Florida Florida Keys Highway: Scenic Journey to the End of the Rainbow 7 Days/6 Nights
It was one of Jimmy Buffet’s favorite places. You don’t have to wear shoes. Tee shirts and cutoffs are everyday dress. You don’t need heat in your house. It rarely ever goes below 40 degrees. Truly a tropical paradise. The ocean is so clear you can see the bright sun dappling on the bottom as you fly over the water to Key West. It’s like that most places around the Florida Keys, a necklace of islands connected to the Florida mainland by a 150-mile causeway. The drive from Key Largo to Key West is as much a part of the adventure as reaching Key West. Marathon, Islamorada, Plantation and Big Pine Key, the largest communities on the string, are very small towns where beach houses with pine treed and sand lawns dot the shore. Key West, home of native “conchs”, has about 25,000 residents. Hurricanes are a rarity. The city has not suffered a major storm in decades. The result is a quaint, historic, laid back, anything goes village, painted in tropical colors, ablaze with flowers and lush greenery. Ernest Hemingway retired here when he wanted inspiration. Harry Truman had his winter White House here too. There are many new hotels and the military base turned cruise port. Yet, most of all, Key West is still authentic, delightful, friendly and fun. Locals and visitors alike watch the sunset at “The End of the Rainbow.”
Itinerary Day One: Miami Day Two: Miami/Everglades National Park Day Three: Miami to Key West Day Four: Key West Day Five: Key West Day Six: Key West to Miami Day Seven: Leave Miami
Trip Highlights Everglades National Park: The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site and a Wetland of International Importance. Occupies the southern most portion of the Florida mainland, west and south of Miami. Mallory Square: The end of US Route 1 in Key West. Famous for its sunsets at the “End of the Rainbow”, where locals and visitors alike sit and watch. Audubon House and Tropical Gardens: Explore a typical Key West house and its lush surrounding gardens. Anything grows here! Curry Mansion Museum: 25 room Victorian masterpiece, now restored and open for tours. Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Ferry: Daily service to the Dry Tortugas, seven beautiful, yet remote islands that make up the National Park, about 70 miles off Key West. Ernest Hemingway House and Museum: National Historic Landmark where Hemingway wrote many of his works. Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center: 6,000 square feet of dynamic exhibits, including the world’s only underwater ocean laboratory. Mel Fisher’s Maritime Heritage Museum: See what this remarkable treasure hunter has found off Key West. Key West Marine Park: Excellent snorkeling over hard bottom and soft coral communities. Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House: Learn more about this fascinating town. Discovery Glass Bottom Boats: Enjoy a historic harbor tour in the Key’s only underwater viewing room. Key West Nature Preserve: Trails take visitors through mangrove forests to a quiet strip of beach. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach: Historic fortress at the southernmost end of Key West. Key Largo: the northernmost island of the Florida Keys chain, sandwiched between the Everglades and the fish-covered coral formations of North America’s only living coral barrier reef. The Diving Capital of the World. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: The wreck of a 510 foot Navy ship intentionally scuttled in 2002 is the backbone of a new coral reef. Seven Mile Bridge: Connects the upper and lower Keys and spans the section where there are no islands. National Key Deer Refuge: Large expanse of undeveloped pine lands, home to the small Key Deer. Flagler Station: Bringing to life the story of Henry Flagler, father of Miami, who first connected Key West and the Keys with a railroad. Heritage House Museum and Robert Frost Cottage. Keys Boats: Rent any kind of craft for the way. Prices starting at: $489. Per person, double occupancy, including all hotel taxes and breakfast using Best Western accommodations. Package rates may vary by season and day of the week. No attractions or activities included. Other accommodations choices and customization available. Call toll-free 877-485-8747 to book.