A Road Trip to Paradise - Exploring the Florida Keys
- Andrew C.
- Jan 26, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 7
An Invitation From a Dreamer
The Keys and Key West have long been on our list to visit for a while. After we visited the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, the story, ambition, and legacy of Henry Flagler inspired us to dream and explore. We decided to plan a week-long trip to the southernmost part of the continental United States as an extension of our stay in Florida.
Put your head in the clouds and wheels along the turquoise water, the paradise is simply a car ride away in Florida State. A drive through the Florida Keys and Key West is for sure one of the best scenic road trips in the USA. Instead of going straight to Key West, we suggest exploring many different parts of the coral cay archipelago along the way. the locals call it "Keys Hopping."
Keys Hopping & Connections
Key Largo is both the first island and town of the Florida Keys to be reached from the Overseas Highway to Key West. It was also the location of one of the stations of the famous Overseas Railroad back in the Gilded Age. Surrounded by the shallow warm sea and nature, we had a memorable and romantic sunset dinner in the water at Sol by the Sea at Playa Largo Resort & Spa, enjoying the carefully curated tropical dishes and cocktail menu followed by a relaxing stay at this beachfront resort. The spacious property and well-curated setting were simply perfect for our first stop in The Keys.
Stepping out in a tropical-flavored T-shirt and shorts, we made a stop at the iconic Robbie’s of Islamorada. Robbie's Marina is an eclectic mix of outdoor shops, food vendors, and tarpon feeding. The Hungry Tarpon Restaurant and Bar offers a large menu with a variety of options for the entire family. After a delicious lunch on the sundeck by the water, we grabbed a bucket of fish to feed the tarpon and enjoy watching everyone else getting up close and personal with the huge fish. It was simply a tropical wonderland.
While driving around in warm weather, it is always a good idea to stay hydrated. The Islamorada Brewery & Distillery is a cute stop (Not for the one who drives) that offers legendary Sandbar Sunday beer. The on-site distillery also creates spirits branded as Islamorada Distilling gin, vodka, and dark barrel-aged and spiced rums. To figure out which one would be your favorite, spirits tasting or a beer flight board could help you do the justice. After dark, we put on an evening cape and joined the locals at Chef Michael’s for an elegant evening completed by an extensive menu
featuring creatively inspired Florida Keys cuisine and a variety of freshly caught fish in Islamorada.
Want to read more?
Subscribe to myinspireproject.com to keep reading this exclusive post.
