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Old 01-21-2018, 08:17 PM   #1
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Hitting Florida Keys Feb 1 to 5 advice?

Placing 31 foot on a spot on water. Have 3 girls with me age 16 15 and 8. What should we do?
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Old 01-22-2018, 07:26 AM   #2
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The keys are about 150 miles from key largo to key west so where you are will impact what you want to do. If near key largo, take glass bottom boat tour over coral reefs from Pennekamp and also make sure you visit African Queen. If near Islamorado, Theater of the Seas is worth a visit. I recommend Lazy Days and Lorelei to eat at. You also need to feed tarpon at Robbie's and can take some sunset or nature cruises from their marina. If nearer Marathon, there is a neat turtle rescue hospital and Crane Point nature refuge is also good for kids. I like keys fisheries for food. If you make it to Key West, you should visit Hemingway House. My kids also like the shipwreck museum. Mel Fishers museum, Fort Taylor, and Truman's White House are other options. Walk Duval and catch sunset at Mallory Square. I like El Saboni for good Cuban. Have fun!
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Old 01-22-2018, 07:49 AM   #3
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Placing 31 foot on a spot on water. Have 3 girls with me age 16 15 and 8. What should we do?
Take plenty of money and increase your CC limits! Probably no worse than California though! Have fun
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Old 01-22-2018, 08:36 AM   #4
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If you don't have reservations I would not start out there with a trailer.
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Old 01-22-2018, 08:47 AM   #5
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I have reserved a spot
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Old 01-22-2018, 08:48 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Jarrod White View Post
The keys are about 150 miles from key largo to key west so where you are will impact what you want to do. If near key largo, take glass bottom boat tour over coral reefs from Pennekamp and also make sure you visit African Queen. If near Islamorado, Theater of the Seas is worth a visit. I recommend Lazy Days and Lorelei to eat at. You also need to feed tarpon at Robbie's and can take some sunset or nature cruises from their marina. If nearer Marathon, there is a neat turtle rescue hospital and Crane Point nature refuge is also good for kids. I like keys fisheries for food. If you make it to Key West, you should visit Hemingway House. My kids also like the shipwreck museum. Mel Fishers museum, Fort Taylor, and Truman's White House are other options. Walk Duval and catch sunset at Mallory Square. I like El Saboni for good Cuban. Have fun!
Very helpful thanks!
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Old 01-22-2018, 09:33 AM   #7
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The conch train in Key West is great fun as well.
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Old 01-22-2018, 10:03 AM   #8
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The kids will love the Butterfly House on the end of Duval Street. also do the Flagler Railroad Museum. My wife and I love to go to Key West in the summer. Yes it is hot but not any hotter than our home in Charleston, SC. I am retired Navy so I can stay on the base much cheaper than any campground in the islands. Less tourist, easier parking, and simpler to get around. Have a good trip and I am sure you will fall in love with the Keys.
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Old 01-22-2018, 10:21 AM   #9
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The only correction I would make to Jarred Whites informative post re Key West is that the excellent local Cuban restaurant is El Ciboney. Very very good. Corner of Margaret and Caroline Streets.
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Old 01-22-2018, 10:36 AM   #10
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Depends on which part of the Keys where you are staying?
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Old 01-22-2018, 10:59 AM   #11
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Did you get references on the overall condition of the site/campground. Some are still closed due to hurricane damage last year.
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Old 01-22-2018, 12:56 PM   #12
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Do a lot of calling first to make sure that all the facilities are working wherever you have reservations or want to book an activity. The Keys took a big hit from Irma. If your family likes to fish try booking a charter anywhere from Islamorada to Key West. Anything from inshore to offshore will be fun and provide you with some of the best eating fish out there. There is a lot of history in Key West: Hemingway's house, Truman's Little White House and I think the Pan Am museum is still there. Don't miss Louis' Backyard restaurant. Its a couple of short blocks ENE from the Southernmost Point Buoy.
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Old 01-22-2018, 01:08 PM   #13
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I love the Keys and live most of the year in Key Largo but (not ashamed to admit bias) for me the best part of the Keys is underwater at the reefs and wrecks. If the weather permits take a snorkelling trip and if you are so inclined, you will have enough time to get get your open water scuba dive certifications ( unfortunately not the 8 year old) at one of the many good dive operations stretching down the Keys so you can explore more on your next trip or elsewhere. Another good place to eat in Islamorada is Kaiyo Grill (around mile marker 82) and a little bit North of there in a strip meal is a burger and craft beer place called M.E.A.T.
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Old 01-22-2018, 02:26 PM   #14
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Bring or rent snorkeling gear, paddle boards, kayaks etc. That’s what the Keys are geared towards. Much to enjoy for young & not so young. Many campsites no longer have the privacy (trees, mangroves, etc) that they once had. Hurricane Irma has changed it noticeably but the Keys are still spectacular! Dry Tortugas worth the excursion too.
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Old 01-23-2018, 07:24 AM   #15
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Depends on which part of the Keys where you are staying?
Staying in Cudjoe Key but have no issues driving end to end
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Old 01-23-2018, 11:34 AM   #16
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The Keys are a lot of fun, but tourists need to be careful.

I left my car unlocked for less that ten minutes and was robbed while shopping for groceries. Keep your car LOCKED and always keep your phone with you.
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Old 01-23-2018, 12:00 PM   #17
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The Keys are a lot of fun, but tourists need to be careful.

I left my car unlocked for less that ten minutes and was robbed while shopping for groceries. Keep your car LOCKED and always keep your phone with you.
Sad to hear that. 40 years ago camping in Big Pine area, you could leave the car windows down, or all your gear at a campsite and never have to worry.
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Old 01-23-2018, 12:39 PM   #18
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We go to the Keys every year. Just got back Sunday. You should do a little driving into Big Pine Key to see the little Key Deer. They are so very cute! If you crumple a snack back, they come a'running, but don't feed them.....it's illegal (although someone is because they're trained to snacks!) There is a lot of damage from the hurricane there, but all the streets are open. Robbies is fun to feed the tarpon. Key West is a lot of shops, a neat old aquarium, Butterfly World (your kids would like that). It's a very touristy place, especially on the weekends. Bahia Honda State Park has a really nice beach & some nice walking paths where you can go up to the original train tracks that ran the Keys in the early 1900's, but was destroyed by a hurricane. We like to fish. The Marathon Lady in Marathon is equipped with everything if you don't have gear & it's fun for a morning or afternoon ($45/person). You never know what you might catch. Sombreo Beach is pretty too. We just went to Spanky's in Marathon (behind the Holiday Inn Express) for dinner. Happy hour 4-6 pm had .30 peel & eat shrimp and .30 cent wings. It was great & your family could chow down for a great price!! Have fun. My favorite place in the world! And we've never had any trouble with crime... :-)
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Old 01-23-2018, 01:12 PM   #19
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Placing 31 foot on a spot on water. Have 3 girls with me age 16 15 and 8. What should we do?
Get a copy of Franko's map and dive guide, it's a great reference for the major locations even if you don't dive.

If you have the time and money, and your kids are comfortable in the water, I would recommend the Sebago "Schooner Eco Tour" that departs from the old harbor at Key West. Get tickets online ahead of time if possible.

The tour departs Key West on a historic wooden sailboat, and stops for snorkeling and a short kayaking trip. I did it with my kids (older though) and it was fun.

Key West is quirky and fun.

Lots of snorkeling and scuba diving trips throughout the keys that are worthwhile.
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Old 01-23-2018, 02:04 PM   #20
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The Keys are a lot of fun, but tourists need to be careful.

I left my car unlocked for less that ten minutes and was robbed while shopping for groceries. Keep your car LOCKED and always keep your phone with you.
A lot of the crimes like that are from the homeless who gravitate to warmer climes. Be careful!
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