Anyone traveled to the Keys?

laagch

I am thinking about planning a trip to the Keys for our 1st anniv./DH's bday and wondered if anyone has been to any of the Keys before? I have been to Key West on a cruise and it was a lot of fun but I think I am looking for something more relaxing less crowded. Or is there an area in Key West that feels relaxing, we had a blast on Duval St. but not sure I want to spend a romantic weekend there!

Thanks for any suggestions!

LeelaH

My good friend Candi loves the Keys.  I'll see if I can get her to come post and give you some recs.  I'm sure she'll have some.

 

eyecndi

There is MUCH more to Key West than Duval St. ?My husband and I go every year. ?We got engaged there. ?We got married there. ?And we are spending our first anniversary there.

At night, of course you go to Duval. ?That's where the party is. ?But there is so much more to do during the day. ?They have some of the best restaurants and so many different water sports. ?You can take a sunset snorkel cruise or do one during the day. ?We prefer the sunset one. ?

You can rent jet skis and take a tour around the entire island. ?That is an incredible experience. ?You have a tour guide go with you and everything.

You can tour the Hemmingway house. ?(We haven't done that yet but plan to this year.)

There is a butterfly conservatory there that has millions of beautiful live butterflies.

We normally stay in "Old Town". ?Once you get back into either the houses or hotels, it's VERY quite and super romantic. ?

Key West really has absolutely everything from romance to quiet to party....all within an island that isn't quite 3 miles wide.?

smilejenn

I'm living proof that Key West offers more than just Duval Street. My husband and I vacationed there for our "babymoon" and had a great time! We stayed at the DoubleTree and explored the island by day, and enjoyed the sunset entertainment in Mallory Square in the evening.

If you want something completely different that Key West, perhaps you can look into staying in the middle Keys instead. 

Have fun!

M&Mlayton

We LOVE Azul Del Mar in Key Largo.  It is an awesome very small (5 room) adult only resort.  It is so beautiful and peaceful.   You can rent all kinds of water sports from the Owner.  We have stayed several times there.  That's actually where we were engaged:)  The owner has a new place in Key West that is suppose to be awesome too.  We haven't stayed there yet, but plan too.  It's called Azul Key West.  They have a nice website that will tell you alot.  I have some cool places places for you to eat at too:)

laagch

Thanks for all the suggestions. We really did love Key West but got the cliff notes version on our cruise. My husband loves the bars on Duval St. and I did too but I also wanted more than just a drunkin bar crawl! Sounds like there are plenty of options to have both a fun, rowdy time downtown and a nice, relaxing, romantic time

Mrs.DMC

Key West is a great place to spend a romantic weekend, just don't go during Fantasy Fest...lol! It does have great restaurants, and beaches. Renting scooters or bikes is my favorite thing to do.

If you do feel like a party, go to Irish Kevins. So much fun!

Choco9

If you wanted to calm it down a bit you can go to Islamorada or Key Largo.  And there is Hawk's Cay on Duck Key, which is fab.

The Pennecamp (sp?) state park snorkeling excursions are really good too.  And, even though it's not KW, there are plenty of random bars to explore out in the upper/middle keys.  I am the kind of person that likes out-of-the-way hidden gems rather than a street of bars (even though Duval is fun), so I would stay north a bit if it were me, but I have been to KW a thousand times so...

KAandJJ

laagch! I think we might be doing Key West for our 1st anniversary too, and if I remember correctly we were married right around the same time in June!  I love the keys, and so does DH. I think we will probably do 3-4 nights there... He doesn't mind the drive, so we will leave super early in the morning to get down there by 11am! We might try to stay at Bahai Honda... we like to do the beach thing and it's nice and quiet there... plus its only a short drive to Duvall Street!

 

Good  luck & who knows maybe we will see each other there!  

mbg8r

I hope I'm not too late with this. I have been to the Keys many, many times and LOVE it there. You've gotten a bunch of great suggestions, but keep in mind that it can take up to two hours to get from Key Largo to Key West, so if you want to stay elsewhere but do plan to go to Key West for dinner or drinks, you may not want to stay too far away. There are many great places to stay...look for reviews online.