Key West trip
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
Thanks all for the advice on places to stay. Not sure if we will be riding the bike or driving the truck. Depends on the amount of time we get for vacation. Coming from SD we need a good amount of time to ride down, stay and ride back. Not sure I'll get that much time off, but can only hope. Thanks again.
Electra1
Electra1
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte Area
If yo are retired military, the Navy Lodge on Key West is nice, clean and very reasonable. You will have to ride downtown to get to everything but it is one of the best bargains down there. Parking in KW is ridiculous. There is some MC parking but it is always full of those damn rental scooters. Mallory Square at sunset is awesome. Duvall is definitely where you want to be if you are going to have an adult beverage or twelve. Watch our for the chickens and the nancy boys.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
I was in Key West last July. Flew into Fort Myers and rented a Road King from Fort Myers HD (ask for Karla). I took 41 South (Tamiami Trail) to Naples and across the Everglades to 997 South to Homestead. Picked up Highway 1 to Key Largo and continued south all the way down to Key West. It was beautiful ride and being one who does not care for bridges one I will never forget. I stayed at the bike friendly Best Western on the corner of Simonton St. and United St. which is a short one block walk from Duval St. I found it very nice, not at all like your typical Best Western and for $85 a night you might have trouble beating it. Except for one day I rode over to the marina for sport fishing I walked / crawled everywhere I went. Driving / riding is too much trouble considering everything is within walking distance anyway. I did not find the prices outrageous at all for a tropical paradise, no more so than a night out at home. It truly is a beautiful place.
On the ride back though I rode through 40 miles of the worst thunderstorm Ive ever been in. Sure was happy to come out the other side of that.
On the ride back though I rode through 40 miles of the worst thunderstorm Ive ever been in. Sure was happy to come out the other side of that.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 798
Likes: 1
Thanks all for the advice on places to stay. Not sure if we will be riding the bike or driving the truck. Depends on the amount of time we get for vacation. Coming from SD we need a good amount of time to ride down, stay and ride back. Not sure I'll get that much time off, but can only hope. Thanks again.
Electra1
Electra1
Too funny...
I am from Iowa and am heading to KW in may of 2012 also. I will meet you at the bar..., first round is on me.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,432
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From: Central Florida, USA
It is scenic, great food, great bars, and expense is relative. During the season it is expensive. Off season it's a lot less expensive but you run the risk of storms messing up your trip. I stay at the Doubletree off Roosevelt just as you come on to Key West from Boca Chica and the Naval Air Station. They have a dedicated covered bike parking area, a wash station, and a tram that runs on the hour that will get you one block off Duval Street.
As mentioned earlier, the Keys aren't really a great bike riding area. The Overseas Highway is about it. Most side roads dead end and so there are few "loops" or scenic rides off that road. One such place is Big Pine and No Name Keys. But even these essentialy end up in a bunch of dead end canal streets or unpaved roads. On Big Pine just before going over the bridge to No Name Key is the No Name Pub. It's worth a visit and a lunch. I go to the Keys alot, usually to dive fish and sail, so I've only done it on the bike once, and that was enough for me.
As mentioned earlier, the Keys aren't really a great bike riding area. The Overseas Highway is about it. Most side roads dead end and so there are few "loops" or scenic rides off that road. One such place is Big Pine and No Name Keys. But even these essentialy end up in a bunch of dead end canal streets or unpaved roads. On Big Pine just before going over the bridge to No Name Key is the No Name Pub. It's worth a visit and a lunch. I go to the Keys alot, usually to dive fish and sail, so I've only done it on the bike once, and that was enough for me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,980
Likes: 6,107
From: Florida
As beautiful as the Keys are, it is really NOT a good riding adventure, as highway 1 is the only road, and it can be backed up & slowed down with campers & vacationers. On key West, you can walk to everything, so you don't need a bike or car there. My favorite things to do is to check out the back streets & the architecture of the houses.
I would take the car if I were gonna go there. Biking is OK in the lesser Keys, but all the sightseeing there is done while parked, not riding.
As far as expensive--I was on Duval St. & got a suger jones. Went into a store & asked for a sugar cookie. Guy handed it to me & said "six bucks". I handed it back & said "Keep it". This was in like '98 or '99. Prolly up to $10 now. So yea, it's expensive. But it's all relative. To the guy making 100grand a year, I guess it wouldn't be. But to me--it's expensive.
I would take the car if I were gonna go there. Biking is OK in the lesser Keys, but all the sightseeing there is done while parked, not riding.
As far as expensive--I was on Duval St. & got a suger jones. Went into a store & asked for a sugar cookie. Guy handed it to me & said "six bucks". I handed it back & said "Keep it". This was in like '98 or '99. Prolly up to $10 now. So yea, it's expensive. But it's all relative. To the guy making 100grand a year, I guess it wouldn't be. But to me--it's expensive.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 446
Likes: 4
From: Nevada
Exactly. And I'll tell ya what ... you do not want to be in the lower Keys when they close the road for some reason. And that happens often enough due to serious crashes, weather, whatever. There is no other way out, on wheels.
Still, riding over the Seven Mile Bridge is pretty cool.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,589
Likes: 4,550
From: USA
Took a truck camper down the Keys about 6 years ago. Stayed at the Sugar Loaf Key. Electric and water, no sewer. $85 freaking a night. Went back up and stayed at Disney World for 5 days. I was like a kid in a candy store. Best spent money in my life. Save your money on the Keys and go to DW.