Florida Keys, Miami

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The 160-mile drive from Miami to Key West is a great adventure. Just the fact that you are driving over miles and miles of turquoise blue water is reason enough to make this journey. In this case, the journey is as rewarding as the destination. Take your time going through the Keys. Make a few stops along the way to really capture the fact you're driving from island to island. The Middle Keys were really nice. Islamorada (sp?) has some great turnoffs where you can stop and enjoy the scene. The 7-mile Bridge (the longest bridge entirely over water, in the world I think) is fantastic. It'll be about 3 hours 'til you reach that point, but you'll know once you're on it. My only complaint about the drive is that there are no signs alerting of turnoffs. They just appear and you've driven past 'em with no way of turning back to it. I would've stopped more frequently if I knew where the viewpoints were. All-in-all, though, the drive to Key West is amazing and a must-do.

Is about a three hour drive from Miami down the overseas highway. The drive is unusual to say the least. I would recommend staying over at least the night as you won't enjoy the trip if you try to make down and back the same day. Weekends are very busy and traffic out of Miami on Saturday morning and back north on Sunday afternoon is very heavy. Your destination is Duvall street which you can easily walk from end to end. The shops and restaurants and bars are the attraction as is the history and ambiance of the place. The pace is quite a bit slower there after having been in Miami. You'll want to visit Sloppy Joes Saloon and Capt. Tony's (the original Sloppy Joes). You will also want to make it for the sunset at Mallory Square at the end of Duvall street.

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The Florida Keys are definitely a Must See, but they aren't really in Miami. Miami is an hours drive from the farthrest north of the keys - Key Largo. Going all the way to Key West will take 4 hours or more by road.

Key Largo is advertised as the Dive Capitol of the World (which is a bit hyperbolic) and Islamorada is advertised as the Sports Fishing Capitol of the World (ditto), and Key West is the Southernmost City in the Continental US (which is true but the continental part is because Hawaii is farther south). It's a sub-tropical climate (not tropical in spite of what some advertising says).

Florida Keys is a great day trip, but if you have time – stay longer. It’s a beautiful drive made for having the windows down.
In Key West, you can rent a bike and explore more – don’t forget the Hemmingway House.

Go to Key West. Do a 'resort dive' scuba deal. Costs about $70 and takes about half a day. See the only living coral reef in North America. Next day, do a snorkeling trip that includes kayaking through a mangrove hammok.
It's beautiful, pretty quiet and peaceful, the Danger charter folks were really knowledgeable about the local ecosystem. And watching the sunset on the boat ride home is a nice bonus.

Take a drive from Miami over to the Keys . I drove about 4 hours from Miami to Key West and it was well worth it .
I saw the most amazing rainbow , longest one I had ever on my drive over one of many bridges .

Long drive but worth it!!!!! Watch the sunset and relax........