Driving to the Keys

Redlordamazon · Post by **Redlordamazon** » July 9, 2006 10:36 am

Hello, Maybe I cam get some helpful hints. I will be travelling from Disney to the keys. I am leaving on a Saturday morning and returning on Tuesday to Ft. Lauderdale. I figure around 8 houres to key west and abou 4 hours back to Ft. Lauderdale. Here is where I could use some hints from you guys. I want to break the drive down up with a stop over as we will have our two children with us. I could use some suggestions as where to stay and what to do, of coures we will be hitting Margaritaville. I have heard there is a national park near key west as well as some dock or something where the sunset is great. We would also like to get a little beach time in as I hear that there are not alot in Key West any and all pointers will be great. Thanks RLA

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 9, 2006 10:44 am

Redlordamazon wrote:Hello, Maybe I cam get some helpful hints. I will be travelling from Disney to the keys. I am leaving on a Saturday morning and returning on Tuesday to Ft. Lauderdale. I figure around 8 houres to key west and abou 4 hours back to Ft. Lauderdale. Here is where I could use some hints from you guys. I want to break the drive down up with a stop over as we will have our two children with us. I could use some suggestions as where to stay and what to do, of coures we will be hitting Margaritaville. I have heard there is a national park near key west as well as some dock or something where the sunset is great. We would also like to get a little beach time in as I hear that there are not alot in Key West any and all pointers will be great. Thanks RLA

there are plenty of places to see the sunset, both above KW as well as there in 'the city". I would stop in Florida City if you are going to do a stopover. That way the kids will get to see the whole of US1 in the daylight. Stop at Denny's Latin Diner in Bayside for breakfast.. well worth the price of admission, and they still seem to have prices from 1980 for good-sized portions.

ConchRepublican · Post by **ConchRepublican** » July 9, 2006 11:27 am

We stayed in Key Largo, Bayside Resort, last time we were in the Keys. As the name implies, it's on the Bayside, and the sunsets are nice. There's a small beach with a jetty into the bay and a Tiki Bar and restaurant associated with the place next door. I thought it was a nice place, laid back and quiet.

I'd think that would be a decent halfway stopping point.

If you want to check it out: www.baysideresort.us

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » July 9, 2006 11:33 am

Anne's Beach at milemarker 73.8 (lower Matecumbe) was a pleasant suprise the last time that we were in the Keys.
Secluded by woods with boardwalks and trails that lead to the beach.
http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches ... each.shtml

Pigeon Key under the old Seven Mile Bridge was as also a nice family outing.
Stop at the visitors center (an old train car) and take a train/trolley ride there. Don't forget a bathing suit.

http://www.pigeonkey.net/Tours.html

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » July 9, 2006 12:52 pm

Sunset supper at Lor-E-Lei's MM82

Feed the Tarpon at Robbie's... it's the best bang for your buck
and the kids will love it. MM 77.5

Bahia Honda State Park for a beach outing with kids. MM37

And read through (and print out) this:
http://www.buccaneerpublishing.com/FL_K ... _Guide.pdf

tjtryon · Post by **tjtryon** » July 9, 2006 1:30 pm

Redlordamazon wrote:Hello, Maybe I cam get some helpful hints. I will be travelling from Disney to the keys. I am leaving on a Saturday morning and returning on Tuesday to Ft. Lauderdale. I figure around 8 houres to key west and abou 4 hours back to Ft. Lauderdale. Here is where I could use some hints from you guys. I want to break the drive down up with a stop over as we will have our two children with us. I could use some suggestions as where to stay and what to do, of coures we will be hitting Margaritaville. I have heard there is a national park near key west as well as some dock or something where the sunset is great. We would also like to get a little beach time in as I hear that there are not alot in Key West any and all pointers will be great. Thanks RLA

If you are planning on going from Disney all the way to Key West (roughly 400 miles), realistically plan on about 10-12 hours, depending on traffic. You WILL get stuck in a traffic jam somewhere around Miami (take the toll road), and much of the Keys is 2 lane, with no or very little passing, and traffic is slow. This also figured in bathroom and food breaks, as well as some sightseeing.

It is a beautiful drive down... If you can hit Miami early AM (leave Orlando at about 3 AM), you will miss traffic, and have the best Sunrise you've seen, over the ocean off Key Largo. Also, easier to drive when the kiddies are asleep, and you'll have less traffic, may be able to get there in 6-8 hours then...

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 9, 2006 1:47 pm

Even with traffic, it's never taken me more than four hours from Ft Lauderdale. So I'm thinking 7-8 with one gas stop, add time from there for additional food/bathroom stops. Definitely take the Florida Turnpike and bypass Miami altogether.

RIPH · Post by **RIPH** » July 9, 2006 3:13 pm

My suggestion with kids would take you down Florida's West coast. It's an easy drive down 75 and stop for the night in Marco Island. Great beaches and food. Then take Alligator alley through what's left of the Everglades and see some cool indian reservations. After that, take a right on Chrome and proceed to the keys....this would be the only point where you will find traffic in this Florida tour!!!

Redlordamazon · Post by **Redlordamazon** » July 9, 2006 4:01 pm

Okay so far this is what we have planned we leave Disney at 10 am on sat National car rental picks up up at our hotel. Then we start driving------------? We know that we will be staying at the Reach resort in Key west on Monday and Tuesday nights. Know I need some more help with the stop over for Saturday and Sunday. I could also use some more suggestions for activities. Thanks again. RLA

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » July 9, 2006 5:44 pm

maybe a sunset cruise?
We went on one in Key West a couple of years ago with Captain Al on the Schooner Reef Chief and loved it. It's an old great wooden ship.
You also get to snorkel if you'd like.
http://keywest.com/sailkw.html

Pirate Soul (museum) in Key West was also pretty cool
http://www.piratesoul.com/

parrotheadfun · Post by **parrotheadfun** » July 9, 2006 6:07 pm

Redlordamazon wrote:Hello, Maybe I cam get some helpful hints. I will be travelling from Disney to the keys. I am leaving on a Saturday morning and returning on Tuesday to Ft. Lauderdale. I figure around 8 houres to key west and abou 4 hours back to Ft. Lauderdale. Here is where I could use some hints from you guys. I want to break the drive down up with a stop over as we will have our two children with us. I could use some suggestions as where to stay and what to do, of coures we will be hitting Margaritaville. I have heard there is a national park near key west as well as some dock or something where the sunset is great. We would also like to get a little beach time in as I hear that there are not alot in Key West any and all pointers will be great. Thanks RLA

Keys are one of my favorite places to go. The lifestyle down there just can’t be beat. Can’t wait to get back down there after Orlando in October!

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 9, 2006 6:42 pm

RLA, how old are your kids?

Finsupinfla · Post by **Finsupinfla** » July 9, 2006 8:21 pm

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/travel/prin ... avel-print

Here is an interesting article that was in the Ft. LAuderdale paper today. it might be helpful!

Redlordamazon · Post by **Redlordamazon** » July 9, 2006 10:26 pm

Hey SGH. Our kids are going to be 7 and 2 in September. Our son is the oldest and he loves listening to Buffett. The September show at Madison Square Garden falls on his birthday and we will be trying to get him to it. I am still considering Great Woods have been searching for tickets my next question will be for a hotel to stay after show if I can get a decent deal on tickets. Thats another story Thanks again all and we are still welcoming any and all recomendations. Thanks RLA

Nole Pirate · Post by **Nole Pirate** » July 10, 2006 3:04 pm

I agree with the suggestions for Denny's in Key Largo as well as a stop at Bahia Honda. Of course once in Key West, Mallory Square for a sunset. If on the weekends, you might catch my fiance's grandparents dancing at El Meson de Pepe's (sp?). they are old, but they can move a lot better than my fat butt can.

chalksoperations · Post by **chalksoperations** » July 10, 2006 10:54 pm

Hey Red...If you're kids are 7 & 2, and you are leaving mousetown at 10, here's what I can throw in. You will need to take the Florida Turnpike south. From the park, get on the Osceola Parkway. Just after you pass the Wal-Mart, be in the right lane. You will now have 245 miles until you reach Florida City. You definitely want to hit Miami before 3-3:30, as the traffic will start getting crazy once you hit the Dolphin Mall at the 836 interchange. Once you get south of 836, tune in 103.1. It's a station out of Plantation Key that you can pick up right about there. Currently, there is a major construction job going on at the Jewfish Creek bridge on the main US1 stretch between Florida City and Key Largo ( I commute on this piece of real estate, so trust me on this one). They are great with traffic back ups on the "stretch", and will let you know if Card Sound Rd is a good alternate. It will land you 10 miles up the road, but it will get you to the Overseas Highway quicker if the stretch is a parking lot.

About the kids...about now, they are probably going nuts. Not sure what your time frame is, but you can always pop into Pennekamp Park for a little walkabout, or if water is on their mind take a left at the CVS (it's just past the K-Mart, where the northbound and southbound lanes split). Back there is a YMCA waterpark that for a modest entry fee they can put on their bathing suits and have a splash.

Further down, in Islamorada, there are two things adjacent to each other that may entertain them, as well as the adults. They are Holiday Isle and Theatre of the Seas. Theatre of the Seas is a primarily a water animal show. It is a quarry that was dug out to build up the land for Flaglers Railway that ran to Key West. The quarry was bought and used for live Dolphin and Sea Lion shows. Since then it has been added to as expected.

On the way down to Marathon, you will pass Long Key State Park and Anne's Beach as someone had mentioned earlier. In Marathon, there may not be much to see on the O.H. However, if you take a left on Sombrero Beach Rd (if you pass Publix, you just missed it). The sign has been down since the hurricanes last year, but it is the road between Bank of America and Publix. Go past the High School and you will see a nice public access beach/park that the kids can blow off some steam on. While in Marathon, if they're hungry, the best place going right now is the Keys Fishery. It's located bayside, take a right at 35th St. If you pass the State Troopers building, you just missed it. For a quarter, the kids can get a handful of Tarpon food and feed the fish while you take in your choice of seafood.

It's a start, but if you want some info on any local happenings the day you come through, PM me.

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » July 11, 2006 11:35 am

Hey Chalks, any idea how long that construction at the top of the Keys will be going on? I'm headin down that way in about a month.

tjtryon · Post by **tjtryon** » July 11, 2006 12:55 pm

Reefdiver wrote:Hey Chalks, any idea how long that construction at the top of the Keys will be going on? I'm headin down that way in about a month.

It was there back in March, and is still there now, so I imagine it will be quite a while...

From http://www.keysso.net/patrol_ops/traffi ... delays.htm

Construction to Begin on 18-Mile Stretch of US 1 between Florida City and Key Largo

Key Largo -- Construction to rebuild 18 miles of U.S. 1 from Florida City to Key Largo—known locally as the Stretch—will begin on Monday, April 4, 2005 near Key Largo.

To minimize impacts associated with construction, the 18-mile corridor has been divided into four construction projects by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The first project extends from Mile Marker (MM) 106 to MM 113 and includes reconstruction of U.S. 1; replacement of the outdated two-lane Jewfish Creek Bascule Bridge, built in 1944, with a new fixed bridge that will provide a 65’ vertical clearance for navigation; replacement of the Lake Surprise Causeway with a low-level bridge; and construction of the Manatee Creek Bridge and wildlife box culvert crossings.

The $148 million project is scheduled for completion in summer 2009. The Stretch has a long history of safety concerns due to speed, traffic volume and a higher-thanusual number of crashes, including head-on collisions. This two-lane safety project will provide environmental enhancements and a number of roadway improvements designed to improve safety, including one travel lane in each direction divided by a concrete median barrier to prevent head-on collisions; reconstruction of passing lanes; and inside shoulders, outside shoulders and water quality berms for storm water treatment. The outside shoulder can be used for hurricane evacuation when necessary.

During construction, two driving lanes will be maintained throughout the corridor, but some nighttime closures may occur. The existing Jewfish Creek Bridge will remain operational until the new bridge is complete and open to traffic, and access will be provided to businesses. Road Ranger free service trucks will patrol the construction zone to assist stranded motorists. Construction on the second of the four projects is tentatively scheduled to begin in spring 2006. Work on the four projects will overlap, and at times one or more projects will be under construction simultaneously.

PirateJohn · Post by **PirateJohn** » July 11, 2006 1:54 pm

Redlordamazon wrote:Hello, Maybe I cam get some helpful hints. I will be travelling from Disney to the keys. I am leaving on a Saturday morning and returning on Tuesday to Ft. Lauderdale. I figure around 8 houres to key west and abou 4 hours back to Ft. Lauderdale. Here is where I could use some hints from you guys. I want to break the drive down up with a stop over as we will have our two children with us. I could use some suggestions as where to stay and what to do, of coures we will be hitting Margaritaville. I have heard there is a national park near key west as well as some dock or something where the sunset is great. We would also like to get a little beach time in as I hear that there are not alot in Key West any and all pointers will be great. Thanks RLA

That stretch of the Florida's Turnpike from Orlando to Ft. Pierce can be summed up in three words: dull, dull, dull. One highlight that might make an interesting stop if everyone is getting bored is the old Desert Inn trading post at Yeehaw Junction. Get off at the exit and drive over to the intersection of Rt. 441 and Rt. 60 -- you can't miss it. It looks like her site is down and an article in the St. Pete Times at http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/04/Busin ... see_.shtml indicates that she has the place up for sale, so it may be a last chance to see the Florida that was before the tourists took over the Everglades. Some photos of the place on on my blog entry at http://journals.aol.com/piratejohn/Jour ... ntries/875

As far as the Keys go, you are getting some good advice from the folks here. May I suggest that you download and print out a copy of the Keys Guide, which is at a link in my signature?

Have a fun trip!

chalksoperations · Post by **chalksoperations** » July 11, 2006 9:26 pm

Like the post said, the job will be going on for quite a while. Best bet is to check 103.1 and see what they are saying about current traffic back-ups.

Some days you can blast right through it, other days you park and get to know your neighbor.

They have just planted the first couple rows of support columns for the bridge, so at least there is some degree of visibility of progress. If you haven't been this way in a while, you will not recognize it at all. You can actually see the Manatee Bay Marina at the Monroe Cty line.

BuffettNews.com

Driving to the Keys

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