Along with Hotels.com I want to tell you about a place like no other. Many ask why visit the Florida Keys. I am here to help answer that question. The Florida Keys are always at the top of almost every type of travel or vacation list. So that is why my family decided to take to the road and complete our family vacation there this year. We missed each other and wanted to spend some quality time together. AND there is no better place to do that than in the Florida Keys.
Once you get a little past Miami and the Florida Everglades, you realize just how different this place is from anywhere else in the United States. U.S.1 is an Overseas Highway that amazes even Industrial Engineers as they drive along the road with a 360 degree view.
You will immediately get into the Florida Vibe as the Turquoise water surrounds your car and your eyes. Your eyes are not the only sense getting a treat on this trip. Stop quickly and grab what will be the first of many key lime pies along the route from Key Largo to Key West.
You will soon feel like you have left the country – at least the country of the United States. The pace is slower here and priorities change for all. Just ask the locals. Many of them came as a tourist and then decided to return and never leave.
Why visit the Florida Keys? That Florida vibe I mentioned is easy to find. You can feel like a local really fast there after only a few days.
Where to Stay in Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are full of unique places to call home for your time in the Florida Keys. From rental vacation homes to summertime perfect hotels, the Florida Keys is full of unique places to call home.
What to do in Key West
I can tell you there are many things to do in the Key West, but here are my top ones.
Visit the Hemingway House. Growing up I always heard about the cats there with the extra toes – it was even in my history books. You should have seen the face of a little girl “me” light up when I first got to interact with one in real life. I visit now every time I return to Key West.
Visit Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppe. This is the best key lime pie anywhere in the world. Taste the reason this dessert has become famous. After you try the pie – PLEASE move on to the frozen chocolate covered slice of Kermit’s Key Lime Pie on a stick. So decadent! So Key West!
Visit the Southernmost Point. Yes there is the obligatory photo opp here, but it does give you a great feeling to know you have reached the end of the earth – the end of the United States. Snap that photo of your group. There is usually a line so make sure to leave time. It is just down the road from the Hemingway House. Usually there is a vendor a block away with fresh coconuts that they will open and allow you to enjoy fresh coconut milk inside a fresh coconut. Of course, this is another amazing photo opportunity.
Cuba is only around 90 miles south of the Southernmost Point in Key West!
Places to Shop in Florida Keys
The best place to stop as you head down the highway is the Key West Visitors Center. There you can find both the standard Florida Souvenirs and also some amazing Personalized Concierge Service to plan your trip. I used them to find the perfect brunch in Key West. Don’t miss a chance to find Azur Key West and enjoy a mimosa. If you are really hungry and love sweets go for the Key Lime French Toast – best shared. I enjoyed the Pear and Frisee Salad, which included Dates, Gorgonzola Cheese & Honey-Thyme Vinaigrette. I added a side of Truffle Fries as a vacation “why not” brunch side. If you have not tasted Truffle Fries in your life you have not lived – haha. Truffle oil makes everything taste better – especially French Fries. I just imagined them as a different form of breakfast hashbrowns.
Top Spa in Key West
As someone who has been known for over 10 years as a spa expert and wellness lover, I get a lot of questions, emails, tweets, and various other types of messages about where to go on a bit of spa travel and sometimes the direct question of where is the top spa in Key West. My favorite spa in Key West is the Top Spa at the La Concha Hotel in Key West.
What makes them so memorable (other than the amazing spa suite – the experienced and highly trained therapists. After all the spa treatments I have received I can tell when someone knows their stuff and this staff did. Also they have the hospitality spirit that cannot be faked. They really wanted me to have a great enjoyable visit.
Why We Visit the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a place that my family loves to return to over and over again. We never know exactly what we will encounter, but always return fulfilled and ready to plan the next trip.
Traveling During Covid
As travel today remains uncertain, please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind at all times. If you are comfortable with traveling, please travel responsibly and within regulation as any travel is at your own risk.
If you do decide to travel at this time, here are our recommendations:
- Wear a face mask.
- Bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands on a regular basis.
- Check official websites before your trip for the latest updates on policies, closures and status of local businesses.
- Book a hotel with free cancellation in case you need to change your plans at the last minute.
