A Road Trip to Paradise - Exploring the Florida Keys

Stunning turquoise water and aerial view of Florida Keys

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."

佛州Keys 和 Key West 一直以來都在我們的"未來旅行清單"上。在我們參觀了位於棕梠灘的弗拉格勒博物館之後，亨利·弗拉格勒大亨的故事、遠見和事蹟激發了我們探索的慾望與夢想。我們也因此延長在佛州的逗留時間，追加前往美國大陸最南的Keys 和 Key West 進行為期一周的公路旅行行程。

在藍天白雲的氣候下，沿著碧綠的海水行駛，駕車穿越佛羅里達礁島群無疑是美國風景最好的公路旅行路線之一。我們建議在開車前往基韋斯特的路上，沿途跳島探索這些珊瑚礁群島的許多不同景點，當地人稱之為“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.

基拉戈為從佛州內陸高速公路開往Key West 路上第一個抵達的島嶼和城鎮。 這裡也是鍍金時代著名的海上鐵路行經的車站之一。 Key Largo 四周環繞著溫暖的淺灘和大自然，這裡的 Playa Largo Resort & Spa 渡假村特別幫我們在他們 Sol by the Sea 海濱餐廳的淺水灘中安排了一頓難忘而浪漫的日落晚餐，享用了精心烹製的熱帶菜餚和調酒。這個寬敞且步調緩慢的海濱度假村，以及這裡天然與人文融合的環境，成為我們在佛州 Keys 跳島之旅的第一站。

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.

穿著熱帶風味的 T 恤和短褲出門，我們首先在知名的伊斯拉莫拉達的羅比餐廳稍作停留。不拘一格的羅比碼頭 (Robbie's Marina) 這裡集聚了戶外商店、餐廳和大海鰱餵食場所的組合。 附設的Hungry Tarpon 餐廳和酒吧提供種類豐富的菜單，我們在水邊的戶外平台上享用了美味的午餐後，我們拿一桶魚一起去餵食大海鰱，看著其他人與這條大魚親密接觸，既歡樂也是蠻刺激的，就像是一個小小的熱帶樂園。

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.

在溫暖的熱帶天氣裡開車時，隨時補充水分始終是個好主意。 Islamorada 啤酒與蒸餾廠是一個不錯的停留點（開車的人請勿喝酒），這裡除了有廣受好評的 Sandbar Sunday 啤酒，廠內的釀酒廠還生產以 Islamorada 為品牌的琴酒、伏特加和橡木桶陳釀的萊姆酒。想知道哪一個是您的最愛？這裡專業的品酒體驗或啤試飲飲可以幫忙找出適合你的口味。天黑後，我們換上晚裝，與當地人一起在Chef Michael's餐廳度過一個優雅的夜晚，以富有創意且精緻的佛羅里達群島美食和當地新鮮捕獲的各種魚類作為晚餐。

Towards The Seven Mile Bridge and Beyond

Marathon is a city where the famous Seven Mile Bridge starts. We settled in the new luxury Isla Bella Beach Resort, charmed by its contemporary glamour by the sea with a crisp palette of blue and white that connects the guests to the private beach, playful prints, modern furniture, contemporary art, and luxury setting. It is a true hidden tropical oasis, that provides guests with a tranquil respite from the world beyond. There is also a marina with watersports including fishing charters, jet ski tours, harbor cruises, kayak, snorkeling, and scuba diving trips, making your stay closer to the nature paradise. It is the perfect place to slow down and unplug.

馬拉松鎮位於著名的七英里橋的起點。我們在這裡入住了全新的 Isla Bella Beach Resort 渡假村， 猶如身處在一個隱密的熱帶綠洲，周圍環繞著原生熱帶植被。 佔地 24 英畝的熱帶原生花園和足足一英里的海邊，加上迷人的白色建築和私人沙灘，為客人提供一個遠離喧囂的寧靜休憩之地。 渡假村內還有一個私人碼頭提供，提供各種水上活動，包括出海捕魚、水上摩托車、獨木舟、SUP和浮潛等，讓在這裡的旅宿體驗更接近大自然。

While exploring the Middle Keys, Keys Fisheries is a must-visit chill spot for conch fritters & other Keys specialties in an open-air fish house overlooking the marina. The locals come in and out of the marina with their jet skis and it becomes a different commute scenery. The annual Stone Crab Eating Contest was happening during our visit and it was intense and a lot of fun. Eating crab surely requires a lot of skills after watching those experts heading their way toward the championship.

在探索佛州中礁島時，Keys Fisheries 是一個必去的碼頭景點，在碼頭旁的露天魚市場中享用油炸海螺和其他當地特色菜。這裡的居民開著水上摩托車進出碼頭，成為不一樣的通勤風景。在我們到訪期間，一年一度的吃石蟹大賽正在如火如荼地舉行，現場比賽相當激烈，也很有趣。看著高手們一口一手地朝著冠軍之路邁進，吃螃蟹肯定是需要很多高超技巧。

We later enjoyed the best sunset view in The Keys at Seven Mile Bridge, a man-made wonder and a major crucial link to all of The Keys. There are two bridges: The modern bridge is open to vehicular traffic; the older one is only to pedestrians and cyclists. The older bridge, originally known as the Knights Key-Pigeon Key-Moser Channel-Pacet Channel Bridge, was constructed from 1909 to 1912 under the direction of Henry Flagler and Clarence S. Coe as part of the Florida East Coast Railway's Key West Extension, also known as the Overseas Railroad. Finally, we got to follow Mr. Flagler's path and his ambition that has left us until today. The bridge was indeed a good inspiration for dreamers. It left its mark on all of us.

七英里跨海大橋是The Keys 群島中觀賞日落的最佳景點。 它是這裡佛羅里達礁島上的一座人造奇觀，也是連接所有島嶼的重要樞紐。 連結群島有兩座橋：一座是現代新橋，上面可以通車； 一旁的舊橋僅適用於行人和自行車。 這座舊橋最初被稱為 Knights Key-Pigeon Key-Moser Channel-Pacet Channel Bridge，於 1909 年至 1912 年在Henry Flagler 和 Clarence S. Coe 的支援下建造，是佛羅里達東海岸鐵路Key West延伸段的一部分， 也稱為當時知名的海上鐵路。 我們這次為了追隨弗拉格勒先生的雄心壯志，終於在此親身看見當時的工程傑作。

We wrapped up the beautiful tropical evening at the Butterfly Café in Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort and dined on the covered patio with its casual yet sophisticated decor. Besides the remarkable seafood dishes such as horseradish-encrusted Florida grouper, the famous TDF 'To Die For' Sticky Toffee Pudding is something you would not want to miss!

我們在 Tranquility Bay 的 Butterfly Café 度過了美麗的熱帶夜晚，並在精緻的露台上用餐。除了佛羅里達石斑魚等入口的海鮮菜餚外，著名的 TDF“To Die For”太妃糖布丁甜點也是這裡不容錯過的美食。

Entering The Conch Republic - Key West

On the 4th day, we finally arrived in Key West, the final stretch of our journey in the Florida Keys. They say Key West is one of the most charming and eccentric towns in the US, and we couldn't agree more! The town is where the tropical meets hippies, historical meets natural, and local meets international. From the charming Lazy Way to the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A., there is plenty of life and variety by the harbor and in the old town neighborhoods.

我們終於在第四日抵達基韋斯特，這是我們在佛羅里達礁島群跳島的最後一段旅程。他們說基韋斯特是美國最迷人、最有特色的城鎮之一，這點我們完全同意！這個小島城鎮是熱帶與嬉皮、歷史與自然、當地與國際文化的交匯點。從迷人的 Lazy Way 小巷弄到美國大陸的最南端地標，Key West 的港灣和老城區擁有豐富多彩的生活圈。

It is a lot of fun taking the Conch Train to tour the historic center. Dining with the roosters at Blue Heaven was quite an experience. It is an iconic landmark for Floridian-Caribbean cuisine with a funky setting. Try their must-have lobster steak Surf and Turf Benedict and key lime pie. Santiago's Bodega is another hidden gem that is worth note-taking for tapas and sangrias with original artwork by Robert Henry Thompson hanging on the walls.

乘坐海螺旅遊列車遊覽Key West古城中心其實相當有趣。在城中頗受歡迎的 Blue Heaven 與公雞們一起用餐絕對是一種不同的美食體驗。來這裡不能錯過他們特有的龍蝦牛排本尼迪克特( Surf and Turf Benedict) 和青檸檬派。Santiago's Bodega 是另一個值得一提的美食據點，多元的小吃和桑格利亞酒，搭配牆上羅伯特·亨利·湯普森 (Robert Henry Thompson) 的原創藝術品，讓人印象深刻。

As seafood lovers, we love the vibe and setting at Half Shell Raw Bar. From the rockabilly-style entrance to the picnic tables surrounded by walls decorated with car license plates, the Half Shell Raw Bar offers a taste of old Key West you can’t experience anywhere else. We spoke with Sandra from the management team, the raw bar was originally built as a shrimp warehouse, and it was established as a restaurant in 1972 as the Key West shrimp industry moved north to Stock Island. As soon as you head inside, you’ll notice the local fisherman unloading the day’s catch into the Half Shell’s Fish Market. They have a long-established relationship with local fishermen, and this is surely our go-to to enjoy the freshest seafood in Key West.

身為海鮮饕客之一，Half Shell Raw Bar 的氛圍和海產新鮮度讓我們讚不絕口。從鄉村搖滾風格的入口到四周牆壁裝飾著汽車牌照的的野餐桌，Half Shell Raw Bar 提供獨一無二的傳統基韋斯特風味。經理Sandra 告訴我們，這裡最初是作為一個蝦倉庫，隨著基韋斯特蝦業向北遷移到斯托克島，它於 1972 年轉成為餐廳。一走進去，您就會注意到當地漁民正在將當天的漁獲卸到 Half Shell 的魚產中心。他們與當地漁民有著長期且密切的合作關係，是在基韋斯特享受最新鮮海鮮的首選之地。

For the stay in Key West, we checked in the contemporary and industrial-looking The Perry Hotel & Marina for a change. It's a fresh twist on the classic island charm. The guest rooms and suites blend contemporary furnishings with rustic touches with the waterfront view of the marina. The property is inspired by Commodore Perry, the father of the United States Navy. The Perry’s spacious, laid-back atmosphere has been thoughtfully cultivated to stay true to the seafaring roots of Old Key West.

在Key West的住宿選擇上，Perry Hotel & Marina 碼頭飯店將經典的島嶼魅力全新演繹。 套房的設計融合現代極簡和島嶼渡假風格，享有獨特的遊艇碼頭景色。 這座屢獲殊榮的酒店靈感來自美國海軍之父佩里準將。 寬敞、悠閒的氛圍經過精心打造後，搭配上老父Key West本地的航海歷史，成為觀看船隻進出海港，享受島嶼步調的絕佳選擇。

Walk The Path of The Legend

Ernest Hemingway once said, " In order to write about life, first you must live it!" For his writing, there were lots of muses and inspirations that came from his real-life experience. The Hemingway Home Museum is a must-see destination in the historical part of Key West. Located by the Key West Lighthouse, which was built by the sea and is now located in the middle of the town, The Hemingway home was built in 1851 in the Spanish Colonial style. The home was in great disrepair when the Hemingways took ownership, but both Ernest and Pauline, his wife at the time, could see beyond the rubble and ruin and appreciated the grand architecture and stateliness of the home. The massive restoration and remodeling they undertook in the early 1930s turned the home into the National Historical Landmark that thousands of tourists visit and enjoy today.

知名作家海明威曾經說過，“要寫出生活，首先你必須先真正生活過！” 許多他的寫作靈感來自他的現實生活經歷。海明威故居博物館是基韋斯特市區的必遊之地，落於本來依海而建、現位於市中心的基韋斯特燈塔旁。建於1851年，為西班牙殖民風格。海明威當初接手時，這棟房子年久失修，但海明威和他當時的妻子寶琳看出這棟廢墟的潛力，以及房子背後的歷史，他們在 1930 年代初期進行的大規模修復和改建，使這座住宅成為了今天成千上萬的遊客參觀和欣賞的國家歷史標。

Ernest Hemingway lived a legendary life that was filled with adventures, cultures, and love. The house is still decorated with his furniture and trophies from his travels and journeys in Europe and Africa. The museum also houses two of his most well-known collections, the cats and the wives. It is also one of the first houses to have a swimming pool back in the day. There is a writing room situated on the top floor adjacent to the main building, with a typewriter and a cozy setting filled with books and ideas, this is where many of Hemingway's works started. Throughout the 30s to 50s, Key West has been home to many writers and artists, but none whose presence and influence are as profound as Ernest Hemingway’s. After seeing his house and hearing about his many life chapters, his life was an extraordinary novel in itself.

海明威 (Ernest Hemingway) 過著充滿冒險、文化和愛情的傳奇人生。故居裡仍然裝飾著他當時家具和他在歐洲和非洲旅行時收藏的紀念品。該博物館還收藏了他著作外最知名的兩項個人收藏; 上百隻的貓和歷代妻子紀錄，故居同時也是當地最早擁有游泳池的房屋之一。位於閣樓的寫作書房內，有著古老打字機和充滿書籍的舒適環境，為海明威許多知名作品的起源地。從 30 年代到 50 年代，基韋斯特一直是許多作家和藝術家的故鄉，但海明威對世人的影響最為深遠。在看過他的故居並了解他許多的人生篇章後，他的生活本身就是一本非凡的小說。

Experience Paradise in All Dimensions

A visit to Key West will not be complete without spending a day at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. With the natural white coral sand beach, abundant underwater sea life, lush forest, and the historical Fort from 1845, it is like a little paradise by the doorstep and the perfect place to experience most of what this tropical island life has to offer.

熱帶天堂就近在咫尺! 歷史悠久的紮卡里泰勒堡壘公園是基韋斯特的熱門景點，公園內擁有天然的白色珊瑚沙灘、豐富的水下海洋生物、茂密的防風林和建於 1845 年的歷史堡壘，是體驗這熱帶島嶼生活的絕佳之地，簡單愜意且令人滿足。

On a sunny and calm day, we hopped on the US First Electric Catamaran with Honest Eco Tours to watch wild Bottlenose Dolphins. The ride was quiet, smooth, and with zero emissions. Founded in 2014 by Biologist Billy Litmer, Honest Eco was formed “to Spread the Value Of Conservation”. It hosts Sustainable Nature Tours with biologists as your tour guides and it is best known for the Dolphin Watch and snorkel trips as they focus on the needs of both the animals and the guests. When we were on board, there were no plastic water bottles around, the solar panels collect and support the energy to manage the operations of the boat. We also learned a great deal of knowledge about sea life and animals during our sailing and snorkeling. After waiting more than two hours, we finally meet a young family of Bottlenose Dolphin. The shallow water in The Keys makes the region a haven for the Dolphins, with no sharks or other predators. It was a feel-good, do-good day with nature and animals up close, everyone felt extra meaningful and memorable.

在陽光明媚且風平浪靜的下午，我們搭上美國第一艘電動雙體船和Honest Eco Tours團隊一起觀賞野生寬鼻海豚。電動雙體船一路上非常安靜、平穩且零碳排放，非常環保。 Honest Eco Tours由生物學家 Billy Litmer 於 2014 年創立，主旨在“宣導保育的價值”。在這裡的導遊都為當地的生物學家，帶領大家進行永續自然之旅，體驗海豚觀賞和浮潛之旅。當我們在船上時，周圍沒有寶特瓶或是免洗餐具，只有太陽能電板收集儲存能量來支持船的系統運行。在航行和浮潛的過程中，我們也學到了很多關於海洋生物和動物的知識。在等了兩個多小時後，我們終於見到年輕的寬鼻海豚家庭。 佛州 Keys 的淺水海域使該地區成為海豚的天堂，沒有鯊魚或其他掠食者。經歷了環保無汙染的一天，近距離接觸大自然和動物，我們每個人都覺得特別有意義。

If you are looking for a relaxing moment in Key West, a lovely sunset sail on a spacious catamaran with Sebago Watersports would be just perfect. Join the folks and crew, and enjoy the tropical breeze, live music, and light food, cruising along the Key West Harbor while chasing the world-famous Key West sunset. It is also an easy way to see the city and harbor from a different perspective.

如果你和我一樣熱愛日落時刻，就不要錯過任何欣賞夕陽的機會，！ 從Key West港區碼頭開始，我們跳上 Sebago Watersports 的大型雙體帆船，沿著Key West 港出航追逐這裡世界知名的日落，和船員與乘客們一起張帆，享受海上的熱帶微風、現場音樂表演和食物飲品。 除了令人讚嘆的日落外，也可以從不同角度觀看整個港灣與城市風景。

We also loved the magical moments on the stunning private island of Sunset Key, an island that is privately held among its residents and is accessible only by a shuttle boat that runs from the Margaritaville Marina in Key West. It is considered an exclusive paradise among the paradise. We got to experience one of Florida Keys’ best restaurants at Latitudes inside Sunset Key. Inspired by the warm setting and gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico, Latitudes offers an elegant beachfront dining experience that is truly memorable in many ways. The best time is to reserve a table for the golden hours, and enjoy fresh local fish and steaks with a bottle of wine from a well-curated wine list when the sun sets.

另外，我們在Key West 迷人的Sunset Key私人小島，度過一個美妙的夜晚。 這個私人小島上許多有私人渡假小屋，只能搭乘渡船抵達，猶如熱帶天堂中的天堂。假如不是島上的住戶，可以提早預訂島上專屬的Latitudes 海濱餐廳，就能親身前往。 Latitudes 餐廳的靈感來自墨西哥灣溫暖的環境和壯麗的海灣景色，提供優雅且令人難忘的海景用餐體驗。 非常推薦在黃金日落時段入座，在日落時分享用當地海鮮和牛排，及精心挑選的葡萄酒。 這裡一流的美食、氛圍和服務，成為佛羅里達礁島群上最讓人驚豔的餐廳之一。

When the night falls, Key West is also full of vibrant bars and nightlife scenery along the famous Duval Street. It is also a tropical & safe haven for the LGBTQ community. We stopped by and watched a fun drag race at Aqua Bar and Nightclub, and bumped into our favorite drags from Mykonos. There is also a charming and glittering spot 22&Co bar where you could share your love for the tutus and sip the well-crafted cocktails with guests from all over the world. From morning to night, there was no dull moment that exists in Key West!

基韋斯的夜晚與白天一樣精采，著名的杜瓦爾街處處充滿活力十足的酒吧和夜生活。這裡也是 LGBTQ 族群的大本營。我們在市中心Aqua 夜總會觀看了逗趣且時髦的變裝秀，還遇到我們在希臘米科諾斯的變裝皇后朋友。一旁小巷弄中還有一個迷人而閃亮的 22&Co 酒吧，裏頭座椅上裝飾著夢幻的蓬蓬裙，灑滿了彩色亮片，搭配精心調製的雞尾酒，真的很有味道。基韋斯特處處皆是驚喜，沒有一絲沉悶氣息，這裡友善的人群以及慢活的熱帶步調，調配出不同於美國本土的獨特異國風情，值得大家細細品味探索。

For a complete list of recommendations for The Keys & Key West, please check out and follow our list on Google Maps.

For more details and information about The Keys & Key West, please check out fla-keys.com.