The Blog. “I love talking about nothing. Paradise! The cities and towns have no personality or identity, and how could they? Key West is fun and it reminds me a lot of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Roxanne witnessed this first hand. Just finished a week of sailing with Captain GDub ASA10,103,104. I stop in the Dry Tortugas, Key West & Boca Grande Key. The hordes headed straight for the statue, Roxanne and I headed for the uncongested waters of the reef where we could see things that weren’t made out of metal or by man. Happy to see the BR crew out and exploring. If you are sailing from Miami to Key West, there are two different, equally delightful routes you can take. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. Lower Keys Beaches; Key West Beaches, Come and Visit! The yacht is new, great outdoor living space, and is equipped for the perfect sailing vacation. There are various sizes and types of boats available if you want to try out Key West on brooch sailing. These fish end up with a belly full of coral inside them which they excrete out at some later time as sand. Units sail, fish and snorkel the United States’ lone barrier reef. My husband and I will be cruising from Fort Lauderdale through the Florida Keys this winter as we adjust to our new cruising life before any long jumps. Look a brother up in Coconut Grove. Book Your Own Adventure. We even fed the beastly tarpon that hang out under their dock. Made famous by the 1948 film Key Largo starring Humphrey Bogart, it provides an exotic escape just hours from Miami airport. The Florida Keys are like any other destination, they are what you make of it. “At least I live in paradise”, were the words that were spoken in a self convincing tone over and over again from the transplanted locals who are trying to tell themselves that they found the happiness they were so desperately looking for. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 10 Adventurous Family Vacation Ideas in North America, Florida Keys Family Multi-Adventure Tour - Teens & Kids, Florida Keys Family Multi-Adventure Tour - Older Teens & 20s, Charleston & Savannah Multi-Adventure Tour. Tampa’s claim to fame is being the largest estuary in Florida State. There is a folklore expectation of the Florida Keys. Courses Offered: ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation. Sailing to the Florida Keys and back with some snorkeling and birdwatching along the way. The local population is ever changing as drifters and paradise seekers come and go with the tides. If you…. I got the fantastic opportunity to show these beautiful islands to some Backroads Trip Leaders over three days. An excellent and exciting way to explore the Florida Keys. I've surveyed the Backroads Trip Leader community and reflected on m... We're Leading a new revolution in Cuba! We'd love to hear thoughts on must-sees or best day and overnight anchorages along the way. There are more bars and tiki huts than you can count and everybody makes a fantastic cheeseburger. An undeserved reputation for being paradise that is propagated by the overworked battalions of American workers who dream of the good life. Whether it be for a day or weeks, chartering a catamaran or other vessel from Calypso sailing gives you total control over your experience. If you buy Frank Papy's Keys Chart guide, you have all the support you need for sailing the Florida Keys. It is a very protected anchorage right by the inlet. Join us aboard Makara, our 47-foot catamaran, to enjoy your private sailing charter for a few hours or join us under the stars for a multi-day, offshore adventure among the Florida Keys. I collected my bag from the tiny luggage belt in the single room arrivals hall and headed to our home for the next three nights, Ibis Bay Resort, a collection of coral stone beachside bungalows on the shores of a serene bay, lined with mangroves. In short, this place is as beautiful as ever, full of amazing sights, scenery, wildlife and people who have channeled their love of this corner of America into restoring it to its charming and historic self. Here is our story. We visited Florida Keys Brewing's new tasting room and garden and then stopped at Robbie's Marina to enjoy lunch and a canoe paddle with Paul and his dog, Bubbles. Several of us Trip Leaders feel it's one of the best meals offered on any Backroads trip, which is saying a lot! All contents & photography © 2020 Backroads | Sitemap | Privacy Policy, The first time I traveled Italy was by bike. The Spicy Story of New Mexico's Chile Cuisine, Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro: My Charleston & Savannah Adventure with Backroads. Our day ended with some of their famous lobster reubens, conch salad, and the best key lime pie in the Keys. I’m not making this up. Here are our top picks for some of the best family adventures this summer! What's it like there now?" So I recently recruited some fellow Backroads Trip Leaders and we set out for a three-day adventure to bike 165 miles from Miami to Key West to see for ourselves what local recovery has accomplished, exploring the heart of the Florida Keys along the way. Whether you are a new sailor or experienced, our expert sailing instructors will help make you feel relaxed and at home while on board. You may recognize it from being 'blown up' in 1994 during a chase scene in the movie True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Every parrotfish produces 250 lbs of sand every year and there are a lot of parrotfish out there in the water. The spirit of rebuilding was impressive and inspiring! They do things in an interesting way down here. Key West is fun and it reminds me a lot of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. And to say the Keys have no personality may not be totally correct. In the end, I find it difficult to summarize the Florida Keys and that’s mainly because that everything worth seeing down here wasn’t created by man. In addition to mile-by-mile coverage and interpretive vignettes, their guide also includes a Land & Sea Navigation chapter with 90 pages of annotated NOAA charts mated with annotated County land maps. Navigating Florida's shallow waters can be a challenge for even the most experienced boater. After lunch we made the long trip down the '18 mile stretch' that connects the Keys to the mainland, a historic and scenic route that was originally developed for the Florida Overseas Railroad. I couldn’t help but think that a lot of people are looking for Jesus, maybe Tim should blog about this. Our first stop was Lake Boca. A special thanks to Backroads for making this all possible, to all of our great partners in the Keys, to our sponsors far and wide, and to our riders. The snorkeling, diving and shore fishing in Florida are fantastic. Despite the fact that it is still March, the newest attraction on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk left the dock at Key Sailing with a full load of excited adults and children. So I'm here to share with you some insight into what a bike ride through the Florida Keys is like, and why you should definitely come experience this place for yourself! It's no secret that the Cuban food here is some of the best in the world! Kach had been delayed by the winter snow storm in Philadelphia and New York, so I arrived in Key West alone at around 8 o’clock at night. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Check out my  previous blog post about Hurricane Irma here! As a six-time winner of American Sailing Association’s Best Instructor and Sailing School Awards and twenty years in business, Sunshine Coast Adventures is the premiere sailing school in the Florida Keys. We truly wanted to learn sailing as we are considering a life style change, my husband did some research and found captain GDub we drove from Charleston SC to Florida Keys. Adventures. We changed out of our riding clothes and donated 10 man hours to paint the steps and railing of their newly-raised visitor center. While in Tampa, expect … My thanks to all those who have made up the 2.9 million views and 20,000 comments received by this page over the years. So the next time you are relaxing on a nice beach on a beautiful day, just remember, you’re sitting on a large pile of parrotfish shit. Over the years, we’ve spent a lot of time exploring Florida’s West Coast … from the Dry Tortugas in the Keys to Tampa Bay. He further explained that the city sank an eight foot bronze copy of the statue, “Christ of the Abyss” in 20 ft of water off Key Largo. Enjoy true freedom exploring the islands and taking in the crystal-clear waters. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. She stopped following them at that point. I had to laugh when I heard the loud speaker blare out, “Baby Got Back, your order is ready.”  It occurred to me that my wife’s name is also the name of a song, so I simply told them, “Roxanne”, though I wish I used Rusty McHugh’s song, “She Put a Louisiana Lip Lock On My Alabama Pork Chop.”. Sailing Florida is St. Petersburg & Tampa Bay's premier sailing yacht and fishing charter company offering cruises, ASA Training & Team Building activities. SAILING LOCATION: Keys Fisheries & Marina 35th St Gulfside, MM 49 Marathon, FL 33050; By Mail: Florida Keys Sailing 5171 Overseas Hwy #504407 Marathon, FL 33050; By E-Mail: gdub@sailflkeys.com; By Telephone: 305-619-0140 I was curious so I had to ask, “Jesus is underwater?”  Tim replied in a strong Jamaican accent, “Yea mon, but don’t worry Jesus can hold his breath for a long time.”. Back onshore in Key West we took a stroll, just like the sailors of old, through the festive atmosphere on Duval Street to Santiago's Bodega where we had a top-notch dinner. All the beauty and charm is as apparent as ever, while the welcoming embrace of the locals and their inspiring efforts to rebuild made for a truly special experience. Take in the former residence of Ernest Hemingway , enjoy the sunset celebrations in Mallory Square, visit Smathers Beach and tour the Key West Lighthouse. For any boat enthusiast, sailing through the Florida Keys will give you an experience like none other and it will be a dream come true. This fish chomps on small critters attached to the coral reefs. Our catamaran, 'Sailing SummerCamp', starts in Key Largo & can sail to Key West, or closer (Marathon or Plantation). Pingback: The Florida Keys | Sailing The Great Escape – A SAILING TRAVEL … | Welcome To Florida. “It starts in Miami and goes all the way down to Key West. To finish off our day, we enjoyed dinner al fresco under Seminole-style thatched chickees while accompanied by live music, conversations with some quintessential Keys characters and a truly dazzling sunset across the water. Joe Dyll of the western Florida Keys, which have long been one of his favorite cruising grounds. Captain Dave, A week ago I took the sailing classes 101, 103, and 104 with Sailing Florida and I would just like to let you know that I had a great time and that the certifications were all worth it. View my complete profile Great to hear you are enjoying the underwater world of the Keys! Eaten delectable local cuisines from recipes passed down through generations? Gone Fishing: Islamorada is the fishing mecca of the keys. The next evening we stopped in Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale. 'We pressed on along the beautiful Old Cutler Road and Biscayne bike trails, perfect cycling routes where we made sure to stop for some great Cuban food at Mario's Family Restaurant in Homestead, the town where Hurricane Andrew made landfall. This old bridge was the greatest achievement of the Overseas Railroad and has withstood every hurricane since its completion in 1912. Refueled on smoothies and caffeine, we made the last push along the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail to Key West. The Florida Keys is a place with a rich history; and in this warm tropical paradise, culture is abundant. Unfortunately, inadvertent or careless boating practices can cause serious trouble for the Florida Keys ecosystem. Partook in energizing cycling rides, sunset boat sails, and languid kayaking excursions in wild nature? Sailing the Keys Whether you charter a boat and crew, or bare-boat your own cruise, the gin clear water of the Atlantic is your playground and expressway from island to island. Sailing the Florida Keys is a must for anyone visiting. One follows the Intracoastal Waterway on the inside through the Florida Bay. Day 3 On our final morning, we headed out early to cross the historic pedestrian and bicycle bridge that parallels the newer vehicle bridge, known as the 7 Mile Bridge, at the end of Marathon. Paradise does not exist here. While the effects of Hurricane Irma still linger, we all felt that it only enhanced the experience of visiting the Keys. We had our first taste of the Florida Keys that night, with a seafood dinner in The Stoned Crab. It was another great day on the bike and water! Looks like quite the adventure. We left from Jupiter, Florida and it took us three days to get there (short relaxing sails). Over the loud speaker you could hear them call out the titles to classics like Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and an older couple would stand to get their food. With a little care, you can avoid damaging valuable Keys habitat (and your boat) and avoid fines, fees, and other costs associated with running aground. We can't wait to do it again in December on our Backroads Florida Keys Biking Tour! The largest island of the Florida Keys, it boasts a landscape of tropical hardwoods, winding creeks and spectacular underwater scenery which has drawn the attention of both Hollywood and the cream of society. Having grown up in the Florida Keys, I've been asked many times over the past six months "How are the Keys doing after Hurricane Irma? We were blown away! Florida Keys sailing: Arrive at the Florida Keys, board your vessel and set sail in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Sample Itineraries: Florida Keys. It is the only thing I know anything about.” Key Largo Beaches; Tavernier Beaches; Islamorada Beaches; Marathon Beaches, Perfect! SAILING LOCATION: Keys Fisheries & Marina 35th St Gulfside, MM 49 Marathon, FL 33050; By Mail: Florida Keys Sailing 5171 Overseas Hwy #504407 Marathon, FL 33050; By E-Mail: gdub@sailflkeys.com; By Telephone: 305-619-0140 Next up was the Dolphin Research Center, a non-profit research and education facility devoted to "a peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine mammals, humans and the environment we share." If you tuned in a few weeks ago, you saw my post about the impacts that Hurricane Irma had on the Florida Keys in September of 2017. Without the man-made attractions that aren’t wrecks… we’re in sympathy with your feelings about A/C as well, whenever the breeze dies and the bugs come a-feasting or the rain pours down and it’s 88+ in the boat, using our A/C in a marina seems like a great place to be! I’m back to tell you about the recovery. Having biked 65 miles in our first day, we settled into our hotel in Key Largo, one of the northernmost islands of the Florida Keys. (Check out my  previous blog post about Hurricane Irma here!) I wish these guys wrote guides for more sailing areas. And just like that, our journey was over. Any fishing boat charter captain will tell you! Drive to Key West with Stops Along the Way. I learned that tidbit of information from Tim the dive master. Today I learned that that the parrotfish poops sand. Sailing the Florida Keys in a Catalina 42: was introduced in 1989 and was one of the first mass-produced American boats to feature both a sugar-scoop transom with a swim platform and a three-stateroom layout with two aft cabins under the cockpit. Search through over a hundred unique adventures. Day 1 Our ride took us through downtown Miami and past the historic entrance of what was once Parrot Jungle, where I remember holding and feeding birds there as a child. Tampa. Finally, we ended our 50-mile day by biking on to Keys Fisheries, where we caught the sunset over their marina. Today you can actually find wild flocks of parrots in the trees of greater Miami. The Florida Keys are a perfect charter for both 3-day and week long sails! The bike trails were clear and a delight to cruise along in the sunshine, soaking in the continued friendly vibe of the Keys . Great article. Keep in mind we are a mono-hull with a 4'11" draft and 63' high mast.We may also be traveling with a friend that has a deep draft (6'8") and know … It was 2015 and I was there for the party on two wheels that is a Backroads Staff Ride. Explore the Florida Keys’ Coastline aboard a Fun in the Sun Florida Keys Yacht Charter. All Aboard A Florida Keys Yacht Charter. Great day for a dolphin cruise on the Pelican, our comfortable kid-friendly 49 passenger catamaran! Veteran Sailing Association (305) 619-3433 90791 Old Highway 1 Tavernier FL 33070 United States. After spending a few great days in the northern Keys … The Florida Keys are like any other destination, they are what you make of it. Day 2 Pedaling over beautiful aquamarine waters across the 42 bridges that connect the Keys, we arrived on Islamorada, the "Village of Islands," and visited with some of our local friends who are featured on our official Backroads Trip through the Keys. 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