Florida Keys with a beach
 

Anyone have info on the Continental Inn at Key Colony Beach? Supposed to be at mile marker 55 not far from Marathon. It seems to have a decent beach.

There are no good beaches in the Keys. Don't be fooled. You want a decent beach? Go to South Beach

To "X", we know you are from New York. Your countless posts so far after reading them are worthless & you don't know what you are talking about as usual. What's new.

Since the keys are coral, all the beaches are man-made with imported sand and are usually small. If you're looking for a true "beach experience" you'll probably be disappointed. Having said that, Key West is my favorite vacation destination. Lots of places have great beaches, but none have the allure of the keys!

Linda-The only decent beach in the Keys is Bahia Honda State Park. The rest of the beaches are very tiny and have shipped in sand. If you are looking for accomodations in Marathon or Middle Keys, I suggest Hawks Cay, Banana Bay Resort, Cocoplum Resort. A little farther south is Parmers Place on Little Torch Key, close to the action in Key West. If you have never been to Key West, I suggest you stay there for at least a couple of days.

I think that there is also a beach called Sombero Beach on Marathon.

Thanks for all the info. I am not expecting a beach like Panama City but just want to be assured that there is a decent place to lounge in the ocean for a few hours a day that is not horribly crowded. I plan to check out Key West but not into the party scene so would I still want to stay there? We want to see the scenery and relax in warm water and explore the islands. Don't need first class digs but would expect a clean place on the shore with some atmosphere. Bring on the info! Thanks bunches.

Parmers Place should fit the bill. Close enough to Key West you can visit. Nice and relaxing. It is located on Little Torch Key.

We are also not "into the party scene"ut love Key West. There is so much more to the town than Duval Street! We love walking around the neighborhoods of olde town day and night and looking at the variety of architecture. As others have said, don't expect long powdery stretches in the keys. Beaches are small and rocky and while they can be great for "lounging" you might be disappointed if you expect too much. The Keys are awesome but not for the beaches!

I am from the Keys and know them very well. It has been posted over and over not to plan a beach vacation in the Keys. I have never even seen New York. Bill offers excellent advice. Key West is not as much of a party town as one may think. There are some very nice and quiet, out of the way B&B's that you might like.

Linda - my husband and I are grandparents and are definitely not into the party scene. (If it'd start at a sensible hour, say 8 p.m., we might be able to catch part of it). But we spend about a month a year in Key West simply for R&R. Unlike you, we don't even go in the water, but there's nothing we like better than sitting on a balcony watching the boats come and go. One of our favorite things about Key West is the close proximity of lots of great restaurants and more tourist activities than we really are interested in. Now that you know I don't have much personal experience with the beaches let me add two more caveats I think to be true. You'll probably need beach shoes to protect your feet and lots of the water surrounding the keys is very grassy. If I'm mistaken, I know I can rely on someone to correct me.

Oh Ron, that "x" wasn't me, your nemesis, but I spotted YOU, jerk, yup yup. This x isn't from Noo Yawk either, but you Ron, you be Ohio Mon. "Wanna be" Keys Man. Always a "Wanna Be", never a "Be". Poor Ittle Wanna Be. Go cry to Fodors now, "they're pickin' on me again! Waaaa" <BR><BR>Hey Ron, have you seen A Beautiful Mind yet? hahahahahahaha I'm everywhere and I'm followin' YOU! BOO

Bill and Susan offer some good advice. The Keys are not known for its beaches but as long as you understand that and are not looking for white, soft beaches that stretch for miles, you won't be in for any surprises. Ask the manager at the Continental Inn about their beach - is it rocky, does it have slippery grass, how deep is it etc. Bahia Honda Beach is not too far away and it is a very nice beach.

I just want to put in another vote for Parmers Place on Little Torch Key!

Oh x, your my nemesis now, jerk, yup yup. Don't you get it YET and can't you take a hint? Vamoose, scat, scram, shoo! I'm following you! You the jerk MAN! You are the complete idiot! You are a New Yorker wanting to be more of a bigger jerk! Get off the board no one<BR>wants you here.

Check out Long Key State Park. Neat place, with a tree-lined beach. About the same distance from Marathon as Bahia Honda is. My one real reservation about Bahia Honda is that it's become very child friendly and the beach gets crowded quick. For a neat place to stay that has a nice beach check out The Moorings in Islamorada. Very nice place. Except there, you'll be farther away from Key West. But that may not be a problem for you, it sounds.

buy something to wear on your feet when you go in the water....the bottom will be covered with a "goo" of rotting vegetation, rocks, etc....

Do the last 2 "x" posts make since to anyone?

I really appreciate all the info. I checked out The Moorings and it is a little beyond my budget but looks wonderful. Any other suggestions? Trying to stay in the $100 range. I would like access to a pool and a beach. Are all the beaches filled with vegatation? Maybe I should stay on the Gulf for a few days and just sight see in the keys. Is any experience required to snorkle? <BR>Still hoping someone knows of the Continental Inn at Key Colony. The web site looks great but I realize that can be misleading. Thanks again!

top<BR>

Linda-I have never heard of Continental Inn. Have you tried Parmers Place? There have been several recommendations here for it along with Banana Bay in Marathon and Cocoplum Resort. I would be very leery of booking anything off of pictures on the Internet without a personl recommendation. The internet can and often does airbrush photos to make a place look great when in fact it is roach invested....

Linda, take the advice given and fork over a little more for places recommended.

Don't stay there it is a roach motel...

I love Bahia Honda! It's one of the nicest beaches that I've ever been to. We stay in Key West and make the drive up there a few time during the course of a week. It's really not that bad. It's about a 30 to 50 minutes drive depending on the traffic. Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West isn't too bad for a beach close to the action. There isn't much sand, but if you bring a beach chair it doesn't matter. The view is pretty nice. You can see the blue water and watch the cruise ships going in and out.

Another vote for Palmers Place.

Parmer's Place is nifty, but I don't remember it as having a beach...<BR><BR>One note about Bahia Honda: There are really two beaches. The one which is nestled between the two bridges, and is most visible from the park's main building. It's not very big, is often unsightly (washed-up eel grass) and can be crowded. <BR><BR>The other is the bigger one on the "ocean" side. This, too, is often dead-vegetation-covered, but it is a nicer, and longer, beach.<BR>

for Linda

Top you idiot. Linda has been posting for weeks now and has been given plenty of advice. She is obviously one of those namby-pampies who can't make a decision and wants everyone to hold her hand...<BR>

I can't even begin to understand why someone so rude would even read the honest requests for information I have made. Who do you think you are! I thought the whole purpose of this forum was to help people. Why are you here!!!!! You defy the whole purpose of this site and must not have anything better to do than I really enjoyed getting suggestions from people since I have never been to the Keys before and I am not rich and don't have unlimited resources. you have pretty much ruined the whole experience, thanks a lot!!! Jerk!

Linda, don't let a couple of mean posts ruin it for you. Don't give a stranger that much credit.