Great Tips on Miami and The Florida Keys:

My husband and I travel a lot (40 to 50% of our time). We had been to the keys before but didn’t spend a lot of time there. We were looking for some place warm to go in February so decided on the Keys. We spent about 3 weeks there and we definitely want to go back. We had no problem filling our days. We were travelling by motor home and towing a vehicle. From Florida City to Key West it is about 126 miles. Most brochures relate everything by mile marker with Key West being mile marker zero and Florida City being mile marker 126 and everything else in between.

The area south of Miami around FloridaCity and Homestead is commonly known as the “Gateway to the Keys”. We started off our trip to Miami and the Keys in this area. Our first three nights were spent at a City Park in Florida City, 601 NW 3^rd Ave., Florida City, 305-248-7889. They do not take reservations at this park, but it is big enough and they usually have some space. It is not the greatest park in the world but we were just looking for a place to park our big rig for a few nights and explore the area. There weren’t a lot of options and this is a good park for transients who don’t really want to make reservations ahead of time. We were travelling in February. If you are travelling by car, there are motels in Florida City and Homestead.

Day 1 – Feb. 10

We spent our first day driving down to Flamingo and visiting the EvergladesNational Park . From US 1 in Florida City you drive West on Fla. 9336. After about 10 miles you will arrive at the entrance to the 1.5-million-acre Everglades National Park. (305-242-7700). There is an admission fee. There are maps at the entrance way and a visitor’s centre. The main park road is 38 miles all the way down to Flamingo. Unfortunately, due to a previous hurricane, the restaurant and hotel in Flamingo are no longer open but they did have a small store down there with snacks. You can rent a canoe down there and go bike riding. There is a campground down there as well. We took our time driving the 38 miles and checking out things but the highlight of the day was the last stop we made – The Anhinga Trail. This is a short 0.5-mile trail, but it is magnificent. You will see much wild life here including many alligators, birds such as egrets, herons, and of course the Anhinga. We couldn’t believe it. We were there on February 10 and very fortunate. The Anhingas were nesting and there were good views everywhere of these birds with there young ones. It was such a magnificent site of nature. The many alligators are also impressive as you make your way along a well-built boardwalk. Make sure you have your cameras ready!

From there we made our way over to Homestead and walked around a bit. We then had a great meal at a restaurant called Mutineer, US 1 and S.W. 344 St., (305-245-3377), Florida City. That was it for day 1.

Another thing you can do in this area (which we had done on another trip) is to do an Airboat Ride through the Everglades. This is kind of a fun, unique thing to do. The guide we had was great at explaining things and it was just fun experiencing the airboat ride in general. You can find information on this at everglades.com or call 305-247-2628

Day 2 – Feb. 11

We spent our second day going to Miami. It was a great! While there we visited the Holocaust Memorial at1933-45 Meridian Ave. 305-538-1663. Although I am sure there are Holocaust Memorials throughout the world, this is an eerily effective memorial with a 42-foot-tall bronze arm sculpture, which emaciated figures desperately cling. Bring a few tissues with you. It is something else to see. There are some gardens as well and granite walls with photos, names, and a history of the genocide. Admission to this is free.

From there we walked around the Art Deco area a bit. There was a photo shoot of a couple of models going on in front of the Bass Museum of Art (2121 Park Ave. 305-673-7530). The Bass Museum was closed the day we were there (our timing is usually impeccable, ha!). I believe we were there on a Monday.

From there we were off to lunch at one of the restaurants along the 10-mile strand of beaches. There are plenty to choose from and most have outdoor and indoor seating. It was a nice day so we were outdoors. It was great. When we were there they were setting up big tents all along the beach. Apparently there is a big wine fest there every year. We were a week early for that so we missed it. Anyway we were there on a Monday (Feb 11^th), and they said the wine fest was the following week.

After lunch, we made our way over to Vizcaya. I had read a bit about this and it sounded interesting. It is a $12 fee per person to go in. We enjoyed in immensely. This is really something to see. It is an Italian Renaissance-style villa built by industrialist James Deering in 1916. European decorative art in 34 rooms and views overlook huge formal gardens. The highlight outside is a barge shaped stone breakwater overlooking the magnificent Biscayne Bay. My husband and I travel all over the world, but we had never seen anything quite like this. Absolutely magnificent!

After our Vizcaya tour, we drove over to Coconut Grove for a drink and late afternoon appetizer. It was nice and had been a great day. We then made our way back to Florida City to our motor home.

Day 3 – Feb. 12

We were moving today even though we hadn’t been to Biscayne National Park or Key Largo as planned, but we are going to go back and do this on our way back home. So today we travelled further west on US 1 to Fiesta Key. This is at mile marker (MM) number 70. We got a spot for our big rig at the KOA there. This was a great spot right on the water and they also have motel rooms, which is almost unheard of for a KOA. It is a nice spot to stay with lots of activities. They have a nice pool and 2 hot tubs. There is also a nice little bar by the water where you can relax and have a drink or something to eat. They give you lots of room for your RV there, giving us 2 spots for our big rig where most KOA’s will squeeze you into one spot. They’ve got the room there so it was really nice. This was moving day for us so we just took it easy, got settled, checked the town out a bit, and walked by the water.

Day 4 – Feb. 13

Today we decided to go to Lignumvitae Key State Park. This was a wonderful trip and well worth the time. You have to get there by boat. We had read that Robbie’s Marina offered tours there. It was funny because the night before we had checked out Robbie’s Marina early in the evening and it didn’t seem like much. We thought we were at the wrong place. But when we went there the next morning, the place was hopping. A lot of people go fishing out of there and they offer different tours and kayaking. So anyway, they brought us over to Lignumvitae Key State Park where a ranger met us and gave us a tour. This is a botanical site and the highest spot in the Keys at 18 feet above sea level. It is named for one of the hardest woods in the world, “The Tree of Life”. The ranger gives a good tour of the grounds and the coral rock house built in 1919. If you ever read the fabulous book “Charlotte’s Story”, Charlotte and her husband were the caretakers of Lignumvitae Key. You’ll definitely want to get the book after visiting there. It was a great day and a great tour. We ended the day at HolidayIsleBeach Resort and Marina at their World Famous Tiki Bar, 84001 Overseas Hwy, MM 84, 305-664-2321.

Day 5 – Feb 14 - Islamorada

Today we decided to check out Islamorada area more extensively. This whole area is just beautiful and the ocean scenery in the whole area is just breathtaking. Islamorada itself is a great town with many good restaurants and shopping. I think Islamorada is my favourite Island in all of the keys. The Chamber of Commerce is at MM 82.5 Bayside.

We did some shopping at the Bass Pro shop in Islamorada and got some great bathing suits. They also have a great restaurant on the second floor of the store that overlooks the water. We had a wonderful lunch from a very interesting menu. We had some of the best conch fritters I had ever had and also the rare tuna lunch plate with Aioli sauce was simply delicious. After lunch, we walked down by the water at different spots and went to a few more shops. Because it was Valentine’s Day, my husband went to make reservations for us at a restaurant called Pierre’s. This is a bit of a story. Pierre’s is a really nice restaurant and right beside it is another restaurant. They share the parking lot and it looks like the same people must own both. Anyway, my husband thought he was going to Pierre’s but didn’t realize he was not at Pierre’s at all, but the one beside it. They told him they didn’t accept reservations and that you would just have to show up. It was Valentine’s Day, so it would be busy. When we arrived, we realized that Pierre’s was next door. We went over but they were booked for the evening. The pleasant surprise to all this was that we waited for a table at the restaurant next door and it ended up being one of the nicest Valentine’s Day dinner we ever had. We had a long wait for a table, but you wait on these chairs out by the beach while you sip on wine. It was a gorgeous evening. The restaurant had torch lanterns lit, and there was live music playing outside. Trust me, waiting was not a problem. When we finally got seated it was great. The tables, or most of them, are out on the beach area. Like I said, with torches lit and live music, it was the perfect Valentine’s Day setting. The food was more than fabulous. We’ve eaten at some of the best restaurant in the world and this was definitely one of them. Pierre’s looked very prestigious and we definitely would like to go and try it out sometime, but we really figured we lucked out with the evening we had.

Day 6 – Feb. 15, 2008 – Today we spent walking around Islamorada area. Went to some of the shops and just took it easy. The weather was nice and warm (high 80’s). We did a bit of sunny tanning today. Had lunch at The Islamorada Fish Company (fabulous), 81532 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, 800-258-2559, and dinner was at Hog Heaven on the water, 305-664-9669.

Day 7 – Feb. 16, 2008 – Snorkelling at Islamorada

Islamorada and Marathon have several snorkelling and diving outfits that you can take advantage of. We chose to go snorkelling on a small boat with about 10 other people. Some were snorkelling and others were diving. We had a really great day. It was a half day trip. They went to two different reefs and we saw a lot of marine life including two moray eels, barracudas, and many more fish. It was a wonderful trip and decided it was something we wanted to do more of in the future. We ended our day at The Island Grill, 85501 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, 305-664-8400, MM 85.5.

Day 8 – Feb. 17, 2008- Kayaking mangroves and Indian Key

Robbie’s marina and a few other people had mentioned to us that you could Kayak to Indian Key and also through the mangroves so we thought we would try this out. This was a really neat day. Indian Key is part of the state park and if the dock is in (it wasn’t when we were there) the rangers run a tour of both Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key on the same day. Our choice was to kayak over. Both Lignumvitae and Indian Key are uninhabited Islands. We kayaked over to Indian Key. Neither one of us had kayaked before, so I wasn’t sure about going out into the Atlantic Ocean on my first trip but as it was we were off anyway. If you think about it though, most areas in the keys do not have very deep water, so if something happens, I’m sure with a little bit of a swim and you’d be able to stand up. As it was the water was not deep and we were not nervous at all. Indian Key has a couple of sand beaches if you want to go for a swim and we noticed some people snorkelling as well. It used to be a little town; in fact, it was the town’s government building for the keys at one time because there was less chance of it getting destroyed by hurricanes. There are plaques there to read and an observation tower.

We then heading back out in the kayak towards the mangroves. The mangroves were really neat to Kayak through. They had trails with a map that you manoeuvre your kayak through. It was quite spooky and eerie. Felt like something out of a horror film. We had a ball. It was a lot of fun. You may see manatees and we got to see a baby crocodile up on a rock. It really was a great trip. We enjoyed it so much; we did further kayaking through mangroves when we were later in Fort Myers. Apparently you can also kayak and canoe through mangroves at Long Key State Park.

Day 9 – Feb. 18, 2008 – Marathon

Today we took it easy in Marathon. Marathon was once a base camp for Henry Flagler’s railroad. In fact, “Flagler’s Folly” gave Marathon its name. We strolled around and went to a great beachside restaurant called The Island Tiki Bar & Restaurant, 12648 Overseas Hwy, MM 54, Marathon, 305-743-4191. It’s right on the water and has a fun, casual, atmosphere. We found some shops to visit and got a good deal on some nice sandals and shoes at Birkenstock of Old Town, across from airport, 800-797-2475.

Day 10 – Feb. 19, 2008 – Pigeon Key Historic District

Today we went to Pigeon Key. The bridge (Old Seven Mile Bridge, called World’s Largest Fishing Pier) to Pigeon Key is no longer open to public transportation, although you can bike or walk over the bridge to get there, but we chose to take a tour boat over. Once there, the guide does a good job of giving the history of Pigeon Key and Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway. The buildings and the Island itself is interesting to walk around on. There are numerous small buildings to visit and they do have washroom facilities. There is a fee to go on the island. If you take the boat tour option, the fee includes the fee to tour the island and the fee for the tour guide once on the island. If you walk or bike over the bridge, you are still expected to pay some kind of fee even if you just want to use the restroom. It is the only way they can maintain the upkeep of the island. It is a nice day trip going over there. Apparently there is also a train (Old Henry) you can take from Knights Key. You can check out Pigeon Key by calling 305-284-0025. Pigeon Key is a National Historic Site.

Day 11 – Feb. 20, 2008 – Lower Keys – Bahia Honda State Park

The Lower Keys are the largest and least developed in the island chain. Bahia Honda State Park is a good park if you want to go swimming and spend the day at the beach. It has a nice, sandy beach, so this is what we did today.

Day 12 – Feb. 21, 2008 – Big Pine Key, No Name Key, and Key Deer

Today was a special day. We went Key Deer watching. Key Deer is the smallest sub-species of the Virginia white-tailed deer, weighing between 25 and 90 pounds, and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. You will find them on No Name Key. The best time to see them is around dawn or dusk. You will often see them in the field at the far end of Key Deer Blvd. and along Watson Blvd. They are a small deer. We saw one lying on a mat at a door of a house and it almost looked like a dog laying there. They are an endangered species and if they are going to survive, they should not be fed by human beings. The current population is between 600 and 750. We saw many of them as we drove through No Name Key and Big Pine Key. Before visiting them, we stopped at the Big Pine Key Plaza (MM 31.5) where there is a Visitor’s Centre and they were extremely helpful at giving us information of the area and the National Key Deer Refuge.

Day 13 to 19 – Feb. 22 to Feb. 28, 2008 – Boca Chica Key and Key West

We spent the better part of a week in Key West. This is about the third time we had been to Key West and this is some of the things we enjoyed. Once you are in Key West, transportation is not really necessary because just about everything is within walking distance. There are buses though, if you find transportation necessary and you don’t want to drive. The Key West Information Centre can be found at 1601 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, 888-222-5090.

We stayed a four days at Boyd’s Key West Campground and then a few days at an RV Park close to Boca Chica. Boyd’s is extremely busy and we were lucky to get the four days there that we got. Reservations are definitely recommended. They can be found at 6401 Maloney Ave., Key West, 33040, (305)2....

Key West is a very active Island and there is always a lot to do. Mallory Square is a must do and see at sunset. Not only will you see one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, you will also be entertained by buskers, vendors, and many others who are out for this busy, nightly, celebration.

We spent one day going out to Dry TortugasNational Park and seeing the historic FortJefferson, Gibraltar of the Gulf. This was a good day. The tour boat out was both enjoyable and entertaining. All food, drink, snorkel equipment, park fee, and tour guide was included in the price. Dry Tortugas itself was beautiful. We spent much of the day on the beach, snorkelling and enjoying the sun. The tour of Fort Jefferson was interesting as well. The structure was designed to support 450 guns and garrison 1,500 men all complete with a moat and 3 foot thick walls and a drawbridge. The history of the fort is fascinating. This tour can be arranged through Sebago (305)294-5687 or you can also call 800-634-0939 for more information. We also lucked out on the way over to pass by one of Mel Fisher’s diving boats at work on retrieving some of the lost treasures from the 1622 ship wreck that they are known for finding. You can visit the Mel Fisher’s Treasures at 200 Greene St., Key West, 305-296-9936.

There are many cruises and water sports available to do in Key West. We decided on a Sunset Cruise on the Appledore and enjoyed it immensely. It was a great old sail boat, where you were able to help manipulate the sails during the trip if you wanted to. The fee included beer and wine, as well as wonderful appetizers (some really nice cheeses and fruits). The atmosphere was fun and the crew were wonderful and friendly. They made you feel totally comfortable.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park was also an interesting visit. The Fort is small, but learning the history was interesting and it was a nice walk down to the Fort.

A walk to SouthBeach was also in order as this is the Southernmost Point in the Continental United States and was a must to get a picture of a huge buoy that marks the spot.

You can’t mention Key West without mentioning Duval St. and the famous Duval Crawl. Duval Street is literally covered with shops, bars, and restaurant and is known to be the party street of Key West. Many are known to start out walking down this street and by the time they are finished are literally crawling back to there rooms. What can I say; Key West can definitely be a party town.

Another nice walk around Key West is Old TownKey West. There is a parking garage close by and a walk in the area is nice to see some different shops, restaurants, etc.

Key West also boasts being home to Ernest Hemmingway. You can tour the Hemmingway Home. There is a fee and it is busy. If you are interested in the life of Ernest Hemmingway, it is a nice visit. You will see the original house and furniture as it was complete with the many cats that he was known to house. There is a gift shop if you are interested in any of his works or photos. There are guided tours or you may tour it on your own.

Some of the restaurants we enjoy visiting while we are in Key West are The Hog’s Breath Saloon (original franchise was created by Clint Eastwood), Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Café and Store, and Sloppy Joe’s Bar to name a few. There is also a unique little coffee shop that all the locals know about that has wonderful treats. And one of the funniest and most entertaining bars (a must visit) is Kevin’s Irish Bar (live, hilarious entertainment). They’ll literally pull you in off the street if you’re walking by.

Key West in general has a great amount of good, live, free entertainment at many of their restaurants and pubs.

Day 20, 21 and 22 – Feb. 29, March 1 and 2, 2008 – Drive back and Key Largo

Time ran out and we slowly made our way back to Fort Myers area. The last touring stop we made was Key Largo. There we took the Glass Bottom Boat ride,out of Holiday Inn Docks, MM 100, 305-451-465. This is home of the African Queen which you can look at while you are there. We would have liked to visit and snorkel at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park but will have to save it for another trip. We visited Biscayne National Park, which was nice and looked out to Elliot Key which we learned about from out visit to Lignumvitae Key.

It was a great trip and we look forward to repeating it down the road sometime.

Copyright © 2008