to admit the place still needed a lot doing to it, and we would not have wanted to stay there - we have not been back since and wonder if they have given up and moved on. The husband seemed to be a

[Genie]

We have done a trip to the Keys a few times , it is a two day trip, there are several pick up points ( our nearest is the Howard Johnson maingate west ) you leave Orlando at 6.30-7.00am and go down the the keys, stay at the Holiday Inn , you can then do a Dolphin swim and back to the Hotel for a BBQ type meal. The evening is your own to explore a few of the local Tikki bars and watch the beautiful sunset. The next morning there is a continental breakfast , then off to a gator farm where you have an incredible airboat ride, and then on to Miami, for either shopping or a boat ride or both, then back to Orlando. It's great 2 day trip with loads packed in and is $349 ( if you don't do the dolphin swim it's $299 )
www.swimdolphins.com
We actually did stay there Ellie, for 1 night that should have been 2 it was awful !

[Ray9]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
We stopped off at the Bayview Motel, on Conch Keys, just past Long Key Bridge at Mile Marker 63, to take a look round and have a drink. Made famous by a British television programme about living in Florida, this run down motel was purchased by a British couple seeking the good life. It was fascinating to see what they had done to the place, and how enthusiastic they still were about their new life, despite the many difficulties they encountered. [/quote]
They are long gone .........