Miami & Florida Keys 🇺🇸
Quick holiday facts
Duration: 9 nights
Flights: Norse return from London Gatwick to Miami including extra legroom seats, baggage & a meal. Deal found via Google Flights price alert (£1,860)
Accommodation:
1) The Julia, located in South Beach, Aparthotel for 3 nights - booked via Airbnb (£1,190 including parking)
2) Southernmost Point Guesthouse, located in Key West, bed and breakfast for 3 nights - booked via booking.com (£1,134)
3) Holiday Inn Key Largo, room only for 3 nights - booked via IHG app (£1,102)
Hire car: Budget booked through Expedia.com (£560)
Excursions: the whole trip was one big excursion and a self drive tour BUT we did do an American Classic Schooner Sail whilst in Key West (£90), Citi Bike 4 hours Hire in Miami Beach (£30), The Turtle Hospital in Marathon entrance fee & tour (£55), Sea Kayaking at Robbies of Islamorada (£51), Everglades National Park entrance fee (£28), Everglades Safari Airboat Ride (£64)
Spending money: USA is mostly room only which we knew when we booked this trip! We therefore allocated £120 (£60 each) per day to cover food & drink, tips & taxes. We had some epic food (see below!).
APPROX TOTAL SPEND = £7,364
It’s a thing we’ve made our ‘tradition’ - that is - going away on a trip to somewhere sunny and warm for New Year. This tradition began in 2020 and wow, our travels New Year in 2023 DID NOT DISAPPOINT! The only criteria is that the country should be sunny and warm… so strap in folks, our 3rd time in the USA was pretty special…
After we returned from Sardinia, we debated between a few shortlisted destinations and Florida kept coming up top. We decided to set-up a Google Flights price alert for London-Miami, as when we looked at flights, they weren’t within budget. Until they were. Then it was booked!
What followed was loads of research (again). Having the flights pre-booked, we made a plan and itinerary about where we wanted to visit. We knew we didn’t want to do Florida’s theme parks (Matt has been twice before anyway!), we instead knew that we wanted to see a different side of Florida. So, the itinerary came together like this:
3 nights in Miami Beach: mooching around the city, going to Little Havana, Wynwood Walls, Little Haiti, NYE concert at Bayfront Park, Bayside Marketplace and Skyviews Miami.
3 nights in Key West - the southernmost point of continental USA: driving down the keys stopping on the way at Florida Keys Brewing Company for local beer tasting (and nachos from a Mexican food truck - had to be done!), plus a tour of The Turtle Hospital at Marathon.
3 nights in Key Largo - the northernmost key: on the drive back up, stopping at Bahia Honda State Park, kayaking at Robbies of Islamorada and the Everglades National Park.
As part of this planning we decided we wanted to make the most of the time of year and spot as much wildlife as we possible could. And, sample local delicacies along the way.
Image: Our aparthotel in South Beach. The art deco styled buildings around Miami Beach are just 😍
Days 1 to 3
We touched down in Miami about 2pm local time - and - keen to make sure we adapted to local time as quick as we could, it was all about getting the hire car as quickly as possible so that we could experience some sunlight before it got dark (we had a bad experience with jet lag when we went to Mexico, and we learnt our lesson). Baggage collected, hire car collected… we were on our way!
We drove the short distance from the airport to Miami Beach and headed straight to our accommodation. We checked-in and then parked the car in a nearby lot, provided by our brilliant host. We unpacked - because yeah, Amy can’t not unpack toiletries, clothes, the lot as soon as we arrive. After that, we headed out on a dusk walk, straight to the heart of the action……
🌟Ocean Drive🌟 the literal centre of the art-deco district with tonnes going on, a hive of activity, people buzzing around (think walkers, runners, cyclists, skateboarders, all of them!), amazing buildings to look at, bars & clubs and more. By this point we were hunnnngry so headed to the nearest restaurant, a Cuban place which was delicious.
Image: lit up art-deco buildings with projections on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.
That was just day 1!
On day 2 we were up early for sunrise, thanks to minor jet lag (lol)! But didn’t mind at all because it was pretty special sitting on South Beach watching the sun come up. After that, we headed back to get a shower and back out for coffee & croissants. Following that we were soon on our way into the heart of Miami and our first stop: Little Havana.
Video: Matt strolling down Calle Ocho, the main street in Little Havana.
Our look around Little Havana was fab. We did a free walking tour (just googled it) and stopped off to see Domino Park amongst other sights. We sampled a local fresh-pressed juice made with raw sugar cane AND we couldn’t resist getting a famous ‘Cuban sandwich’ from the world famous Sanguich de Miami. After that, we drove to Wynwood Walls and took a stroll around the district. Be ready for the most insane street art and graffiti. Such a cool vibe in that neighbourhood and worth stopping in at. We had a quick pit stop (fresh mint mojitos anyone?!) and then headed to Little Haiti for a drive around. The evening on Day 2 (yep, still day 2!) saw us head back to Miami Beach and take a stroll around Lincoln Road Mall, before getting epic tacos from top-rated Mama’s Tacos 🌮
On Day 3 we decided to see more of Miami Beach and chose to hire the readily available Citi Bikes. We cycled 🚲 from south to north beach, with a short chill on the beach in between and a coke in local cafe. Then, after we took the bikes back, we went for burgers (had to, it’s America, right?!) at 11th Street Diner; a paramount dining car! They were huge of course so then we spent more time relaxing on South Beach before getting ready for NYE. Off we went to Bayfront Park to bring in the New Year the way the locals do, with a concert and fireworks looking over the bay.
Image: NYE Fireworks Display over the bay from Bayfront Park.
Days 4 to 7
Miami Beach checkout day. We left our accommodation and headed to Skyviews Miami as we headed out of the city for fabulous panoramas over the bay. Then we drove down the US1 highway towards the Keys. An hour later we arrived at Key Largo, the first key and immediately started taking in the scenery, what a change! As we mottled down the keys, we first stopped for coconut shrimp and fried lobster at Key Largo Fisheries (and we saw our first glimpse of a manatee!), followed by next stop for beer tasting at Florida Keys Brewing Company and then onwards to our next stop: The Turtle Hospital…
Video: me feeding some of the resident turtles at The Turtle Hospital.
90 mins later, following an informative and heart-warming educational tour of the unit’s residents, including feeding the turtles - we were on our way to Key West, hitting the iconic 7-mile bridge as the sun was setting. As the evening drew in, we arrived at our next accommodation; the super quaint Southernmost Point Guesthouse. Located at the southern end of Duval Street, we unpacked and then took a walk. Our accommodation was perfect in this leg of the trip! A wander down Duval Street (Key West’s main ‘strip’) and omg it was like being on a movie set! It did not look or feel real. Buzzing bars & restaurants, people having fun, and a vibe that is hard to describe. We found a place to eat, Mangoes Island Cuisine and sampled our first ‘conch’ fritters. A local delicacy and simply delicious!
On Day 5 we were up and keen to see what the rest of Key West had to offer. We took a stroll around the neighbourhood on the way to Fort Zachary State Park - we were ready for some beach action! Fort Zachary Beach is super cute, fairly quiet and made for nice 3 hours.
Image:
Amy lying on the beach next to Matt with the ocean behind us, at Fort Zachary Beach.
Following a few chilled hours on the beach, we packed up and headed back towards the centre of town for lunch. The lobster roll from DJ’s Clam Shack was something else, just delicious and we highly rate. Bellies then full, we went on more of a walk exploring the rest of Key West… the marina, Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop (yes, also delicious!), followed by mojitos at El Meson de Pepe’s at Mallory Square ready for sunset. A little bit iconic to see the sun go down over the ocean and brilliant to be part of buzz, street entertainment and sunset celebration.
The end of Day 5 saw us freshen up for dinner and drinks on Duval. Yet more coconut shrimp 🍤😂 was consumed 😋 at Kaya Island Eats (which we also highly rate - great service + food) and then we took in some fab live jazz before bed.
Day 6 saw us search out the much revered Cuban Coffee Queen - which when we found, it didn’t disappoint! Then, we found the 0 Mile Marker, posed for pics and headed over to the marina for our lunchtime sail on an old-fashioned American Schooner boat, sailing to ‘proper’ way. We spent a fabulous 90 mins at sea, admiring the crew’s strength! On return it was time for giant cookies and a tour of Key West’s First Legal Rum Distillery…
So, after a short tour (which was great and fun!) we sampled the rum - their frozen Pina Colada was just so yummy. Various other rums sampled and we NEEDED SOME FOOD. Lol. Off we went to pitch up at Sloppy Joes. A Key West staple - to eat an actual Sloppy Joe sandwich (pictured above), drink more rum and listen some more fab live music. After that, we went back to the guest-house and had a dip in their dipping pool at sunset.
The next morning Day 7 was the day we checked out and left Key West - sadly. Not before getting a pic at another iconic sight: the Southernmost Point Buoy…
Both of us pictured at the southernmost point.
Closer to Cuba than mainland USA!
Days 7 to 10
We were back in the car winging our way back up the US1 Highway that literally joins each of the Keys together, an ocean drive that very literally takes you over the water. Anyway, soon enough we arrived at stop one: Bahia Honda State Park for some beach action. We’d read that of all the beaches in the park Sandspur Beach was the one to hit. So we headed there for some lounging in the sun. after that we took a look round other bits of the park, including walking up part of the old railway bridge which is now a viewpoint over the water. After grabbing a coffee and some snacks, we were back on our way north.
Video: view from the beach out to the old railway bridge at Bahia Honda State Park.
We checked in at our hotel for last leg: Holiday Inn Key Largo. Soon after we had a dip in the pool and a lounge on the sunbeds before heading out for dinner. We went to Mrs Mac’s Kitchen and both had a seafood feast followed by yet more Key Lime Pie! Just epic! Bellies full (again) we headed back to the hotel for another dip - this time in the jacuzzi before bed.
After breakfast at the hotel on Day 8, we headed to Robbie’s of Islamorada, which is the neighbouring key to Key Largo about 20 mins away. We rented a double kayak and headed off around the incredible mangroves, sea nursery and swamps. Sadly, no freshwater crocodiles were spotted, but plentiful birdlife and small fish - see pics - this was our first time kayaking and we LOVED IT! On return we had a bite to eat at Robbie’s, we fed the giant tarpon, nearly got pecked to death by the giant pelicans and then headed back to the hotel. A little walk round ocean side Key Largo took us to a local joint for sunset happy hour drinks at Pilot House Marina… More rum and then a nighttime swim in the pool before bed.
Our last full day, Day 9 saw us drive back onto the mainland to visit the Everglades National Park. About a 40 min drive from Key Largo to the main entrance, we headed straight for the Royal Palm Visitor Centre. We joined a walking tour and it wasn't long before our first alligator was spotted… And turtles and many cool birds! It was great to learn about the eco-preservation of the area, the flora and fauna and habitats around the area. Basically, it is a humungous wetland full of life - really fab to see. After that tour, we headed over to the Everglades Safari Park, one of 3 approved airboat operators, thanks to conservation efforts. Wow! What a exhilarating ride! Highly recommended if you’re planning a visit. We saw numerous alligators and many more birds, fantastic to take to the water to see the park from a different perspective.
Video: on an airboat we pass an alligator resting in the grass.
With enough excitement for one day, we drove back to the hotel for some chill time. We decided to take stroll around the bay side of Key Largo, heading to JJ’s Big Chill for pizza at Enrico’s followed by drinks at Sundowners. And that was it, we headed back to the hotel to start packing up, but not before some more pool action which sadly ended too soon thanks to an incoming storm… That same storm scuppered our plans to laze by the pool on Day 10, but obviously that meant we needed some final epic food before heading back to Miami Airport. We had breakfast at Doc’s Diner, another locals delight, for THE BEST skillet we’ve ever had. A trip to the USA wouldn’t be complete without some shopping so we spent a couple of hours at the Florida Keys Outlet before dropping the car back off at the airport and checking in our bags. Safely on the flight, we settled in for some zzz’s before arriving back home.
WHAT. A. TRIP. It was full of highlights, jam packed with things to see and do, adventure and chill and so much wonderful wildlife. Oh and food. And rum. Just excellent. If you’re looking for an alternative break that contains all of the beauty off Florida but non of the parks (no thank you, Disney) then consider visiting the Keys. We promise you won’t regret it!