Most people say you're crazy to go to Florida in the summer due to the heat. Yes, it was hot. But we had such a good week of weather for our trip, and I'd go again in June. We have now just finished our 13th National Park adventure on this trip. Hopefully one more for the year coming up here end of July!
Matching hawaiian shirts for the plane ride and first day:
The Keys and Dry Tortugas
A trip to Dry Tortugas was not had without visiting Key West and surrounding areas. We flew into Fort Myers and traveled to Marathon. On our way we made several stops that included the blonde giraffe, islamorada brewing company, and the key deer refuge.
Here is our love lock at the blonde giraffe:
Once in key west we took A picture by the southernmost point buoy.
Also the beginning and end of highway 1.
We enjoyed our walks to the different eateries and bars, people watching, chicken watching lol.
We stayed at the Galleon Resort in key west and loved it! Our room was pretty rad.
We enjoyed watching the boats come in at the marina which attracted manatees, tarpon, and Sharks. Walking to everything from this location was great.
Dinner at latitides was amazing. Book In advance for the evening.
We also stayed at Tranquility Bay for 2 nights in Marathon and snorkeled Looe key. We stopped at picnic island to check it out. Cool spot.
To get go Dry Tortugas we decided on the seaplane. You need to reserve months in advance which we had done. It was amazing. We did the half day trip which was just enough time, we probably snorkeled a little too long. Definitely a bucket list item.
Biscayne National Park
A hidden gem of a park honestly if you like snorkeling because I thought this was the best we did on this trip. We took a private 4 hour boat tour of the park, stopped at Boca Chita Key (omg the mosquitoes !) , and snorkeled two different spots. I loved the Mandalay boat wreck that we did last for snorkeling.
Everglades National Park
I suggest you do an airboat tour like we did, very fun and informative. We saw plenty of gators and other wildlife like this beautiful bird called the American purple gallinule.
And these giant lubber grasshoppers.
We also did the Big Cypress National preserve loop which we saw Lots of gators here too. Definitely recommend doing if you have time.
We stayed in homestead at a cute air bnb to visit both Biscayne and the Everglades.
Here is our Florida trip itinerary:
June 17 Saturday
Fly into ft myers 5 am to 735 am
✅️Rental car 8 am
Travel to the keys
Blonde giraffe key lime pie ad buy a love lock
(Good key lime pie)
Robbies of islamorada (overrated)
Lunch- did islamorada brewing and distillery
Check in tranquility bay
Dinner - at place
June 18 Sunday
Breakfast - have at place
Bahia Honda Beach
Lunch - packed
Drinks at tjs at place
Dinner- Castaway waterfront restaurant (reservation for 645 pm)
June 19 monday
Check out
Drive about 40 minutes : (leave 8)
Snorkel out of Looe key-
9 am, saltwater seafari
3 hrs and sandbar
Lunch- kikis sandbar
Drive to key west
Check out a beach (smathers)
Duval street- Sloppy joes
Dinner: el Mason de pepe
Check in : the galleon 4 to 10 pm
June 20 tuesday
Breakfast - the breakfast club, too
Take a picture at southernmost point
Key west
Zachary Taylor beach
Lunch - sandwiches
Dantes pool bar (sarah)
Dinner at latitudes 545 pm get boat 530 pm ✅️
On the corner of Fleming Street and Whitehead Street, you will find the US 1 Mile Marker zero sign. Make sure to take a picture of yourself at the southernmost point of USA route 1
June 21 Wednesday
Breakfast - in room
Dry tortugas 10 am -seaplane $371 pp
Leave at 9 am, return around 3 pm
Lunch - two friends
Distilleries- Heminghouse and key west
Bars -
Hogs breath
Frozen drinks flying monkeys
Dinner- Conch republic
(Peel and eat shrimp)
June 22 Thursday
Breakfast at blue heaven
Butterfly conservatory
Leave Key west, travel north.
Big pine key:
National key deer refuge
Lunch- no name pub
Continued travel up north
Dinner: sandwiches
Check in homestead 3 nights
June 23 Friday
Breakfast: at place
Biscayne National Park day
Boat ride for biscayne
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Captain Tom-
Lunch- sandwiches
Dinner- Mexican, la quebradita
June 24 Saturday
Breakfast : at place
Rivers of grass airboat tour
9 am meet at boat ramp. 2 hr tour
Lunch- leftovers
Big cypress National preserve loop road
And visitor centers
Shark alley, checked out visitor center
Dinner: schnebleys winery and mamma Mia 2
June 25 Sunday
Breakfast: at place
Check out homestead
Drive to airport, drop off rental by 830 am
Fly out ft myers
Cheers and happy trip planning!
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