Mrs. DX and I are thinking about potential vacation spots and i'm trying to explore another option besides Asheville, NC. Warm temps in January wouldn't be a bad thing. Who has flown into Miami and drove to Key West here? Any good or bad input would be appreciated.
Loved the drive. Did it in the Miata way back in like 1991 with the then GF now wife-unit.
Had a nice two day stay in Key West. Amazing sunsets. I recall good food and cheap drinks. Snorkeling was not so great. On the way there or back, stop at marker 88 for a good place to eat on Islamorada. As a sidetrip if you have not done one, a tour of the swamp on an airboat is worth doing before you jump on the southern road.
Drove from Boca Raton to Key West and back in a day about 10 years ago. Would have liked to stay overnight; the drive is okay but it's like 9 hours in the car round trip. Take Mrs. DX to the Kino Shoe Factory if you go.
I've done it twice. Once in a car, once in a party bus. I have. Traffic was hell. Once you hit the bridges you will be stuck behind slow drivers forever. Seven Mile Bridge is cool but also slightly unnerving. The drive is pretty at least.
In the car wasn't too bad. I suggest the party bus. By the time we got to Key West most of us were too drunk to walk. 10/10 would do again.
We did it twice and had a good time. We went in January and didn't hit any traffic. If you go stay and watch the sunset and the entertainers in Mallory Square. We stayed in Islamorada which my iPhone kept correcting to Islamabad when I kept trying to get directions. It was cheaper than Key West and I liked it quite a bit. The only issues were even in January parking can be difficult, and while parked outside a public restroom waiting for my wife I was twice approached by older gentlemen who commented on how adorable my Fiat was and tried to get my number. When I told them I was already married They said it was nice that I could do that we were allowed to do that in New York.
It is a cute little car:
I do it multiple times a year. Why Key West?
I have lived in South Florida for 30 years. I love the Keys. Key West is funky, beautiful, and expensive. Islamorada and Marathon are better choices for overnighting and a short drive to Key West. So much history down there! Great food all the way down. If you fly down to Miami Intl, the drive to the Keys is tough. Miami traffic is intense and a large number of very unskilled drivers. There are a bunch of fun funky places to check out. Just take your time and keep your eyes open. Cops there can be tough or silly loose. I could write a travel book about my adventures there! PM me with your phone number if you would like to talk about it. Oh, take your fishing equipment.
Wally wrote: When I told them I was already married They said it was nice that I could do that we were allowed to do that in New York.
I have nothing to add to this thread besides the only time I've been asked for drugs was when a buddy and I flew to Montreal, rented a car (they were out of what we had reserved so they gave us drumroll please a Fiat 500 cabrio), and drove down to Maine for the New England Forest Rally. Dude walks up to us at a gas station and asks us if we know where he can get some ecstasy and I'm all "lol wtf?!"
I only made it as far as Key Largo. Camped there for a week back in '94 getting my scuba advanced certification. If you are into scuba/snorkeling you should stop there for a bit.
We're considering Asheville for a future trip. I spent a few days in South Beach on work. When I was planning it out, flying into FLL was cheaper than the Miami airport. Traffic was pretty ugly everywhere, and I just didn't find any of South Beach to be my bag. I've wanted to drive the keys for some time, and take a tour of Dry Tortugas. My biggest suggestion would be, if you're flying in, get the hell out of Miami as quickly as you can, and hit the keys.
On the other hand, car sighting opportunities are quite nice. A 911 is passé, and McLarens were as common and neon-lighted GEMs.
Then again, I think of myself as someone who has a personality better suited for fitting in in Milwaukee than Miami.
Did exactly that about a year ago. Flew into Miami and met two friends at the airport, rented a nice big Chevy Tahoe (screw that little shart) and drove to Key West for two days of fishing. Stayed at a luxury condo secured through AirBnB--it was fantastic! Had a good trip. Caught a few different species including some pretty big sharks. The barracuda were the most fun--none were big, but they are such hungry little nippers. Didn't catch as many fish as we had hoped, but we did okay. Lots of decent restaurants and bars. Great place. Would recommend. Would go back.
Went 12 years ago during our Honeymoon. The drive was great, but we liked Key West least - very touristy with a ton of bars, which wasn't our thing at the time.
We stayed on Largo at a great secluded resort - Kona Kai. I can't recommend that resort highly enough - it seriously made the trip.
Wife and I did Fort Lauderdale to Key West in February of 2012. It was a long, long haul. I told myself if I ever go back I'll fly into Key West airport and put the saved driving time into drinking margaritas and eating wings at Kelly's (Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill and Brewery, owned by actress Kelly McGillis, and located in the old Pan Am Clipper terminal building). We had a rental car and other than the drive down and back we didn't use it at all while were there. Could've put that 'scarole towards the additional cost of the flight.
http://www.kellyskeywest.com/
Leaving in south Florida I usually go to the keys at least 2 times a year. January might be crowded, but its always a lot of fun.
A few places I can recomend:
Best smoothies on the way there. Dont miss this one:
Robert is here 19200 SW 344th St, Homestead, FL 33034
Tarpoon bend mile marker 78 Good fish and feed the Tarpon if you have kids
Breakfast:
Tapas:
Dinner:
Blue Heaven for dinner 729 Thomas St, Key West, FL 33040
Onlywood Pizza 613-1/2 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
Nine one five 915 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
Hotels are not cheap. I usually stay at either Casa Marina or Southernmost by the Beach. Both excellent and they are on the beach with sand ... Not much sand down there. You can walk to Duval from either of them.
For a beach day, Fort Zachary cant be beat ... excellent snorkeling there too!! Bring lunch or they have grills right on the beach.
It's on my to do list.
a friend did it a couple years ago and reccomended it.
Did the drive in 2002 so memory is a little hazy.
I do remember to never take US1 to Key Largo. Pay the toll and take the expressway (forget the name). 2 hours (or it seemed) of stop and go traffic in some rough areas in a rented Mustang convertible just to start the drive in the Keys was not fun.
Once in the Keys, the drive was very nice. Recommend doing it once. No traffic issues for us.
Nice Tiki bar at Holiday Isle in Islamorada. Very nice.
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