Key West Anyone
Mar 7th, 2005, 12:11 PM
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Key West Anyone
Good Afternoon All
My wife and I are considering a spur of the moment 3-day trip to Key West (I think). Neither of us have ever been there. Have just a few questions:
1. It will be next week sometime - are we going to run into a spring-break area full of drunk college kids?
2. I have heard of a boardwalk. Do we want to stay nearby there?
3. Is the middle of March a bad time to go?
4. We plan on flying to Miami and renting a car for the trip to the Keys. BTW - how far is Key West from Miami and is the drive across the bridge a problem?
5. What is this sunset thing I hear about?
6. Any other tips for us (name of hotels, dont miss restaurants,etc., we should know about.
Thanks a bunch for your time and suggestions.
Shrink
My wife and I are considering a spur of the moment 3-day trip to Key West (I think). Neither of us have ever been there. Have just a few questions:
1. It will be next week sometime - are we going to run into a spring-break area full of drunk college kids?
2. I have heard of a boardwalk. Do we want to stay nearby there?
3. Is the middle of March a bad time to go?
4. We plan on flying to Miami and renting a car for the trip to the Keys. BTW - how far is Key West from Miami and is the drive across the bridge a problem?
5. What is this sunset thing I hear about?
6. Any other tips for us (name of hotels, dont miss restaurants,etc., we should know about.
Thanks a bunch for your time and suggestions.
Shrink
Mar 7th, 2005, 12:33 PM
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Shrink
You want to stay in "Old Town" near Mallory Square. That is where the sunset celebrations are and they are fun.
It's about a 4-41/2 hr drive from Miami unless someone has an accident which can really hold things up. It is a beautiful drive so take your time and stop along the way like at Bahia Honda.
Type in Key West up top and you will get tons of info.
You want to stay in "Old Town" near Mallory Square. That is where the sunset celebrations are and they are fun.
It's about a 4-41/2 hr drive from Miami unless someone has an accident which can really hold things up. It is a beautiful drive so take your time and stop along the way like at Bahia Honda.
Type in Key West up top and you will get tons of info.
Mar 7th, 2005, 01:38 PM
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To answer some of your questions,
1. Yes you will run into Spring Breakers. The 2nd and 3rd week of March is the busiest time for them.
2. Boardwalk = Duval Street. Most people prefer to stay on it or within walking distance to it.
3. Its only a bad time if you want to avoid the College kids.
4. Plan on at least a 4 1/2 hour drive.
5. The Sunset Celebration goes on every night at Mallory Square. It is full of performers and artists.
6. Go to Keywest.com for more info.
1. Yes you will run into Spring Breakers. The 2nd and 3rd week of March is the busiest time for them.
2. Boardwalk = Duval Street. Most people prefer to stay on it or within walking distance to it.
3. Its only a bad time if you want to avoid the College kids.
4. Plan on at least a 4 1/2 hour drive.
5. The Sunset Celebration goes on every night at Mallory Square. It is full of performers and artists.
6. Go to Keywest.com for more info.
Mar 7th, 2005, 02:04 PM
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I'm a little puzzled about the boardwalk. There's a boardwalk at the Historic Seaport, and that may be what you're talking about. If so, the Harbor Inn, the Galleon, the Pier House, and the Hyatt Resort and Marina are all very nearby.
On the other hand someone may've referred to Mallory Square as a boardwalk even though it's a bricked area. If that's what you're looking for, the Ocean Key Resort, the Hilton and the Hyatt Sunset Harbor are near.
Both general locations are great; you won't go wrong with either.
If I were you and had such a short time for a trip I'd definitely fly down to Key West. If there's a wreck on the road, traffic can back up for hours and that could really mess up a weekend trip.
On the other hand someone may've referred to Mallory Square as a boardwalk even though it's a bricked area. If that's what you're looking for, the Ocean Key Resort, the Hilton and the Hyatt Sunset Harbor are near.
Both general locations are great; you won't go wrong with either.
If I were you and had such a short time for a trip I'd definitely fly down to Key West. If there's a wreck on the road, traffic can back up for hours and that could really mess up a weekend trip.
Mar 7th, 2005, 02:06 PM
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Key West is always full of tourists so don't let the spring breaker's scare you away. Depending on your age and preferences you probably won't be hanging out in all the same places as they are - nor as late. It is a wonderful place to visit... once there you can park your car and relax for the length of your stay. One 'touristy' thing I would suggest is the Conch Train Tour. It gives you a tour of KW and the history... if there is somewhere you want to go back to and explore you will know where to go ! http://www.conchtourtrain.com/FrontPage.htm
This web site is great for booking rooms - you can check availability and book many of them online. Some I stayed at and enjoyed: Cypress House, Pilot's House, Island City House (my fav) and all these are walking distance to Mallory Square and the center of everything. Depending on your tastes, Finnegan's Wake is a nice Irish pub that is away from Mallory Sq and is less crowded than the bars there and they have good food at good prices. An option for lunch (should your schedule find you in Islamorada during lunch time) is the upstairs dining area at the Whale Harbor Inn & Marina (they have a huge seafood buffet at night only but there is another restaurant open for lunch with a great salad bar with conch chowder and one other soup, fresh fruit, etc and their fish is wonderful !!). They are at mile marker 83.5... you will see everything from Key Largo south to KW is referred to by the mile marker at which they are located. The drive is very pretty and once you get to Key Largo (approx 1 hr s of MIA) the time passes quickly. If possible, try to avoid driving TO KW after 2 or 3 in the afternoon... it is mostly a 2 lane road from Key Largo to KW and it can get very congested - slow - after 3 or 4pm esp on Fri. There is a toll road ($1) that will save you some time and there is a bar/restaurant there featured on Food TV a while back... Alabama Jack's. You will see this road when the turnpike ends in Florida City.... past the traffic light..... you won't miss any scenery between there & Key Largo.... then it brings you back into US 1 at the very north end of Key Largo. Have a good time ! Let me know if you need more info !
This web site is great for booking rooms - you can check availability and book many of them online. Some I stayed at and enjoyed: Cypress House, Pilot's House, Island City House (my fav) and all these are walking distance to Mallory Square and the center of everything. Depending on your tastes, Finnegan's Wake is a nice Irish pub that is away from Mallory Sq and is less crowded than the bars there and they have good food at good prices. An option for lunch (should your schedule find you in Islamorada during lunch time) is the upstairs dining area at the Whale Harbor Inn & Marina (they have a huge seafood buffet at night only but there is another restaurant open for lunch with a great salad bar with conch chowder and one other soup, fresh fruit, etc and their fish is wonderful !!). They are at mile marker 83.5... you will see everything from Key Largo south to KW is referred to by the mile marker at which they are located. The drive is very pretty and once you get to Key Largo (approx 1 hr s of MIA) the time passes quickly. If possible, try to avoid driving TO KW after 2 or 3 in the afternoon... it is mostly a 2 lane road from Key Largo to KW and it can get very congested - slow - after 3 or 4pm esp on Fri. There is a toll road ($1) that will save you some time and there is a bar/restaurant there featured on Food TV a while back... Alabama Jack's. You will see this road when the turnpike ends in Florida City.... past the traffic light..... you won't miss any scenery between there & Key Largo.... then it brings you back into US 1 at the very north end of Key Largo. Have a good time ! Let me know if you need more info !
Mar 8th, 2005, 03:09 AM
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Card Sound Road (the toll road refered to above) won't save you any time. There are only two reasons to use CS Road: an accident on the main highway or an intent to visit Alabama Jacks.
I do however completely agree that if you are driving down on a Friday or Saturday you should do your driving before 2 or 3 pm (actually I'd say on a Saturday start before 10:00 am). But that assumes you are coming on a weekend- if not, Monday thru Thursday traffic in the Keys isn't a big deal and I wouldn't plan your drive times based on fear of traffic.
I do however completely agree that if you are driving down on a Friday or Saturday you should do your driving before 2 or 3 pm (actually I'd say on a Saturday start before 10:00 am). But that assumes you are coming on a weekend- if not, Monday thru Thursday traffic in the Keys isn't a big deal and I wouldn't plan your drive times based on fear of traffic.
