My Road Trip from Orlando to Key West Florida
*All work including photos and writing on this page is my own, except the link to the Tourism video, freely available on Youtube
This road trip is all within the same state, but it won't feel like it. Key West is very different from the rest of Florida, a real liberal enclave., very welcoming for the LGBTQ community. It actually feels more like you are in the Caribbean than still in Florida. It is a must see place if you have time. It is accessible by road along the 113 mile Overseas Highway US1, which goes all the way to Key West from Key Largo. It's also called the Florida Keys scenic highway. One of the main features of this highway is the 7 mile bridge.
Below is Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando.
Below is Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando.
Below is Universal, Orlando
I would take some time on this road trip, staying at some of Florida's best beaches on the Atlantic Coast. Nothing epitomises Florida more than sandy beaches and warm oceans. Do keep a look out for sharks though. All the beaches are good here, but rougher than the very quiet Gulf coast on the other side of Florida, so better for surfing. I particularly like the Gulf Coast, so you could stop in my favourite area of Naples or just stay on the Atlantic coast. Beaches I have been to on the Atlantic and recommend are:
Melbourne, Vero Beach, Port St Lucie area, Jupiter, Juno, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton (My favourite area) and Fort Lauderdale.
Always go to the beach in the morning, because in the summer the heat builds up and around 3/4pm thunderstorms are very common.
After spending time on these beaches with overnight stays, I would now recommend at least one night in Miami. South Beach is where all the nightlife and entertainment is and the famous Ocean Drive. Miami Beach was where we stayed as a family, a little quieter. See my blog on Florida for more information.
Miami is one of the most popular cities in Florida and a huge airport hub to Central, South America and the Caribbean. The city itself embraces these cultures, adding it's own flair to create a very lively, sociable and welcoming city. This sun soaked city has the city life, the beach life, a huge array of bars and restaurants and shopping malls for all budgets.
Below is Ocean Drive and South beach, Miami
Then drive down to the Keys. I must warn you though that accommodation in Key west is expensive. We only stayed there a couple of nights. The Keys are made up of 1,700 Keys, some seem to have nothing more than the road running through them, the larger ones do have more to see and do though. The main attractions include:
Fishing, boating, diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking.
Ernest Hemingway's House. ( My daughter enjoyed that.)
Dry Tortugas National Park
Strolling through the boutique shops and art galleries.
Key West is actually closer to Cuba than Miami.
The main islands are Key Largo ( The largest), Islamorada (We stopped here a while.), Marathon, The Lower Keys and then Key West. We arrived just after a hurricane so the beaches were still strewn with debris, but they are normally pristine. Hurricane season is July - October, with August and September peak Hurricane season, so avoid those two months.
Below is a picture taken a few years ago at Islamorada's Theater of the Sea. It is still open today.
Below is Key West just after a hurricane.
For more information contact the Florida Keys Tourist Information.