Driving The Florida Key
 

We will be staying at the Hyatt on Front St. for six days in early February. We were thinking about renting a car and making a daytrip out of a drive up the keys and back. Is this too much for a daytrip? Any things not to be missed? Is there anyplace in Mallory Square where we can rent a car? Or can the concierge at the hotel handle it? Would a convertible be a good choice at this time of the year?

don - If you're interested in road trips, by all means rent a car and drive up the keys. However, I think you can easily find things in Key West to interest you for 6 days!

Don, Susan isn't copasetic. She just doesn't get the allure of driving a convertible with the top down and the wind blowing your hair, the palms whizzing past. And neither did I when my husband bought his.

I say go for it. You'll enjoy it immensely. I'd go up to Big Pine Key or Marathon. Have lunch somewhere. Get out when something interests you. But I think if you make the entire 4 hr. trip, then have to turn around and go back, you'll be miserable, convertible or no. So either cut it short or get the car one-way.

Enjoy!

While I'm all for palms whizzing past with the wind in my hair of a convertible, I'm picturing driving that traffic laden causeway in February more like watching the traffic jams as the cobwebs form in my hair. Traffic through the keys doesn't get any worse than in February.

To put the weather in perspective, after a cold snap early on we seem to be having a mild one this year. Today in Tampa, I'm wearing flip-flops and a sleeveless blouse with my jeans. It is soooo pleasant right now. Our coldest weather will be over by February, 99% sure. In fact, Jan. is seldom colder than Dec. So not to worry, you will most likely have gorgeous weather.

I say throw caution to the wind. Go for the convertible. When we have traffic we put the top up. No problemo.

How bad is traffic on the Causeway in February? I was figuring that maybe we could do the ride on a Thursday, because I know that I wanted to avoid the weekend.

The only place I know of to rent a car is at the airport and in February, a reservation is a must. I really doubt that you will be able to get a convertible especially for just a day. Nice idea though as six days on KW will start to get confining. A trip up to Bahia Honda with lunch and some nosing around the islands will fill in a day.

Well, barring accidents (which are unpredictable and can ruin your day anywhere, NOT just in the Keys) you shouldn't have much traffic problems with a day drive up the Keys on a week day. The kind of nightmare traffic Patrick is refering to is common starting Friday afternoon lasting until late Sunday Evening. And early February has no holiday weekends.
I would be bored silly in Key West for 6 days (unless I had my boat with me!). Key West is a very small town, and unless you plan to spend several days of your vacation just sitting in the sun reading books, I think you can see all the sights in 4-5 days, meaning taking one day for a day trip up the Keys is a great idea. Not only that, Key West is so unlike all the other Keys, that you might want to see what the Keys are REALLY like.

We drove into and out of Key West and LOVED the ride. We were glad we spent two days doing it. I second going to Bahia Honda, it is beautiful and you can rent boats there to explore the mangroves. We packed a picnic lunch and had lunch on a picnic table by the beach. You will enjoy the adventure!

TG - My husband has been driving convertibles for as many years as I can remember...at least 30, and neither of us "gets" the allure of the convertible drive up or down the keys.

In fact, during the fall and spring months we're always pleased to be tucked into a tiny air-conditioned compact car protected from that hot sun!

I'm with Larry as I'd be bored senseless in Key West for six days without a boat but hey, I'm one of the Islamorada lovers.

It seems people either love the mid Keys and Key West is okay for a day trip or just the opposite.

One suggestion woudl be to fly into Miami, rent your convertible and drive to Key West.

I think a day on the road may be little too much unless you pack the cooler and the beach chairs and are in no rush.