Vacation to Key West / Florida Keys on the books
By maezee
@maezee (41988)
United States
October 2, 2021 11:50pm CST
Hi! Last week I was on vacation, first vacation in a few months, flew into Fort Lauderdale, and then drove down Florida Highway 1 ("Overseas Highway") down through the Florida Keys and to the final destination of Key West. It had been on my "eventual bucket list", but it was moved up to September because I went with my cousin...who's dad (my uncle) passed away last year from pancreatic cancer on Sept 22nd. We wanted to spend his death day in Key Largo, where he grew up, in a way to commemorate him.
We stayed in Key Largo but I was not real impressed with it there - the beaches weren't that nice, there were not many cute shops or any walkable touristy area like other beach towns. But we still enjoyed our stay, did some swimming, relaxed, had a few cocktails, etc. While we were there, we took a trip up to Everglades National Park and did a 2 hour tram tour. It was hellishly hot, so I am glad we did the tour rather than trying any hikes. PLUS->alligators are FRIGHTENING! We also did a fan boat tour down there and saw even more gators. AND lots of birds and other critters! I wish I could have spent more time in the park - but this was not the trip for that.
Key West was our ultimate destination, where we rented this beautiful condo with an amazing pool, hot tub, and some other amenities. IT was so nice! Once we got to Key West, we did a sunset sail boat tour, walked up and down Duval Street - their main touristy road - and went to about 1,000,000 t-shirt shops. Ugh!
We did go to the beach in Key West - was much prettier than Key Largo, but I soon discovered MANY JELLYFISH in the ocean - tiny ones - and I am pretty sure a couple pinched me before I realized it was jelly fish (the locals say these ones are harmless, and it's "jelly fish season" so they were like everywhere, kind of cool, but still pretty jarring)
Me and my cousin/friend got along for the MOST part until she got drunk and dramatic. I could have done without that. After we got in a big argument in public on Duval Street (UGH! But I was NOT in the wrong here), we went to a drag show (my first drag show), and then we got along better the rest of the trip. I am not ready to travel with her again any time soon though, just to be honest. Eventually...Maybe in 2022, I'll take a trip by myself.
I am attaching some of the pretty photos I took, beautiful sunsets, lots of stormy clouds.
I was happy to drive the "HIGHWAY 1/OVERSEAS HIGHWAY", the 7 mile bridge, and see the Keys, but I know I don't have any desire to return there ever again. Probably a bit overrated even, if you'd ask me. There wasn't enough to keep me interested... Maybe just not my scene.
Have you been to this location? If so, what are your thoughts? Or, have you taken any trips lately?
10 people like this
7 responses
@FourWalls (68230)
• United States
3 Oct 21
I was there in 2020 just before the pandemic started. That water is so beautiful. Going around that curve and seeing that water come into view for the first time just took my breath away.
I didn’t do much touristy stuff, other than the sunset cruise, which I LOVED. I’m more of a scenery person than a tourist trap person. I stayed about mid-Keys, and I was content to just stand on the shore across from my hotel and look at that water.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
3 Oct 21
Haven't been there and haven't taken any trips since the start of the pandemic.
Glad you enjoyed your vacation except for the argument part.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136777)
• India
3 Oct 21
Your cousin spoilt a part of your trip but all in all - looking at those image you did seem to return with great memories.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
3 Oct 21
I honestly felt safer on the plane than I do out in public, in Minnesota where I live, or Florida. Masks are not required here or down in Florida, but they are in airports and on airplanes. So, that really didn't bother me. But I am also vaccinated and in relatively good health so I don't feel quite as at risk as others.
I will say the drive is nice and the beaches in Key West are nice, and am thankful for the trip but I honestly would not go back. But very beautiful place.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49491)
• Mojave, California
3 Oct 21
Everglades sound cool. I do not know Florida beaches do not interest me much being from California. Only reason would be the warmer water. I already been to many North Carolina beaches and Myrtle Beach. A beach is a beach. I do hope you have fun, most people not from areas where beaches are so close, so that would be fun. My brothers from Kansas loved how pretty they were. They were to white for the sun and older now so they did not want to stay long and plus one already been here years ago and had a blast.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
24 Oct 21
@crossbones27 "a beach is a beach" - spoken like a Californian. LOL. I feel like us inlanders appreciate the beaches a little more. I do agree though, once you've seen a few, most of them look the same. EXCEPT for those beautiful white sand turquoise-water beaches. But I have literally never found THE perfect beach. Iam still searching. Rocky, sea-weedy, murky, jelly fish, fishy smell, there's always something!
I don't mind lakes personally though. We have 10,000 of them here in my state. And there usually aren't unusual, scary critters inside them.
I really love the underrated different types of terrain, like everglades/swamp, desert, mountains, etc. There is some beautiful stuff out there.
Are you from California originally then?