Trip to the Keys
 

We're planning to drive to the Keys. Wondered if anyone has a suggestion for another stop between Miami and Key West. Any great places to stay, eat, or visit? Have seen listings for places like Islamorada, Key Largo, Marathon. Thanks.

There are a number.

Check Diner, Drive-Ins & Dives site.

Assuming you are good in Key West.

Key largo. Mrs Mac kitchen

Duck Key just north of Marathon
Beautiful Resort!

Keys Fisheries, Marathon

https://www.keysfisheries.com/

I lived in Key Largo for 14 years, the suggestion for Mrs Mac’s is a good one for breakfast. But there are two locations, you want to go to the original one on right side of US 1 going south, not the one in the middle of the highway. A great place for drinks or a casual dinner is the Bayside Grille. On the water, great location to watch the sun set. Choose the downstairs bar vs the upstairs restaurant. Love their fish tacos. In Islamorada try Lazy Days, their snapper in Key Lime butter sauce is excellent. Hope this helps!

We made the trip recently. We stayed one night on the way down to Key West in Key Largo. We stayed at a place called Pelican Key Largo cottages. Not fancy but very clean and on the water. We watched the sunset from the dock, beautiful. Plus free use of their kayaks.
Food: stop by Harriettes just south end of key Largo. Tiny diner but amazing muffins about twenty varieties all delicious.

Sites: DO NOT MISS - The Coral Castle just outside of Miami. Amazing tour. Google it. Cool place.

The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
If you like nature, cool place to go in Key West.

Isla Bella Resort
 

Our favorite place to stay in the Keys is Isla Bella Resort in Marathon. It was designed so that every room has a ocean view. The resort is beautiful and the rooms are roomy and immaculately clean. Many nearby restaurants, The Green Turtle Inn restaurant, a place called Burdines Waterfront that has the best cheeseburgers & fry’s in the Keys. All the way down in Key West is a place called Blue Heaven, they have great breakfast, if you go you have to order the filet Benedict or the lobster Benedict they are incredible. In Islamorada there’s a place called Morada Bay that has great food and another great place for breakfast in Islamorada is Midway Cafe & Coffee Bar. Also in Islamorada is a restaurant called Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar that’s very good. One more place I’ll mention is in Marathon called Sparky’s Landing Fish and Cocktails, try their stuffed mushroom appetizer, stuffed with crabmeat and melted cheese.
Hell, now remembering all this I want to go back to the Keys! Lol.

Alabama Jacks, a Jimmy Buffett hangout on Card Sound Rd. Great fritters and location

Coral castle
 

Coral Castle 28655 South Dixie Highway Homestead Fl 33030
Referred to as America's Stonehenge
you will go right by it on rt 1 opened in 1923 built by a 5' tall man with no help from anyone

The coral castle

Second Coral Castle, went there when we moved to Florida 30+ years ago, was very interesting then. Also, when we drive down we stay in Big Pine Key, short drive to Key West, a lot less weirdness and way more affordable.

these are all positive suggestions. I love the Key Largo and Marathon ideas.. Also visit The NO NAME KEY Bar & Grill... be prepared for insanely amounts of traffic.. bring patience and lots of cash..

I am a freshwater conch because I’ve been a resident for over 20 years
Some of my recommendations that are not already listed (those were good suggestions)
Beaches—Sombrero in Marathon, Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key, Fort Zachary State Park in Key West
Restaurants—No Name Pub (pizza) in Big Pine Key, Fish Tales in Marathon, BO’s Fish Wagon (conch fritters) in Key West
Day fishing—Marathon Lady in Marathon
Historical—trolly or train in Key West
Key West has a free hop on/off bus called Duval Loop to get around the island. (13 stops) Have fun

Keys
 

Lazy Days in Islamorado & Burdines ocean side (about 15th St) in Marathon. Key Colony Beach, ocean side. Small, safe area. Happy Hour at Havana Jack's by the ocean. MM20 toward Key West Bahama Mama's - good key lime pie. The Island before you get to Marathon about MM54.

Search for Key Deer on Big Pine Island. Also, I hope the Wild Bird Sanctuary is still open to visitors.
Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary
93600 Overseas Highway Tavernier, FL 33070

It's only 1 1/2 hrs from Miami to KW!

Journey vs Destination
 

Some travel to enjoy the journey, others travel to reach a destination.

One sees the world the other interesting spots.

Haks cay in duck key its on u left side on u way down just befor the marthorn its very nice u can go in and check it they also have the navey train camp for the dolphin nice resturant out nice break stop we have being staying ther for years have a great trip

Top 5 places to stop on a drive from Miami to Key West:
Top 5 places to stop on a drive from Miami to Key West | USA Road Trip

Snookers in Key Largo for watching the sun go down with good food and live entertainment.

Key Largo
 

Hideout Key Largo for breakfast and lunch I think it’s cash only

I grew up in Key West. Try THEATER OF THE SEA in the upper keys, ISlamorada. It’s all about sea life.

The Islands Fish company in Marathon - good restaurant.
If you have some time, a visit to the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon is a great experience.

Let me suggest something a little off the direct route to Key West....take a right turn to the west just past Homestead and just before Key Largo.

Take a side trip to the Everglades National Park, there should be a web site through which you can make overnight reservations at the hotel there. Book an air boat trip through the glades. You will see sites you have never seen before nor again. Rosette Spoonbills, Osprey, gators, mink, otters, fantastic flora....gigantic jew fish, maybe a manatee or two. And...and night, you are so far from any light pollution, you will see a sky filled with stars that will leave you spellbound. It will be a trip you will never forget..........and, it's much healthier than eating in a restaurant.

Porky’s Bayside BBQ & Seafood in Marathon MM47.5.
 

2020 Travelers Choice

Top 5 places to stop on a drive from Miami to Key West:
Top 5 places to stop on a drive from Miami to Key West | USA Road Trip

We've visited KW over 30 times since the early 90's, but haven't been there in the past 5 years...as you know, things change

On the drive down (We were coming from Ft Lauderdale) we liked to stop off at The Islamorada Fish Market for lunch...it's on the gulf side...you sit out on a huge thatched covered wharf...lot's of fresh fish on the menu

The drive over Seven Mile bridge is memorable....the Atlantic is on one side and the Gulf on the other....the color of the water will make you think you're in the tropics (unfortunately there's no place to pull over and enjoy the view)

Once you're there, Hemingway's house, and the Truman Whitehouse Annex should be near the top of your list. There's a Red Barn Theatre in KW, they always put on fabulous plays...checkout their website (we often planned our trip based on what was playing). At the end of Duval Street there was (is?) an eatery called 'Two Friends'...IMHO, they had the best conch chowder on the island. And of course you don't want to miss sunset at Mallory Square...plan your late afternoon around that....lots of fun street artists gather to entertain the crowds...like "The Southern Most Gay Bagpiper", some old gal that dresses in purple, stands on a step ladder and recites poems she made up, dogs that jump through hoops on a high wire....jugglers, it's all fun and games until the sun goes down (literally).

The Hog's Breath Saloon on Duval is a tourist spot...when Hemingway spent his money at this watering hole it was across Duval on a side street, now called something like Captain Jack's...that's worth a visit if you want to see what old KW was like

You'll want to take a picture standing next to the Mile Marker Zero sign

There's a biplane that will take you up...that's fun. You can fly or take a ferry over to the Dry Tortugas National Park to tour the fort where Dr. Samuel Mudd was sent after being convicted of helping John Wilkes Booth escape....some nice snorkeling out there and bird watching too

There's a number of restaurants on Duval...they all have their menu's posted on the sidewalk and it's best to make reservations.... they're all pricey


I believe there's still a ferry service that runs from the west coast (Fort Meyers area ?) over to KW...once you're in KW you really don't need a car.

Not sure when you're going, but one of the funniest Christmas parades we've ever seen was the one in KW....a total hoot

We stayed at just about every venue at Mallory Square before switching over to B&B's...Duval Street is noisy at night...if you're thinking B&B, you might want to go a couple of streets over. The B&B's all have parking, some onsite, some a short walk away

Have a ball

On the way to Keys
 

Hollywood Fl is a nice place to see or stay for a night. It an old fashion motel town right on the ocean with a cool Boardwalk with shops and restaurants. You can walk to the Beach from your room. From the pier take a water taxis to Fort Lauderdale it drops u off right by shops and dining. Have a fun time we will be doing this again very soon.

Agree on Theater of the Sea. Spent a very enjoyable few hours there. Also Harriettes in Key Largo for their Key Lime Muffins- they’re huge and awesome!

No Name Pub
30813 Watson Blvd.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043

Stop for lunch! Bring your smartphone or camera.

Of course you can just stop for a quick drink or dinner, BUT make the stop!

No such grill
 

The correct name is:

No Name Pub
30813 Watson Blvd.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043

It is gr8. Stop for lunch. Bring a camera. Or at least stop for a coke or beer. BUT MAKE THE STOP!

A must stop in the Keys is a place called Robbie's MM 77.5. You can pay a small fee to feed huge tarpon off of a dock. There are at least 50 extremely large tarpon swimming right below the dock. Lots of pelicans around as well. I always stop there on my way to Key West.

Lauderdale by the sea above Miami. Very cute seaside area with lots of places to eat and stay.

South Florida's Favorite Small Beach Town is Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

We like stopping at The Holiday inn in Key Largo. The original African Queen is docked right next to it, they have a great tiki bar and a restaurant called Skippers with great seafood right behind it.

Vizcaya museum and gardens in Miami

Thanks for asking!
 

I’m planning a similar trip, and could also use some suggestions! Thank-you.

Coral Castle
 

There is a unique place in Homestead the Coral Castle Museum. A unique place all pieces carved out of Florida coral rock by a slight man barely 5' tall weighing 100 lbs.

Coral Castle Museum

Look for the fruit stand called “Robert Is Here” and stop by for some great treats.