Florida Keys

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

My wife is going to visit a friend in Ft. Myers the first part of December and then drive down to Key West for an exchange. What are the things she could consider seeing on the way there or back in the keys. They will be driving down on a Sunday and returning the following Saturday.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The drive itself will be worthwhile.

There is an Everglades Park Headquarters in Everglades City, at the beginning of the trip. Make sure she routes around Miami, takes the toll road to HWY 1 to the Overseas Highway. Or HWY 41 across the Everglades might be interesting, instead of Alligator Alley. Maybe someone more familiar with it can address that.

Conch Man might have some suggestions for the Keys. As we learned, some days the trip itself can be eventful enough, without trying to work in any sightseeing.

[The Conch Man Past Goumba President & BigFrank's Cigar Buddy! Find all posts View Profile Close The Conch Man]

1st thing ~~ Ya need to stop by for a visit with me in Bonita ~~ Just down the road ~~

2nd thing ~~ The drive to Key West from Bonita Springs is 5 hours with one pee break only ~~ This is due for a couple of reasons ~~ Way tooooooooo much to do in Key West ~~

3rd thing ~~ Jim is right ~~ I do know a lot of places to stop on the way down to Key West ~~ As my wife makes me stop ~~ Jim gave ya a pointer already ~~ It all depends on what their interests are ~~ Let me know & I can fill ya in ~~ The drive itself is borin as there is hardly any traffic on I-75 until you get closer to Miami to catch the turnpike to Key West ~~

Last thing ~~ If I don't stop typin ~~ I'll lose the reply message cause of my slow typin ~~

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Both 41 and I-75 are great alligator sighting roads, as they lay in the sun along the ditches. Kinda hard to drive and look at high speeds, which is why we like 41 from the Marco Island exit to Everglades City.

We have never gone further east on it, but I picture it as being desolate, nothing but Everglades. It does have a bit of traffic, but not enough to slow you down (or speed you up in our case ).

Conch, we'll be there 12/30-1/6. That's getting close.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

We live in Estero in the winter (and we were so lucky this summer in the Dells, we got to experience all 4 seasons and snow). When we drove to the keys, we stopped in Shark Valley and took the tram tour (off of 41) and thenwe stopped in the Everglades entrance near Everglades City ont he Way back. Of the two, Shark Valley was the most intersting, but I would do them both.

[KenK Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close KenK]

I agree with everyone above. Just remember it will take a lot of time to sight see and drive there in one day.

If you want as fast as possible, use I 75 S and E to Fl Turnpike S (Homestead Extension). Don't try to save $$ buy cutting across to I 595 toward the FFL Airport to pick up I 95 S, because it ends in the middle of Miami.

From Estero to FFL it is 120 miles....but you will cut out 15 miles because you will be staying on I 75 to the Turnpike entrance, and not use I 595...then South Bound.

This will take you around the Weston area, and I 75 will again start going S....then East again as you exit onto turnpike.

Stay on Turnpike until its end (Florida City-Keys Gate)at Exit # 1 (Toll) . At exit, there are Prime Outlets (no compare with Sawgrass Mills)....but also a Super Wal Mart- Murphy Gas (also Wal Mart) and a Golden Corral....but I think you will find better food S on US One. The Wal Mart is much less $$ than the Publix and Winn Dixie supermarkets.

At the end of the Turnpike, it is 135 miles on US Rt One to Key West. Much of this road is single lane. Islamorada Fish Company on Islamorada (Bass Pro Shops) used to be very good...

[charlja Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close charlja]

Excellent information everyone! I'm so glad I joined this board.

Thanks!

Judy from WI

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

Glad this thread got bumped up, because I wanted to make a correction. while we have been to the Everglades city part of the Everglades, that is not the one I intended to mention. The one out of Everglades city basically offers water activities, a boat ride, kayak, etc.
I meant the one out of Florida city, near homestead. you can drive into the National Park there and talk various boardwalks or drive all the way to Flamingo. I don't think any of these compare to taking the tram ride in shark Valley and also stopping at the various rest stops along Hwy 41 with viewing areas for alligators and the beautiful Florida Birds.
Also, when we took 41 from Fort Myers area to the Keys, we got off on Hwy 997 (we did this when we took I75 also) It is not a very heavily traveled road. Another thing we did on our way home from Marathon Key was to go to Key Largo, John Penekamp State Park and ride the glass bottom boat.