Keys trip part II, end of the month, for the family, ideas? - The Hull Truth

Jamisjockey · 03-01-2010, 02:01 PM

Okay, so the wife is also fed up with the crappy winter we've had. We're talking about taking the kids to the wamest place we can drive to from here, which would be the Keys I'd imagine

Kids break is the very end of the month and first part of april. Starting to look at availabilities, hopefully we can find something.
Primary objectives would be sightseeing, fishing, relaxing, and if the water is warm enough maybe some beach time.
Which keys should we be zeroing in on?
Also, another idea would be to rent a houseboat. Any suggestions on rental companies?
Might be us and another family, so we'd be able to divide up the costs.

Gracias!

triplenet · 03-01-2010, 02:50 PM

Forget the house boat.... Just pack up the boat and head south.... I would base out of Islamorada area and take day trip to other islands... or head all the way to Key West....

Jamisjockey · 03-01-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplenet

Forget the house boat.... Just pack up the boat and head south.... I would base out of Islamorada area and take day trip to other islands... or head all the way to Key West....

Probably leave the boat home and rent a few times while we're there.

triplenet · 03-01-2010, 03:24 PM

Depends on what you want....

Restaurants, tourists and nightlife = Key West
Relax with limited activity other than on the water = Lower Keys
Restaurants, boating and a bit more to do = Upper Keys
Marathon = kinda in the middle of it all... Not a big fan

I keep my boat in Islamorada and love the area... Great boating, fishing and restaurants..... But when I want to party we head to Key West...

Jamisjockey · 03-01-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplenet

Depends on what you want....

Restaurants, tourists and nightlife = Key West
Relax with limited activity other than on the water = Lower Keys
Restaurants, boating and a bit more to do = Upper Keys
Marathon = kinda in the middle of it all... Not a big fan

I keep my boat in Islamorada and love the area... Great boating, fishing and restaurants..... But when I want to party we head to Key West...

Probably a little more like it. Our kids are little, so we're not much on partying anymore. Somewhere to relax, maybe dunk a bait, walk on a beach, play.

triplenet · 03-01-2010, 03:47 PM

Here are some ideas;

http://www.fla-keys.com/listing.cfm?id=159

http://www.hawkscay.com/

http://www.chesapeake-resort.com/

http://www.pinesandpalms.com/

http://www.lajollaresort.com/

ljk · 03-01-2010, 04:59 PM

Well, I AM a big fan of Marathon, I live here. The reason I do is that its the most "normal," family-oriented of the Keys areas. Being in the middle of the Keys, its also easy to travel to the other places you'd want to go: Big Pine to see the Key Deer, Key West, Islamorada, Key Largo.

triplenet · 03-01-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljk

Well, I AM a big fan of Marathon, I live here. The reason I do is that its the most "normal," family-oriented of the Keys areas. Being in the middle of the Keys, its also easy to travel to the other places you'd want to go: Big Pine to see the Key Deer, Key West, Islamorada, Key Largo.

Sorry.... Didnt mean to offend... Marathon is just a bit industrial for me...

I love the keys from Ocean reef to the Southern most point... There isnt an island I wouldnt live on...

caltexflanc · 03-02-2010, 06:07 AM

You got plenty of good advice on your first thread.. What exactly is different now that I'm somehow missing?

Jamisjockey · 03-02-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltexflanc

You got plenty of good advice on your first thread.. What exactly is different now that I'm somehow missing?

First thread was a few guys for a few days fishing and staying **** faced drunk.
This thread is about heading down with the family. No need to be a tool.

Can anyone tell me about Tavernier? I might have found a place.

airbrush · 03-02-2010, 10:48 AM

Key Largo has Pennekamp that is good for swimming snorkeling. http://www.pennekamppark.com/

Anne's Beach south end of Lower Matecumbe is a good place for beaching, snorkeling... http://thefloridakeys.com/parks/anne.htm

You can find boat rentals all over the place and many places will deliver to you.

Bahia Honda is a great place... http://www.bahiahondapark.com/ ...but apt rentals are booked WAY in advance.

Jamisjockey · 03-02-2010, 11:44 AM

Awesome, thanks! I think we've got a place, but he has to check back with me later this afternoon to confirm. Comes with a pontoon boat, too. Super excited!

So, now that we're pretty confident, I have some fishing questions. Not a primarily fishing trip, but I will do some fishing from the dock and from the pontoon. Kids love to fish, too, but aren't proficient at chucking lures yet. I'd imagine that a piece of shirmp for them would catch random little critters. I'll bring a medium spinning rod. What should I use and look for?

airbrush · 03-02-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamisjockey

Awesome, thanks! I think we've got a place, but he has to check back with me later this afternoon to confirm. Comes with a pontoon boat, too. Super excited!

So, now that we're pretty confident, I have some fishing questions. Not a primarily fishing trip, but I will do some fishing from the dock and from the pontoon. Kids love to fish, too, but aren't proficient at chucking lures yet. I'd imagine that a piece of shirmp for them would catch random little critters. I'll bring a medium spinning rod. What should I use and look for?

Where are you staying? It helps when pointing out likely spots.

Jamisjockey · 03-02-2010, 12:21 PM

Looks like it'll be the Winston Waterways area of Key Largo. Good/bad/other any info would be appreciated.

buddy29766 · 03-02-2010, 02:30 PM

Find a fairly deep cut with a good current flow, anchor on the edge of it, hang out a chum bag full of a quality chum . Use @ 10-15 lb Fluorocarban leader (get rid of all the swivels and beads etc) tie on a #4 or #6 hook . Use fresh shrimp, fresh fileted ballyhoo cut in to slices, the fish will come to you . Depending on the wind/seas on how far from shore you want to go, Ive seen plenty of pontoon boats trolling off shore for dolphin .

superfishal · 03-02-2010, 02:36 PM

Sombrero Beach-Marathon...The best beach and one of only a few in the Keys!It is beautiful,has a nice playground and is very safe... Islamorada is nice but pricey...I live in Annapolis ,Maryland and keep my boat in Marathon over the winter...Don't haul your boat...CHARTER first trip down..Will catch more fish and less work...Also,you are going at a peak time of the year with Easter and the such..It will be somewhat expensive...If you want more direct info,pm me your cell # and I would be happy to give you alot of knowledge about the middle Keys...I have 4 kids ages 8-14 so am in the zone on the family travel thing there....SUPERFISHAL

Bob's Cay · 03-02-2010, 02:40 PM

After spending numerous spring breaks with my family in the keys over the last 20 years or so I have I bit of advice. Stay flexible. The weather has a way of being quite fickle that time of year. We learned to head in the general direction of south Florida and branch out from there depending on weather. From the west coast, Everglades, to the theme parks in Orlando, spring training games, Daytona / NSB, Ft Lauderdale, or the Keys. Of course we generally would drive from Atlanta so that made flexibilty easier not having to deal with flights.

If I were planning on flying down I would arrange my flights to Ft Lauderdale or Orlando and book a car. Wait until the last moment to decide where for lodging.

Have fun.

Joe Mc 44 · 03-02-2010, 06:05 PM

Take yourself, your wife and the kids to Theater of the Sea to swim with the dolphins.It will be an experience they/you won't forget. My family has done it three times. Very professionally run.

joeu3 · 03-06-2010, 03:38 PM

if you find yourself in key west try the butterfly museum, i know gay, but you go through a labyrinth where butterflys are all over and they land all over you, good family fun.. head down duval, maybe rent bikes, and hit the tourist shops, tons of stuff to see around here, maybe even get a drink or a bite to eat, of course try the conch fritters! keep heading down duval to the key west aquarium, they have a shark tank and have hourly? feedings.. then over to mallory square for the sunset celebration, which generally takes place 2 hours before sunset, where youl find entertainment for everyone.
lol, kinda summed up my girlfriend's b-day last weekend, i know lame, but playing tourist, certainly for someone who's lived here a while, is also fun. dont forget to have a nice dinner! ;]