Key West, Fla. (Part 1): The drive from Miami (Photos)

Key West: The southernmost point in the continental USA, home of Earnest Hemingway, The Conch Republic, beaches, water activities, sunsets, and nightlife its all here. The question is will you resist the urge to stay, or will you give in and go back to life as you know it?

First you need to get here. As winter in New England (or anywhere) just doesn't seem to want to end, the thought of warm winds, palm trees, beaches and sunset cruises seems just begs you to head south for a welcome break. But can I afford it on my budget? As with most questions in life, the answer is it depends, but there certainly are options for those on a restricted budget.
OK, so you need to consider the key ingredients in the recipe to your Spring Break in the Keys: airfare, lodging, ground transport, lodging, and activities.

In this first part, well explore getting there.

Getting there - ingredients:

Air Travel: While you can fly (via connection) to Key West, your lowest cost option likely is to fly into Miami and then rent a car. American Airlines (to Miami - MIA) and Jet Blue (to Ft. Lauderdale - FLL) seem to offer the most flights from New England to the Miami area, but Jet Blue and Spirit airlines are offering fares for as low as around $280 right now (to FLL). Depending on airfares and your preferences, American or Jet Blue may be your choice, especially if you miss your flight and want to take the next available flight.
Car Rental: Miami International Airport now offers a new centralized Rental Car Center (RCC). If you are seeking convenience, try one of the larger car rental companies (including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Payless) that now share a new central car rental area, connected to the airport via a quick ride on the 1.25 MIA Mover, accessible from the 3rd floor of your terminal. Alternately, you may be able to save money by going with a smaller outfit including Advantage, E-Z Rent-A-Car, Fox, or Sixt, all on site at the RCC. These low budget companies offer rentals for as low as $13 a day or $70 per week (vs. about $230 per week for the major companies).

So you have arrived in Miami and have your car? Now its time to enjoy the warmth and travel the final leg to Key West. Miami International Airport is about 160 miles from Key West, a drive which will take you a minimum of 3 1/2 hours, but likely longer depending on road conditions and interim stops. For those seeking the direct route, make sure you purchase the SunPass option from your rental agency, which costs about $37 and will allow you to travel on the Florida Turnpike via tolls that automatically charge you by tracking your license plate.

Otherwise, count on adding an extra hour to your trip bypassing the tolls, though you likely will have to endure stoplights and traffic along Route 1 out of Miami on the local roads. Either way, once you hit Homestead and/or Florida City, youll be on Route 1 for the next 105 miles.

Once you are past Florida City, youll enter the Everglades for about 20 miles, moving with relative ease along mostly fenced and green areas, taking in a flat Florida landscape of hearty greens. At this point, youll enter a long stretch of Route 1 which may strike you with a bit of nostalgia of long stretches of tourist traps and local commerce. In any case, you will know that you are not in Kansas anymore. Perhaps the aqua blue concrete dividers are your first sign.

You will pass multitudes of ocean-themed shops, boat and marine suppliers, boat launches, and the like, while taking in welcoming warm breezes, palm trees, and Florida marine vegetation. One by one, you will pass through the keys including (Key Largo, Plantation Key, Bahia Honda, and Sugarloaf Key). You may wish to stop along the way at one of the many visitor centers to collect brochures and continue planning your escape (hey, if traffic is slow, your fellow passengers can help enliven the drive with exploration of potential upcoming activities).

The largest key along the way will be Marathon Key (about way into your drive). If you need any final supplies (toiletries, food, cash, etc.) this might be your best bet. Youll see many billboards along the way courtesy of Sandal Factory Outlets, which will remind you time and again that its cheaper than in Key West.

So far, you will have hit a lot of commercial areas which may not be what you had envisioned of your visit, but things start to open up after Marathon Key. You will start seeing more bays and blue water, and more signs that you are about to enter a Valhalla of sorts.

The mile markers count down, and now you have only 25 miles left until you reach Key West. Things are looking more and more promising. OK, now you see the sign saying Welcome to Key West. You have arrived and indeed things are different.

Boats are in the bays, you see welcoming beaches lining the avenues, and the architecture has more character. Now you approach downtown Key West, and you definitely know that you have arrived. "The key to budget travel is to prepare ahead. When it happens to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved vacations and/or going to see new places we have never been before, the reality of expense and budgeting is always in the back of our minds. Arranging and spending our travel budget properly is a priority for most families. Curbing expending and costs, while still savoring your vacation to its fullest, is the key to assured achievements and fiscal liability. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thinking behind protecting money while vacationing is simple: Even if your personal finances is highly limited, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also keeping in mind that while traveling, regardless of whether on a funds or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a large vacation or travel charge!..". Ornate Victorians and hotels line the roads, and once you turn onto Duval Street, Key West thrives with activity. As you drive further down the main drag of Duval, you see many lively and intriguing bars, restaurants and shops which may on one hand seem a bit touristy, yet on another hand remind you that you finally have landed. Its time to find your place of lodging and plan for your first sunset and night out in Key West.

Your home life and the colder climate from which you departed are a distant memory. Now its time to settle in and start your vacation. Its time to escape.

MCSO - Florida Keys - Key West, FL - Community &
https://www.facebook.com/floridakeyssheriff
MCSO - Florida Keys, Key West, FL. 8,989 likes 1,112 talking about this 294 were here.
Miami to Key West Key West Tours Miami Tours $29
www.miamitokeywesttours.com
Distance from Miami to Key West. Key West is the southernmost point of the continental part of US. The truth is that island is more close to Cuba than to Florida.
Official Fantasy Fest Website - Key West, Florida
www.fantasyfest.com
Key West's annual bacchanal. Schedule of events, photos of past Fantasy Fests, rules and regulations.
Your Key West travel planning starts here at Fla-Keys.com. Find ...
www.fla-keys.com/keywest
Key West travel planning is a breeze with Fla-Keys.com. Search Key West hotels, fishing trips, marina information, bars and restaurants, attractions and more at The ...
Key West Florida Calendar of Events
thekeywester.com/key-west-events/key-west-events-calendar
Key West Calendar of Events featuring events scheduled on our island Paradise, from fishing tournaments like the SLAM to festivals like Fantasy Fest and Hemingway ...
Key West Travel Key West Hotels & Vacation Planning with
keywest.comThings To Do Accommodations Calendar of Events Vacation Packages
Plan your Key West travel here. Were your source for Key West hotels, resorts & info about vacation attractions such as fishing, diving & sightseeing
Map of Key West FL Key West Florida Hotels, Restaurants ...
www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Key%20West&state=FL
Our interactive map of Key West, FL lets you view traffic and satellite images, find local govt and businesses, and print or send driving directions to your phone.
The Florida Keys & Key West Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest
The Florida Keys & Key West. 141,500 likes 11,604 talking about this. Most people know The Florida Keys and Key West as a great getaway. Calm. Serene. Laid back.
Key West, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West,_Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 (the Overseas ...
Florida Keys & Key West vacation planning starts here with the ...
www.fla-keys.comKey West Islamorada Things to Do Webcams Accommodations
Plan your Florida Keys and Key West vacation from start to finish with the official Florida Keys Tourism Council. Discover all that a Florida Keys vacation has to ...