John Pennekamp

John Pennekamp State Park – I have only been here two times for a day trip but I highly recommend it for the nature lover. The first time I stopped here my friend and I went snorkeling. I was new to the sport, really nervous and excited. From the time I put my head in the water marine life was in my view. I was startled a few times by large silver tarpon and even scared of a few toothy barracudas. JPSP is considered the US’s first underwater park. The area is very Florida-like with canopies of Palm trees providing shade to cool off on a hot day. The offer all the water activities that you would find at a state park for a fee. They have snorkeling off the beach, like I did, or sign up for a trip to explore the remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck which is close by. JPSP offers camping and is a great place for family.

Without Kids

Without Kids – If you are heading to the Keys kid-less than you might be looking for the night life. Key West is the place to stay because drinking and driving do not mix, and Key West is quite a drive from some of the other Keys. Key West has bars everywhere, some are pack wall to wall with comics others are simply just a bar with 2 stools. They make the most of their room.

Fat Tuesdays – If you go look for A & C carved in the bar overlooking the street to the left!

One of my top places to go for a fun night

The main strip is Duval Street, so staying near by is a good idea. Driving & parking is a pain, they just do not have the space to accommodate all the vehicles so you are better off renting a bike or golf cart while there. The locals are not happy to see tourist cars taking up spots reserved for them (a certain color curb) and have no problem calling to report your vehicle. We prefer the bed & breakfast places and have stayed in some really nice ones. If you are in the Keys, the décor should reflect that and you get what you pay for. Most B & B’s will assist you for reservations, giving you good local tips. While in Key West minus the kids we kind of lay low during the day and reserve all our energy for a long night of bar hopping. Ghost walks are fun, even taking in one of those cheesy history tours is very informative. Keep in mind some places are clothing optional, many are gay friendly.

With the Kids

With Kids – the main thing is that Key West is really not a kid friendly place after sunset. Many people go there to party and are disorderly. We took our kids to Key West during the day to see the sights and stayed for Sunset Celebration but before we could leave the island they got quite a view of a very elderly lady in a thong. Lots of funny questions for the ride home. It was good for a laugh. Key West is very gay-friendly.
We stayed at Sugarloaf Key in a camper. After our trip I realized we should have shopped around more for a cheaper place to stay. Sugarloaf Key was nothing great for the price. The pool at night was overrun with lots of people jumping over you and no supervision. The beach area was small and the current made it hard to swim for kids.

Photo taken at the camp grounds, you just cannot find an ugly spot in the Keys to take a photo!

Bahia Honda

Bahia Honda State Park – this is one of the most southernmost state parks. It is a beautiful beach with brilliant sunsets, and clear water. You can snorkel right in the beach area, even renting the gear if you do not have your own. They also rent kayaks and schedule boat trips. Bahia Honda has a trail that leads you to the top of the old bridge. At the top you can see the old Henry Flagler’s railroad and the entire island. Definitely a great place to at least stop on your trip to Key West.

I took this photo leaving Bahia Honda on a boat

Intro to the Keys

The keys are a chain of intricate ecosystems and a great place to dive. While down south we scheduled a snorkeling trip out of Bahia Honda to Looe Key. We worked the whole month before to teach the kids how to snorkel. It wouldn’t have mattered how long we were in the water practicing they didn’t enjoy Looe Key snorkeling. They were too young and starting off seeing Barracuda, certainly not the most comforting sight. But 3 kids out of the 18 in our group is not bad. The trip was well worth it for us. The water was beautiful and we saw a lot!