Florida Keys By Sarah Lovelace
Of the many stops we'll be making along the way, this is one of the few with which I have some personal experience. Driving the length of the Keys is one of my favorite vacation memories - a surprise even to me, given the nightmarish sunburn that actually made my legs swell up. But it was so much fun, riding in the back seat of the rented, cherry red convertible with my mom, our hair whipping in the wind behind us, the sun shining full force down on us, and the ocean everywhere as far as the eye could see.
Putting aside my debilitatingly pale skin, visiting the Keys was as interesting as it was fun. The night life on Duval Street is rockin’, the beaches are hot and beautiful, and the atmosphere is saturated with a feeling of vacation.
This, however, will not be a family vacation. We're in the area for but one day, and there are more than 1,700 islands in this region. So many keys, so little time. But with my prior knowledge of this area, as well as with recommendations from my parents, we have an attractive itinerary. Have a look for yourself.
-Seven Mile Bridge (at left)
-The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
-Everglades National Park
-Spiegel Grove Shipwreck
-Sunset Celebration
-The Truman Little White House
-Conch Tour Train (at right)
-Bahia Honda State Park
-Theater of the Sea
-Southernmost Point in the U.S.
-Sloppy Joe's and Blue Heaven on Duval Street in Key West
(From top) Photo by Andy Newman and Florida Keys News Bureau; photo by Bob Krist and Florida Keys News Bureau; photo by Andy Newman and Florida Keys News Bureau; photo by Bob Krist and Florida Keys News Bureau. All photos courtesy of The Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
