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obeygiant

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jan 14, 2002
4,167
4,082
totally cool
Anyone ever been? Thinking of flying into Miami and driving there and back for our anniversary. Any experiences?
 

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
18,955
509
Inside
Key West is a sunny fun happy place. My advise, wear what the locals wear. That means, if it 75F outside, where long pants because they think its "cold". You'll get better service if you appear to be a local. A good time to go is in the summer because all the tourists leave for cooler parts.

As for the drive, its four long boring hours. With a max speed limit of 55 and an average of 35.

My experiences of being there: I loved it. The food was great. There was lots to do. The people are nice. And the beach was heavenly.
 

StvenH90

macrumors regular
Jun 13, 2011
240
5
Florida
Yuck, did enjoy the chickens running around. They like to eat your left over chicken :cool: (No lie).

As a Florida resident and have been all my life, any well known area has been destroyed by visitors. Mostly from people coming in and just trashing the place. But there is a few beaches (I assume this is why your going to Miami/Keys) that are post card perfect, make friends with a local.
 

ucfgrad93

macrumors Core
Aug 17, 2007
19,522
10,810
Colorado
Key West is a great place. It is a long drive from Miami, but it is a pretty drive. Be sure to see Hemmingway's house and the sunset at Mallory Dock.
 

quagmire

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2004
6,870
2,292
The seven mile bridge provides a very scenic route.

Other than that, Key West isn't anything memorable. I had fun there doing jet ski's, sunfish, and snorkeling, but the location itself is meh.
 

obeygiant

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jan 14, 2002
4,167
4,082
totally cool
We were thinking of going in September. Truthfully I didn't have super high expectations, just looking for some kind of adventure. Thanks for the replies. Is the atmosphere something like Bourbon Street?
 

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
18,955
509
Inside
We were thinking of going in September. Truthfully I didn't have super high expectations, just looking for some kind of adventure. Thanks for the replies. Is the atmosphere something like Bourbon Street?

September, the end of hurricane season and the hottest weather of all. You'll love it.

Key West's main shopping street is Duval Street. Its a bit like Bourbon.
 

DWBurke811

macrumors 6502a
Jun 10, 2011
820
1
Boca Raton, FL
I've only been during spring break, which meant having a numb face for 5 days and walking around everywhere with a 64oz bubba keg full of Don-Q, water, and Coolade mix. I have no idea the name of the hotel we all stayed at, but it was right across from the "beach." From pictures of all of us out, it looks like we had a lot of fun on Duval Street

That said, everything in the keys is laid back. No one is in a rush to get anything done...
 

eawmp1

macrumors 601
Feb 19, 2008
4,158
91
FL
There are no truly nice beaches on Key West proper.
The drive from Miami is long, but impressive. The history of what seems like an insane idea to make an overland connection is interesting.
Duval is Bourbon Street with less history.
Nice view from the lighthouse.
You can do the must do touristy land marks of the southernmost buoy and the U.S. 1 end sign.
We took a seaplane out to Fort Jefferson At the Dry Tortugas for a day of exploring and snorkeling. Expensive, but the view from the air on the low flight is amazing.
Sunset at Mallory is a spectacle, albeit a touristy one.

Enjoy.

OBTW, remember September is the height of Atlantic hurricane season.
 

macquariumguy

macrumors 6502a
Jan 7, 2002
857
361
Sarasota FL
I love Key West and the rest of the Florida Keys as well. I wish I could move down there.

The best time in Key West is Fantasy Fest at Halloween. It's like Mardi Gras with fewer rednecks.
 

CRUE CAB

macrumors newbie
Jun 14, 2013
2
0
I know this is an old thread, but if you live down this way its worth reviving.
Key West and the rest of the Keys are great.
We have been a few times and wonder why it took so long to get down that way.
Its a 7 hour drive for us straight down 95, but worth every minute of it.
The Florida Keys are more than just Key West, Marathon is sport fishing paradise and the diving and boating are top notch.
It sucks that crappy towns like Lauderdale and Miami are between the keys and us, otherwise I would move south in a heart beat.
Anyone else wanna talk Parrot head, get on and lets hear your best Keys story.
 
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