Hot Spots between Vero Beach and Key West?

[lettripp]

So, for our upcoming Honeymoon my fiance and I have decided that we are going to leave Vero Beach for one night and drive to Key West and back the next day. We are big on random drives and adventures and am wondering a few things:

1) Where would you recommend staying in Key West?

2) What are some "must sees" between Vero and Key West that would make for a nice stop/detour?

I'm sure this sounds crazy to some of you... who would want to drive 5 hours down and back in one day?? but the truth is - we go on aimless drives that long often and are psyched to get to do it in the Keys!

Any tips you can offer are greatly appreciated!

[magicalmom]

If you cross the state on I-4 or 301, and run down the west side of the state, and take the boat from Fort Meyers to Key West, you can visit Myakka State Park. Take the boat tour, and see hundreds of alligators, and many other types of wildlife in their own habitat.

[lettripp]

Thanks for the tip! That is such a great idea :-) I'm going to run it by my fiance!

[murphy1]

You should stop at Bahia Honda (Sandspur Beach is there) down near Marathon and John Pennekamp State Park (coral reef here) up in Key Largo since you are going that way and it will be on the way. If you like marine life, there is a turtle rescue place in Marathon and a dolphin research place (there is also Theater of the Sea), I like those places b/c they rehab the animals.

We got a good recommendation on the Southernmost Point Guest House Inn (they have free parking, bikes nearby and are near a lot of the good restaurants like Louie's Backyard). Their rates are very reasonable, too. Mona is the owner, very nice. Make sure if you do a search, you have the name of that inn exaclty, b/c there are about three of four places named Southernmost in that vicinity.

Congrats on your upcoming wedding!


Shari