- Taking in all the spectacular scenery along the seven mile bridge adventure
- The leisurely drive, at your own pace
- Stopping along the way through the Keys to eat, visit attractions and get the feel of a local
- Having a car to travel around Key West during your stay
- Time to start decompressing from all the stress, hassles and frustrations of life/work at home
#1) Whether it is the first time or the 20th time you drive through the Keys, it will never disappoint. You will see spectacular colors of blue, aqua and turquoise water on either side, the Atlantic Ocean on the left and the Gulf of Mexico on the right as you traverse the seven mile stretch of U.S. Highway 1. The lush foliage, tropical scenic landscape and mangrove isles are nature at its best. It makes you want to take some time to soak it all in and just breathe, paradise awaits! Along the way you will drive through all the Islands from Key Largo to Key West. (Hint- keep your phone on camera to catch its beauty when it presents itself!)
#2) You can always drive straight through, or you can take your time and get on island time. It is very cool to stop when you want or take photos of the different Keys along the way. You’ll know you’re getting close to Key West when you see Fred the tree and Fred jr. on the adjacent old Henry Flagler’s Railroad Bridge between mile marker 41 and 42. Check out Fred the Tree’s FB page for more facts and interesting photos of Fred and Fred jr.
#3 Starting at The Overseas Highway MM127 on your way to Key West, you have the upper Keys, the Middle Keys and the Lower Keys. First is Key Largo MM100. The African Queen is a nice stop to see the 100-year-old steamboat moored next to the Holiday Inn Oceanside that was featured in the movie of the same name staring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Next head to Islamorada MM81.5 and lunch at Morada Bay. The eatery features a beautiful waterfront view, excellent fish tacos, served on tropical colored tables and chairs to greet your hungry soul. Welcome to Morada Bay | Waterfront Dining in the Florida Keys (moradabaykeys.com). Next continue with a full belly to take in the Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters MM53. (Things to Do in Marathon: Florida Keys Aquarium & Snorkeling (floridakeysaquariumencounters.com) Continue west to the Seven Mile Bridge (once called the 8th wonder of the World) at MM47! The bridge spans crystal clear waters and affords a spectacular view of the little keys that dot the horizon. You don’t want to miss stopping by Bahia Honda Key beach MM36.8, Bahia Honda State Park | Florida State Parks to put your toes in the water, stop by the gift shop for some souvenirs or chill out on the beach! You could make an entire day at Bahia Honda if you want to, so plan accordingly. If you want a pit stop, have a happy hour cocktail at Tonio’s waterfront restaurant and bar, a very cool tiki bar located on Summerland Key MM25. It’s a little slice of old the old keys with excellent seafood and Italian dishes served both inside and out for your comfort.
Next stop, the final destination…
Key West, the Southernmost city in the continental United States. A whole amazing and whimsical world awaits you, just make sure to soak in one of the amazing sunset celebrations! A few cool websites to check out are: Beach Bunny Tours - Original Tours of Key West for audio guided tours of the Keys, https://www.floridarambler.com/florida-keys-getaways for reliable things to do outdoors and https://www.keywestchamber.org for more things to do while in Key West, https://www.visitacity.com where you can book any adventure or fun activity right from this link. Planning a trip was never this easy!
#4 Getting around Key West by car is handy, however parking in The Historic district of Old Town can be challenging if you don’t plan ahead. One of the best parking garages is at the new Opal Key Resort and Marina. This garage offers parking near much of the Duval Street action and Mallory Square and is located at 245 Front St, Key West, FL 33040 (+1 305-294-4000. $4 per hour or $32 maximum per day) or go to or the parking site Parkopedia, https://en.parkopedia.com
Depending on what you want to do and where you want to go, you may want to park your car at your hotel and take the Duval Loop Bus. You pay a small fare, show your pass and hop on or off all around Key West, we love it! Download the app at www.kwtransit.com
#5 Let go of the stress of everyday life and get excited about your trip to Key West-
It’s Key West Krazy time!