Florida Keys in January
 

any advice for traveling to the keys in January - suggestions on where quiet might be vs. crazy ? Would a day trip from the mid-keys be enough ? We aren't partiers but would like to see Key West and any of the towns from Key Largo on. All comments are appreciated.

Islamorada is about half way down and has the accommodations from simple to luxury as well as dining options and the right distance from Key West for an easy day trip...

Good advice.

You will need a reservation.

I would try to visit Key West during the week vs on a weekend.

I would avoid it if there is a cruise ship docked.

http://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/department/calendar.php

We've been going to Islamorada every January for the past few years. It is quiet in that there is not much nightlife outside of bars (and at least one strip club) but there are lots of places to eat. The first year we went we took a day trip to Key West and I absolutely agree with Dukey that you should go on a weekday with no ships in port. The drive seemed pretty long and we happened to go on a very hot day (yes, in early January) and after having lunch in a Cuban restaurant and walking around looking at architecture for a few hours we were ready to go back to the peace of Islamorada. I thought the main drag, Duvall, was kind of tacky.
We've never felt the need to repeat the drive; we are going to Islamorada again this January and will likely stay put at our hotel and walk to dinner at night.

What we enjoyed in Key West: cottage architecture, Truman White House (back when presidents didn't live like emperors) boats and marinas galore, more cottage architecture, art cars, the ocean, watching people, Louis' Back Porch, watching the water.

We didn't go to any topless or bottomless bars, but we went to Cuban groceries. Skipped the beach. Did go to sunset one day. Visited the public library and talked to the librarians about local gay history. Ate breakfast with the chickens. You know, a quiet life.

Sort of like what we would do at home but warm in January.

I am sorry but the terms "quiet life" and "Duval Street on weekend nights" are an oxymoron.

thanks for all the replies.. I booked at Avalon B & B, a Thurs and Fri night... with the last night in either Islamorada or Key Largo...pros or cons with either one ? thanks :)

But Dukey, I didn't go to Duvall Street on a Saturday night. I went to one sunset on a weeknight.

Re sunsets and the noise level on Duvall Street: a great place to watch the sunset any evening of the week is the Fort Zachary Taylor State Park ("Fort Zach" for short).

The noisy part of Duvall Street is the Gulf of Mexico end where you find Mallory Square. This is the low numbered end of the street. Four or five blocks up comprise a boozy, noisy bar zone (Sloppy Joe's, Hog's Breath, Captain Tony's, etc.) As you reach the 900 or 1000 block, things become quieter--art galleries, fewer t-shirt shops, relatively quiet bars and restaurants. At the end of the high-numbered part of Duvall (the Atlantic, or Straits of Florida, end) is a very good bar and restaurant, Southernmost Beach Cafe, right on the little sandy beach.

There is a short concrete pier at this Atlantic end of Duvall Street. From the outer part of the pier you can see a good sort-of sunset (the sun will set behind palms, you won't see it sink into the watery horizon as you would at Fort Zach or Mallory Square).

The same is true for a much bigger, longer concrete pier, the White Street Pier, located....you guessed it, at the Atlantic end of White Street. This pier is also great for watching the sunrise, which sometimes can be quite spectacular. I love to sit under a palm tree at Smathers Beach, a little way from the White Street Pier, early in the morning, cafe con leche in hand, waiting for the sunrise, watching the pelicans swoop down low looking for breakfast.