Drive to Key West
 

We are thinking about driving from St. Pete to Key West in December. We heard it's about 8 hours. Any interesting places to stop? Attractions or Restaurants on US1? <BR>Thanks

Unless you really want to hit stop and go traffic, I would suggest not picking up US1 until you get to Homestead. US1 through Miami is a nightmare of traffic and traffic lights at the best of times. Take US1 through Miami and South Miami and you can add another hour onto your drive. From Key Largo, the first key, to Key West is a good 3 hour drive, not counting stops. The overseas highway is mostly two-lanes so any accidents can tie up the road too. Don't try to drive there and back in one day. (At least, that's my advice)

We ate at a restaurant called Michaels in Marathon Key. One of the best meals we ever had. It was about 7 years ago, not sure if it is still there, but I would definitely check it out. Extensive wine cellar and the best clam chowder, shrimp cocktail (the shrimp were huge, so tender and sweet) and grilled tuna we ever had. If you plan to go, make a reservation. People come as far as Key West to dine there.

Nicole is right, I'd even add more time to the US 1 route...the traffic is horrific any time of the day. But in total it might be less than 8 hours without traffic. Definately travel off hours. If your going on a long weekend DONT!<BR><BR>If you coming from St Petes you'll want to take Alligator Alley then exit south on I75. Take I75 until you come to the Turnpike just south of Marimar and exit on the Florida Turnpike south.<BR><BR>The tolls are $1 for 3 or 4 tolls from there until Florida City. The pike is the best way, but whatever you do AVOID all road in Miami including the pike from 3:00pm - 8:00pm<BR><BR>The US 1 to the keys I don't think is so interesting a drive, you don't see a lot until you get to the lower keys.<BR><BR>Restaurant even the dumpy looking ones along the way are expensive. I used to know a really good one down by Cudjoe Key on the right hand side heading south, but just can't remember the name, it was a local favorite.<BR><BR>Make sure you have reservations for a hotel!

Well on the same note, we are driving to the Keys from Pensacola. We leave this Sunday. I was going to take 75 to US1 but now am having second thoughts.<BR><BR>What would be the quickest route to the Keys from Pensacola.<BR><BR>Thanks, RM

Same deal..just farther away.<BR><BR>I10 to I75 south, then take the turnpike just past Ocala, all the way babe!<BR><BR>Unless you WANT to go through Tampa, Sarasota, Alligator Alley. It will add another 1 - 2 hours, but it is a more scenic route, espcially over the bridge in St Petes.<BR><BR>If you go that way, try to avoid rush hour in the Naples area, traffic is BAD.<BR><BR>Restaurants are good in Sarasota. But if you just want to get to the keys go the Turnpike.

I second Richard's advice. Take the turnpike unless you really want to add some time to get to the Keys. I'm all for taking the scenic roads if you have no real destination in mind and no timetable. I will add that Alligator Alley is not a bad option but I regularly take that route back to Ft. Lauderdale from Naples and I can tell you, if there's a decent accident on that road, you can sit in traffic for quite a while in the sun waiting for it to clear. (But I take that road a lot more often than most tourists so I might have the law of averages working against me.)<BR><BR>Richard's also right about most of the restaurants along the way. We have a habit of throwing a cooler in the back (not in the trunk!) and stopping at little pull-offs along the way and dipping our feet in the water and eating a picnic. One word of advice about eating in Key West, avoid Margaritaville. It's a total tourist trap and pricey to boot. There's a restaurant in the old Bahamian area of Key West. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's called the Blue Rooster...Funky and good food....Forgive me, it's too early in the morning for my brain to function correctly. I'll doublecheck on the name of the place...

Its called Blue Heaven.

Thank you Max. I didn't have enough caffiene when I posted. All I could remember was that the rooster in the yard was pecking at my friend's feet!

Hey,<BR><BR>All good advice above. Margaritaville is a total tourist trap, and even the Margaritas are so so. But last time I was there they had a GREAT Raggae band, if your into that.<BR><BR>Also Sloppy Joe's has the best Margaritas, total tourist joint though, good grief last time I was there I think I put on 7 pounds and it was all from drinking!<BR><BR>The pier (can't remember the name) at the end of Duval is the best place to watch the sunset while having a drink.<BR><BR>Also, if you were walking South on Duval, about half way up on the right hand side is an Italian restaurant. It is the older one with the oak floors. I had a very good Italian meal there on several occasions.<BR><BR>Near the southern most point is another famous restaurant, can't remember the name, it is expensive and a lot of the famous Miami chefs have trained there ie. Chef Allen, Chef Norman...and it is very romantic, but it is pricy...sorry cant remember the name. They serve kind of carribean fusion type food. Probably the nicest restaurant in Key west.<BR><BR>I'm not sure how old you are but if your young or young at heart, the best dance club is the big club up by the theater.<BR>

Thanks so much for all the info. I can't wait until our trip. <BR><BR>Anyone know how the weather is in December?

Probably the most unpredictable month of all, especially central florida.<BR><BR>In the Keys, it will be the warmest.<BR><BR>Check Weather Now for averages

Pier House is what Richard was referring to and Louie's Backyard is a better place to visit for sunset, romance and cocktails.

What about the Italian rest. anyone rember the name??<BR><BR>

The best Italian restaurant is Mangia Mangia on Southard St. You are probably referring to Antonia's, very upscale and dosn't compare to Mangia Mangia IMHO.

We ate at a great restaurant in Marathon.(about halfway thru the keys). It was call the Beach Colony Inn. Delicious fresh food,casual dress,&amp; reasonably priced. About a half hour wait in May to be seated( may not be as crowded now?), &amp; we went back for 2 other dinners. I think you'll like it. It took us 4 hours to get to Key West with the slow speed limits &amp; traffic through the keys on US route 1. But, enjoy the view. The coast is so beautiful &amp; so is the many colors of the the water.

We just came back from a great trip to the Keys .. drove with a rental car from Miami airport to Key West in one afternoon... it's a 4 hour or so drive...but if you have nothing to do and all day to do it who cares ... on the way back we booked a night in Tavenier ... we stopped for lunch at the Isamadora fish company ...SUPER PLACE TO EAT !!! FORGIVE MY SPELLING ... We also enjoyed SNAPPERS for dinner just up US rt. 1 ..loved the fresh deep fried oysters...

Try going to chowhound.com and post a question about restaurant suggestions. It's a great site for food inquiries around the United States. I think you will like the message boards there!

Richard - the place you recommend for watching the sunset is the pier at the Ocean Key House and I absolutely agree with you! They have live entertainment, good drinks, a great location, and pretty good snack food, too. I think the Italian restaurant you're thinking of is La Trattoria, if it's the one on the right walking up Duval toward the south. There's also an excellent Italian restaurant on the left, Antonia's, which is nearby. <BR><BR>I'm a little stumped by the fine food restaurant you mention. Louie's Backyard has been well-known in Key West for a very long time but has received spotty recommendations in recent years. It's on Waddell (the Atlantic side) and has absolutely the prettiest setting of any restaurant in Key West, but the food isn't always great. Another possibility is Cafe des Artistes in the 10th block of Simonton. It's currently being renovated but it has fabulous food.

You are absolutely right!<BR><BR>It is La Trattoria! I have had several good meals there, I was so surprised to ahve decent Italian food in Key West.<BR><BR>As for Louie's backyard, I could not agree with you more.<BR><BR>It is really romantic but food is so so. I would still recommend going there, but don't spend a lot otherwise you will hate yourself.

We were in Key West at the first of October....drove down from Ft. Lauderdale.<BR><BR>Along US1, there are several options for food. The Islamorada Fish Comapny was good. We were told the 7-mile Grill in Marathon was a must...but it was closed for vacation.<BR><BR>In Key West...the absolute best place we ate at was the afore mentuioned La Trattoria...some of the best service I've recieved...the food was excellent. For a &quot;down home&quot; Cuban food experience, try El Siboney. El Messon de Pepe was also good but a little more touristy since it was near Mallory Square. The Conch Republic Seafood Company was good...nice airy open air atmosphere.<BR><BR>AVOID at all costs, Crabby Dicks...rude people and high prices with not a lot on the menu

The Islamorada Fish Company is hit or miss and expensive. Last time I ate there the food was horrible. A better choice would be the Lorelei, the place with the mermaid in front or Manny &amp; Isa's, great key lime pie.

Go to Louie's for cocktails. Blue Heaven is one of my favorites as is Pepe's for breakfast.<BR><BR>

Avoid Crabby Dicks!!! It is horrible!!! Probably the worst there!!!

Is crabby Dicks the big 2 story place on the water???<BR><BR>Wish I could remember the restaurant just South of Ramrod Key. It was on the right hand side going south, it specialized in seafood. It was amazing, and we went back 3 times. The locals told us about it.

Sounds like Monty's. We stopped there also several times and always had a great meal.

I agree with all that suggested Blue Heaven and Pepe's both are outstanding for breakfast, a must! <BR><BR>The drive Tampa/St. Pete is about 8 hours. take the Turnpike from Pensacola unless you want to go over the Sunshine Skyway in ST P. That will add at least 2 hours to your overall trip though. Also, some advice when you just get on Rt. 1 in key largo there is a little stretch of road that has a passing area---use this to the fullest. you should pass as many cars as humanly possible in this stretch (especially if they are towing boats) it can be the difference between a 35 mph trip to KW and a 65 MPH trip to KW, just a suggestion.

Thanks Joebob, that's just what we need here in Largo: tourists going mach 10 on their way down to KW. Hint: US1 through the Keys is a residential highway, there will be many motorists making right and left turns, stoplights, and pedestrians crossing the street; it is NOT an interstate. If you cannot drive the speed limit (45 mph up to 50 in some stretches), I suggest you fly to KW and do us all a favor.<BR> Hey, if you can safely and legally pass someone who is going under the speed limit more power to you, but &quot;a 65 mph&quot; trip to KW is dangerous to you, other visitors, and we who live here; not to mention ILLEGAL. Not only that, it is pretty risky considering the amount of speed traps set along US1 by the State Troopers and the County Sherrifs.

Joebob is an idiot! Slow down and enjoy the trip.

I don't think joeBob was suggesting you speed at breakneck speeds, but you see how the locals are super sensitive.<BR><BR>In any case the road you were referring to is called &quot;Carsound Rd&quot; which is a $1.00 toll road and begins just past Florida City. This is excellent advice and will be the best $1.00 you spend the whole trip. It is absolutely amazing the people who pass on the 1 buck toll, to suffer the extra slow speeds.<BR><BR>As for speeding, be very careful not only from the point of view of the speed traps but to also watch out for the drunks driving. and of course the little key deer, which are very tasty with a little mint sauce I understand.

Jimy-Key Deer are endangered and protected. You even try to eat one you will end up in jail. We here in the Keys take our enviroment seriously and we hate you jackasses who come down here and ruin it and make tasteless jokes.

Tasty deer and tasteless jokes aside, we are planning a trip to the Keys the first week of December. We are flying in to Fort Lauderdale on December 1st and have a car booked, but that is it. A couple of questions for you: First of all, should we book rooms in advance, or do you think we will be able to find places along the way at this time of year? Secondly, we have a week. Where should we spend most of our time, given that we love nature, hiking, snorkelling, but we are not planning on diving or going sports fishing? I was in Key West about 10 years ago and loved the beauty of the keys in general, but it's been a while. Any suggestions would be really helpful -- where to stay, where to eat, what is available to do.<BR><BR>Thanks <BR><BR>

I dont know but maybe you should ask the question with its own thread.

Its amazing you were able to book the tickets without any help.

xx --<BR>Thanks so much for your help. Really appreciate the time you took to post your reply.<BR><BR>For anyone else, I'm just looking for suggestions that will make the trip a little more interesting rather than relying solely guidebooks. Input appreciated.

In key West I would definitly book ahead. They are always busy. You could chance it in the other Keys but it all depends on whats going on that time of year. I agree with the above poster, repost this question under its own title.

ttt

My Wife and I were in Key West last week. We stopped in at Pepe's for beer and a snack. My wife had the Grouper Serviche which was very good, I had the Conch Salad which was terrible. The conch was unskinned and not beaten so it was too tough to eat. The waitress said that was a common complaint.<BR><BR>Great place, fun time.<BR><BR>&quot;The Conchless Republic&quot;

The drive is great! Slow down and enjoy it!

I would not recommend Mangia Mangia. We too heard rave reviews before we went, but when we were there, the food was so so and the wait staff was extremely rude. I will never go there again.<BR>Delia