View Full Version : Florida Keys
Hi All
We are in Crescent Lakes in July and are thinking of taking a 3 day break down to the florida keys taking a trip to the Everglades on the way down and stopping at the Kennedy Space Centre on the way Back.
Are there any good places to stay to break our trip up ??
How long do you think this will take us to get to the Keys ??
Many Thanks in advance
Rob & Carol
Well, Miami is around 3 - 5 hours away from Crescent Lakes (depending on which route you take and how many stops!) and Key West, for instance, is around another 5 or so hours drive from Miami so, depending on which Key you're thinking of visiting, you're probably talking about a whole day getting there and one getting back again.
If you go to the Everglades in July, be sure to take plenty of mosquito repellant as it's peak season for them!
Kennedy Space Center is about an hour's drive from Crescent Lakes.
bellaepovera
13-04-2004, 21:53
If you are heading to Key West it is a total of 7 hours stopping a couple times etc, so not sure if its worth it for only 3 days..
Pikey1999
13-04-2004, 22:23
There is a motel at the top of the Keys. We stopped there for the night then drove down to Key West early the next day.
Beautiful.
Just stop anywhere along the route, find yourself a beach and go for a swim. The water is so warm it's like bath water.
We then drove back up and stayed in the same motel before driving back towards Orlando the next day.
It is a long journey though. But worth it!!! [msncool]
Ray&Sarah
13-04-2004, 22:49
A few years back we stopped at the Howard Johnson at Key Largo, which is at the top of the keys. The hotel was pleasant, and we were able to drive down to Key West in about 2 1/2 hours.
Doing Kennedy as part of the round trip seems a bit off the beaten track, as Kennedy is roughly due East of Orlando, and as Blottie says is only about an hours drive.
Floridalover
13-04-2004, 22:49
I can recommend the Crowne Plaza on Duval Street. Its the highest building in Key west and has stunning sunset views from the bar at the top. Not cheap though. There is lots to do down in the Keys, so I would add a couple of days to your trip as it will take you a day there and a day back. Miami to the Keys is not the distance its the road thats the problem, very busy and sometimes slow. Highly recommended though:)
florida4sun
13-04-2004, 22:56
Carol,
I wouldnot do the journey over three days. Your looking at 2 days travel and just one day down there. I would make it atleast 4 days. Travel down down the east coast and then on the way back up the west coast.
Kennedy is just an hour from CL so make that a day trip.
Martin
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by langley
Hi All
We are in Crescent Lakes in July and are thinking of taking a 3 day break down to the florida keys taking a trip to the Everglades on the way down and stopping at the Kennedy Space Centre on the way Back.
Are there any good places to stay to break our trip up ??
How long do you think this will take us to get to the Keys ??
Many Thanks in advance
Rob & Carol
[/quote]
Rob & Carol,
I would advise you to do as Martin says re Kennedy and do as Blott says re mosquitoes if you go in Summer - they are bad enough at the beginning of June!!
If you want to visit the Everglades we went to Everglade City from where you can do boat trips etc. There is a large Motel on the Tamiami Trail (US41) near the turning to Everglades City. The Keys themselves, as you may be aware, are quite busy at weekends because many Americans from the Miami area go down for the weekend both fishing and partying and the traffic on US1 can be like our M25 on the Friday and Sunday. There are lots of Motels both on the Atlantic and Gulf sides of the Keys. It is a long way for just 3 days because you will virtually spend one travelling with your return journey.
If you do decide to go, I hope you have an enjoyable time.
Mike.
andrewmckay5
14-04-2004, 00:13
Rob and Carol,
just an alternative that might be of interest is going down the gulf coast to fort myers and getting a boat to key west.
www.keywestshuttle.com
regards
andrew
Ray&Sarah
14-04-2004, 00:18
Andrew,
That looks like a really nice way to get there. Will have to consider this the next time we are in Orlando, as we would love to see Key West again. The beach should be on the right side of the road by now, the year we visited they had only just started clearing up after a really devastating hurricane.
Floridalover
14-04-2004, 00:31
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by andrewmckay5
Rob and Carol,
just an alternative that might be of interest is going down the gulf coast to fort myers and getting a boat to key west.
www.keywestshuttle.com
regards
andrew
[/quote]
Beats the stress of driving the US1. I've seen it arrive in Key West, it looked quite full so may be worth booking in advance:)
andrewmckay5
14-04-2004, 01:14
should have said that we haven't been on the boat yet so cannot vouch fot it one way or the other. Our villa is only 30 minutes drive away so one for our next visit.
i first stayed in Key West for spring break 1983 and went again in 2000, fantastic place and even on a 2 night stay you can really get a taste for the place. Definitely in my top 3 for the usa, most probably number 1.
andrew [msncool]
Floridalover
14-04-2004, 01:35
Just wondering Andrew, where is your villa? Fort Myers is a fairway from Southern Dunes (spot the pun.:)) and that's one of the furthest south communities you can get.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Floridalover
Just wondering Andrew, where is your villa? Fort Myers is a fairway from Southern Dunes (spot the pun.:)) and that's one of the furthest south communities you can get.
[/quote]
Matt,
Looks like Andrew is in Rotonda West near Port Charlotte.
Floridalover
14-04-2004, 01:45
Ah, yes, that'll be why its only half an hour then.....still a fairway from Southern Dunes[:I]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Floridalover
Ah, yes, that'll be why its only half an hour then.....still a fairway from Southern Dunes[:I]
[/quote]
TeeHee!! Get it TEE hee!!
Floridalover
14-04-2004, 01:49
:D:D:D:D....I got it wrong actually, it's a bit more than a fairway from Southern Dunes[:p]
I feel that I can use this topic to bring the madness of my wife to the forum.
You'll understand what I mean when I say that we did Key West as a daytrip from Kissimmee in 2002.
I tried to talk her out of it, I begged her to let me stay in the villa, but she wouldn't listen and I was out-voted.
So 5 of us piled into the 7 seater and made the trip, all the way there (starting at 8am) and all the way back (ending at 2am).
And to add insult to (back) injury, it rained for the three hours we spent walking around Mallory Square and Duval Street !!!
[msncry][msncry]
Floridalover
16-04-2004, 03:17
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by mikewj
I feel that I can use this topic to bring the madness of my wife to the forum.
You'll understand what I mean when I say that we did Key West as a daytrip from Kissimmee in 2002.
I tried to talk her out of it, I begged her to let me stay in the villa, but she wouldn't listen and I was out-voted.
So 5 of us piled into the 7 seater and made the trip, all the way there (starting at 8am) and all the way back (ending at 2am).
And to add insult to (back) injury, it rained for the three hours we spent walking around Mallory Square and Duval Street !!!
[msncry][msncry]
[/quote]
God, I have done Miami to Key West and back in a day a few times and I moan about that !!
Your a brave man to have done it from Kissimmee in a day.......
The Italian Job
16-04-2004, 03:31
Andrew can you get a boat to anywhere else on the Keys from Fort Myers or just Key West? I would like to visit there from our villa but prefer Key Largo:)
andrewmckay5
17-04-2004, 00:55
Richard and Irene,
not that i know of but my knowledge is fairly limited. If you haven't visited these sites before they list a number of boat rental companies etc for the area:
[website links edited - please contact Andrew by PM for info]
regards
andrew
Why do you all travel for hours for your Florida Keys?. I find a lock box a much better system.They are just outside the front door and guests can let themselves in. :D:D:D
Floridalover
17-04-2004, 18:59
:D:D:D:D
sandra777
18-04-2004, 00:38
Hi
The 130 miles or so from Key Largo to Key West along higway US 1 has been decscribed, quite rightly, as the most beautiful road in the world. Hoping along across the bluest of seas from Key to Key with the smaller islands dotted on either side. We first made this trip in 1989 and it is as magical now as it was then. The nightly gathering for the sunset in Key West is one of those memories that will be with me for the rest of my life. I know you'll never regret making this trip.
Sandra
Yes the views when travelling over the bridges between islands can be good, but most of the time it it just a very straight road that could be anywhere, properties on both sides. We landed in Sandford Stayed in Titusville(2 nights to visit Kennedy) then drove as far as possible down the A1A, very quiet and some lovely sights. The on to the A1 we stayed in Florida City (2 nights) which is a good place to stay but is still quite a drive to Key West but if you don't mind a fairly early start and late finish it is possible in a day with a few stops along the way and a reasonable time in Key West. We then drove across the Everglades and went on an airboat ride on our way to Fort Myers Beach (3 nights), very restful. We drove to Kissimmee for 7 nights, if you want to do other things other than Kissimmee I thing this is the best of both worlds.