OK - I have booked two nights at Southernmost Point on the Beach in Key West, and we will be staying the last three nights of our trip at the Marriott in Key Largo where we plan to visit the Everglades one day and snorkle another day at John Pennekamp Park.

Now I just need to choose between Marathon and Islamorada for our first night's stay. In late October, we will be driving in from Fort Lauderdale landing around 11:00 am on a Friday morning. Any suggestions?

Thanks so much...NannyJan

I would stay on Islamorada where the `world famous' tiki bar is at. It's about a 90 mile drive. It always makes me feel like I've arrived at the keys. We stayed at a hampton inn that was nearby but this was a few years back. I've never actually stayed at the hotels at Holiday Isle as at the end of the day I wanted to distnace myself from the crowd a little bit. Don't know when you're going so I don't know if crowds will be a problem.
Staying at Islamorada will give you more of a chance to take it slow in the morning & stop anywhere you might be interested in before getting to Key West.
Marathon is only 45 miles from Key west,and 114 from Ft. Lauderdale, So if you'll willing to drive straight thru to Marathon you might as well go all the way to Key West.
By the way I stayed at the Mariott a few years back, It's one of my favorite hotels in the Key. They have(had) hammocks by their beach area that were wonderful. Have fun!

I chose to stay a full week in Marathon because it was centrally located and laid back...like the Keys used to be. Marathon has the 7 mile bridge, a very nice beach, snorkle opportunities, good fishing, some good restaurants...I guess where you stay depends upon what you want to do.

Given that you are landing before lunch and are already planning several days in the upper keys, I would head all the way to Key West on the first day. It will be a leisurely and beautiful drive that would take about 4-5 hours with no stops.
Get directions from the airport but at some point, you'll end up on the turnpike headed south. The turnpike ends in Florida City - last stop on the mainland. I would not take Card Sound Road. You'll be in Key Largo about 1 1/2 hours from picking up your car. If you can wait until then for lunch, stop at Snook's (bayside mm 99.9). Sit outside, enjoy the view and relax. You are 100 miles from Key West. Some possible stops on the way in the upper keys - art/crafts at the Rain Barrell (bayside mm 86 Islamorada); World Wide Sportsman store (bayside MM 82-ish); feed the wild tarpon at Robbies (bayside mm 77). Maybe a stop to look around Bahia Honda State Park (mm 29). There are showers there if you want to get in the water.
If you don't have the Joy Williams guidebook for the Keys, you should get it. Plus a few Jimmy Buffet CDs for the car, a Carl Hiaason novel for poolside reading (or Hemmingway if you are so inclined!). Enjoy!

Keysmom

Your plan sounded great until I learned about Fantasy Fest...now I am leary about staying two days in Key West and may opt instead to just visit from a mid Key point...

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I have put it for the book at the library to check it out.

NannyJan

mabella101

Thanks for the comments on the Marriot...we may be staying there even longer if we decide Fantasty Fest is too much for us...I am looking forward to just kicking back...

Nanny Jan

If you're not into huge street crowds, you may indeed want to rethink staying in Key West during Fantasy Fest. The Southernmost is at the "quiet" end of Duval but the traffic and crowds everywhere you go can really ruin the experience.

I like Islamorada much more than either Key West or Marathon but in all fairness, it is the Florida Keys. It's all paradise!

Just returned from the keys, three nights in key west and one night in marathonon our drive back to fort lauderdale. Marathon is very laid back and we liked it alot and there is plenty do. Fantasy Fest might be a bit too much for one day...i would blow off key west and go to naples instead.