One of the really frustrating things for me about visitors to the Florida Keys is that they seem to miss the whole point. I hear, or read reviews about the Keys where people were really unhappy with their visit because they expect what the local TDC (Tourist Development Council) promotes.
What they fail to realize is that the TDC is working very hard for the tourist dollar, not that there is anything wrong with that, but when I talk to people who are thinking of coming here they talk about things like quiet, escape, serenity, the tropics and being at their leisure not the bars and parties. Ok, except if you’re coming for Fantasy Fest.
What happens is they end up in the same shops, bars, and highly promoted venues that everyone else does and they go home thinking “Is that all there is?” I have to tell you, there is so much more.
You can’t go on vacation for free, we all know that, but get off the beaten path it will probably cost you less and you may enjoy it more. Its great to go into the popular places to say you have been there.. but when you step off that main path is where you find all the things people talk about who live here.. its still here!
The drive from Miami to Key West is over 100 miles of beautiful scenery. Atlantic on one side
and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The funky little shops NOT on the highway aren’t hard to find, most of the islands aren’t more than a few miles wide and you’re not likely to get lost.
This is a relatively low crime area with really good people who love to talk about this place and always willing to share their favorite eatery, shop or sunning spot. You don’t have to worry about a place to stay.. there’s NEVER a shortage of hotels, motels, B&B’s and guest houses.
Even at the most leisurely pace you can go you can drive from Key West to Key Largo in about 3 hours.. and if you stop along the way, which you should, you can still make it back to your hotel by dinner time or in time to enjoy the sunset at your favorite new found place. Take your camera, your swim wear, some bug spray (yea.. you may need it), and a sense of adventure.
As I usually do about once a month, I drove the length of the Keys last week just to see what was going on and I was amazed that I am still finding new “old” places that I had never seen before.. and I have lived here for 11 years! I talked with some artists in little shops, found a great new place for a good fish sandwich, and smiled every-time someone passed me doing 65 because they were missing the point.
There is a reason we have a bumper sticker that says “Slow down, this ain’t the mainland.” and it isn’t because we don’t want you to speed, it is because we don’t want you to miss it.
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