jacolis

Hi all,

DH and I will be in Fort Lauderdale visiting family before Christmas. We plan to leave our tweens with grandma for two nights for a short couples getaway.

We have been to Miami and Palm Beach areas on numerous day trips and to Naples on a previous trip (which I really enjoyed). Have been to almost all of the Caribbean islands previously. Don't have the budget for flights so are looking for a little getaway within driving distance.

I have never been to the keys and am intrigued by visiting a place that sounds like the "northern caribbean" (that's how I felt visiting New Orleans which I enjoyed in any event!). Wouldn't mind checking out Hemmingway house in KW either. BUT reading about Duvall St does not sound like our scene at all. We prefer quiet locations with some nature activities, paddling, good food and cultural sights. I thought the drive would be nice but it sounds like most of the stretch is not the nice picture of bridges spanning the water. DH does not like the idea of one lane roads with bait/t-shirt shops on either side.

Am now thinking maybe we could spend two nights in a place like Marathon or Islamorada which sounds nicer (and quieter) and maybe just go to KW for a day. I'm not fussed about not having sandy beaches as long as we can still go for a dip/paddle/snorkel somewhere.

Any thoughts? Or just not venture to the Keys at all? Save our money for a longer trip to the Caribbean? I'm just not sure if it's worth it for the prices in December.

Thanks in advance!

vincenzo32951

I like KW, but given what you said, it may not be for you.

The ride is long and boring, IMHO. Can't sugarcoat that.

For me, the best part of KW is the nightlife and activity. Point being, if paddling and nature activities are your thing, maybe you'll want to look elsewhere.

FL has some decent state parks that offer what you seem to be looking for, and nearby small towns.

bachslunch

I went to Key West a few years ago for a few days and didn't experience the party aspect of Duval Street, so it certainly can be done. Going during the day instead of the evening apparently makes a difference.

There are plenty of historic attractions in the city, with the Hemingway House only being one example.

jacolis

Thanks for your feedback. I should have mentioned that we do like quaint towns with little shops and restos.

Would the quieter areas of KW have that? Any thoughts on Islamorada or Marathon as a base for a day trip to KW and 1-1.5 days lounging and doing a spot of snorkelling?

fmpden

IMO, there is not much except resorts between Miami and Key West. Marathon is wide spot in the road and not quaint in anyway. Personally we would spend two nights at south beach and skip the long slow drive both ways.

Dukey1

I live in Fort Lauderdale and given what you've said I would think twice about the drive down altho I often tell people to drive it once and fly back if they can afford it.

After years we did the drive again last year and I agree it is a bore (but we've done it before).

"Quaint?" Depends on how you define that term.

You said " a little getaway" IMO that drive is not "little" somehow and I'm not sure the Duval Street thing is gonna thrill you after you get there...the Hemingway House and the Truman Annex maybe.

jacolis

Ok, thanks all. We definitely can't add on the airfare from KW back to FLL. If it were truly a 4-5 hour drive we would find that do-able for a 2 night getaway (we routinely drive 4 hours to Toronto for a weekend but that's on a major highway). But I understand if there's an accident it could take much longer!

I think we are going to stay in Miami and do a walking tour combined with some beach (+ lunch at Joe's!). I really want to get a taste of the keys though! Any views on driving just to Key Largo from Miami (maybe with stops in Homestead and lunch at Key Largo). Does that give one a sense of the keys??

fmpden

If you insist on some exposure go as far as Marathon. Drive over the 7 mile bridge, do a couple pull-outs, turn around and go back. Marathon is big enough to have some decent restaurants so lunch or dinner in that area would work. Or stay a night in Marathon and do a fishing boat. Or the first stop light going south into Marathon, turn left and loop through Key Colony. The bar on the causeway is fun and has a good happy hour. AND -- absolutely obey the speed limit in Key Colony.

garyt22

If you can't afford to fly on your budget, forget about booking a room in Key West during Christmas week... in season rates are pricey and many properties that truly offer the "keys" feel, require minimum 3 night stays... sure you could get a budget motel outside of Old Town, but that is a total waste of time and money. ..

Instead, take a day trip as far as Islamorada for lunch and some conch fritters, or some Cuban food... stop a few times along the way...

Gretchen

I think you would get a nice taste of the keys by going to Islamorada or such. It really DOES feel "different".

IMDonehere

We went to Key West last year and it was fine, but not worth a second visit. The road down can get quite congested as it is just two lanes in many spots.

It reminded more of Mandeville, LA, just across the causeway from NOLA, than NOLA. NOLA has wonderful restaurants and great music.

bachslunch

My trip report from Key West a couple years ago:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-184065-2.cfm

and food there as well as other FL cities:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-augustine.cfm

Macross

Hotels booked before Christmas week should not be bad. Key West is for everyone and the ride down is what you make it. We have our little stops for food but getting to KW is our goal so we don't dither around. There is so much to do and see. A sunset sail is great, water might be a bit cold for snorkeling. You could SUP or kayak though. There is so much history and renting bikes to get around is fun. The cemetery, Truman White house, Audubon House, the Christmas decorations and places to eat and drink are fabulous.

We have spent many a Christmas in KW. I love it.

EYWandBTV

You can avoid the raucous bar scene in Key West by staying away from Mallory Square and the lower half of Duval Street in the evening (Gulf of Mexico half - the 100 - 900 numbers). The upper part of Duval Street and the rest of the historic Old Town are full of beautiful architecture, zigzag lanes, and many good cafes and restaurants.

Try these:

Five Brothers Cafe, corner Simonton and Grinnell, for cafe con leche and pan con queso

Blue Heaven Restaurant, corner Petronia and Thomas, for breakfast (I suggest the eggs benedict with lobster hollandaise!)

Santiago's Bodega, corner Petronia and Emma, delicious tapas, excellent wine list

Southernmost Beach Cafe, top end (Atlantic Ocean end) of Duval Street; walls open out to the beach and palm trees, good happy hour, fine dinners and lots of seafood specials

In addition to things to see (Hemingway House, Lighthouse, Truman Little White House, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, historic cemetery, Key West Art and History Museum), there are lots of arts and music events beginning late November. Check out the web site for The Studios of Key West in particular.

The town is really lit up and decorated for Christmas, with lights going up beginning early December, and there are special trolley tours all around in the evenings.

Maybe worth a trip down from FLL for a couple of nights given your interests. Unless there's a major accident/breakdown (and this can happen in the traffic snarls around FLL and MIA also), you should be able to get to KW in 4 hours. If you go, I suggest you stay in Old Town. You can walk almost everywhere you would be interested in.








This is just one of many walks around Old Town.

Other good things:

>>>The cemetery: the sexton at the entry gate has a free map. Find the tombstone which says "I told you I was sick." Also the world-famous graves of three Yorkies and one Key deer (all one family site). And the monument to the sailors of the U.S.S. Maine (it was based in Key West before sailing to Havana).

>>>The Hemingway House, the Lighthouse, the Audubon House, the Oldest House, the pre-Civil War fort at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park (also a good place for sunset-watching), the Butterfly Conservatory, the Studios of Key West with its art exhibits and concerts.

>>>Breakfast at Blue Heaven, amongst the chickens. Order shrimp and grits or the lobster hollandaise. Hemingway used to attend boxing matches here when it was a community center. Before that it was a bordello. Go upstairs to see the "visiting rooms" with the peepholes.

>>>Dinner at Southernmost Beach Cafe, 1405 Duval, the Atlantic end of Duval, overlooking South Beach, where Tennessee Williams swam daily. Get the ahi tuna - avocado app and the fresh grouper if it's on the special list and look out at the sea. Bliss.

>>>The Dry Tortugas: you have mentioned your interest in this. It is a magnificent trip. Be aware that it consumes the entire day. The ship leaves at 8:00 am and returns about 5:00 pm, and each way takes 90 minutes. You will have several hours to explore and have lunch on the ship or under the palm trees. Huge Fort Jefferson is one of the largest masonry structures in the world, perched on a tiny island in the middle of turquoise waters. Swimming, snorkeling, photography.

Enjoy your trip!

EYWandBTV

ouch...where's the edit button

sf7307

That's OK, it was a very helpful post!!

EYWandBTV

I was trying to summarize a longer post I did for someone last year, and didn't delete the bottom half of the old one...glad it is of use

jacolis

Thanks all.

You have given us some food for thought! I really would like to see the Keys (or at least a bit of them). Am going to confer with the hubby to see if we can make it work. We usually go yearly to FLL to visit my MIL so will have lots of opportunities to do another overnight trip to MIA but it would be nice to take advantage of having two nights away.