sort of boaty in a way !!!!! help required florida keys

[lanerboy]

we are planning to go to Miami next year for my wifes 40th birthday and drive down to the florida keys, we are going to go for about 4/5 nights may be a bit longer, can anyone tell me the best time of year to go there as don't want to be there in a hurricane

also we are planning to do some fishing on a boat trip etc etc but I am after any other suggestions as what to do when we are there

cheers shawn

 

[Nigelpickin]

Hi shawn, lived and played in FL over the years so I would say;
If you like the heat then may/june/july are great months...any later and you can see some pretty big storms and the season sholders range from 60 to 75 so not so warm.
You often get flash electrical storms in the early summer but they tend to be short and sharp.

I prefer the gulf coast, Tampa, St Pete and Naples in particular but Miami is cool and Chic if you have the money

Have a great time!

 

[rafiki_]

Shawn, best to go before mid May, as the humidity builds up then, over the next couple of months, then hurricane season starts in about July, and goes on till end Oct. March/April are the months that the sceptics prefer, pretty hot and dry.

 

[Kawasaki]

One year we rented a 'boston whaler' type boat in Marathon, which was a good
Also did the everglades thing in Everglades 'City'? , funny just a one street 'City' if I recall but it was a good gig though
4/5 nights won't give you a lot of time but I reckon a trip to the keys and hire a day boat is worth the drag down to the keys from Miami

 

[MarieK]

I did this last year in late November and got brilliant weather. My principle reason for being there was diving in the Keys but did a lot of boaty stuff while there.

Ill give you compressed version here but happy to share our full itinerary if you PM email address

We stayed in South Beach for the first 2 nights, which was probably the bit I wouldnt do again, bit too hip for me lol

Head to Fort Lauderdale and do a boat tour of the Intercoastal waterway, plenty of boaty stuff there.
Everglades for an Airboat tour was great fun
It wont take long to drive from Miami down to the keys. Take the Old Dixie Highway into the Keys and stop at Alabama Jacks for a cocktail, it sits right on the water and you can usually sit there having a drink and watch the manatees laze their way by – better early morning or late afternoon to catch the manatees but always a fun place. Once you go over the bridge you will make a hard right which will connect you back to the Dixie Hwy heading south through the Keys.
We spent a few nights at the hilton in Key Large, nice hotel with beach etc - I was diving in area thus stayed there.

In Tavernier, you should stop at the Wild Bird Rehab Center, on the right side of the road, near MM93.6 (easy to fly by so keep your eyes open) it is amazing place to walk through and see the birds of all types – egrets, eagles, everything – being rehabbed. They ask a small donation and it is actually a lovely walk through their property.

The dolphin research center in Marathon http://www.dolphins.org/ is where the Flipper TV series used to be filmed, last time I stopped in they still had offspring from Flipper around.

Islamorada Fish Company, in Islamorada, right next to Bass pro shops. I always stopped in winter because they have stone crab claws (they are catch and release, take one claw and throw them back to live, so very expensive but only available in winter) but Islamorada still yummy, fun to eat on the water and feed the giant tarpon and Bass pro shop fun to wander through.

Definitely stop at Robbie’s in Islamorada, http://www.robbies.com/ easy to miss, it sits on the right side of the road, down on the water, and you have to make a sharp right just off the end of a bridge to get to it, keep an eye peeled, you will likely miss it and have to swing back. Anyway, at a minimum take a walk down to the docks and get a bag of food to feed the tarpon, or watch others feed them, they are ginormous and there are hundreds of them – amazing to see. You can also get kayaks there and wander out into the mangroves and the state park which is really nice to do.

There are lots of lovely little restaurants all along the way, don’t have any in particular, I just ask locals where they like to eat.

You will want to stop at Baby Coffee Roasters just before you hit Key West, on the left side of the road, if for nothing else because it is the southernmost coffee roaster in the US!

Key West is generally just a party everywhere you go. There is a joint on the water along the docks that I love to go hang at the bar and eat oysters but I have no clue what the name is – sorry! Just a fun place to wander, you will no doubt find your way to the waterfront at sunset to see that and all the nonsense going on there, performers and magicians and crazy people. Take a walk through Hemingway’s house, etc etc

 

[Richard Shead]

Schooner Wharf is the bar I think you are talking about in Key West. Late oct early Nov can be VERY interesting in Key West just google fantasyfest .... And yes I ended up there but don't ask how. !

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I did this last year in late November and got brilliant weather. My principle reason for being there was diving in the Keys but did a lot of boaty stuff while there.

Ill give you compressed version here but happy to share our full itinerary if you PM email address

We stayed in South Beach for the first 2 nights, which was probably the bit I wouldnt do again, bit too hip for me lol

Head to Fort Lauderdale and do a boat tour of the Intercoastal waterway, plenty of boaty stuff there.
Everglades for an Airboat tour was great fun
It wont take long to drive from Miami down to the keys. Take the Old Dixie Highway into the Keys and stop at Alabama Jacks for a cocktail, it sits right on the water and you can usually sit there having a drink and watch the manatees laze their way by – better early morning or late afternoon to catch the manatees but always a fun place. Once you go over the bridge you will make a hard right which will connect you back to the Dixie Hwy heading south through the Keys.
We spent a few nights at the hilton in Key Large, nice hotel with beach etc - I was diving in area thus stayed there.

In Tavernier, you should stop at the Wild Bird Rehab Center, on the right side of the road, near MM93.6 (easy to fly by so keep your eyes open) it is amazing place to walk through and see the birds of all types – egrets, eagles, everything – being rehabbed. They ask a small donation and it is actually a lovely walk through their property.

The dolphin research center in Marathon http://www.dolphins.org/ is where the Flipper TV series used to be filmed, last time I stopped in they still had offspring from Flipper around.

Islamorada Fish Company, in Islamorada, right next to Bass pro shops. I always stopped in winter because they have stone crab claws (they are catch and release, take one claw and throw them back to live, so very expensive but only available in winter) but Islamorada still yummy, fun to eat on the water and feed the giant tarpon and Bass pro shop fun to wander through.

Definitely stop at Robbie’s in Islamorada, http://www.robbies.com/ easy to miss, it sits on the right side of the road, down on the water, and you have to make a sharp right just off the end of a bridge to get to it, keep an eye peeled, you will likely miss it and have to swing back. Anyway, at a minimum take a walk down to the docks and get a bag of food to feed the tarpon, or watch others feed them, they are ginormous and there are hundreds of them – amazing to see. You can also get kayaks there and wander out into the mangroves and the state park which is really nice to do.

There are lots of lovely little restaurants all along the way, don’t have any in particular, I just ask locals where they like to eat.

You will want to stop at Baby Coffee Roasters just before you hit Key West, on the left side of the road, if for nothing else because it is the southernmost coffee roaster in the US!

Key West is generally just a party everywhere you go. There is a joint on the water along the docks that I love to go hang at the bar and eat oysters but I have no clue what the name is – sorry! Just a fun place to wander, you will no doubt find your way to the waterfront at sunset to see that and all the nonsense going on there, performers and magicians and crazy people. Take a walk through Hemingway’s house, etc etc

+1 for Robbies, the Tarpon feeding is quite a sight. We rented a small open motorboat from there, great fun.

 

[Powersalt]

We did Miami South beach this December ( early) and it was great. Ended up in Naples but got the boat from Naples to Florida Keys. It was a great way to travel and spend the night in FQ, back the next day only about 30 bucks I think.

 

[omega2]

Long winded but worth a watch

meridian Beach marina, Dave Zalewski, Lucky Too 111

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdXjZc9ZRE0

 

[Bandit]

Plus 1 for Naples side. I personally preferred Naples and the Gulf coast.

Fly in to Miami more flights better rates, hire a car.

If you have not done it and you remember the Apollo flights the space centre is a must.

 

[Malabar]

Plus 1 for Naples side. I personally preferred Naples and the Gulf coast.

Fly in to Miami more flights better rates, hire a car.

If you have not done it and you remember the Apollo flights the space centre is a must.

Rent a pick up truck rather than a saloon car. Cheaper; copes well with any flash floods (thunderstorms) lots of street cred and less likely to be taken for a tourist. Go like the locals!

The highway down along the keys to Key West is a great experience but if you drive in the afternoon the sun directly in your eyes can be a nieusance.

 

[lanerboy]

Great replies folks very interesting will look through later with the gaffer and see what she has to say, keep them coming

cheers

shawn

 

[abraxus]

I would agree with late November as a time to go and used to visit Naples and Key West at that time of year. The hurricane season is over and tends to have blown away the worst of the mosquitos and biting insects and it's not too hot. Also you have Thanksgiving then, which can be fun, and if you need to any shopping they virtually give stuff away in the Thanksgiving sales. I used to do all my clothes shopping there every year.

 

[longjohnsilver]

We were there last April, second trip down the Keys. Spent a few days in Key West and I wouldn't rush back there, basically an all day party venue. However the Keys are interesting with lots of great restaurants, beaches and small harbours. I'd spend time looking around places such as Key Largo and the National Parks and hire a boat for a day or two.

 

[rafiki_]

Naples is a lovely town, easy to rent a boat. Great Margharita's. Kennedy Space Centre is a great trip, but probably a 5 hour drive from Miami. Fort Lauderdale makes a great base too. Avoid Daytona, seedy and run down, but great circuit. Orlando is always great fun.

 

[diverdad]

The wife, daughter and I went on Boxing day 2006 and saw in the New Year. Hire a car at Miami airport and head straight down highway 1 to the keys.
We stayed at Duck Key which is about halfway down. We spent a good week driving up and down the keys, bit of diving, manatees, lots of boats etc. Fantastic. Warm, but not too hot. Would do it again in an instant if the missus would let me.

Enjoy your trip.

Lee

 

[lanerboy]

We stayed at Duck Key which is about halfway down. We spent a good week driving up and down the keys

Lee
Did you stay in one place then and just drive up and down the keys for the week going back to the same hotel each night, we are not sure whether to stop in the middle and drive around each day, OR move hotels every 2 nights or so to cut the driving down and sort of leap frog our way down to the end using 3 or 4 different hotels

cheers shawn

 

[diverdad]

Hello Shawn, yes we stayed at Duck Key for the duration. It's central location was great, with careful planning we were able to see all we wanted within the time we had.

Lee

 

[lanerboy]

Hello Shawn, yes we stayed at Duck Key for the duration. It's central location was great, with careful planning we were able to see all we wanted within the time we had.

Lee

what hotel did you stay in we are looking at the holiday inn express in marathon seems reasonably priced and the kids say they want to come now so their will be 4 of us

 

[diverdad]

Hello Shawn, we stayed at Hawks Cay, they have a good kids club too!!!

Lee