[HighlandsGal]

Hello!

We are currently planning our honeymoon to Miami Beach and the Keys in Mid-July. We are spending two nights in Miami Beach, one in Islamorada, and four in Key West. We have a car and are in our early 30s. We love to eat good food, do lots of outdoor activities, relax and drink cocktails, sightsee, etc.

Just looking for any insider tips or "must see/do" things. Would it be better to go on a fishing charter out of Islamorada or Key West? What about snorkeling/kayaking?

I also posted in the travel forum too if that is a better place................I can't believe there is not a separate Keys forum under Florida??

[Coconut1]

I would check out the Trip Advisor forums... they're a much better place to get advice like this. I'm over there (different name, though )

But since you're here, I would do the fishing out of Islamorada as well as the snorkeling/kayaking. It's much more quiet in the upper Keys and is a more nature oriented place. You might not have enough time to do both, though. If you don't, leave the kayaking and snorkeling for Key West since there are more companies to pick from there (unless you plan on going out on your own)

As for Key West, it's a very busy place.

Check out the usual attractions,

Key West Lighthouse
Ft. Zachary Taylor
Little White House
Hemingway House
Maybe the Conch Train or Trolley
Mallory Square at Sunset

There's tons more.

Where are you staying in Key West? You want to be in Old Town, if you haven't made reservations yet. In Old Town it's best to park the car, rent bikes and not move the car until you leave. Bikes are the best way to get around the island.

There's plenty of good eats in Key West. I personally like El Siboney (Cuban) up on Catherine Street and for a quick lunch, try the Cuban Coffee Queen over at the Bight.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask

[doggiebus]

FYI, July in Florida is very hot and humid. It is also part of hurricane season and rainy season (July is the third rainest month), however the Keys doesn't get as much rain as Miami does. Its also Mosquito season, so buy some mosquito spray and sun screen when you get to Florida City (there is a Walmart before the last exit).

Islamorada is a great place to take a fishing trip from, but if you only have one night there, you may not want to spend all day on a boat. John PenneKamp State Park in Key Largo is a great place to go snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, glass bottom boat ride, fishing trips, etc. Check out their website. For dinner in Islamorada head to Islamorada Fish Company, go at dusk as they feed the nurse sharks and tarpon from the docks. If the mosquitos are bad, they have an indoor restaurant. After dinner walk through the parking lot to the bar next door called Morada Bay, have one of those drinks like they put the glow sticks in and you will have a wonderful night listen to the live music with your feet in the sand.

As far as Key West goes, tons of things to do. Mallory Square always some sort of character there doing something. Hemingways House is pretty cool, look at the paws of the hemingways cats that wonder the property, they have an extra digit. The lighthouse, duval street, southern most point, Truman Annex really pretty area to walk around. There is a treasure museum, I can't remember the name of the family. They have artifacts that they have found on display. A day trip out to the Fort is always really neat to do, you have to go by tour boat to the fort.

Miami Beach is pretty cool. Take a walk down Ocean drive the iconic picture of South Beach with the art deco buildings. The walk over to Lincoln Road (17th Street) there are shops, restaurants, bars along lincoln. Then walk down Washington past all the clubs and bars.

[Coconut1]

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is the treasure museum. I went but didn't find it too exciting.

I need to get out to the Fort. When I go though the water is always too cold for me.

[bigh110]

at john pennekamp park there is an area with a protected beach area that you can snorkel at and see cannons and cannonballs and an old ships anchor along with some cool tropical fish. bahia honda state park has a snorkel boat out to looe key reef where there is also good snorkling but you pay for the boat ride out to the reef but you are sure to see lots of sea life