Girl’s Trip To The Florida Keys

A few of my friends and I agreed we needed to escape the freezing Iowa winter and decided on the Florida Keys. I mean there are even songs about the Keys so it’s got to be great, right? The goals were simple: sun, fun and food.  We were not disappointed! I decided to share pictures and information about our experience from our five days in the Florida Keys to help you plan your vacation there. 

Canals in Key Largo

Fun Facts About The Florida Keys

1. The term “key” came from the Spanish word “Cayo” which means small island. 
2. There are over 1,700 keys that make up the Florida Keys but only 43 are connected by bridges. 
3. The Florida Keys Overseas Highway (U.S. Route 1) is 133 miles long with 42 bridges, including the 7 Mile Bridge which is one of the longest segmental bridges in the world. 
4. Key Lime Pie is very popular in the Keys even though key limes are no longer harvested anywhere in the Florida Keys. They are now imported from Mexico, India and the West Indies. 

Getting There

I recommend flying to Fort Lauderdale or Miami to get to the Florida Keys. Then rent a car to drive the rest of the way. It only takes about 1 ½ hours to get to Key Largo, which is the first of the keys, from Fort Lauderdale or an hour from Miami. If you want to drive to the southernmost key, Key West, it will take about 3 hours from Miami and 3 ½ from Fort Lauderdale. 

We found cheaper flights with Allegiant from Des Moines, Iowa to Fort Lauderdale over Miami, plus it was a direct flight. I suggest playing around with flight options to see what is the best choice from your location.  

View of Miami from above

Where To Stay

The Florida Keys are fairly spread out and there are many options of places to stay. The Overseas Highway, Route 1, takes you from Key Largo all the way down to Key West so it’s not easy to get lost. Some people choose to stay in a couple locations to experience the different Keys. We noticed that the further south you get in the Keys the more expensive lodging cost so we decided to stay in Key Largo and drive to Key West one of the days to get the full Florida Keys experience. 

We were a group of 4 and found a great condo on VRBO in the Kawama Yacht Club Condominium Complex in Key Largo, which provided the perfect home away from home for us for the week. The complex was clean, with two heated pools, a salt water lagoon, activities and a beautiful area with tables and chairs to enjoy the ocean. It was near many shops and restaurants. The Overseas Highway was close, which made it easy to get to other keys and back to Fort Lauderdale. 10/10! Would stay there again! 

When To Go

The Florida Keys, especially Key West, are very popular tourist destinations. The winter months (December thru March)  are going to be crowded and the lodging rates are high. The summer months are humid and rainy, plus it is hurricane season from June thru November. There may be less crowds and lower rates, but you are gambling on being in a hurricane. Between March and May is the best time to visit. The winter crowds are gone, there are lower rates and the weather is enjoyable. 

The average temperature in the Florida Keys is 82 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it an ideal vacation spot! The winter months are comfortable, humid, windy and clear with temperatures in the 70s and 80s.  In the summer it is hot, very humid, wet and cloudy with temperatures in the 80s and 90s.  We went in February and it was 79 degrees and sunny everyday. We couldn’t have asked for better weather and we were still able to enjoy the beach and water. 

View from the point at our condo.

Things To Do

Go For A Walk At The Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

On our full first day in Key Largo we wanted to stretch our legs a bit and go for a nice walk. We headed to the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. The park is named after a local environmental activist, Dagny Johnson and is the location of the largest collection of West Indian Tropical Hardwood Hammock Trees. A lot of people come to the park to enjoy some bird and butterfly watching so keep your eyes open. There is even a self guided nature trail with signs explaining the park’s ecosystem and wildlife.

There isn’t a lot of parking but you can park along the street. A locked box is located just inside the entrance with envelopes to place your $2.50, which is on the honor system. There is barely any elevation and the majority of the trails are paved. Visitors are provided with a picnic area and restroom. There is a large loop around the park that is 2 miles or a path that cuts through the middle if you wanted to walk 1 mile.The entire walk was beautiful and I encourage you to explore some of the side trails. I suggest you bring some bug spray and your phone so you can see your location because there aren’t a lot of signs explaining where you are. 

Location: County Road 905, Mile Marker 106 Key Largo, FL 33037

Fees: $2.50 per person based on the honor system

Hours: Open sunrise until sunset everyday

Website

Grab Some Souvenirs

There are many souvenir shops along the Overseas Highway as you drive through the Keys to grab something to remember your trip or a gift for a loved one. Some items you may want to bring home from the Florida Keys are nautical items, shells, Key West cigars, Cuban coffee, sandals, art and jewelry. There is always key lime pie and so many other treats with key lime flavor or scented key lime. Our favorite place we found in Key Largo for souvenirs was Shell World. The place is the size of a city block and has everything you could think of. It is really a one stop shop. I picked up a Christmas ornament and some postcards to mail. My friends got some key lime goodies, books and toys for their kids. 

Tip: Stay away from the green key lime pie! Key lime pie should be yellow!

Location: 97600 Overseas Hwy Key Largo, FL 33037

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat & Sun 9am-8pm

Shell World pic inside the mouth of a shark

Beach Time

If you come to the Keys for miles of white sand beaches then you may need to pick another destination. We wanted to spend an afternoon relaxing on the beach but when we googled beaches in Key Largo we were a bit disappointed. Three choices popped up. Harry Harris Beach and Park, which is heavy on the park and not so much a beach. Far Beach and Cannon Beach are both located in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The reviews for them were not good. There were comments about how unclean they were, an alligator swimming, very rocky and one comment simply said “Don’t go!” 

We took their advice and found a beach that had great reviews in Islamorada, which was only a 30 minute drive south. Founder’s Beach lived up to the reviews. There was a hefty fee of $8 per person but the beach was very clean and had good restroom facilities. There is a nice playground for the kids and a roped off swimming area. Several people were even snorkeling along the side of the beach near the mangroves. It was a great place to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach under a palm tree and wading in the water. 

Founder’s Beach 

Location:87000 Overseas Hwy Islamorada, FL 33036

Hours: sunrise -sunset

Aquatic Center: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm Sat & Sun 10am-5pm

Fees: Adults (18-64) $8 Additional $3 for pool fee ; Youth/Senior (3-17) $5 Additional $2 for pool fee; Military Personnel and Village residents and visitors are free

No alcohol or dogs allowed 

Website

Founder’s Beach

Drive to Key West

The drive to Key West is like no other drive. The 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West are quite the adventure as you hop from key to key while crossing 42 bridges. Each key has its own vibe with SO MANY fun and quirky stops, so don’t expect to do everything. There are many restaurants and bars to stop at along the way like Mile Marker 88 or No Name Pub. Some other highlights include feeding the tarpons at Robbie’s, stopping at the turtle hospital, taking a selfie with a giant lobster at the Rain Barrel Village, walking along the 7 mile bridge, hiking at a state park, taking in some sun at a beach or enjoying the butterfly conservatory. Just do some research on stops and figure out how many you can enjoy with the time you have in the Florida Keys.

It takes about 2 ½ hours to get from Key Largo down to Key West. There were a couple of Keys where the traffic gets a little congested but overall a pleasant drive while taking in the picturesque views. We were only spending the day in Key West so we did not make any stops since we wanted to see as much as we could in Key West.

Selfie in Key West a Mile Marker 0

Snorkel

The Florida Reef is located a few miles off the coast of the Florida Keys. It is the third largest barrier reef in the world and the only living coral reef system in the continental United States. There is so much to take in when snorkeling in the Florida Keys. The vibrant reefs are full of more than 6,000 species of sea life. You can even snorkel at shipwrecks or take a selfie with a 9 foot tall bronze sculpture, Christ of the Abyss, that sits in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. 

There are several companies that will take you to various locations to snorkel. We decided to go with Sundivers and would recommend going with them. They were focused on safety and took care of everyone on the boat. Goggles, fins and vests were included. Everyone had to purchase their own snorkel due to covid. Wetsuits and prescription goggles were available to rent. They provided cold beverages but you were able to bring your own cooler. 

The excursion starts and ends with a 30-45 minute boat ride. By the time you arrive at the reef you will have all your equipment. It’s time to jump in after receiving brief instructions and recommendations on where to snorkel by the staff. We got over an hour to explore the reef and see a bunch of cool fish. The day we went was a bit rough which caused some people to feed the fish off the side of the boat. If you tend to get seasick I would suggest taking some Dramamine before this adventure.

Sundiver Snorkel Tours

102840 Overseas Hwy Key Largo, FL 33037

Tours:  9am, noon, 3pm and 5:30pm (seasonal).  

Duration: 2.5 hours

Cost: $60 adults $50 child

Website 

Eat and Drink

The Florida Keys are known for key lime pie, conk, lobster, shrimp and various other local seafood dishes. There are a variety of restaurants and bars to stop at in the Florida Keys where you can enjoy these decadent dishes. I also suggest stopping by the local grocery store to grab some items so you don’t have to eat out every meal and hopefully save some money.  We stopped at a Publix near our condo and grabbed groceries for us to have at least breakfast, snacks and some lunches at our condo. Going out to eat and enjoying local establishments is one of the best parts of vacation. Here are the places we stopped at during our stay in the Florida Keys. 

Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen

A local’s favorite and one of the longest running restaurants in Key Largo is Mrs. Mac’s. It is decorated in license plates from all over the world, even the light fixtures are made out of license plates. The service was great and the atmosphere was quirky. We went for it’s well-known breakfast before making the drive to Key West. Everyone was pleased with their meal and next time I may even try the alligator sausage. 

Tip: There is another Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen II just down the street but if you want the original make sure you are at Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen. 

Location: 99336 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, FL 33037

Hours: Mon-Sat 7am-9:30 pm Closed Sundays

Website

Keys Chocolate & Ice Cream

After some fun in the sun we stopped by the Keys Chocolate and Ice Cream for some refreshing homemade ice cream. Ok… we may have stopped a couple times. You can’t miss the brightly colored building just off the Overseas Highway. The ice cream is worth a stop but there is also a large truffle selection, fudge, pies and other key lime desserts to enjoy. Great place to stop after dinner for a sweet treat. 

Location: 100470 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

Hours: Sun-Thur 10 am- 9:30 pm Fri & Sat 10 am- 10:30 pm

Website

Key Largo Chocolates

The Italian Food Company

While we were shopping at Publix for groceries I asked  several of the shoppers where we could find the best pizza. Multiple people suggested The Italian Food Company and I would now agree with them. If you want some amazing authentic Italian food then The Italian Food Company is where you want to go. It was our favorite meal of the trip and it was so good we went back on our last night for more delicious pizzas and desserts. My friends said the veggie pizza was the best they have ever had and I can also recommend the meat lovers pizza. The restaurant has open air seating with live music. The food and atmosphere make you feel like you are eating at a pizzeria in Italy. My mouth is watering just thinking about their food. 

Location: 98070 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

Hours: Sun, Mon, Wed & Thurs noon- 9 pm Fri & Sat noon- 10 pm Closed Tuesdays

Website

Blue Heaven

We were recommended to eat at Blue Heaven while visiting Key West. It is only a couple minutes walk from Ernest Hemingway’s home. There is indoor and outdoor seating at this funky little restaurant. I would suggest waiting for the outdoor seating under the trees, with live music and chickens roaming around. They have a variety of food but I would recommend the breakfast which is served through lunch. There is a bar across the street to grab a drink while you wait for your table and a gift shop. 

Location: 729 Thomas St, Key West, FL 33040

Hours: Sun-Sat 8 am- 2:30pm; 5 p- 10 pm Happy Hour 3 pm- 5pm

Website

Mattheessen’s

We happened to stumble upon Mattheessen’s as we walked down Duval Street and we were very happy we did. They have ice cream, fudge, key lime pie, brownies and cookies. It will satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. The cookies and brownies are the size of your face so you can save some for later, but no judgment if you eat the whole thing in one sitting. An $8 dollar cookie may seem pricey but what isn’t in Key West? It was worth it. 

Location: 106 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040

Hours: Sun-Thurs 9 am- 11 pm Fri & Sat 9 am- midnight

Website

Keys’ Mead

One of my friends wanted to stop by Keys’ Meads to grab some meads for her husband. I’ll be honest I had no idea what a mead was. It is not wine or beer, but an alcoholic beverage made from honey. You can get a tasting of ⅓ ounce of 10 of their meads for only $8. The bartender was very knowledgeable about each of the meads and how they were made. It was a cute little place that was a fun experience with the nicest staff. We even met one of the bee keepers/owners. If you like meads or want to try some it is definitely worth a stop. 

Location: 99411 Overseas Hwy unit 6, Key Largo, FL 33037

Hours: Mon- Sat 11am- 8 pm Sun 11 am- 6 pm

Website

Relax

Don’t forget to relax! You are on vacation. My favorite way to vacation is to explore the place I’m visiting but also make time to recharge before heading back to reality. Make sure to sleep in and take a nap. Enjoy a good book by the pool or play a game with your friends. Take time to explore your resort and enjoy everything they have to offer, like kayaking in the salt water lagoon. Pause for a moment to watch the sunrise or sunset. It’s been a crazy couple of years and we all have busy lives so it was great to really spend time with my friends. The best parts of the trip were the great talks with each other, laughing with and at each other. Lots of memories were made and I’m looking forward to the next trip. 

Hanging out on Hemingway’s porch

If you are debating on taking a vacation to the Florida Keys I can tell you that it is a place everyone should experience at least once. The Keys have a lot to offer and you will never be bored or hungry. It was a great location for a group of friends or couples to get away and relax. Hopefully, our experiences and recommendations will help you enjoy your time in the Florida Keys. 

Sunset in Key Largo