Drive to Key West before cruise?

Hi

Thinking of flying down to Miami 3 days before Dec 1 cruise.

We have never been further than Miami so this time we thought we could drive from Miami and spend 2 days in Key West and one in Key Largo or maybe 3 days in Key Largo and do a day trip to Key West.

Any thoughts or suggestions on hotels , what to do or not to do or is it worth it?

Thanks Karen

Yeah, it's definitely worth doing. It's a beautiful drive, but the traffic can be pretty bad (watch for deer and don't speed). I would probably skip Key Largo and just spend a couple nights in Key West. We've stayed at the Key Lime Inn in Key West which we really enjoyed. It's a nice easy walk to Duval street.

Greetings

While it is possible to day trip to Key West from Key Largo, it is not the best of plans. Key West is a great destination. Travel to the end of the road and stay a few days.

Good Sailing

Tom

Check out the Key West forum here on cruise critic for lots of info

Spend your time in Key West.

The upper keys are more about being out on the water while Key West has much more to do on foot. Unless you are on a boat, Key Largo can be very boring.

I would only stay in Key largo if it was a late flight coming into Miami. Spend the time in Key West it is a great place to visit. Plan on spending some extra time on the drive down as there are many great places to stop along the way. We stayed at the Southernmost hotel and enjoyed it very much. It is at the south end of Duvall and is a 10 minute walk up to Mallory Square. It is across the street from the butterfly conservatory and 2 blocks from Southernmost point.

You can get all of your Key West questions answered on the Key West Ports Of Call Board.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=155

Keith

I would definitely spend all your time....we absolutely love it there. By far my favorite place to visit. The drive down is beautiful....with all the bridges and water on both sides of you for most of the drive. The Seven Mile Bridge is a sight to see in itself.

Be sure to stop at the Key West Pretzel Company....they are super yummy

Hi

Thinking of flying down to Miami 3 days before Dec 1 cruise.

We have never been further than Miami so this time we thought we could drive from Miami and spend 2 days in Key West and one in Key Largo or maybe 3 days in Key Largo and do a day trip to Key West.

Any thoughts or suggestions on hotels , what to do or not to do or is it worth it?

Thanks Karen

A lot of folks here will tell you (even some locals) to not bother with the Upper and Middle Keys because they're mostly geared for fishing or scuba diving and that's just not true. There are a lot of little known places that will provide you with a lot of enjoyment and memories to take back home.

If you have kids they would be over the top with the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. Well...to be honest I like driving down to Marathon from Ft Lauderdale just to visit them because even adults are amazed at the good work these folks do and they're happy to share the turtle love...

http://www.turtlehospital.org/blog/?page_id=51

On Big Pine Key If you know where to look you'll find a bar with no name...really...It's the No Name Pub. I'll betcha a dollar you'll love this place. It's not your average bar and grill and there is an estimated 75,000-80,000 $1 bills stapled to the walls and ceilings. It got it's start in 1931 as a general store, bait and tackle shop then about 1936 they added a room where they started serving food. In an effort to increase business, the enterprising owner at the time converted an upstairs storage room into a brothel to attract fisherman. The local lore, though, was the fisherman were better looking than the "ladies," so the brothel went by the wayside. It remained a store and bait shack until the 1950s when it became a full time pub. Oh, and they make a pretty good pizza from an old recipe that was written on the kitchen wall when the current owners bought the place about 30 years ago...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34085-d514067-Reviews-No_Name_Pub-Big_Pine_Key_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

Also on Big Pine you will find the smallest whitetail deer in the world. They are very docile, but they will still shy away when you come close to them. Even though they look cute and adorable they are wild animals and it's against the law to feed or touch them.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34085-d255272-Reviews-National_Key_Deer_Refuge-Big_Pine_Key_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

A lot of folks here will tell you (even some locals) to not bother with the Upper and Middle Keys because they're mostly geared for fishing or scuba diving and that's just not true. There are a lot of little known places that will provide you with a lot of enjoyment and memories to take back home.

 

If you have kids they would be over the top with the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. Well...to be honest I like driving down to Marathon from Ft Lauderdale just to visit them because even adults are amazed at the good work these folks do and they're happy to share the turtle love...

 

http://www.turtlehospital.org/blog/?page_id=51

 

On Big Pine Key If you know where to look you'll find a bar with no name...really...It's the No Name Pub. I'll betcha a dollar you'll love this place. It's not your average bar and grill and there is an estimated 75,000-80,000 $1 bills stapled to the walls and ceilings. It got it's start in 1931 as a general store, bait and tackle shop then about 1936 they added a room where they started serving food. In an effort to increase business, the enterprising owner at the time converted an upstairs storage room into a brothel to attract fisherman. The local lore, though, was the fisherman were better looking than the "ladies," so the brothel went by the wayside. It remained a store and bait shack until the 1950s when it became a full time pub. Oh, and they make a pretty good pizza from an old recipe that was written on the kitchen wall when the current owners bought the place about 30 years ago...

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34085-d514067-Reviews-No_Name_Pub-Big_Pine_Key_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

 

 

Also on Big Pine you will find the smallest whitetail deer in the world. They are very docile, but they will still shy away when you come close to them. Even though they look cute and adorable they are wild animals and it's against the law to feed or touch them.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34085-d255272-Reviews-National_Key_Deer_Refuge-Big_Pine_Key_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

While that may be true, before you slam the rest of us for suggesting the OP just head to Key West, at least know that No Name and the Keys Deer are both on Big Pine which is the lower keys not the upper or middle. They are about 25 miles from Key West.

While that may be true, before you slam the rest of us for suggesting the OP just head to Key West, at least know that No Name and the Keys Deer are both on Big Pine which is the lower keys not the upper or middle. They are about 25 miles from Key West.

Us? Who is us? Where did I slam us?

Don't worry...I don't think the average tourist will know or care where the Middle ends and the Lower begins. All they care about is what there is to do between Key Largo and Key West. Besides, it's still another 31 miles from No Name to Key West.

While yes, there are many neat places to visit in the Keys, for the average cruiser who is only here on a short holiday, its best to get all the way to Key West where the attractions are more concentrated.

Be advised, sandy white beaches in the Keys are hard to come by.

I would add it is worth a snorkling/scuba trip in Pennekamp park in Key Largo. These excursions are typically 3-4 hours.

While yes, there are many neat places to visit in the Keys, for the average cruiser who is only here on a short holiday, its best to get all the way to Key West where the attractions are more concentrated.

 

Be advised, sandy white beaches in the Keys are hard to come by.

 

I would add it is worth a snorkling/scuba trip in Pennekamp park in Key Largo. These excursions are typically 3-4 hours.

Au contraire!

The best beaches in the Keys are at Bahia Honda State Park!

They have fishing and swimming and kayaking and snorkeling and they even have 2 BR cabins on the water for rent that sleeps 6 for $120 a night...

http://bahiahondapark.com/our-world-class-beaches.html

I've been to Key West too many times. Lived in Miami for 10 years and did many day trips, had family living there and spent vacations, and ship r&r visits . . .

I prefer to stay in the upper keys .... more laid back, better watersports, and more of the old Keys feel

http://www.hungrypelican.com/

Alabama Jacks on Card Sound Road

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/144/920072/restaurant/Florida-Keys/Alabama-Jacks-Key-Largo

Go and smell the roses!

Au contraire!

 

The best beaches in the Keys are at Bahia Honda State Park!

 

They have fishing and swimming and kayaking and snorkeling and they even have 2 BR cabins on the water for rent that sleeps 6 for $120 a night...

 

http://bahiahondapark.com/our-world-class-beaches.html

OP here.

Thanks so much for the ideas. Bahia Honda State Park looks beautiful and I love the Kitshy restaurants.

Any other ideas or recommendations?

Thanks, Karen

OP here.

 

Thanks so much for the ideas. Bahia Honda State Park looks beautiful and I love the Kitshy restaurants.

 

Any other ideas or recommendations?

 

Thanks, Karen

The 2 BR cabins at Bahia Honda State Park would be a great base (one hour to Key West) and a bargain for a family, but at $122.50-$162.50 a night they're still affordable for a couple. The problem is they stay pretty booked up, sometimes almost a year in advance. Every once in a while there might be a day or two between guests, but of those are usually between Sunday-Wedesday. The only thing you can do is check the lodging page on their site and do a search for your dates. Most likely your dates will be taken, but make sure you search the dates for each of the 6 cabins separately. Click on "Next Available Date" to see how far in advance your number of days is available. You might want to put only "1 day" in the number of days so you will see single days that are available. You can also call them at 800-326-3521.

http://floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com/campsiteSearch.do

Also on Big Pine Key is the Blue Hole which is an abandoned limestone quarry that's now a fresh water lake where you can perhaps spot some gators, birds and other wildlife.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34085-d142781-Reviews-Blue_Hole-Big_Pine_Key_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

OP here.

 

Thanks so much for the ideas. Bahia Honda State Park looks beautiful and I love the Kitshy restaurants.

 

Any other ideas or recommendations?

 

Thanks, Karen

One more...

I was reminded last night of the Fish House where all the fish on the menu are caught locally.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34344-d519810-Reviews-Fish_House-Key_Largo_Florida_Keys_Florida.html