RV Trip too the Keys

R

randlemanboater

God
I am going to load up the wife and kids in the RV the day after Christmas and ride down to the Keys for a few days.

What I need is suggestions on:

-Cool places to take the kids....cheeper the better.

-Can you catch diner from land?

-Anyone know of places to park and sleep in the RV down that way? (we are more nomadic than the "set up camp and stay for days" type travelers).

-Where's the best food at reasonable prices?

-Any info you guys can give that will help me to show the family a good time.

I have been studying everything I can about the area on the net and have read lots of posts on RV forums, just thought I'd ask here since I know there are several Floridians on here.

Also suggestions for on the way down and back of things to stop and check out would be great as well.

Thanks in advance!
 
i'm sure you'll get plenty of good ideas on the keys, but a place my family always enjoyed was st augustine. not sure if it would fit your driving schedule but might be a good midway point. there is a state park on the beach (anastasia, i think) and my kids love exploriing the old fort and the fountain of youth attraction. we went to the space center one year and did not enjoy it that much. lotta static displays and look but don't touch stuff and we had about 100 fifth graders ,so it was not too much fun for them. there is also a mock early settlement in st augustine that they also enjoyed.

sounds like a good trip'
enjoy
 
How far into the keys are you wanting to go? Will you be in just your RV, or are you bringing a towed vehicle with you? This time of year the weather isn't really the best down there as the wind tends to blow non stop. BAHIA HONDA is a good place to head to for camping at reasoneable prices in the lower keys as it is a state park. BIG PINE KEY is a nice area and is just an island or 2 south from there. CUDJOE KEY is also a decent island to head towards. After you go past MARATHON(VACA KEY) over the seven mile bridge things get pretty pricey. I believe there is also a state park in the TAVERNIER area if your not wanting to head deep into the keys. I haven't ever spent much time in the upper keys, but ISLAMORADA is a pretty big island with alot of tourist type stuff.
 
Ferm, just the RV, I haven't bought a tow dolly or tow bar yet. I figure as long as we are there, we will at least pass through Key West, I know its crowded and expensive there, but if we are that close, might as well.

Parishht, I pick up I-95 south of South of the Border, but I do enjoy the signs on the way back.
 
In Key West, Good and not too pricey food can be had at Two Friends Patio Restaurant. I love their food and it's right off Duval.
http://www.twofriendskeywest.com/

On the way down if you take Card Sound Road instead of US1 you can hit up Alabama Jacks for some excellent conch fritters and other seafood and good prices as well. The entrance to card sound is just after Florida City on the left.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ama_Jacks-Key_Largo_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

Havent been after having kids so cant help with kids fun stuff. Everglades is a posibility depending on their age. It's inexpensive and can see gators...

Fishing of the bridges in the keys is supposedly excellent, but must learn where and when and the tides ... Maybe a site online where you can get some help with when and where.

My coleague at work claims the best key lime pie anywhere is at Herbi's in Marathon. It's a dive. I haven't had their food but the key lime is quite good. I like Joe's Stone Crab's key lime pie better(In Miami).
Joe's is expensive, but excellent food if want to stop in Miami.
Obvisously plenty of latin and other good restaurants in Miami too.
 
rmb, just remembered long key st park as a back up to bahia honda. campsites on the beach but its about mm 65 so a pretty good treck to the end. pretty nice park, but not a lot of tourist stuff around there
 
HERBIES in MARATHON is probably closed right now as they are a seasonal restaurant. With your RV the keys will be a chore to navigate as many of the roads and streets are very narrow and parking is limited. Another option to consider is maybe rent a car while you're down there. I'm pretty sure MARATHON and ISLAMORADA both have a rental car place as I believe they both have an airport. The drive across TAMIAMI TRAIL(US 41) is very scenic and isolated, and takes you right through the glades and several pull offs. Be advised though it is a scenic road and tends to be bumpy. On your way down definately take card sound road as the last time I was there they were 4 laning US1 and it had some pretty heavy back-ups on it.
 
I am no help but will be in Miami on the 9th for my curz and in the keys on th 10th, will also be there in Feb for some fishing and then in Gulf port Miss in March

Have fun!!
 
Try Craig's restuarant in Tavernier--good fish sandwich and conch fritters. Nothing fancy, nice local place. Snappers in Key largo is cool for atmosphere, you can feed the tarpon right off the deck. I agree with Ferm on Bahia Honda state park. Can't remember the names, but a couple cool places to check out in Islamorada--the "sport fishing capital of the world". You'll know them when you see them. Key West is a waste of time I think. Insane traffic, high prices, uber-liberal/queer/swinger/drug user mentality prevails with the occasional mid-life crisis who wishes he was Ernest Hemingway or Jimmy Buffett, instead of some loser cheating on his wife and kids.
 
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bradford said:
Key West is a waste of time I think. Insane traffic, high prices, uber-liberal/queer/swinger/drug user mentality prevails with the occasional mid-life crisis who wishes he was Ernest Hemingway or Jimmy Buffett, instead of some loser cheating on his wife and kids.
Click to expand...

Well said. That's what I like about this site. Ask a question and get a straight answer. I suppose Key West is OK if that's your thing. I would not take my kids there.
 
Remember, once in the keys, you're still over 100 miles from Key West. Long haul with alot of two lane driving, but worth the drive.
 
sure key west is a tourist trap, but so is 90% of florida. we figured out about 75 years ago it is easier to pick tourist than cotton & oranges...
i was working in the keys in the mid 80's and ask a local why so many "colorful" inhabitants were in one place. he said florida was the sediment bowl of the nation and key west was the bottom of the bowl..
we usually go for an afternoon for the girls to shop we go to sloppy joes for a beer & root beer the boys, then head north before the sun sets.

besides when else are you gonna be any closer?
 
Randleman I have been to the Keys three times and love them more each time I go. For family stuff the middle Keys are great.
And yes Key West is definetly a colorful place. But I would not hesitate bringing my kids there unless it was one of their freak weeks when they all come out to play in their gaudiest I am queer outfits.
The majority of people in the Keys and just as much so in Key West are just regular peeps who like a laid back lifestyle.
If you go to most resort cities you will find the same wacs running around, ask Mj about his favorite, Provincetown and or several others up there. Or in delaware Rehobooth Beach or NY 's Fire Island. You think you got some extraterrestials in Key West, you have not seen a thing yet.
Isle Morada is fabulous, stop in one of the best fishing/shopping spots there, a great Bass pro Shop, your wife and kids can walk around and enjoy both inside and outside. Great spot for a lunch right near there but I cannot remember the name, its right on the water and good service and food. Got a mermaid hangin on the sign.
Marathon is gorgeous and would be one of my top ten places to live if I could convince the CEO to move. H@ll they are all beautiful down there.
Bahia Honda state park is beautiful, reserve in advance if you can. The CEO and I drove around the park and it is great if you got a rig like yours, don't remember seeing any in there when we were there so check size restrictions. I think you are good though.
Just pick some spots to check out both on the way down and back up to break up the ride. But you should do Key West if you can. Better with just you and the wife but pretty darn cool for a family too.
If you want a really good meal and the best Mojitos on the island for fair prices and great atmosphere eat one night in Le Meson De Pepe, just off Duval and try to eat in the outdoor courtyard. You will think you are in Cuba without the drawbacks.
Enjoy the trip, wish I was going with ya
 
Thanks again for all the input.

I can't drive all the way to the Keys and not get my picture taken in front of the "southern most point". But I fully understand that night time is not the best for kids, so we will probably just spend a daylight day there. We won't have a lot of time anyway, we have 8 days and it will take 4 days travel.

I'm hoping that I can get one of the "first come" spots at the different state parks, apparently you have to reserve spots 9 monthes in advance during the winter, and I didn't.

We are all very excited about the trip.
 
Just before you get to the BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK, there is another campground that is pretty big and is normally got empty spots. It is more money than the state park though. You also may be able to find a spot at the KOA on CUDJOE or there is 2 good sized parks on BIG PINE KEY which is all right there in that same general area. I would reccomend getting a rental car though for your trip as pretty much everything is not RV friendly to get into down there.
 
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