Florida Keys

[mom2riandkayl]

Has anyone been there? Any advice on first time visitors?

[EllieFunt]

We didn't go to the keys, but spent a few days in Sanibel/Captiva and Ft. Myers. LOVELY! We'd go back in a heartbeat!

[DDofEve]

Yes. I LOVED it. What do you want to know? We did a day trip to Key Largo.

SUNSCREEN and the food is generally awesome.

[citylights]

When dh & I did our western carribean cruise we stopped in Key West. I LOVED it! We weren't there long enough to really see much, but we did walk all thru the town area, ate at a restaurant, etc. Honestly I so much enjoyed just people watching & checking out the town.

In case you aren't aware, it is legal to have open bottle of alcohol on the street, so that was a common sight. When we were there, Jimmy Buffet's concert (for the next day) was being set up. Jimmy Buffet music was blasting in the background ... was fun!

We were there first wk. of November. It was HOT (almost 90 if I remember).

[3monkeys]

We also stopped at Key West for a day on a cruise. We had a BLAST! DH and I rented a bicycle for two (which he about killed me with--but that is another story!). DH is a big Jimmy Buffett fan so he really enjoyed seeing the town. Key Lime pie there is delish!

[MamaToma]

Dave and I drove down once on a whim - it was nice, but it was just a day trip.

[mom2riandkayl]

Thanks for all of your info.

We're looking at staying for a week. We hope to do lots of snorkeling. We're not sure which of the keys would be the best place to stay and what all there is to do.

Any info is appreciated.

[Lucy]

i went a few yrs ago w/ just my youngest ds....older ds's and dh were on a sailing trip.

so, going alone w/ a 9 yr old was very different for us.

we had a Blast!!! stayed in key west...at a small place w/ a pool.

we bought the trolly passes and rode all over town....going everwhere (like very good tourist)...we did the butterfly garden, which is right next to the most southern point...(pic place)

the pirate museum, the acquarium, the ship wreck museum (all good if you are 9, maybe something to pass on if you are older and not w/ kids)....any time we got tired we'd just jump on the trolly.

we ate at every ice cream stand at the island, definitely do the sunset at the pier / mile marker 0

loved hearing about hemmingway and driving by his house, and about the little white house where truman stayed....

we went to Bahioa honda (spelled wrong) beach, very nice.....and did the ghost walk tour (goofy, they tried to convince you of real ghost, which is differenet the the ghost walk tour in old town alexandria near D.C. - where it's more historical and death/fun stories)

we walked along caroline street / and listened to lots of jimmy buffet while there.

we loved it.

i thought i might be missing something , so i left key west and drove up the keys to key largo.....did a state park there (and flat bottom/glass bottom boats)....and the deer preserve in the middle keys, as well as the dolphine center in the center keys...

i spent too much time driving and not enough time just enjoying the weather. if i go again, i will stay in key west once i get there.

[mom2riandkayl]

Thanks for your info, Lucy. We actually booked a place in Tavernier (closer to Key Largo) today. It sounds like we'll definitely have to hit Key West at least a couple of days. I'm starting to get excited.

[outlivingmylife]

I've stayed at Key West years ago. If I remember right, there was one public beach. Otherwise, if you wanted a beach, you really needed to stay at hotels that had a private beach.

At night the locals meet at the pier area, and sell/act/do shows for money. One lady road her bike around selling brownies. One guy had cats that did tricks, etc. Not sure if they still do that or not.

Hemmingway had a home there and you tour it (at least you could when I was there). Great food too. I had grouper at one place and it's as fresh as it gets.