Florida

Getting to the Keys

Craving a vacation to a warm tropical oasis but not ready to book that first international trip yet? Then the Florida Keys might be the perfect choice. The Keys are now completely open with little to no COVID restrictions in place. And what better way to explore the variety of islands then with a Florida Keys road trip?

You’ll start your journey by flying into either Miami or Fort Lauderdale airports. If you’re anxious to get on the road, you can start your road trip right away, or choose to stay a night or two in either city.

Miami or Fort Lauderdale?

Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports are only 20 minutes apart so either one works for renting a car and starting your drive to the Florida Keys. Currently, Fort Lauderdale is much less restricted from a COVID perspective with lots of choices for live music and no curfew restrictions in place. Miami bars and restaurants are limited to midnight. For more information about Miami travel restrictions: https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/travelguidelines

Miami

Miami has beautiful beaches and a ton of great choices for dining, especially if you are craving some fantastic Cuban cuisine. Please note though that most of the late night bars and clubs are still closed due to COVID so the nightlife scene is not back in full swing just yet. While Miami’s hotel rates due to tend to be a little cheaper than hotel rates in Fort Lauderdale, prices for food and entertainment are higher.

Fort Lauderdale

While Miami has it’s charms and is slightly closer to the entrance to the Florida Keys, Fort Lauderdale is my pick for starting your road trip. In addition to many beautiful beaches, For Lauderdale has a wide variety of bars and restaurants, so there is something for everyone. One of my favorite live music spot is the Elbow Room at Fort Lauderdale Beach. They have live music every day of the week, with the weekends starting as early as noon. Make sure to bring cash though because they don’t take credit cards.

Starting Your Road Trip

Once you’ve gotten your fill of the beautiful Fort Lauderdale or Miami beach scene, it’s time to start your journey to the Keys!

Key Largo

Your first stop will be Key Largo which is about an hour from Miami and 1.5 hours from Fort Lauderdale. Key Largo is best known for great scuba diving and snorkeling. It’s definitely worth spending one to two nights here or in it’s neighboring key, Islamorado, especially if you’re planning to book a snorkeling or diving tour.

Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen

During your stay in Key Largo, don’t forget to visit Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen. This little diner offers up some of the best breakfast around, so much so, that they had to open a second location. While both offer the same great food, I recommend visiting the original location located at 99336 Overseas Hwy. Get the hash brown casserole! You won’t be disappointed!

Scuba Dive

Key Largo is world renown for great scuba diving! We went diving with Rainbow Reef and highly recommend them. They have a lot of daily dive options, the staff are very professional, and it’s very easy to book a trip online. The visibility was great and were even able to see a nurse shark!

Islamorado Key

Islamorado is the next Florida Key that deserves a stop! It’s only 17 miles from Key Largo, so you can combine this key with your stay in Key Largo or book another night here. We booked one night at the Postcard Inn, which due to COVID at the time, was pretty empty. The property was absolutely gorgeous and if you book a room, you also have access to their sister resorts, Amara Cay, Pelican Cove, and La Siesta Resort.

The Rain Barrel Village

The Rain Barrel Village is an art gallery combined with a collection of quirky shops. It’s definitely worth a quick stop. And if you’re staying, they also serve great wine slushies! You can’t miss this place, as there is a giant lobster out front!

Robbie’s: Feed the Tarpon

After a quick stop at the Rain Barrel Village, travel another 15 minutes and have appetizers or lunch at Robbie’s. Try the conch fritters! And after lunch buy a bucket of fish and hand feed the famous tarpon. Also watch out for the pelicans that try to steel the Tarpon’s fish! They can be pretty aggressive!

Hog Heaven

If you’re in the mood for some great BBQ, another great place to stop for lunch in Islamorada is Hog Heaven. Make sure to grab a table on the outside deck for a great view of the water. It’s also a great late night and weekend spot that offers a variety of live music.

Big Pine Key

No Name Pub

Before you get to Key West plan to make a stop at No Name Pub in Big Pine Key. This iconic dive bar was founded in 1936 and offers some of the most delicious pizza around! From here, it’s only 45 minutes to your last stop, Key West!

An interesting fact about No Name Pub is that in the early days, the top room of the building was converted to a brothel in an attempt to bring in more revenue. After a few years, the brothel venture failed, but the pub continues to be successful.

Key West

The final stop on your Florida Keys Road trip is Key West! If you have limited time, make sure to plan the majority of your days here. Key West is full of quirky shops, great nightlife, and bustling beaches. We planned four separate trips to Key West during 2020/2021 and will definitely be heading back again at some point this year. The best part of Key West is that there really isn’t a bad place to stay. The island is four miles long and two miles wide so it’s all very walkable! And there is so much to see and do from scuba diving, to partying on Duval Street, to taking a sunset cruise. You can read more about what to do during your time in Key West here.

Sadly, now it’s time to start your journey back home. It will take you about 3.5-4 hours to get back to Miami or Fort Lauderdale airports to catch your flight home. If you’re like me, you had such a great time, that you’ll be planning your next trip to Key West during your drive home!

Tired of being stuck in the house? Plan a trip to Key West Florida.

Key West is the perfect spot to visit during this COVID Pandemic. Over the past six months, I’ve visited Key West twice and liked it so much that I’m planning a third trip in February. Masks are required when entering shops, bars, and restaurants but there are no longer any dining restrictions or curfew enforcement.

Let’s face it, it will likely be a while before international travel opens back up. In the meantime, why not explore the United States. Most of Florida is open for business. If you’re looking for a place with great weather and lots of activities, look no further than Key West. You can either fly into Key West airport or you can fly into Fort Lauderdale or Miami and drive the 3-4 hours to Key West.

Read all about what to see and do on your Florida Keys Road Trip.

Plan a Trip with Tropical Weather

On average, you can expect the high temperature in Key West to be in the 70s to 80s year round with low temperatures in winter dipping into the 60s and sometimes 50s. The weather is picture perfect and there really isn’t a bad time of the year to visit.

Plan Activities for Your Key West Florida Vacation

There is no shortage of activities in Key West. Keep reading to find out more about what to see and do during your visit.

Mallory Square Market

Key West is famous for its sunset. Every evening a crowd gathers in Mallory Square to watch the street performers and musicians celebrate the sunset.

Live Music Entertainment

There is no shortage of live music in Key West. My top choices include Hogs Breath, Sloppy Joe’s Bar, Two Friends Bar, and Irish Kevin’s. Most of the bars stay open until 4am seven days’ per week.

Visit Key West Beaches

Simonton Beach

When you plan your trip to Key West Florida know that beaches are tiny. My favorite is Simonton Beach at the North end of Duval Street. I prefer this beach over the Southernmost Beach because the water is much calmer and the scene is a little more lively.

Southernmost Beach

If you’re looking for a quieter beach than South Beach might be a better choice. It’s on the opposite end very close to the Southernmost Bowie.

Explore Downtown Key West

There is so much to see in Key West from the quirky decorations, to street art, to adorable mail boxes. You could spend an entire day, walking around and taking pictures. Below are a few of my favorites from my time in Key West.

Dinner on Sunset Pier

Enjoy waterfront dining and drinks while watching Key West’s famous sunset. Sunset Pier is part of the Ocean Key Resort and Spa where Duval Street meets the Gulf of Mexico. Stay entertained while you dine with live music and dancing.

Book Tickets to a Cabaret Show

Book tickets in advance to see the cabaret show at La Te Da on Duval Street. It will be a night to remember!

Walking Tropical Drinks

There are no open container laws in Key West so you are free to purchase alcohol and walk around. Stop into Flying Monkey or Fat Tuesday’s for some delicious cocktails. Bring your cups back to get a discount on refills.

Conch Train Tour

Tour Key West on the Conch Train. The tour is 90 minutes, departing from Front Street. It makes one full loop through Old Town Key West, ending at Mallory Square. You’ll learn about Key West’s colorful history and about the many famous writers, authors and musicians that have called Key West home.

Photos at the Southernmost Point

Key West is the most southern point in the contiguous United States. It’s actually closer to Cuba than it is to Miami. You can find the famous Southern Most Point Bowie at the very end of Whitehead Street. Plan to get there early as lines to take pictures can be very long mid day.

Enjoy Bottomless Mimosas

Ocean’s Grill has a bottomless mimosa special for $7.99 per person and they keep the champagne flowing. If you are planning to go on the weekend, make sure to make a reservation in advance. They are typically booked solid with reservations on Saturday and Sunday. Try the lobster mac & cheese and the brisket sliders!

Take a Sunset Sail Excursion

One of the best things to do in Key West is take a sunset cruise on a catamaran or schooner. We chose the Wind and Wine Sunset Sail with Danger Charters and had a fantastic time. The food and wine were delicious and the staff were knowledgeable and funny. Make sure to bring a sweatshirt or light jacket as it gets cold and windy on the water.

Tour Hemingway’s House

Visit the house that Ernest Hemingway called home for more than 10 years. The museum welcomes thousands of visitors each year and is also home to over 40 six-toed cats which are said to be decedents of Hemingway’s cat, Snow White.

Visit the Butterfly Nature Conservatory

The Butterfly Nature Conservatory in Key West is home to over 50 species of butterflies from around the world along with 20 exotic bird species.

Bike Rental

Key West only four miles long and relatively flat. If bikes aren’t your thing, you can also rent a golf cart or scooter or just walk everywhere.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Key West is home to the third largest barrier coral reef in the world. It extends 150 miles north towards Miami and 70 miles west to the Dry Tortugas. It’s the largest in North America and the third largest in the world behind Belize and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Dive Key West, Inc. is the largest full-service dive facility in the Florida Keys, offering scuba diving and snorkeling in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, including inner reefs, outer reefs, wreck, and night dives.

Shopping Vacation

Shop until you drop at the stores along Duval Street. You can find everything from souvenirs to fine art. Key West is full of small businesses selling unique and memorable items. I mean who wouldn’t want a life sized transformer?

Planning a Trip to Key West Florida During COVID

After New Years, Key West lifted dining and curfew restrictions. So whether you want to just kick back and relax or party until you drop, Key West offers something for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Plan your trip to Key West Florida now!