Awesome Vacation in the Florida Keys- Islamorada to Key West
ByAs I had mentioned in my last blog entry, my wife and I were visiting the Florida Keys for the first time last week. We travelled all over the place, from Islamorada all the way down to Key West during our five day trip and still had the feeling of there being so much more to see and do. What a fantastic destination the Florida Keys are and I hope to get the chance to visit again some day in the future.
We landed in Fort Lauderdale at 7:30pm on Wednesday, picked up our rental car, a white Mustang convertible, and were on our way south down I-95 to the famous US 1. The ride down was somewhat boring as it was dark and we could not see a THING once we got on US 1 south of Homestead. We arrived at Hawks Cay Resort around 11pm and after a stroll around the grounds we called it a night.
Hawks Car Resort Duck Key Florida Keys
I was up early enough the next day to get the first look at the place in the early morning light and I was speechless while gawking at the scene from our room’s balcony. We overlooked a natural lagoon to one side with the Atlantic Ocean just past that and on the other side was one of the resorts five swimming pools. I knew right then this was going to be a SPECIAL trip.
Hawks Car Resort Duck Key Florida Keys
Did a little more recon of the grounds and got a glimpse of one of the local inhabitants relaxing on the patio near the water’s edge.
Hawks Car Resort Local Resident
Hawk’s Cay Resort has, in addition to the five swimming pools, a saltwater lagoon and right next to that is a large dolphin enclosure where they offer a swim with the dolphins program. My wife and I jumped on that and we spent an hour with the instructors and the dolphins themselves. VERY COOL!!! I wish they let me use the GoPro but for the safety of the animals I couldn’t.
Hawks Cay Resort Dolphin Adventure Swimming with the dolphins
Next, it was off to Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada to hand feed the hundreds or large tarpon that gather there for some freebie handouts from the spectators. This was something I have been wanting to do for a very long time and upon arrival in the parking lot I was just about sprinting to the docks!! After paying the $1 dollar admission and $3 dollars for bait bucket I was FINALLY ready!!
Robbies Marina Islamorada Florida Keys
And there they were!!! Hundreds of tarpon swimming around the docks of the marina. I estimate they ranged from 30 – 100+ pounds and there was TONS of them!! What an amazing experience it was to have these fish grabbing the baits right out of my hand!!!
Robbies Marina Islamorada Florida Keys Tarpon
On Friday we made the run south to the legendary Key West. We were told that this time of year was the slow season for the area but with the crowds we saw I could not imagine what the BUSY season would look like. We walked the entire length of Duval St, strolling past the famous watering holes and restaurants. At the end of Duval St we came to the area known as Southernmost which quite simply means the Southernmost location of the United States.
Southernmost Point of the United States
We grabbed some lunch at a cafe right on the beach and then jumped in one of the electric rental cars to cruise around the rest of the island. We stopped at the Hemingway and Truman Houses. Drove by the landing for visiting cruise ships and all the local shops. We ended up at the famous Mallory Square for the Sunset Festival where street performers and vendors gather every day for the setting sun. Pretty neat but unfortunately sunset this day was somewhat obscured by the cloud cover. Busy day and it was a tiring ride back to our resort.
Key West Florida Keys Sunset at Mallory Square
Saturday was our day to kick back, relax and enjoy the Hawks Cay Resort ammenities. Cold drinks in the pool and lagoon followed by a stroll around the marina to gawk and the beautiful sportfishing boats. I had to chance to speak with a couple of the charter captains and found myself thinking it must be very nice to be fishing the entire year round. I also took the opportunity of visiting my tarpon friends at Robbies again for some more GoPro footage while my wife stayed by the pool.
Sunday was departure day. We stopped at the Pennekamp State Park on the way north and checked out their display and movie on the local coral reefs that make this such a popular dive destination. We were back in the Miami area early enough before our flight to take a visit to the South Beach area of Miami Beach where we enjoyed an early dinner at BLT Steak, which was featured on the past season of Hell’s Kitchen. Excellent steak dinner followed by a stroll on the beach. Perfect ending to a wonderful vacation.
Miami Beach Ocean Drive South Beach
It’s now back to reality time for me and that reality is that we are in the first week of October and the striped bass in the Fire Island area will be starting to strap on their feedbags for the fall migration. The fishing in the area will do nothing but get hotter as we move into late October and November and I am looking forward to it.
Tight Lines.........
Capt Paul Mandella
captpaul@maybetonightcharters.com
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