Miami Beach & the Florida Keys
Miami Beach is a cosmopolitan lively city whilst the Florida Keys offers a laid back almost sleepy escape. And linking these two wonderful destinations is one of the iconic road trip drives in the USA following US Highway 1 – The Overseas Highway. A highlight of this dramatic drive is the spectacular Seven Mile Bridge linking Islamorada to the Lower Keys.
I suggest you start in Miami Beach as it has a real buzz. It is a place where you can spot the rich and famous posing in trendy hotels and on the glorious sands at South Beach. But Miami Beach also offers art festivals, music festivals and museums galore. You can delve into the American way of life and take in a Miami Heat basketball game or a Miami Dolphins American football game.
I have visited over a hundred Miami hotels. My favourite is the 5* Fontainebleau as it offers the glitz and glamour associated with the area. But I also like the art deco charm of the recently refurbished 4* National and a great budget option is a private room in the trendy 3* Freehand hostel which has one of the best garden bars in Miami.
Having spent a few days soaking up the Miami atmosphere I like to escape the frantic pace. The Florida Keys stretch out into the Gulf of Mexico like a pearl necklace with hundreds of islets called cays which are linked by the spectacular US 1 Highway. Most stunning is the iconic Seven Mile Bridge which links Marathon with the Lower Keys.
The Florida Keys offers a laid back slower pace that seems almost to be in a time warp from a time when life was less complicated. Key West has always attracted artists and other people who want to escape the rat race and those who seek a more bohemian way of life. Duval Street in Key West has many restaurants and bars and has a wonderful atmosphere.
The 5* Hyatt Regency Key West is in a quiet location just 5 minutes’ walk from Duval Street. A cheaper option is to stay in the 3* Doubletree Grand Key West. This hotel operates a shuttle bus to Duval Street so you can still enjoy the nightlife.
The drive to Key West is just 150 miles from Miami, but to fully appreciate the slower pace and relaxed lifestyle I suggest you stop off both ways. There is a good selection of hotels along the route but one of the best is the 4* Hawks Cay located at Duck Key. Here you can relax, arrange fishing trips and enjoy the peace and nature all around you. You can even swim with dolphins as Hawks Cay is the home to Dolphin Connection – a research and educational centre for marine mammals.
I hope I have whetted your appetite. Imagine hiring a Corvette or a Mustang, putting the roof down in the glorious weather of the Sunshine State, and experiencing the contrast that Miami and The Florida Keys gives as you explore along the Overseas Highway. If you are tempted to book a holiday to Florida and the Florida Keys then please do call me.