We are fresh back from our trip to Key Largo the second week in February, and we really had a great time together as a family! Sooo many great memories :) Here is a little compilation of the posts I did for each day we were in Key Largo.
Day 1: Calm and Storms
Day 2: Gator Park
Day 3: Bahia Honda and Key West
Day 4: Key Largo and Harris Park
Day 5: Theater of the Sea
Day 6: Hanging around the Condo Property
Also, instead of doing a boring recap of how our traveling went there and back, I thought I'd do a little piece on flying with toddlers with our experiences and tips.
Flying with Toddlers
I did a much more thorough recap of our trip with links as well, including the "best" and "worst" parts on my family blog, but I thought it was worth repeating here at least as a sort of menu for the rest of my blog posts on here.
Destinations
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Showing posts with label Florida Keys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida Keys. Show all posts
Friday, March 6, 2015
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Florida Keys in February 2015
We are just starting to plan a trip to Florida hopefully this February. We finally decided on a destination: The Florida Keys!
Links to sources:
TheNest.com TheNest.com TripAdvisor.com Fla-Keys.com (Islamorada) Fla-Keys.com (Marathon) Fla-Keys.com (Key Largo)
I'm sure I'll have more to add eventually, but that's about as much as I'm going to do for planning at this point. We are all SO EXCITED!! :)
Accomodations
Key Largo
We decided to stay in Key Largo as it is close to Miami, and only a couple hours' drive to Key West. We initially wanted to stay in Islamorada or Marathon, but with only 10 weeks before the trip, most of the vrbo accommodations were picked over (beyond this one, which we just weren't willing to shell out $300/night for), and we wanted to stay somewhere at least as nice as where we live.
We reserved a nice condo (in a Yacht Club, no less - we are SO not "Yacht Club" people) there through vrbo.com
This is the view from the balcony! I cannot WAIT!!
We reserved a nice condo (in a Yacht Club, no less - we are SO not "Yacht Club" people) there through vrbo.com
Activities
In these days of the internet having so much information as well as chat forums, vacation planning is easy! I turned to TheNest.com's travel board, which I've used to help plan ALL of our previous vacations. I didn't even have to post a question, since when I did a search, the question has been asked at least a dozen times: "What to do in the Florida Keys".
One thing I've really tried to remember when traveling with little kids is to always plan very few actual activities: The less we have to stick to a timeline, the better! That way, I don't get flustered when the day doesn't go as I planned, and we have plenty of time to rest and relax. If we have a day with no naps, we can move things around without running out of time to do it "all".
Here's my rundown of what I've compiled:
One thing I've really tried to remember when traveling with little kids is to always plan very few actual activities: The less we have to stick to a timeline, the better! That way, I don't get flustered when the day doesn't go as I planned, and we have plenty of time to rest and relax. If we have a day with no naps, we can move things around without running out of time to do it "all".
Here's my rundown of what I've compiled:
Miami
*****Miami Seaquarium - a MUST for the boys! I can't wait to take them :)
Everglades National Park
This one is a whole destination in itself! $10 entrance fee to Everglades National Park.
website
Great informational PDF about the park
Dry Tortugas
Bird Watching
website
Great informational PDF about the park
Dry Tortugas
Bird Watching
Islamorada
Dolphin swimming at Hawk's Cay (technically between Islamorada and Marathon)
Key Largo
****Water Park at Jacob's Aquatics Center
***Harry Harris Park and Beach
***Harry Harris Park and Beach
Marathon
The sea turtle hospital tours in Marathon
****Bahia Honda State Park
"Bahia Honda has the most beautiful beach with soft white sand. They have snorkeling rental equipment on site and your can snorkel right off the beach. We also had a sunset picnic there on the beach and it was our most memorable day. It is about 1.5 hours from Key Largo and about an hour from Key West located just after you cross the seven mile bridge driving south. We picked up diner in Marathon and drove down to the park for our picnic."
****Rotary Field of Dreams (MUST for the boys!)
****Bahia Honda State Park
"Bahia Honda has the most beautiful beach with soft white sand. They have snorkeling rental equipment on site and your can snorkel right off the beach. We also had a sunset picnic there on the beach and it was our most memorable day. It is about 1.5 hours from Key Largo and about an hour from Key West located just after you cross the seven mile bridge driving south. We picked up diner in Marathon and drove down to the park for our picnic."
Key West
Big Pine Key
Snorkel at Looe Key and explore the park
Restaurant Recommendations
Islamorada
Morada Bay is good.
The Lorelai for drinks/lunch - on the water and awesome!
Cheeca Lodge for drinks and lunch.
Island Grill for lunch (both in Islamorada).
The Lorelai for drinks/lunch - on the water and awesome!
Cheeca Lodge for drinks and lunch.
Island Grill for lunch (both in Islamorada).
Marathon
The Island Fish Company for lunch - on the water and awesome! Good but can be super crowded
The Keys Fisheries is AWESOME for lunch or dinner-they do close on the earlier side so don't get there too late. (like 9 or 10PM-I can't remember) Their stone crab is really good-but everything else is too-we've never been disappointed and we've been going for 5 years. Easy to get a table
Burdine's Waterfront is also good and on the water-their fish taco's are great. It is a deck and a marina so you can sit above and watch the boats coming and going. I like that. Easy to get a table
The Keys Fisheries is AWESOME for lunch or dinner-they do close on the earlier side so don't get there too late. (like 9 or 10PM-I can't remember) Their stone crab is really good-but everything else is too-we've never been disappointed and we've been going for 5 years. Easy to get a table
Burdine's Waterfront is also good and on the water-their fish taco's are great. It is a deck and a marina so you can sit above and watch the boats coming and going. I like that. Easy to get a table
Links to sources:
TheNest.com TheNest.com TripAdvisor.com Fla-Keys.com (Islamorada) Fla-Keys.com (Marathon) Fla-Keys.com (Key Largo)
Basic Agenda
Our basic agenda will hopefully look about like this. I like to plan a big day followed by a low-key day so that we can Day 1 (Sunday)
Sleep in a bit (we will have gotten in late the night before), church at Key Largo Baptist Church (services at 8:45am and 11am) then relax and enjoy Key Largo a bit. Maybe take in the pool or beach a bit - basically a free-for-all day.Day 2 (Monday)
Miami Seaquarium day with supper at Rainforest Cafe. 1+ hour each way.Day 3 (Tuesday)
Water Park at Jacob's Aquatic Center in Key Largo: A low key day to rest up from the big day in Miami. Cook at the condo.Day 4 (Wednesday)
BIG day in Key West. Up early and on the road by 8 or 9. Home late. Sunset Day 5 (Thursday)
Lazy day - Harry Harris Park and Beach - Island Grill in Islamorada for lunch or supper.Day 6 (Friday)
Explore Islamorada and Marathon, take in sunset at Bahia Honda. Day 7 (Saturday)
Flight leaves at 10am, so it'll be a long day of traveling, unfortunately :(I'm sure I'll have more to add eventually, but that's about as much as I'm going to do for planning at this point. We are all SO EXCITED!! :)
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