{"id":1820,"date":"2009-10-06T10:05:21","date_gmt":"2009-10-06T15:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=1820"},"modified":"2016-12-17T01:44:03","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T07:44:03","slug":"the-inside-scoop-on-florida-keys-vacations-what-not-to-miss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/10\/the-inside-scoop-on-florida-keys-vacations-what-not-to-miss\/","title":{"rendered":"The inside scoop on Florida Keys vacations"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s sunset in Key West<\/strong><\/a>, and as usual, at least three people in Mallory Square are playing with fire. One\u2019s juggling it, one\u2019s dancing with it, and the third seems to be ready to eat it. A few yards away, a man in a straitjacket and chains hangs upside down above an excited crowd.<\/p>\n

\"Mallory

Mallory Square, Sunset Celebration. Photo by Gary Sibley<\/p><\/div>\n

Oblivious to the street theater, German tourists push forward to the seawall, straining to snap photos of the sunset over the ocean. A cruise ship looms large on the horizon, with a few sailboats floating serenely in the mist. Even though autumn\u2019s officially started, this town is eternally on a beach holiday\u2014as are all of the Florida Keys<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s one of several island clusters that offer Midwest and East Coast residents an easy golf getaway, fishing trip, spa weekend\u2026not quite a full vacation, but enough to tide you over till the holidays.<\/p>\n

The Florida Keys<\/strong><\/a> are just a half-hour jaunt from Miami<\/strong><\/a>, but many of its return guests are from Indianapolis and Ohio, Chicago and Boston\u2026chilly cities that excel at business, but have forgotten how to relax. With mile after mile of peaceful, barely trafficked islands connected by narrow bridges and populated mostly by birds, the Keys literally offers a journey into to serenity.<\/p>\n

The uppermost island, Key Largo<\/strong>, is the busiest except for Key West. Dozens of fishing expeditions and dive boats go in and out daily, the fishing boats in search of tarpon and bonefish (catch-and-release only), and the dive boats cruising to the offshore coral reef.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to choose between the many boat operators, but locals recommend Florida Keys Outfitters<\/strong> for fishing. Atlantis Dive Center<\/strong> is a hugely popular snorkel\/dive boat operator\u2014founder Spencer Slate\u2019s shtick involves feeding moray eels chunks of fish from his mouth (he used to do barracuda till one of the fish chomped his mask off).<\/p>\n

There are hotels all over Key Largo:\u00a0 Pines and Palms<\/strong><\/a>, offering breezy and spacious cottage-style accommodations mere footsteps from a private beach; the deluxe self-contained Key Largo Bay Marriott<\/strong>;<\/a> and the ever-reliable Ramada<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Villa-style Dove Creek Lodge<\/a> <\/strong>is great for water enthusiasts, especially fishermen\u2014it has a marina on-property and runs motorized and non-motor boat expeditions into local waters for guests\u2019 choice of activities.<\/p>\n

\"Baby

Baby turtle in Key Largo Wildlife Preserve <\/p><\/div>\n

Most of the Keys are obscure, sparsely populated, and difficult to know by name. While a few little galleries, wildlife preserves and fine dining restaurants can be found on picturesque Islamorada, the middle Keys directly south of it are simply grouped under the district Marathon. And indeed, it is a marathon, traversing the everlasting narrow bridge, skimming over islands so narrow you can see water on either side. These islands are too small to even hold towns; a few have \u201cneighborhoods\u201d comprised of clusters of houses. Every resident has a boat out back of their house, and the few resorts are spread-out, self-contained, very tranquil and very upscale with a Southern plantation feel. Hawk\u2019s Cay <\/strong>is great for families, offering everything from sailing to spa.\u00a0 Tranquility Bay<\/strong> boasts the biggest pool in the region, as well as a small but picturesque beach where the water\u2019s so still and warm, it feels like a wading pool.<\/p>\n

\"Pines

Pines and Palms Resort, Key Largo<\/p><\/div>\n

When you get to Key West<\/strong> hang onto your hat. Even if you\u2019re forewarned that this island is very different from its neighbors, nothing can prepare you for the spectacle that assails you upon entering Old Town Key West<\/strong>. Suddenly the action-ometer spikes from zero to almost 100, and you\u2019re agog wondering, \u201cWhere did all this come from?\u201d\u00a0 Crowds of people meander along Duval Street<\/strong>, chugging beers at 1PM and buying up $5 tee-shirts. The seafood restaurants in the marina can seat hundreds of people, yet they\u2019re invariably filled up by 6PM on a weekday, in low season. The bars are packed till 2AM, the trolleys are standing room only, and the parties are legendary. (The biggest is actually coming up\u2014Fantasy Fest<\/strong> kicks off October 23rd this year and runs through November 1st.)<\/p>\n

In spite of how utterly chaotic it can be, Key West somehow steers clear of being a tourist trap. It\u2019s colorful and offbeat, populated by an interesting combination of ex-hippies, possible former smugglers, wealthy East Coast transplants, professional artists and lifelong seafarers (sailors, fishermen, Navy contractors). Old Town has hundreds of preserved historic homes and inns that look unnervingly alike from outside. Its attractions, however, are diverse, ranging from the Pirate Soul Museum<\/strong> to the Ernest Hemingway House<\/strong> (now home to between 40-50 six-toed cats) to the legendary 801 Cabaret drag club<\/strong> (Sushi, the star performer, appears on CNN\u2019s New Year\u2019s Eve countdown every year). Offshore activities are just as numerous\u2014you can jet ski, take a glass bottom boat ride, dive for sunken treasure, or take a ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park<\/strong>. The Sunset Celebration<\/strong> at Mallory Square <\/strong>occurs nightly, weather permitting, and immediately afterward the nightlife scene kicks into high gear.<\/p>\n

Since you have to sleep sometime, there are plenty of hotels in Key West<\/a>:<\/strong>the Ocean Key<\/strong><\/a>, the Pier House<\/strong><\/a>, and a new Westin Key Resort and Marina<\/strong><\/a> right next to Mallory Square. However, insiders say that the truly authentic guest experience can only be had at a historic B&B. Charming, reasonably priced picks include Island City House<\/strong><\/a> and Orchid Key Inn<\/strong>. Duval House<\/strong><\/a> and Dewey House<\/strong><\/a> are slightly more expensive, and better for couples.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned as we bring you even more island getaways\u2014no passport required, and right in your backyard.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot of weekends between now and the holidays, and we at Orbitz figure you might as well make the most of them.<\/p>\n

Related Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n