Which Key?
 

We are driving from Miami to Key West and have 7 days to do it. Where should we spend the majority of our time? Where to stay? We mainly want to snorkel and swim and have cocktails.

For diving and snorkeling the upper keys are best. For cocktails and eating Key West is best.

ttt

I believe Key Largo is where John Pennycamp State Park is, which is great for snorkeling. And down the road a piece is a tiki hut ~ fun for cocktails, drinks, fruity stuff with umbrellas. Key West is better for night life, restaurants, and sight seeing.

With seven days to Key West you can really take in the Keys. Start in Key Largo. Spend the night at Amy Slate's Amoray Dive Resort. Great place, step out of the room in the morning onto the boat and snorkely some beautiful reefs. Have cocktails at the Caribbean Club where they filmed part of the movie Key Largo with Bogart or Sundowners on the decka and watch the sunset. Both are on the Bay side. Be sure to eat at Mrs. Mac's, the Fish House, Tugboat Restaurant or Wahoo's. Move on down to Islamorada and have lunch at the Islamorada Fish Company on the pier. If you stay in that area, take in Whale Harbor restaurant for an excellent buffet and an unbelievable raw bar. Be sure to get a Rumrunner at Holiday Isle in Marathon at the giant Tiki Bar. Further down stop at Bahia Honda State Park and see a very beautiful beach and snorkel if you have your own gear. As you come onto Big Pine Key obey the speed limits to preserve the tiny Key Deer that inhabit the island. On Big Pine ask someone to direct you to No Name Pub and get a killer pizza and cold drinks. Just across the bridge south of Big Pine on Little Torch Key make an immediate right and go out about a quarter of a mile to Parmer's Place on the left. Great people and cottages, each one different. If you stay there, this is around Mile Marker 28.5, go down to Summerland Key to Monte's Seafood. It's a dive but great food at great prices. This is a MM 25 or further south is Mangrove Mama's at MM 20. If you stay here and still want to snorkel, go back up to 30.5 and go out to Looe Key Reef with Underseas Diver shop, good people. Now you are ready for the cocktail capital of the world, Key West. Drinks at Sloppy Joe's, Hog's Breath, Fat Tuesday, Captain Tony's, the Whistle Bar on the balcony, PT's on Caroline and you have to go to Schooner Wharf Bar and meet the owner, Evelina. Eat at B.O.'s Fish Wagon (lunch-Grouper sandwich), Pepe's (breakfast), El Siboney (Cuban), Turtle Kraal, Rusty Anchor on Stock Island (seafood), Mangia!Mangia! (Italian), Croissant de France (breakfast and pastries),Dennis Pharmacy (simple breakfast and lunch, Jimmy Buffett's old hang out) and absolutely Blue Heaven on Thomas Street (try the Grouper if it is a daily special or go for the Jerk Chicken). Forgot the time, you're in the Keys.

Sounds like Flx overed it all, my want to try alices la de da on Key west

Flex nailed it. Only thing missed is a stop at Alabama Jack's before you get to Key Largo. Prolly be a good place to throw away your watch....

check yesterdy's Miami Herald travel section for info on Old Key West.<BR>www.miamiherald.com

Flex has got it. I would only point out that the Carribean Club is a biker bar (not saying that is bad, just be prepared) and althought they use the movie "Key Largo" as a promotional hook the only connection is that the site itself (not the building/bar) was used for some scenes, and since it is about fifty years (and several hurricanes) removed from the filming, it looks nothing like it did then. Cheap beer and drinks, though.

Heck, after all that you would need another vacation. If you are divers spend a few days in Key Largo. If all you do is snorkel, you can do that in Key West and there isn't much difference. Key West has much more to do. You could spend a few days there and go up to Bahia Honda State Park for a day trip.

You are exactly right George. Take Card Sound Road south of Homestead and hit Alabama Jack's. The Keys start here and you are on Island Time!

Hi Flex,<BR>Just wondered if you could chime in again with your opinion.<BR>I checked out Amoray Resort's website, and think the place looks quite nice! What about a family of 4 that is interested in snorkeling, not diving? Would this resort also be a good choice for us? <BR>How close is the Amoray to Pennecamp?<BR>Thanks!

They are only a couple miles apart at most. It is a nice place to stay, friendly staff and clean rooms. They focus much more on scuba diving but they also offer snorkeling. It would be an O.K. choice (IMHO) but if you just want to snorkel (and there is nothing wrong with that!) and if your kids are in their early teens or younger, I would head to Key West and snorkel there with a stop at Bahia Honda State park.

take and wear tons and tons of sun screen and apply often. otherwise, no matter where you go, your trip will be ruined for a few days. snorkeling leads to sunburnt backs - back of legs, ears, every little spot on your body that is exposed. Your whole body gets sun because of the reflection of the water and sand. It's everywhere! Like most activities you need to be prepared with proper fitting equipment, clothing, safety precautions and in South Florida that includes sun coverage and lots of drinking water. <BR><BR>The Keys lure you into drinking alcohol and soft drinks but it's so important to drink lots and lots of water. There are lots of happy, red, sandy drunks around.(who may otherwise be a serious suit wear professional back home)<BR><BR> Take plenty of film too. It's a great place to spend time and let loose but you don't want to get burnt or dehydrated.

Flex-I disagree on Islamaroda Fish Company. The food is IMO expensive and so-so, although the outdoor patio is great. A better choice is Lorelei, the place with the mermaid in front.

I also disagree about Islamorda Fish Co. I was never too impressed. I would also have to argue Rusty Anchor (very greasy fried food) and Crossants de France (they never taste fresh).

Definitely plan on spending most if not almost alll of your time based in Key West. Get a hotel or better yet a guesthouse with a nice pool and then go on snorkeling charters for your snorkeling as there is nothing much to from the shore in Key West. Also be aware (others have probably already pointed this out) that beaches are manmade and very small. You'll ahve time to do the full day trip to Dry Tortugas which is supposed to be good for swimming, snorkeling, picnickin etc. Lastly... although I'm not a drinker, Key West appears to be a GREAT place to hang out for cocktails and bar-hop.

Saw the following bumper sticker in Garrison Bight on our January trip: "Key West: A Drinking Town With A Tourist Problem."

I like "If it is season, why can't we shot them?"

Just read there is a big chicken controversy in KW. The powers that be are trying to round up all the chickens because *gasp* the cruise ship passengers and other high falutin tourists don't like them. They rounded a bunch up and sent them away but a new batch of chickens keep getting smuggled in. What a hoot!