Thinking of going to Miami & Keys

[nimom]

We are travelling to Orlando for two weeks in early August. We are planning to drive down to stay in Miami for three days. We are a family of four with two children (10 and 8). Can anyone recommend a good quality but not overpriced place to stay in Miami? Would it also be possible to do a day trip to the Keys in that time? I'm not sure if trying to cram too much into three days and better to focus just on South Beach, Miami? I have read that there is a ferry you can take to the Keys rather than driving. Has anyone taken the ferry and any feedback to share?

Thank you.

[beautybutterfly]

I go in April and I've booked a Travelodge in Homestead which is just out of Miami and on the way to the keys.

[archibald]

We stayed in the Fairway Inn at Florida City - I think it was about 30 minutes from Miami Airport - perfect base for the Keys and the Everglades, large clean rooms for about £35/night.

[archibald]

I think you really need to drive through (over?) the Keys to appreciate them, stopping for Key Lime pie and smoothies and going for a paddle - getting the ferry to Key West, unless you desperately wanted to go to Key West, would essentially bypass the Keys as such, which seems a shame.

[macy]

Following flying into Miami we have stopped at Florida City, it is just past Homestead. It was a refurbed Quality Inn but the location is excellent to travel down to the Key's. Plenty of places to eat around it, not too far to drive into Miami but also borders the main road down into the Key's. We do also stop down in the Key's as well.

[7SeasSailor]

You could do a day trip to the Keys but doing a day trip to Key West would involve a 4 hour drive each way.

[archibald]

There's an awful lot of Keys before you get to Key West though - we got down to the Bahia Honda State Park (for the beaches) in just over 2 hours from Florida City, which includes driving over the Seven Mile Bridge which is one of the 'things'. If you're going from Miami for the day, just go as far as Islamorda to get a proper Key feel, and take the kids to feed the tarpon at Robbies Marina, and stop at the Key Lime Café on Key Largo for a mango smoothie on the way back.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by archibald

There's an awful lot of Keys before you get to Key West though - we got down to the Bahia Honda State Park (for the beaches) in just over 2 hours from Florida City, which includes driving over the Seven Mile Bridge which is one of the 'things'. If you're going from Miami for the day, just go as far as Islamorda to get a proper Key feel, and take the kids to feed the tarpon at Robbies Marina, and stop at the Key Lime Café on Key Largo for a mango smoothie on the way back.

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All 182 miles of them

[archibald]

Originally Posted by Ilivehereorland

A 182 miles of them

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Exactly! There always seems to be a Key West or nothing thing, and it seems such a shame that it doesn't occur to people to just go halfway.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by archibald

Exactly! There always seems to be a Key West or nothing thing, and it seems such a shame that it doesn't occur to people to just go halfway.

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That's because people have only heard of Key West. Didn't you know there are only half a dozen places in the whole state?