Carioca_FL
join:2000-11-30
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| [Travel] Recommend a South Florida vacation spot!
As you'll probably see from my profile on the left, I am a Florida resident, and before you go "Why do you need help??", let me say that I'm having a tough time deciding against our usual vacation spot: Sanibel Island.
Main things we're looking for:
- an affordable spot (at or below $100/night);
- snorkeling
- either by the beach or close by (Key West need not apply).
Speaking of Key West, I must admit that I've only been there three or four time in my lifetime and I never visited any of the other keys, so if I'm missing a spot, please do tell.
Thanks in advance! |
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lilhurricane
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clubs: | Time of year matters - alot 
When are you considering traveling? |
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Carioca_FL
join:2000-11-30
Fort Lauderdale, FL
clubs: | Doh! Sorry, we're going away the 2nd week of July. |
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lilhurricane
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| A lil more affordable than Sanibel might be Lovers Key on Fort Myers Beach
July is a good time for striking deals..it's not "season".
And the beaches there are accommodating for all those things you listed above.
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lilhurricane
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clubs: | reply to Carioca_FL
..but I think Sanibel Island is beautiful, and better (much better) than Captiva |
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Hayward
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Key West, FL
4 edits | reply to Carioca_FL
Well you could just abandon FL all together and visit the Conch Repuplic.... and you think I am maybe flippant kidding, I have a friend who works a boat bookings booth and actually had someone ask them where do we catch that ferry back to Florida. (Yeah you I know where it is Lil.... when you going to float back on it?)
Politicaly/tax we may be FL but the Lower Keys and KW really aren't.
PS this time of year especialy on short notice((you are only 200 mi away) can most likely meet or beat that $100/night point, an run right back if you really miss the rat race .
And again BAFFLES me you are so close to the Keys and visiting up ther amazed how many have never even been to nearly Miami Key Largo. (Then again just as glad many of them haven't)
I don;t need to tell yu about the Keys.... get off you butt and just explore you are local. Then again if you think (certainly pretty) uppity Sanibel is the cats meow... maybe you really shouldn't bother. Do you love South Beach too?
Persononally my favorite area in your neck of the woods is Hallendale to Dania.... pleasant area with out the BS, pretense and arogance of MIA or FTL (just exploreing is how I discovered that oasis in the middle, when fed up with MIA and FTL mad rat race.)
You don't have to worry about everything booked and likely to even find walking deals.... just get in you car and ACTUALLY explore the Keys. Have you ever seen something beside Sanibel hat isn't concrete?
A few Hints.... ISlamorada has some cool places and music.... great fishing too.... middle Keys You can't beat Bahia Honda St Park.... (and again Johmn Loyd a favorite of mine up there)
Skydive in Sugarloaf..... that plane on the highway is a prop from one of the James Bond Movies. There is a bat towere there too never in habited.... they painted it BLACK in the KEYS???
Try and find the No Name Pub on Big Pine.... great Pizza and other food.
Forgeyt destination just go explore.
Just take your time and actually explore your home state and the Conch Republic 
And again I don't care if you come to they Keys or not but you are FL local.... FORGET DESTINATION... just get in the car and GO til something catches your eye.... EXPLORE.... don't just move point to point destination.
ANd you do think about the Keys take a real round bout way go out 41 (Tamiami) to the loop road.... likely to misss your end but it is a loop... But old Monroes station is well marked.... take a slow dirt road cruise through the southern Everglades (ever done that and your native?).... take your time.... suggest you stop in Islamorada the first night.... then wherever else down the Keys after... DESTINAION is WORK and PLANNING.... vacation when local is just the FUN of who cares!!!!
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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Sentinel
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join:2001-02-07
Florida
| Biggest problem I have with the keys in general and KW in particular (as far as exploring goes) is PARKING. Tough to explore when you can't stop anywhere. Even some of the hotels don't include parking ... be careful. Parking costs extra.
So unless you have a friend in the keys that will let you park at his house so you can explore, then it gets kind of tough. (hayward you can make some good money here) |
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Hayward
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Key West, FL
1 edit | said by Sentinel  :Biggest problem I have with the keys in general and KW in particular (as far as exploring goes) is PARKING. Wel TERE you go LOOSE the rat race mentality!!!
WTF do you need a car in KW for? Heck I own one and have to start it up once a week because I NEVER drive it but to have passengers or get off the rock.... otherwise always electric ASSISTED NOT POWERED bike, or old 3 wheel Cushman ex metermaid vehicle..
Fine drive down here and PARK THE DAMN thing.... pay a little extra and stay in Old Town and in 15 min walk anywhere (if you don't get side tracked at every bar) or still a most $10 cab ride or $1.50 bus.
I mean I have seen idiot tourist in cars try and move a block rather than walk and spend 10x more time circling for a new spot than just walking in the first place.
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lilhurricane
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clubs: | reply to Sentinel
Take the ferry & then bike or walk..
We took the car there once - never again.  |
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Hayward
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Key West, FL
2 edits | said by lilhurricane :Take the ferry & then bike or walk.. We took the car there once - never again. No nothing wrong with that but you get here it stays PARKED unless you need to go several miles like to newtown from OLD town or up the Keys. (assuming where you are staying has parking)
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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Carioca_FL
join:2000-11-30
Fort Lauderdale, FL
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3 edits | reply to Hayward
Well, gee, where do I start?
First off lilhurricane, Hayward, thanks for taking the time, much appreciated!
Like I said in the OP, I did go to KW a few times, back when I was single, with my friends and all. Trust me, a great time was had by all every single time and to this day, we sometimes remember all the sh*t we've done.
But nowadays the dynamics are different, what with the wife and an active 3yr old.  One thing I remember is the KW is not really kid-friendly (trust me, I say this in a good way; there are spots for families there, but KW is known for its nightlife), and one thing my family loves is spending the day at the beach (hence, the love for Sanibel, their beaches and sand are amazing). Bonus points for easy parking (or walking distance from hotel) and Mega Bonus Extreme points for grills.
If you can point me to those in the KW (or any other key, or city really), I'm there!
said by lilhurricane :A lil more affordable than Sanibel might be Lovers Key on Fort Myers Beach July is a good time for striking deals..it's not "season". And the beaches there are accommodating for all those things you listed above. We've been to Lovers Key once a few years ago, but just before the sunset, to watch it on one of their sandless, shell-covered beaches. Hands down, the single best sunset (and early night ) we've ever spent together. Sadly, I didn't check them in the daytime, but since I only saw that single beach, I'm not sure if their other beaches are nice and sandy.
said by Hayward : PS this time of year especialy on short notice((you are only 200 mi away) can most likely meet or beat that $100/night point, an run right back if you really miss the rat race . Care to name any hotels you know? Again, 10 years ago I wouldn't care for anything other than clean bedsheets and bathroom; nowadays I have to be a little more discerning.
said by Hayward : And again BAFFLES me you are so close to the Keys and visiting up ther amazed how many have never even been to nearly Miami Key Largo. (Then again just as glad many of them haven't) I don;t need to tell yu about the Keys.... get off you butt and just explore you are local. Then again if you think (certainly pretty) uppity Sanibel is the cats meow... maybe you really shouldn't bother. Do you love South Beach too? I'm right there with you brother, I guess all the times we went down to KW, I (thankfully) was doing the driving.
I do like Sanibel for its great beaches, easy access (by car or foot/bike) and the fact that there are TONS of different beaches to go to, each one different. And did I tell you I like to grill??
While my memories of KW are very hazy, I don't remember any great beaches there. Again, I can't speak for the upper keys.
By the way, don't hate on Sanibel or other "cats meow" places (whatever that is); folks from KW are usually very easy going, don't be like some of "those" guys.
said by Hayward : You don't have to worry about everything booked and likely to even find walking deals.... just get in you car and ACTUALLY explore the Keys. Have you ever seen something beside Sanibel hat isn't concrete? Yeah, I don't have a problem going without booking first (done most times when travelling locally, actually. We find great deals for FL hotels in those red travel booklets on McDs), but I do at least want to know where to hotels are, I don't want to cruise around looking for hotels.
And again, what's with the Sanibel hate? Their bridge is concrete, I guess. In fact, I'd say KW itself is extremely built out, you'd probably have more concrete in KW than in all of Sanibel and Captiva.
said by Hayward : A few Hints.... ISlamorada has some cool places and music.... great fishing too.... middle Keys You can't beat Bahia Honda St Park.... (and again Johmn Loyd a favorite of mine up there) Skydive in Sugarloaf..... that plane on the highway is a prop from one of the James Bond Movies. There is a bat towere there too never in habited.... they painted it BLACK in the KEYS??? Try and find the No Name Pub on Big Pine.... great Pizza and other food. We plan on spending 3 days, so a fishing spot for an afternoon or two is a good tip, thanks!
I've already read about Bahia Honda Park, but I couldn't find any mention of its beaches, parking (or nearby hotels), so if you can confirm that or just tell me what you think, it'd be great!
said by Hayward : Forgeyt destination just go explore. Just take your time and actually explore your home state and the Conch Republic And again I don't care if you come to they Keys or not but you are FL local.... FORGET DESTINATION... just get in the car and GO til something catches your eye.... EXPLORE.... don't just move point to point destination. Truer words couldn't have been spoken.
said by Hayward : ANd you do think about the Keys take a real round bout way go out 41 (Tamiami) to the loop road.... likely to misss your end but it is a loop... But old Monroes station is well marked.... Run that by me again? I've only heard of the usual route, I-95 South to US1. Is this other way any faster/prettier/more interesting?
said by Hayward : take a slow dirt road cruise through the southern Everglades (ever done that and your native?).... take your time.... suggest you stop in Islamorada the first night.... then wherever else down the Keys after... DESTINAION is WORK and PLANNING.... vacation when local is just the FUN of who cares!!!! Dirt road? lol Not for this one trip at least, don't want to ruin this birthday trip with a flat on a mosquito-infested dirt road, at dawn. (c'mon, Murphy's Law and all!)
I do like your suggestion of stopping along the way, different hotels each night, but we'd have to pack light (we probably are, we just plan to spend the day at the beach, eat out at night still on sandals & sand.
Thanks again for all the tips! Keep'em coming! |
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Sentinel
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join:2001-02-07
Florida
| reply to Hayward
said by Hayward :Wel TERE you go LOOSE the rat race mentality!!! WTF do you need a car in KW for? UM ... to get there.... Tell me how I can get there from here without a car and I'll buy the drinks. I guess I could walk but it is a pretty long walk
Of course I would never driver around KW. That's makes no sense. But you have to get there and once there parking is a nightmare and you have to park unless you fly in.
lil.
I have read about the ferry but it takes a long time doesn't it? And then you can't leave when you want because it doesn't run all night; does it? Cool idea though. Then I can park at your house |
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lilhurricane
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| said by Sentinel :lil. I have read about the ferry but it takes a long time doesn't it? And then you can't leave when you want because it doesn't run all night; does it? Cool idea though. Then I can park at your house It's a 3 hour ride (quicker than a looong , flat, boring drive)..so you have a good time regardless
Pack a lunch or have a bite to eat on the boat. There are slot machines too if you like.
said by Sentinel : Cool idea though. Then I can park at your house No problem
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lilhurricane
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| reply to Carioca_FL
Carioca_FL - you definitely can't go wrong with Sanibel Island..it's a lovely place, truly.
There are other sandy beaches nearby Lovers Key..but if you've found a place you love, and know it to be a special place for the family.. then without hesitation make that trip!
That's what puts the "magic" in "vacation"
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Sentinel
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join:2001-02-07
Florida
| I love Sanibel. Just there last week with the whole family. Great time had by all. Lovers Key was great too. Went kayackin and had some dolphins right next to us. Captiva also nice. As a matter of fact anywhere around lil seems to be really really nice. You picked a pretty great area there lil. Short drives to some of the best places in FL really. Shrewd real estate move |
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Hayward
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Key West, FL
3 edits | reply to Carioca_FL
said by Carioca_FL :But nowadays the dynamics are different, what with the wife and an active 3yr old. One thing I remember is the KW is not really kid-friendly (trust me, I say this in a good way; there are spots for families there, but KW is known for its nightlife), and one thing my family loves is spending the day at the beach (hence, the love for Sanibel, their beaches and sand are amazing). Well you never really stated the toddler factor.... and in fact. really disturbs me that year round people wheeling PASSED OUT kid in stoller into Sloppy's ect and they are served..... can't take my DOG there but you can take your kid to a totally inappropriate place.... go figure that one 
No Key West is NOT DINSENY WORLD, with real trafaffic lights most pedestrian torist pay NO ATTTENTION to but you pushing your kid out in front of you forget what color the light is \\
PS I DO NOT mean you personally but scary how many DO
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Hayward
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4 edits | reply to Sentinel
said by Sentinel :Of course I would never driver around KW. That's makes no sense. But you have to get there and once there parking is a nightmare and you have to park unless you fly in. Which is exactly what I said fine drive here then park it PERMANENTLY til you leave the island... even if just for a day trip to Bahia Honda, Looe Key, etc..
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Sentinel
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Florida
| Which is what I said But that ain't that easy. Often the closest parking space is Key Largo! If you are lucky enough to find someplace then great. Park it and leave it there all day until you are done. But that is not always the case. Sometimes you can't find a place.
As I said, even the hotels down there don't necessarily have parking or it is not included in the cost of the room! Yep, it costs extra ... to park at the hotel that you are staying at!
Best businesses to own: parking lot in lower Manhattan or Key West. $0 cost and upkeep (other than taxes) and money just rolls in. Just set up a chair and an umbrella and let poor saps throw money at you to park. My friends parents owned a parking lot in NYC and that was what he did for a living. Summer job we all had working his parking lot. He would pay us $100 a day to sit there and collect money. |
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Spensergig
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Bradenton, FL | reply to Carioca_FL
You could always come a bit further north, to Sarasota/Siesta Key/Anna Maria Island. Or even further, up to (shudder) Tampa-area beaches. |
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