I had often wondered what the Florida Keys were like, and it was always on a list of places to visit, but maybe rather low on it. We had a chance to visit the Keys over the New Years for a week+ with some potential time for hiking and getting out to explore.
We flew into Miami (a few days before the alleged “Grey giants were attacking Florida men and women in a mall in Miami”…..hey, it’s Florida, and probably did happen…..) and I was brutally saddened to find it a modern city, and not straight out of a 1980’s neon-fever dream of Miami Vice. How dare they ruin my Gen X dreams? Oh wait, that still exists out on the Keys. Ha. If you have passed it, you might get my reference.
Since our flight got in so late, and we wanted to hike in the Everglades the next morning, we opted to stay in Homestead, Florida the first night. The drive out from Miami was bad due to the highway being closed for a wreck, and having to drive off the highway the wrong way. But it meant we could get going early the next morning.
Homestead is the gateway to the Everglades, so it isn’t more than many places to eat, to gas up and spend the night at. While it has newer, branded hotels, those are very higher priced and booked out long before. So a lot of Homestead is older motels from back before the huge highway existed outside of it, and the “highway” was the main road through town. We opted for one of those old motels because we waited too long. It wasn’t fancy. It was really old school. But it seemed clean enough and no roaches (being it is dry season). It, like every other motel in town, was packed with people. The 7-11 and IHop next door added needed ambience. The boys were staring at me like I was weirdo as I took them to dinner at 10 pm and they got to see what an urban 7-11 is like in the wild at 11 pm. Traveling is an adventure and we shouldn’t get too comfortable. And I like to remind my bougie children that life isn’t always about big name brands.
The whole area in a way reminded me of the towns outside the Great Smoky Mountains. When you live in a tourist hot spot, high season is awful. It’s nothing but traffic, and people who have turned off common sense for a week.
Now then, next to Homestead is Florida City. And that has a lot of agricultural going on. Finding Pineberries in the PNW doesn’t happen a lot, they only show up for a very short time and are never ripe – or have any flavor. I may have possibly supported the Berry De Blanc company this past week with far too much money. I could not quit eating them. Pineberries are pale colored strawberries that have a pineapple/floral taste/aroma. I grow some Pineberries on our homestead, but with our cool springs, they just will never grow as well here.
Being smart alecks, we took the boys to a Cracker Barrel the next morning, before we drove to the Everglades. This would be the last “latte” I’d have for the next 7 days and it was worse than a McDonald’s latte. I get it and all, in the south espresso shacks are not on every corner like they are in the Pacific Northwest. I hadn’t been to a CB since fall of 2010, in Tennessee and they still haven’t found any more spices to add that are not salt. So while hilarious to showcase the cheesiness that Cracker Barrel is to our kids, I could have gone for a lot less salt in my food. And it had West Coast prices.
After that, and then all day in the Everglades, we got on Highway 1 to the Florida Keys as the sun was getting low.
In winter the sun is low in the sky, and driving down the keys the sun sets in your eyes. Being as the road is so narrow keep this in mind. And have good sunglasses.
After you leave Homestead the highway sets across the flatlands on a 2 lane highway with jersey barrier, and fences on both sides of the road. This section has people driving far too fast and a lot of illegal passing. So be wary here driving. And just let the crazies whip by you in the break down lane.
As you leave it you enter onto the first key, Key Largo. Key Largo is long and wide, and heavily populated. A good place to gas up and get a Starbucks if that is your thing.
We made it to the Marlin Bay Resort as the final minutes of sunrise were happening. After so much time at sea level, I raced up the stairs, to the top of the house to see the view. Across the top of the trees I could see the final light over the Gulf of Mexico. It felt really relaxing.
Kirk’s family had found the resort, I believe through word of mouth. A solid choice.
Then I looked down and saw our view – the pool. I had to tell the boys they couldn’t use it till morning. They were bummed, but understood. The pool closes at dusk but it was not Florida weather outside. We showed up during a “chill” and the majority of the week it was under 70*. It was 61* out so too cold to swim for sure.
I left the windows so I’d wake up to first light. The sunrise over the palm trees was perfect. I knew the boys were going to love it here.
The resort is in the middle of Marathon Key, which is in the middle of the Florida Keys. Marathon is the key where 7 Mile Bridge starts, as one drives out to Key West.
Marathon Key still has a lot of industry, and the resort was next door to a massive site for a commercial fishing company. The boys and I walked a lot around, but my rule was no crossing of Highway 1 (the main road) as the traffic is crazy on it. I never felt unsafe outside of the drivers.
I’d say the resort is best if you show up ready to stick around for a week. Pick up your groceries at the Publix down the street and stay in. We cooked almost our meals – the kitchen was well appointed. It’s easy to access the Keys, being in the middle of it all. Just remember the highway is very busy during the day, so the earlier you get going daily, so much the better.
The other thing is, if you hate bridges, the ones to Marathon are not bad nor long. It’s after Marathon the bridges get yucky for those who hate them.
I’d give a helpful hint: Avoid Key West. It’s full of people walking into traffic without even looking up. I actually did want to see Key West, but after I saw how peopled it was, I was all OK with driving back to Marathon Key and going swimming instead.
Flowers on a bush at the resort. The resort was well taken care of, and had a good work crew. The whole property was clean and tidy.
Sunset overlooking the tower and the marina, on the Gulf of Mexico. The tower is part of the resort, that you can walk to the top of to see the views. It sits on one end of the private marina.
The pool area with the main houses lining it. The resort has a line of homes, most of which are single homes, though some are connected townhomes, on each end. All but one has an elevator inside. The homes are 3 stories high. Ours had a rooftop deck as well, with a metal spiral staircase to it. Our family had one home, and Kirk’s family, who we were meeting up with had the home next to it.
Having an entire home is a true luxury on a vacation. We had 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and most of all…a washer and dryer made life so easy. This was so much better than a hotel or even an inclusive resort. Being able to have separate space is beyond measurable when traveling with teenagers and tweeners.
Green Iguana. Yes, they are invasive to southern Florida. But they are pretty cool to watch.
Another Green Iguana, climbing the tree.
Another one, on a different day, hanging out in the HVAC area. I loved watching them. We researched them and found out they can get to 5 feet long, head to tail. I’ll take the smaller ones we saw.
Each floor had a deck or patio to sit out on. Bottom and top floors were bedrooms. Each bedroom had a full bathroom and walk in closets.
The property was nicely taken care of with a popular marina full of various boats and small yachts. There was a path around the entire marina to walk, if one wanted. I really enjoyed sunsets out here, over the Gulf of Mexico.
The pool, in midday, was the place where the boys and their cousins were in daily. It’s not a deep pool (tops out at 4 foot 9 inches), but has a walk in on one side. Loved that feature. It’s warmed in winter, but it isn’t hot. It’s in shade by 2 pm, with over half of it shaded, if you want to avoid the sun while relaxing.
Sunset another night.
After sunset, looking south.
Unlike homes in the PNW, these homes were nothing but windows. I loved it. I could feel my body recharging from all the sun streaming in.
It was a great base place for a week of adventures. Sure, it isn’t camping or roughing it, but sometimes it’s nice to indulge. And to have AC on a hot day and not sweat constantly after a hike.
~Sarah