Page Updated: November 16, 2023
The Florida Keys
We shot out of Texas on May 01, 2021 like our hair was on fire. One year and 19 legs later, we’re still going strong and starting year 2 of this journey with a month in the Florida Keys! This was our first time traveling this deep into Florida, and neither of us knew what to expect. As usual, we were flying by the seat of our pants.
If we did one thing right, it was acquiring a fantastic rental. Located conveniently in Islamorada - secluded and mostly private - it came with amazing tranquil views and incredibly gorgeous sunsets.
The resident iguana, I call him Boris, made regular appearances. He even had two 2 friends - Julio and Mo; my mind pretends they’re his flunkies. And then there’s baby Hector, who runs around like he just finished swimming in a pool of energy drink. It was a hoot watching these prehistoric looking creatures navigate the property.
As much as we enjoyed the Keys, it wasn’t without it’s struggles. Halfway through the leg, we had our first ever beach camp. It turned into a nightmare. The story unfolds on the Bahia Honda page, so I won’t repeat it here. I reference it because it impacted the remainder of our time in the Keys. So much so that we had to cancel our remaining excursions the last week of the leg. Still salty we had to table snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Even so, we were in the Keys long enough to discover that we’d love to return one day with boating skills and scuba certifications… and maybe our own boat.
THE LOCAL GRUB
Belgian Waffles
The Midway Café is a popular spot in Islamorada. Every morning we passed it, there was quite a line. Be early.
Confession: On a whim I ordered a bowl of Lobster Bisque while waiting on our pizza. I don’t know which I liked better as the were both phenomenal. If we lived in the Keys, Bayside Gourmet Islamorada would be a regular spot.
Pepperoni Pizza
Locals told us we should try two places; Robbies and Lazy Days. We tried both, and Lazy Days was by far our favorite. The food and drinks were great, the views are 100% better, and you can stop and visit the Tarpin without paying a fee. Great stop with a laid back vibe.
Fresh Catch Sandwich
scenes from the leg!
THE FUN STUFF
05/02/2022
Our favorite place to snorkel in the Florida Keys for the 2022 season, Matecumbe Bight, happened to be right outside of our door…
Snorkeling Matecumbe Bight
05/04/2022
Florida Overseas Heritage Trail - Hwy 1
Cycling down HW1 in the Keys is nuts. I stuck to the dedicated bike path through Islamorada and managed to safely pull off a few morning rides…
05/07/2022
Located in the south Florida everglades, the 700k+ acre of Big Cypress National Preserve falls under the protection of the National Park Service…
Big Cypress National Preserve
05/08/2022
I wasn’t super excited about having to tick this one off our National Parks list. In my mind, the Everglades equated to stinky stagnant swamp water full of gator…
Everglades National Park
05/08/2022
We biked Shark Valley Tram Road; 15 miles of minimal shade and easy sweat. But, it was a great way to catch a breeze and stop to appreciate wildlife…
Shark Valley
005/10/2022
Located in the middle of the Florida Keys sits one of the oldest marine facilities in the world. The tropical gardens and lagoons of Theater of the Sea are home to…
Theater of the Sea
05/11/2022
Because the park is over 90% water, Biscayne National Park has a completely different feel from national parks we’ve ticked off our proverbial bucket list…
Biscayne National Park
05/11/2022
A tiny barrier island between the calm waters of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and nestled between Boca Chita Key to the south and Elliot Key…
Kayaking Sands Key
05/11/2022
Snorkeling Sands Key
05/13/2022
This one is a hard one to write up, because I’ve not seen a single negative article about the beloved Bahia Honda State Park. But here goes…
Bahia Honda State Park
05/15/2022
During our stay in the Keys, we took a 3 day chunk and devoted it to Key West! Obviously, Key West is renowned as a busy tourist destination…
Key West
05/16/2022
Designed in 1843 as a key installation in the US Army’s Third Tier System and one of three forts built in Key West during the civil war era, Fort Zachary Taylor provided…
Fort Zachary Taylor
05/16/2022
Rebuilt and reactivated in 1848 after its destruction in the Great Hurricane of 1846, and with an addition of 20 feet tacked on 1895, the Key West Lighthouse…
Key West Lighthouse
05/16/2022
The Key West Shipwreck Museum takes visitors on a historical maritime journey of the region and is the perfect place to learn of the nautical heritage of Key West…
Key West Shipwreck Museum
05/17/2022
Dry Tortugas National Park is just as gorgeous as you think it is! Every picture you’ve ever seen is accurate, and yet somehow standing on the wall in person makes…
Dry Tortugas National Park
05/17/2022
Built with more than 16 million bricks and sprawling over 16 acres, Fort Jefferson lies on Garden Key; the second largest island in…
Fort Jefferson
05/17/2022
Located in Dry Tortugas National Park, Garden Key is one of seven islands within the park. The striking turquoise waters surrounding the island are home…
Snorkeling Garden Key
05/23/2022
The History of Diving Museum is a not-for-profit institution working to educate patrons on the history of diving with antiques, artifacts…
History of Diving Museum
05/24/2022
The waters of Matecumbe Bight are bay side; open and exposed to the west, sheltered from the east. Mangrove islands at the north end of the bight…
Kayaking Matecumbe Bight
05/23/2022
Before visiting the Florida Keys, we’d never even heard of Islamorada much less know to say it. Now we know it’s eye-lah-mah-rah-dah…
Islamorada
05/27/2022
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Established in 1963 as the first undersea park in the United States to help protect Florida’s living coral reef, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses…
05/27/2022
Grove Trail
Super short trail that treks from the parking lot of John Pennekamp, through a tropical hardwood hammock, and into a historical citrus grove…