Florida Keys - Top 3’s please!

[Claire@Hull]

Going to the Keys in November, staying 4 nights at Casa Morada in Islamorada, so quite in the middle - a good base to explore either direction of the Keys I thought.

So, due to our limited time I’m looking for your “Top 3 Things to Do or See” in any of the Keys - all those things we just should not miss!

We are not drinkers so not so fussed about Key West bar scene but up for tours, wildlife, beaches, water activities.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts...

Thanks
Claire

[cornishfrogboy]

No1 for me will always be a walk along the old, disused 7 mile bridge. At the entrance there are plenty of Iguanas and when we walked on the bridge, a turtle swam underneath us.

No2. In Key West, Mel Fishers shipwreck museum. He really did find the fabled Spanish Treasure ship .. and treasure worth Billions. Plenty of it is in that museum (Atocha). Well worth a google!

No3. Just stroll around decadent Key West and soak it up! Home of Pan Am, Hemingway’s House, Key Lime pie, Beaches...

[Carolynmf]

Bud n Mary’s at islamorada to feed the tarpon.

[nothingless]

I'd recommend a day or half day at Bahia Honda State Park - lovely beach and snorkeling there, and the view of the broken bridge is pretty special!

In Key West, the trolley tram tour was pretty fun, a quick and easy way to see much of Key West with all the typical little houses. We also loved the butterfly house - it was so beautiful! We're not drinkers either, but definitely enjoyed our Key West day with these things!

Also, we had a great day renting a kayak from Robbie's in Islamorada. We kayaked out to Indian Key (I think that's what it was called), a little island just off the coast where you can see the ruins of an old settlement and do snorkeling. The water all the way there was pretty shallow and we saw lots of fish in the seagrass just kayaking along!

[TheHughesCrew]

Oooh. Good thread!

We are going next year, and on our list is

*snorkelling at John Pennekamp

*Robbies for fishing boat trip (and feeding the tarpon!)

*Turtle Hospital

*Key Deer refuge

Sorry, that's 4 things! Mr H wants also to go to Ernest Hemmingways House but it's not made it on to my list yet!

[colin39]

Watch the best sunsets ever

[Willeve]

We are doing 6 nights in the Keys next summer, very interested in everyone’s thoughts too!

[katiec68]

Loving this thread - we have 3 nights in Key West just before Xmas and I cannot wait!

[Reereef]

Our plans for the Keys:

1. Snorkel at Alligator Reef
2. Kayak through the mangroves
3. Kayak to Indian Key
4. Theatre of the Sea
5. Bahia Honda State Park
6. Day at Key West

I can not wait! But I have another 9 months to go 😭

[ChrisS]

For those due to travel to Key West, please be advised law enforcement are very hot on parking, any infringement means vehicles are towed immediately and can see charges, advertised and additional unadvertised fees, of circa $500.

We use a mullti-storey that's a short walk to Duval and Mallory for the Sunset Celebration. Directions: when you hit the first set of lights into Key West turn right into N Roosevelt Blvd, drive for approx 2.3 mile and turn right into Palm Ave, about 1 mile on turn right into Grinell, about 200 yards on your left is the City of Key West Old Town parking garage. Exit the back of the multi-storey into Caroline St, cross over the road and go into the marina where you'll see huge tarpon waiting for scraps from the fish being gutted. Keep walking and you'll come to Duval St close to Mallory Square. Islamorada is approx 80 miles to KW, but should you chose not to make the journey to KW the sunsets are just as stunning and there's a lot you can see/do. If you'd like to take the Seven Mile Bridge drive it's about 30 miles from Islamorada... take 'the virtual drive' HERE.

Places of interest (websites in blue):

Visit Florida, Islamorada
Key Largo Dolphin Swim, Dolphins Plus
Marathon - Dolphin Research Centre
Mallory Sq, KW, Sunset Celebration
Southernmost Point, Key West (the actual southernmost point is Ballast Key an island SW of Key West.
John Pennenkamp

Be aware that the Keys road is mainly single carriageway. Should there be an accident you can be stationary for a long time, as we've discovered, three times (once on Islamorada bridge when a tourist was so busy looking at the water he smashed head on into a motor coming the other way).