Where to go in the Florida Keys?

[seeclear]

Going down there in June and was wondering if anyone had recommendations for places to stay/see? We don't scuba, but plan to snorkel. Not looking for the most expensive or least expensive, but a nice place to go/snorkel/sightsee. TIA

[sda2mike]

snorkel in key largo to start...john pennekamp state park...there's alot of tour boats vying for your business to take you out there...worth every penny

once you're in the keys....you're in the keys

lose the watch...find the buzz...life is different in the keys

you can get good snorkeling almost anywhere

[ben62670]

snorkel in key largo to start...john pennekamp state park...there's alot of tour boats vying for your business to take you out there...worth every penny

once you're in the keys....you're in the keys

lose the watch...find the buzz...life is different in the keys

you can get good snorkeling almost anywhere

I was just going to say that when I saw the title. Molasses reef is awesome. Take the glass bottom boat ride. It is cheap and amazing. Also the sunset on key west. Fishing out of the middle keys is great.

[tonyb]

lose the watch...find the buzz...

Ya know...the older I get, the more I apply your way of thinking.

Hope the trip is a good one for the OP, bring lots of cash.

[sda2mike]

almost forgot....try to find the 'no name pub'....the best pizza you might ever have...pulled pork is bad ass too..beer is cheap...very hard place to find...a place most folks start their keys weekend with or end....

at the very beginning of the keys....east of key largo actually, there is a real country bar that is absolute fun every time..i'll post back later with the name

[On3s&Z3r0s]

I think the best snorkeling is in Pennekamp. There's not as much to do in the water if you get all the way down to Key West. But Key West has the best bars and naked people.

[sda2mike]

there's some people who should'nt even be naked by themselves

[ben62670]

When I hung out in the Keys there was a "circuit" that we would run. If you know where to be and when you can eat very well(big shrimp and dozer lobsters), and catch the good deals on drinks and food. Mike do you know the name of the Italian resteraunt that is on the north side of the road in Marathon(I think)? It sits back a little in a very modest looking building. They have great food and it is cheap too.

[sda2mike]

ben....no i don't think so....but i cant rule it out...i remember (!) an italian restaurant in marathon on one of the 7 mile bridge run weekends...things are foggy after that...we rarely go to the upper or middle keys..sometimes. but most of the time we haul ass all the way to key west..with stops along the way of course...holiday village in islamorada come s to mind....

[gdb]

We stayed at The Reach hotel on Key West, supposedly the only real sand beach on the island (at that time anyway),it was pretty nice and not too expensive. Be sure to go to Mel Fisher's Atocha museum and also, the Hemmingway house. Have fun!

[seeclear]

I was just going to say that when I saw the title. Molasses reef is awesome. Take the glass bottom boat ride. It is cheap and amazing. Also the sunset on key west. Fishing out of the middle keys is great.

Sooo, the glass bottom boat goes to Molasses reef?

almost forgot....try to find the 'no name pub'....the best pizza you might ever have...pulled pork is bad ass too..beer is cheap...very hard place to find...a place most folks start their keys weekend with or end....

at the very beginning of the keys....east of key largo actually, there is a real country bar that is absolute fun every time..i'll post back later with the name

NoName is on/near Key Largo, then?

I think the best snorkeling is in Pennekamp. There's not as much to do in the water if you get all the way down to Key West. But Key West has the best bars and naked people.

Not as interested in the naked people on this trip. Well, honestly, I am always interested, but my 10 year old will be with us, so we don't need to include that on the itinerary this time.

Is there a central locaion to stay and then hit hot spots, or should we move down the line over the week?

Thanks a lot for the info so far, keep it coming!

[sda2mike]

no name pub is on no name key:tongue:..i believe it's 28 miles east of key west...it's a good ways from key largo

[ben62670]

Sooo, the glass bottom boat goes to Molasses reef?

Yes. Again a must see. The kid will never forget it. 65 feet deep looks like 15 feet.

[On3s&Z3r0s]

LOL... unless you're there around Halloween you probably don't need to worry too much about the naked in Key West. Key West is a lot of fun but it's more about taking in the touristy things to see and do on land. If you do get all the way down there, there's a restaurant called Blue Heaven that's good. If you have an extra day or so and get down farther than Key Largo then it's worth the trip.

It's a long drive, about 110 miles from Key Largo to Key West, so if you wanted to see the sunset in Key West you wouldn't want to be making the drive back after. If it was me, I'd say stay in a couple different places. Definitely a few nights in the Key Largo area, then maybe some time in Islamorada or Marathon. I think Marathon is probably a little cheaper to find accommodations than Key West and you can definitely do that drive as a day trip.

[dee1949]

....is this the bar and restaurant you are looking for? No Name Pub. Ranked high for food and drink. On Big Pine Key.

http://www.nonamepub.com/menu.html

[fishbones]

If your driving through the keys, you have to stop at Robbie's! A dock on the right hand side next to a bridge just after leaving Islamorada, where you can buy a bucket of fish and hand feed dozens of huge wild Tarpon. One of the coolest things you'll ever do. If your staying near here, Holiday Isle in Islamorada is a blast at night.

Further south - Key West gets my vote as the most fun, cause it has the most to do. Doing the pub crawl along Duval street is an awesome experience and something you'll always remember. I wouldn't go to the Keys without doing it. Places that are a must see (Irish Kevins, Sloppy Joes, Durty Harrys, Capt Tony's, Red Garter , Mel Fisher museum, Sunset show with performers).

I'll be back there in June.

[ratster]

Stop on Big Pine Key for breakfast at The Cracked Egg.

[flason]

It depends on what you want to do down there. If you don't really care about a night life, then any other key would work. If you enjoy an adult beverage, then Key West is the place to be. My wife and I love it down there. We often stay at a little B&B called The Curry House. Very reasonable and with-in 2 blocks of the docks where some of the boats take off from and 3 blocks from Duval. Right down there next to the Turtle Crawl and the Dog Bar. Here is our typical day. Start out with a delicious breakfast at our B&B. Go down and make reservations for parasailing, snorkling, jet skiing, Dry Tortugas run, the list goes on. Head down to Duval and shop. Head back for our adventure. Then it's back to the B&B for showers and usually free afternoon wine. Then back to Duval for many more drinks. Then there's the ghost tours which is a hoot. Then the cycle continues the next day. Of course there's Hemingways, the Lighthouse, just a lot of things to do down there. We always stop on Islemarada on the way down at what use to be the Bass Fishing Outlet. They have Heningways boat "The Pilar" that you can tour for free. Plus a dock that's also a restaraunt. Food is good plus you can feed the tarpon and shark they have around the dock.

[seeclear]

Bumpin' the old thread.

We leave in about 2 weeks, any last minute recommendations?

TIA

[Slinger182]

I'll be in Key West June 9-12 for my buddy's wedding. We are staying at The Reach. We stayed there when my dad got married down there several years ago. It was called something else but it was very nice. The locals said it was the best pool and beach there.

We did a kayak and snorkel trip it was a lot of fun. Had plenty of good food and drink as well.

[gdb]

Just be sure to hang on to your wallet when/if you go for sunset at mallory Square.....there are pro pickpockets working that venue!

http://www.sunsetcelebration.org/

[decal]

Look up my old pal Serge Storms,he is the number one authority on all things in the keys. Google his name and see what I mean. Never a dull moment for sure!!!!

[wz2p7j]

Key West recommendations:

Food: Square One, Martin's, Louie's Back Yard. Scott Kirby, a local musician, is opening a new place, The Smokin' Tuna, that might be fun. Opens 6-17. There's a place right across from Square One that's fun for lunch. Great pizza and a buncha crazy parrots hanging around. At the far eastern end of Duval street is a restaurant on the ocean that is good for breakfast.

Entertainment: Hogs Breath, Sloppy Joes are old standbys. The Turtle Crawl by the marina is laid back and fun. Lotsa others.

Sightseeing: Highly recommend the day trip to Fort Jefferson.

Have fun,

Chris

[sda2mike]

just got back from marathon key...what kind of activities are you looking for?

[seeclear]

Sorry I haven't been able to check back on this thread for a couple days cause our internet was down at home over the weekend. We are probably going to be in the Islamorada area, maybe Marathon, but not Key West. We may do a day trip to Key West, but we won't be staying there.

It will be the wife and I and our 10 yr old son, we are looking to do some snorkeling (we don't scuba), general exploring, sea kayaking, outdoor stuff and, of course, eating a LOT of seafood. I wouldn't mind a little fishing charter, but knowing how much those usually are, I don't think that will be on the agenda this time around. My daughter is going to be at Marinelab in Key Largo, so we may go up that way for some activities. TIA guys and gals, and keep the suggestions coming!

[sda2mike]

Sorry I haven't been able to check back on this thread for a couple days cause our internet was down at home over the weekend. We are probably going to be in the Islamorada area, maybe Marathon, but not Key West. We may do a day trip to Key West, but we won't be staying there.

It will be the wife and I and our 10 yr old son, we are looking to do some snorkeling (we don't scuba), general exploring, sea kayaking, outdoor stuff and, of course, eating a LOT of seafood. I wouldn't mind a little fishing charter, but knowing how much those usually are, I don't think that will be on the agenda this time around. My daughter is going to be at Marinelab in Key Largo, so we may go up that way for some activities. TIA guys and gals, and keep the suggestions coming!

Marathon is your place! i think the snorkeling is better than in key largo..book a trip that goes to sombrero lighthouse..very cool...i like the 'pace'
of the middle keys the best...