Really Florida!

There are lots of resorts in the Florida Keys, and seemingly more springing up all the time.  But what are some of the resorts in the various areas?  In this post, let’s check out resorts in the Key Largo area.

Mariner’s Resort Villas & Marina

This is one of the smaller of the resorts around Key Largo, with just 60 guest apartments.  Yes, apartments; at the Mariner’s, they range from 1 bedroom 1 bath to 3 bedrooms 3 baths.  Still, in the low season (like now) you can get some amazing deals — I was stunned at some of the offers I saw a few minutes ago, which you can see here at the Mariner’s Resort.

Marriott Key Largo Bay Beach Resort

David and I have stayed here, and we did enjoy it.  Lots to see and do, including a private beach (bayside) with plenty of “toys” to rent.  Be forewarned, the property is pretty sizable so getting from your room to the car and vise-versa can be a trek.  Still, the rooms were lovely and one thing I really appreciated; the beach was divided into an “active” end and a “quiet” end.  Once again, it’s the low season and rates are good! Check here for Marriott Key Largo rates.

Holiday Inn Key Largo

Now don’t expect luxury here, but do expect a good time.  Excellent for those who want to go diving and/or snorkeling, as well as families with youngsters (”kids eat free”).  Lots to see and do — close to Pennekamp, so go over there for the day.  Glass bottom boat tours and sunset cruises can be arranged from the marina…all kinds of things!  Prices are pretty good right now, with some interesting specials to look at. Check out the rates and specials for the Holiday Inn.

Resorts in the Florida Keys — Next Up is Islamorada

The next posting about resorts in the Florida Keys will feature properties in the Islamorada area.

Beaches in the Florida Keys aren’t as plentiful as you might imagine — the Keys are islands, right?  Yes, they are islands, but special ones which don’t have many beaches.

However, there are some wonderful stretches of sea and sand in the Florida Keys.  If you’re not expecting the wide beaches of NE Florida or the Panhandle, you’ll likely be pleased.

Let’s take a look at some of the beaches in the Florida Keys.

First Stop:  Harry Harris Park

Tavernier, located in the Upper Keys, has a beach at mile marker (MM) 92.5.  The beach itself is located inside Harry Harris Park.  Now remember, the beaches in the Florida Keys are small, and this is definitely…small.  But it is a beach!  If you have youngsters, this is a great beach because of the protected swimming area; no surf, and no large fish to nibble their toes.

Anne’s Beach

While there are places to play on the sand in the Florida Middle Keys, most of them are private beaches for resorts.  If you want a public beach, Anne’s Beach at mile marker (MM) 78 (kind of between the Upper and Middle Keys).  It’s not a long or wide beach, and there’s little surf, due to the calming effect of the offshore reef.  Still, the water is warm and clear and the sun shines brightly.  Anne’s Beach on Upper Matecumbe also features picnic areas and covered pavillions.

The Beach at Bahia Honda

This is a glorious Florida Keys beach, and worth the trip to the Lower Keys to see it.  It has a good-sized beach area, with plenty of room for walking.  Swimming and snorkeling are great here, and Bahia Honda is just what you’d expect from a tropical island beach — a slice of paradise.

(The photo you see here is Bahia Honda.)

The Key West Beaches

Smather’s Beach is the most famous of the Key West beaches, as well as the largest — a half mile long.  Still, there is plenty to do here.  From parasailing to snorkeling to volleyball, there is plenty going on.  And if you like just kicking back and watching the world go by, there’s a beach chair waiting!

Other beaches in Key West, Florida include Higgs Memorial, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach, as well as CB Harvey Rest Beach.

Here’s additional information on Key West beaches. 

Beach Trivia

 Well, I did warn you there there weren’t a lot of beaches in the Florida Keys, and here’s why.  The only living coral reef in the continental United States is offshore, and it protects the Keys from the wave action of the sometimes-storm Atlantic Ocean.

However, that wave action is what builds up beaches!  Add to it that the Keys are composed of limestone and coral, which aren’t the best beach-building materials, and you have few stretches of natural sand.

Still, most of the major resorts do have their own private beaches, so fear not; there just may be some sand closer than you think!

Florida Keys camping in the state and national parks can be awesome.  It can also be miserable.  What’s the difference between awesome and miserable?  It’s the time of year and place to camp.  Let’s take a look.

Best Time of Year for Florida Keys Camping

The most comfortable time of year, camping wise, is in the winter.  The days are generally balmy in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s.  The skies tend to be sunny (unless a front is coming through…and they don’t reach the Middle and Lower Keys that often).

Nights can be a little chilly at times, but not excessively so — upper 50’s.  Great sleeping weather!  Especially since there are no (or at worst a very, very few) flying insects to bother you.

Spring is the next best time of year, because it’s the tail end of the dry season, which again means fewer insects to “bug” you.  Weather is slightly warmer, with the days in the 70’s.  Can be a little cloudier, but usually the sun shines.

Fall can be a little iffy, depending on how wet it’s been during the summer.  Unless you’re at a campside on the water where you can get a sea breeze, you may be plagued by insects early in the fall.

Not-So-Great Time for Camping

Summer, hands down, is the worst time.  For campsites not on the water, the insects can be merciless.  And most campsites are not on the water.

Summer is also our rainy season, and while it may not rain every day, there’s a good chance of it most days.  And you really don’t want to be in a tent at least during a thunder and lightning storm.

Last but not least, Summer is our hurricane season.  Although the chance of a hurricane actually affecting Florida Keys camping is fairly low on any given week, it is a possibility.  Especially in light of recent years.

The Places for Camping

If Summer is your only option for Florida Keys camping, check out the water sites at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Lower Keys.  And if you don’t mind primitive camping, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas can be very interesting.

In general, camping in the Florida Keys parks that you can drive to are:

• Bahia Honda (Lower Keys)
• Long Key (Middle Keys)
• Pennekamp Coral Reef (Upper Keys)

Here’s more information on state parks in the Florida Keys and the camping opportunities.

This is part 4 of Florida vacation ideas.   To see the other ideas (past, present and future), you can look here to see the posts of ideas.

Florida is known for it’s beaches, for sure.  But not everyone lives by the beach.  For those more inland, cruising or paddling the rivers and lakes of the Sunshine State makes more sense.

For today’s Florida vacation idea, let’s take a look at boats and boat rides!

Go for a Boat Ride

Florida is not only surrounded by water on three sides, but we also have lots of lakes and rivers. From canoes and kayaks to cruise ships, there are boating opportunities galore!

For example, many of the Florida parks run concessions that rent canoes/kayaks.  One Florida state park that has great canoe trips is Wekiwa Springs near Orlando.  Myakka River in SW Florida has excellent canoeing as well. 

And if you’re into kayaks, check out the waterways at MacArthur Beach State Park.  And if you’re curious, the photo to the right was taken on the Loxahatchee River, which flows near Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

And one more:  the Florida Panhandle has some of the most beautiful rivers you’d ever want to paddle in a canoe (or kayak).  You can also motor along some of the larger rivers.

Take a Boat Tour!

Sunset cruises are big in the Florida Keys. And if you’re in SW Florida and hankering to visit Key West — there’s a ferry that departs daily.

The Florida Keys are especially great for boating and boar tours.  The waters there are usually pretty calm on the Atlantic side, due to the protecting effect of the coral reefs offshore.  The Florida Bay side is even calmer!  (I do have the tendency towards seasickness in rougher waters, but I never have been afflicted in Florida Bay, or on the Keys side of the reef.)

Watery eco-tours abound, especially around the Spacecoast on the Atlantic, and the Ft. Meyers area on the Gulf.  Usually canoe or kayak led for a true natural experience, there are also motorized boat tours for those so inclined (usually early and late in the day, so as to see the most wildlife).

So those are today’s Florida vacation ideas.  Check back in again later for part 5 in this series!

As I mentioned in the previous post, I thought I’d put up some Florida vacation ideas.  (Here’s the vacation ideas part 1 if you missed it.)

Park It (And I Don’t Mean Theme Park)

The Florida parks are the unsung heros of the Sunshine State. From State Parks like Grayton Beach in the Panhandle to National Parks like the Everglades, it’s a side of Florida that all too many people never see.

This photo was taken in Everglades National Park, at the Shark Valley entrance.  This is one park that can almost pass for an attraction, it’s so neat!  Plus there’s the awesome tram tour, which is not to be missed.

For example, there are caves in Florida where you can take a tour.  They may not exactly be Mammoth Cave, but Florida Caverns is worth a trip to the Panhandle to see.

There are two parks that are almost entirely underwater — Biscayne and Pennekamp in the Florida Keys are.  Both of these parks offer glass bottom boat tours of the only living coral reef in the continental United States.

There are state parks like MacArthur Beach where you may be almost alone on a gorgeous stretch of sand and sea.  I don’t know why, but the beach has been almost empty every time I’ve gone; if you like a quiet Florida beach, it may be for you.

If you love camping, there are places for beach camping in the summer (the sea breezes help keep the mosquitoes away) and more inland the rest of the year.  Spring and Fall are especially nice for Florida camping!

Before I forget, here’s something else to consider; Florida parks are great for your wallet.  The entrance fees are small, and even if you rent boats or take a tour, it’s far, far less than the cost of one of the major theme parks!

I hope I’ve given you some Florida vacation ideas.  In the meanwhile, here is a list of some interesting Florida parks — there should be one in your area.

I have a few more photos to share with you. So far we’ve covered Bahia Honda and the Dry Tortugas, followed by Islamorada. In this post, we’ll take a look at what boaters see in the Keys.

This first picture is of Florida Bay, taken from Flamingo in Everglades National Park. Florida Bay caresses the Keys, providing smooth, shallow, warm water. Boaters are most likely to play in this area, as well as those fishermen stalking shallow-water game.

The Everglades aren’t precisely in the Keys, seeing as it’s on the mainland, but it’s tied directly to the Keys. The health of the Everglades plays an enormous impact in Florida Bay.

Anyway, Flamingo isn’t a widely-visited area. Not only is it a bit on the remote side (well, remote by Florida standards), but in the summer, the heat and insects are relentless. Unless you’re out on a boat, of course — the insects will give you a bot of a break. (The heat doesn’t let up, though.)

No real beaches in Flamingo, but there is a bot of sand here and there. For real (and real gorgeous) beaches, you’ll have to take a boat over to Cape Sable, located at the very tip of the mainland portion of the state. Cape Sable sits between Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and definitely is remote, by anyone’s standards.

Intrigued? Here’s more information on the Everglades and the animals in the Everglades.

If you’re in the Florida Keys, you should take a sunset sail while here. The Keys are known for their glorious sunsets, and there’s no better place to experience one than on a sailboat of some sort.

There are all kinds of sunset cruises and sails available in the Keys — pretty much anywhere you are, there’s one available nearby.

Don’t worry if you are the seasick-type (like me) — the waters around the Keys are calm most of the time, with little wave action to bother you — it’s more like sailing around on a lake. Especially if you are on a boat out on the Florida Bay side.

If motion sickness does bother you but you’d still like to try a Florida Keys sunset sail, look for a catamaran, which is wider across and more stable. And go in the summer, when the waters are the calmest.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these Florida Keys pictures! I’ll post more from time to time, for your enjoyment.

The last photos were of Bahia Honda and the Dry Tortugas. In this post, the Florida Keys pictures will be for Islamorada. Not just what it looks like, but also what you can actually do there!

Islamorada marks the end of the Upper Keys and the beginning of the Middle Keys. It’s not widely known for much — more of a “drive through” to get between Key Largo and Key West.

Except for one thing — Islamorada is known world-wide for one particular sport — offshore fishing. It’s one of those places that enthusiasts dream of going. Marlin? You bet. Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) — definitely. Snapper, grouper, cobia, kingfish, tuna and more all come through the Islamorada area.

This photo? It was the catch for a charter that my husband and our neighbor went on, Summer of 2007. They caught more fish than what’s shown, and as of this writing, we still have fish in the freezer from this catch!

But you know, Islamorada deserves to have more of a following than from just fishing fans. It’s a lovely island, less crowded than the other three major Keys cities. The sunsets are just as pretty as those in Key West, and the ocean just as warm and inviting.

Ok, actually one other group of people make Islamorada a destination — divers. There are reef clusters nearby that make great dives, and they aren’t as crowded as the ones closer to Key Largo.

There is one attraction in town that is very much worth seeing — Theater of the Sea. Don’t expect something like Sea World (it’s not that big or fancy), but it is a great time. I like to visit whenever we’re in town for more than a day — it’s just fun. Any you won’t believe what happens on the bottom-less boat ride! (And no, it’s not that you sink.)

Check out more information about Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

Hope you’ve enjoyed these Florida Keys pictures, and there are still more to come!

The Florida Keys are gorgeous, and it’s really hard to do them justice with just words. I can say things like they are known as the “American Caribbean” or “tropical America”. Maybe even just call them “paradise”! But since they are worth a thousand words, how about some Florida Keys pictures?

The first is a photo on one of the prettiest beaches in the state, located in Bahia Honda State Park, in the lower Keys. The water is excellent for swimming and snorkeling, and there’s plenty to do at Bahia Honda.

Since it’s a Florida State Park, Bahia Honda has everything you’d expect — trails for hiking, roads for biking. Picnic areas and even beachside camping. But did you know that this park also has cabins for rent near the beach? Complete with air conditioning (very much a necessity most of the year), you can stay by the water without having to pitch a tent.

Here’s even more information about Bahia Honda State Park.

What’s next? How about a place that’s in the Keys…but not really? I’m speaking of the Dry Tortugas.

The Dry Tortugas islands are even more offshore, and you can’t drive to them — you have to take a ferry or a seaplane to get there. The name means “dry turtles” (hmm). The turtles was in reference to the sea turtles that would congregate there, and the dry was for the fact that there isn’t any naturally-occurring fresh water on the islands (of which there are seven).

There aren’t any hotels, nor any facilities on the islands, so why go there? Because of their absolute beauty.

The Dry Tortugas National Park encompasses these islands, lying about 70 miles west of Key West. There is one outpost, Ft. Jefferson, which was built in the 1800’s, then abandoned by the military.

I mentioned that there aren’t any hotels on these islands, but there is camping allowed. Real beach camping. Real primitive beach camping, although composting toilets are available. No running water, so bring your own. There are only 8 spaces available, so if you want to camp, make a reservation well ahead of time.

Snorkeling, swimming, diving and fishing are other draws for the Dry Tortugas. Plenty of wildlife, too, both under and over the sea.

Here’s where you can learn more about the Dry Tortugas National Park.

Hope you’ve enjoyed these Florida Keys pictures. More are coming up!

Not everyone knows, but there is a ferry that runs between Key West and three South Florida places– Ft. Meyers, Marco Island and now Miami. If you don’t like the hassle of driving down to the Keys (especially if you live on the Gulf Coast), why not try the easy way?

Now the term ferry in this case means “ferry people” and not “also ferry cars”. These aren’t terribly large boats, from 130 to 170 feet long, but they are large enough to be comfortable, and include amenities like flat screen TVs, a galley/bar and seating either indoors or out.

The Ft. Meyers to Key West ferry is about a 4 hour trip each way. Currently, the schedule is to leave Ft. Meyers at 8:30 AM and turn around midnight.

The Marco Island ferry also takes in the vicinity of 4 hours for the trip, but you have a slightly shorter stay as you leave Marco Island at 8:30 AM and return at 8:30 PM.

The Key West ferry to and from Miami is only available during the “season” (roughly Thanksgiving to Easter), but they may be extending it to year around — have to wait and see on that one.

A round-trip ticket is in the vicinity of $110 to $150, depending on your port city (Ft. Meyers being the most expensive). But honestly, with all that Key West has to offer, you might want to spend at least one night there in a cozy bed & breakfast, so that you have time to really enjoy the island.

So the next time you’re thinking about a trip to Key West, but dread the traffic, why not consider taking the Key West ferry and enjoy the trip in comfort?

Key West resorts aren’t exactly cheap; even the cheapest are triple-digits a night. So while Key West may not be a cheap place to stay, you still don’t need to pay more than you have to. Here are some tips for getting the best price you can when planning your Florida Keys vacation.

First, consider the time of year. Between the beginning of May and through to about Thanksgiving is the “low” season in the Florida Keys. Partly because it’s hot and humid, partly because the risk (small, but there) of hurricanes, partly because the tourists are crowding Orlando then. But Summer is a great time to find a Key West resort bargain.

There’s one caveat — don’t try to book a resort stay the last Thursday/Friday/Saturday in July — it’s lobster mini-season. And lobster mini-season means that hotels, motels and resorts all up and down the Keys will be packed to the gills (so to speak).

Next, find out if there are either price breaks for booking online - or - check out some of the places like TripAdvisor that get the prices for you all in one place (and you’d be surprised at the differences sometimes).

Also check and see if the resorts have special packages. It might be that they have a package that overall looks like it costs more — until you see all that you get. Then it can many times be a cost savings.

Some of the big Key West resorts make you pay for parking, and it doesn’t tend to be cheap. Granted, it’s a small island and space is at a premium, but if you plan to drive down — ask if you have to pay to park.

How far away are you from the Old Town and Duval Street? Usually the farther away from the Old Town area, the less expensive it becomes, but not always. And you have to weigh the hassle of driving your car around in the crazy Keys traffic against being able to walk to the major tourist areas.

Consider a B&B or inn instead of a resort. There are many small inns that give you a good amount of privacy, plus a nice amount of TLC.

Here are some Key West resorts that you might want to consider, when planning your Florida Keys vacation.