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Florida Keys

Key Largo to Key West

Sunset at Mallory SquareMore Photos
  • by noone
  • A November 2002 travel journal
  • Last Updated: April 27, 2004
Journal Usefulness Rating 2 out of 5
Journal Usefulness
7
Reviews
2
Photos

Here are some highlights of a great trip that started in Miami and headed down the Florida Keys.

Sunset at Mallory Square
Bahia Honda State Park -- on a small key north of Key West.
John Pennekamp State Park -- AMAZING snorkeling.
Dry Tortugas -- best state park in the U.S. Key West sunsets -- priceless!

Quick Tips:

Take your time on the drive down. Stop and stay a couple of nights at some of the small hotels, visit the unusual gift shops, check out the mangrove swamps, walk on a nature trail, and have "breakfast with the chickens" in Key West.

Best Way To Get Around:

Drive down the overseas highway, preferably in a convertible, and then leave your car at the hotel or guesthouse, and get on a bike or scooter.

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Largo Lodge

Hotel

Largo Lodge

This is a cute bungalow-style motel, with private cabanas with screened porches and kitchenettes. Funky decor, very clean, and an amazing deck looking out at the gulf! A fun, funky, family-owned motel.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by noone on February 4, 2004

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Largo Lodge
Florida Keys, Florida

Blue Parrot Inn

This is a truly beautiful B&B. There's a great pool, nice porches, and the rooms are very clean and tastefully furnished. There are drawbacks, however: lots of rules (i.e. no open food boxes in rooms, early pool closing, no extra towels, etc.) and the fact that a guy came by every morning during breakfast to mingle with the guests and try to sell day trips fishing and snorkeling was not very relaxing way to start your day.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by noone on February 4, 2004

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Blue Parrot Inn
916 Elizabeth Street Florida Keys, Florida
(800) 231-BIRD

Blue Heaven

Restaurant

Blue Heaven-Key West

It was so amazing that we went for breakfast (known as "breakfast with the chickens") and came back the same night for dinner. That's unprecedented for us since we don't usually eat in the same place twice! Unusual, eye-catching atmosphere, great service, a fun bar, and the food is out-of-this world. They served the best bread pudding and mahi-mahi I've ever had!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by noone on February 4, 2004

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Blue Heaven
729 Thomas St. Florida Keys, Florida 33040
(305) 296-8666

Mangoes

I'd call this restaurant OK. The location is great because it's right on Duval Street and it's easy to just stop in, but the food is average. The people-watching is great, though!
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by noone on February 4, 2004

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Mangoes Restaurant & Catering
700 Duval Street Florida Keys, Florida 33040
(305) 292-4606

Half-Shell Raw Bar

Restaurant

Half-Shell Raw Bar

An open-air restaurant/bar with lots of local flavor and color! Great fresh local seafood and an overall fun experience. Basically, it's oysters-and-beer-kick-back-and-talk kind of place. Very friendly!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by noone on February 4, 2004

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Half-Shell Raw Bar
231 Margaret St Florida Keys, Florida 33040
(305) 294-7496

Louie's Backyard

Restaurant

Louie's Backyard-Key West

Great food and amazing scenery! Sit out on the deck and watch the sun set over the water and listen to the waves. This is definitely an experience to be treasured -- very romantic!

The menu is truly varied-- I had a wonderful trio of chilled soups that was just superb, and for a main course I had yellowfin tuna served with a sesame ginger sauce, and for dessert, we had a trio of homemade sorbets. Other menu items included a wide variety of local seafood, including stone crabs, as well as a wide selection of meat and poultry, all prepared in unique ways with interesting sides. For instance, the steak was pepper encrusted, and served with a fennel and leek sauce. The salad dressings, which are also homemade, are also all unique-- it's hard to pick just one!!

And, as an aside, I had a great bloody mary, and I'm VERY picky when it comes to these, because I make a great one at home!

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by noone on February 4, 2004

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Louie's Backyard
700 Waddell Ave Florida Keys, Florida 33040
305 294-1061

Dry Tortugas Park

You leave early morning from Key West on a fast catamaran. It takes about 90 minutes -- you arrive at the Dry Tortugas and spend about four hours snorkeling, touring the fort, and walking on absolutely unspoiled beaches. Not a hotel in sight!!! I saw an enormous barracuda hanging out around some boat pilings and schools and schools of local fish. An absolute must see!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by noone on February 4, 2004

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Dry Tortugas National Park
261 Margaret St (ferry pickup) Florida Keys, Florida 33040
(305) 294-7009

About the Writer

noone
noone
New York, United States

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