That is right, we are in Snowbird Country: South Florida. RV campgrounds down here are quite full and a little on the expensive side. It is recommended to book your camp site months in advance. If you want to stay on the Keys, well you better book one year in advance and be willing to pay over $100 per night. But I understand why they flock here as it has been in the upper 70’s/low 80’s all week. Aside from the occasional rain storm or winds, one cannot ask for much better weather. Due to the great weather, one can partake in all sorts of activities on any given day. Hiking, biking, snorkeling, diving, fishing, sightseeing, shopping, eating….the opportunities are endless.
We are staying in Homestead, FL which is a historic agricultural area. Hit by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the city has recuperated and growing. This is a wonderful central point for touring the area as we are located between the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, less than 20 miles from Key Largo and an hour from Miami. Direct access to the Keys from Hwy 1, you will find yourself in Key West within three hours.
Everglades National Park
The Everglades are unique as it is the only place in the world like it that exists. 2,400 sq. miles, this park protects precious wetlands and wildlife endangered from encroaching urban sprawl. Inhabitants of this park include a variety of birds, fish, turtles, manatees, snakes (four of which are poisonous), panthers, crocodiles and of course, alligators. On our excursion, we caught glimpses of many of these to include a cottonmouth and alligators. Unfortunately, no sighting of panthers.
Some little known facts about Everglades National Park: there is a pine forest, old growth mahogany trees and, in 1964, a missile sight was established in order to protect our southern border during the cold war. For an unusual tour, try the Park Ranger guided slough (pronounced slew) slogging giving you a chance to walk through the sloughs or water basins.
Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park is a fairly “new” park, established in 1980. Believe it or not, a nuclear power plant was built on the tip of the southern peninsula which began to threaten the environment. The park incorporates several miles of shoreline from Miami to the bottom of the state and a number of keys. The shoreline is thick with vegetation and essentially inaccessible. In order to visit the keys, one needs his/her own boat or pay for a guided tour. We opted to take a boat tour out to Boca Chita key. This had been a privately owned key in the early 1900’s and a popular gathering place for the elite with elaborate parties on a regular basis.
The Keys
Once you cross the bridge into Key Largo, it is over 100 miles to Key West. Dotted with small towns along the way, the keys lend to a totally relaxed lifestyle. We opted for a day trip only and took the dogs with us. Key West is a hustling and bustling city, crowded with tourists. If you are not one for crowds, then I recommend staying on one of the lesser populated keys. Key West is a bit artsy and funky in culture. It has been home to people like Harry Truman and Ernest Hemingway. Due to having the puppies with us, we were limited on visiting places and just drove around the town.
Mallory Square is a fun shopping district and a great place to watch the sunset. You can visit the museums or art galleries, tour Fort Taylor, wander through the historic district or just relax at a street side cafe. All along the route to Key West, are places to stop and fish. Or maybe you want to ride your bike down Hwy 1. There are several state parks established on the keys, some of which provide camping. Al and I discussed it and could see ourselves chillin’ here for a few months! There is a downside to this area, the mosquitoes are brutal. They will eat you alive!
We wanted to go fishing or snorkeling while visiting the area. However, the wind has picked up over the last three days and there is a small vessel wind advisory; therefore, no tours are going out. Because I have a time limit and have to be in Houston by February 12, we will be moving on tomorrow. Time flies and we have so much more to seen in the next month. But I highly recommend taking advantage of those activities during your visit. Explore! Experience! Live!