The Florida Keys

My latest adventure took me to the Florida Keys earlier this year. After a cold spell at the end of January, we hopped on a plane in search of warmer weather and sunshine. Of course, we went when they had an unusual cold spell in Florida also. When I say cold spell, I am saying that iguanas were falling out of trees in Miami and had to be sent to rescue facilities! Seriously! But not to be deterred, we flew to Miami, rented a car, and took the beautiful and bucket list drive down through the Keys. Best known as Florida's chain of islands that stretch for 220 miles, the overseas highway runs from the mainland to Key West connecting all the islands together. It is one of the longest overwater roads in the world, which includes 42 bridges and is home to three National Parks - Biscayne, The Everglades, and Tortugas Park. The two lane highway provides an incredible view, which is good because depending on traffic it could possibly take up to four or more hours to complete. There are plenty of places to pull over, plus small to medium sized towns along the way, and we stopped in several to check out the local cuisine, foliage, and the views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of America. Home to a variety of plants and animals, the Keys boast the most abundant coral reef life. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has underwater habitats, "ranging from the only coral barrier reef in the continental United States to the largest contiguous seagrass community in the Northern Hemisphere." More than 6000 animal species are found there, so it is one of the most cherished places for diving, fishing, boating, and wildlife views.

The largest of the islands is Key Largo (also known as the "Diving Capital of the World") which stretches about 33 miles and has a population of around 12,000 people. We checked out a "dive" restaurant called "Fish House". If you ever watch "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" by Guy Fieri on the Food Network - this is one of the places he did an episode on. It was amazing. Of course the Coconut Martini was top notch, and it was accompanied by cooked oysters, seafood(caught fresh daily) grilled or cooked to your liking, and Florida lobster. The locals are extremely friendly and are happy to share information about the area. You can check out the Glass Bottom Boat excursions, Sunset Dolphin tours, and definitely the Coral Reef Half-Day Snorkeling trip.

Venturing further down the highway, we decided to stay in Marathon. It is about the half-way point in the Keys and we could travel from there up and down the Keys to experience the area. Marathon is considered the laid-back hub of the Middle Keys and boasts it's kayak mangroves, incredible fishing expeditions, and sandbar boat tours. It is home to a Turtle Hospital and a Dolphin Research Center. There are many restaurants which overlook the scenic Seven Mile Bridge. The bridge is a famous landmark that connects the middle and lower Keys. Marathon is very blue collar and is home to many fishermen and day workers that travel down to Key West for employment. We stayed in a mom and pop motel that was nothing fancy but it was super clean. My favorite restaurant there, ("another Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives place), was Keys Fisheries, an open air, waterfront restaurant that features local fish, Lobster Rueben and their famous Key Lime Pie. It was actually my first experience having the pie - actually very decadent and mouthwatering.

At the very end of the Keys is Key West, the southernmost point in the continental United States. First, it is beautiful with incredible foliage and many different varieties of trees. Key West is best known for watersports, fishing, lively nightlife, beaches, and historical sites. The famous Duval Street is filled with shopping, bars, and restaurants. One of the must see attractions is Sloppy Joe's Bar which offered great food, live entertainment, and was a favorite hangout of Ernest Hemingway, whose home was close by. We walked by the Jimmy Buffet recording studio which was prominent in the town square. You could hear some of his songs being played over the speakers and you couldn't help but be nostalgic, being in the presence of one the of the greatest who is gone too soon. An Old Town Trolley was available for "hop on - hop off" tours that helped you to not miss any of the sights. The smell of fish sometimes resonated in the area as fishing is one of the major industries and also one of the favorite tourist "must do's". It is unbelievable the size of the fish that come out of the ocean. Quite a sight to see.

We eventually made our way back to Miami, where we hopped on a tour van excursion, and we were able to visit South Beach, Little Havana, and see the artistic Wynwood Walls where local artists are encouraged to display their talents on the outdoor, large-scale murals that adorn the streets. We ate at an old family-owned restaurant called "Catch of the Day" where the most interesting dish was the Red Snapper which is served with the head on! It was very popular amongst the locals, but probably not exactly my cup of tea. What was delicious was the dirty martini which was made perfectly and which was a great end to a wonderful trip.

I have more stories to tell regarding this trip - so stay tuned for my stories about the wonderful experiences with the chickens and the birds!

Remember to be grateful.....

Until we talk again.....