Wow......the last time I blogged was about six months ago. It's about time for this new post about a trip to the Florida keys....and with a bike for some adventures.
Jim and I had planned this trip a few months ago and we lucky enough to find an Airbnb that was in Tavenier, which is really Key Largo. If you ever decide to go and Key Largo is your destination you can contact me for an awesome place to stay. It had the best view of the Atlantic and had everything you needed to make your stay a great one.
The view of the Atlantic from our balcony
This says it all!
After unpacking we headed to John Pennykamp State Park. Here is more information on this coral reef park which features glass bottom boat tours and snorkeling.
John Pennykamp State Park
They have a visitor center where you can see an example of the coral reefs in the area.
There are some aquariums that are home to some of the underwater inhabitants there.
Spiny tail lobster
Not sure of this creature's name. Any guesses??
Dinner that evening was at a local restaurant, Snappers. They have a nice menu but if you like to have a glass of wine with dinner, the selection is very limited....at least by the glass. It was off-season so maybe that's why they only offered a few selections. Here is more information about this restaurant.
Jim felt photogenic that evening.
On day two we drove to Key West which was 92 miles from our condo. It's a slow ride so be prepared for a two hour....or more ....drive especially during season. It's a plesant drive which includes the Seven Mile Bridge which is located in Marathon.
Key West is a year round vacation spot so parking is at a premium any time of the year. We decide to park just outside of the main area and cycle through the town.
Jim is ready to roll
Houseboats for rent in Key West
A boat coming into Key West from the Gulf
Here are photos from our cycling trip around Key West
No explanation needed
A cool drink before heading back home
For dinner we went to Lazy Days in Islamorada. It was a great meal with a good wine selection by the glass and great food. After dinner we were able to walk down to the water and spotted some tarpon fish as well as nurse sharks swimming near the pier.
http://www.lazydaysislamorada.com/
On Friday we decided to ride our bikes along A1A. We had to wait until the early morning rain passed so we didn't get on the road until after 9 AM. There was a headwind and a nice breeze so it was not too bad going out. No photos from the cycling as I wanted to stay focused on staying safe. We stopped at Robbie's which was our turn around point but is a junk flea market. It does have a dock where you can feed the tarpon fish. It's a tourist trap, though, and I passed on feeding them.
We ended up with 33 miles and were back by noon so we had time to tour the area just a little more.
We went to the Dolphin Research Center which turned out to be a great place to visit. The entry fee is a bit steep but worth every penny. If you get the chance it's worth the trip.
There are 26 dolphins that are cared for at this facility, even in a hurricane. The staff requires a special permit to stay during the hurricane but it is certainly necessary. They even feed other dolphins and sea lions at other attractions in the Keys. That's pretty awesome.
It was a great trip and it is well worth the trip. If you decide you need a cycling challenge you can ride from Key Largo to Key West which is a century.
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