We just got back from our family Florida Keys trip for 2023. I truly the love these trips. We get to revisit our favorite places and explore new places that become favorites.
The weather wasn’t as great this year; a little cooler and definitely more windy. After back to back days of multiple dramamine, seasick bands and still getting seasick, I decided that land activities were more my speed.
Itinerary
Friday
Travel day from Charlotte to Daytona Beach. While we could make the trip in one day, it would be a really long day especially pulling the boat, so we prefer to break it up into two days.
Sandi got to check off her first WaWa and Buc-ees stops on this trip. YAY for knowing which gas stations are good stops. One of our favorite things while road-tripping is to point out all the Buc-ees billboards. One, because they are funny, but two, because they let you know hundreds of miles from a Buc-ees that there is one coming up.
We also had dinner at Ford’s Garage. We discovered this restaurant chain last year on our way back from the Keys and the aren’t any locations near us in Charlotte, so we were excited to go back. After dinner, we picked Sami up at the airport and crashed at the hotel for the night.
Our travel day was less eventful than my parents. They flew from Buffalo to West Palm Beach; had multiple delays and then ended up at the rental car counter for two hours at 1am waiting on their vehicle. But at least they were on vacation, right?!?!
Saturday
The four of us got up Saturday morning and hit the road for the Keys. We planned to arrive in Key Colony Beach around the same time as my parents to check into the rental house. We were actually able to rent the other side of the duplex that we stayed in last year. We highly recommend this duplex and the management groups is great to work with.
For lunch on our way through the Keys we decided to stop at Worldwide Sportsman and the Islamorada Fish Company. This is a great place to stop to really get you in the vacation mood. The atmosphere is great with seating over the water. You can feed the tarpon, watch boats go by and enjoy some good food and drinks.
After lunch, we made the short trip to our final destination of Key Colony Beach off of Marathon. When we arrived, we made quick work of unloading the truck and boat, so that we could get the boat in the water and inflate the paddleboards.
We took the paddleboards last year, but never used them. So, we wanted to make sure that we used them this year. Once the boat was at the dock, we hopped on the paddleboards and paddled around a couple of the channels around the house.
Sunday
When we woke up Sunday the wind was calmer than it was suppose to be all week and the forecasted rain looked like it was going to hold off a bit. So Zach, Sandi, Sami and myself loaded up some coolers and snorkel gear on the boat.
Coffins Patch is located about 4 miles off of Key Colony Beach. On our way there we noticed storm clouds in the distance and it was actually a pretty incredible view.
We got about an hour of snorkeling in before it started to rain. Once we all got back on the boat, we made the fun adventure of a boat ride in the pouring rain back to the house.
We went to 7 Mile Grill for lunch after our snorkeling excursion. This place also has a great keys atmosphere with good food and cold drinks.
For dinner, we went to Island Fish Company Restaurant and Tiki Bar. They have a great Key Lime Colada. Sami and I also determined that they have the best key lime pie that we have had. And we have had a lot. Theirs is deep fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar and drizzled with mango sauce.
Monday
The weather wasn’t fantastic on Monday, so Zach, myself and my parents went to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon. The tour of the facility was incredible. It started as a motel/retirement plan in the 80s and after filling the saltwater pool with fish, kids started to ask where the turtles were because of the popularity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Since sea turtles are protected, the only way to have one is if we are helping to rehabilitate it. And so the turtle hospital was started.
During the tour, they provide a presentation on sea turtles, show you the surgery rooms and let you feed some of the turtles. There are turtles named Mac and Cheese, Three Musketeers and many more cute names. When you find a turtle and call the Turtle Hospital, the hospital lets you name the turtle.
One day I hope to make it to a turtle release. While we were there, there were three turtles that would be released once. Once release dates are determined, the Turtle Hospital lets area hotels and media now and people are invited out to participate. On average, there are 300 people that come out to take part in a sea turtle release.
After the Turtle Hospital, we stopped at Curly’s Coffee. It is an adorable coffee shack that has a drive thru on one side and a walk up window on the other. We would end up stopping at this coffee shop multiple times before the week was over.
Once we got back to the house, Zach, Sandi and Sami went to Key West for the afternoon. While me and my parents went to Long Key State Park. On the way to the state park, we stopped at the SS Wreck & Galley Grill for lunch. If you hadn’t figured out the theme of the trip yet; Activities and Food!
At Long Key State Park, we walked the Golden Orb Nature Trail. The walk is exciting for the nature lover. It takes you through four different habitats in a mile and a half; Mangrove Swamp, Coastal Berm, Salt Pan and Rockland Hammock. After our walk, we drove around the park and found their large adirondack chair that is a selfie station.
For dinner, we ordered silician pizzas from Coast to Coast Pizza Company. They also occasionally have Key Lime Cannolis, but luck was not on our side this trip. The pizza was delicious and become our leftover snacks for the week.
Tuesday
We packed up the boat, loaded up on dramamine and took the boat to 7 mile bridge, while my mom relaxed at the house. It was cool to boat around the bridge, but it definitely made be nervous being anchored between 7 mile bridge and the old railroad bridge. We did get the see Fred; the tree that grows on the old railroad bridge.
For dinner, we walked over to Key Colony Inn and were excited to find that John Bartus was playing. We listened to him play the previous trip at Sparky’s Landing and really enjoy his music.
Wednesday
Last year we had our first try at catching lobsters. But didn’t have any luck getting one into the net. This year, Zach and I were both able to get lobsters in the net, but they weren’t keepers in our first attempt.
For dinner, we went to Sunset Grille and Raw Bar. This restaurant has a great outside area that allows for a great view of the sunset over 7 mile bridge. They also have a large pool and beach party each Sunday.
Thursday
In the morning, we decided to let my dad and Zach go out fishing by themselves and us girls went to walk the old section of the 7 mile railroad bridge. There is a 2.2 mile section of the old railroad bridge from Marathon to Pigeon Key that has been redone into a multipurpose trail.
This section opened in January of 2022 at Mile Marker 47. If you don’t feel like walking or biking the trail, for $15 you can book a tour of Pigeon Key that comes will a trolley ride to and from the island, a tour of the island and access to their museum and gift shop.
After our walk, we stopped back at Sunset Grille for drinks and appetizers and then to Curly’s Coffee for some iced lattes. The water was rougher than expected for Zach and my dad, so even though they were on a school of yellowtail, they decided to head back.
For dinner, we made reservations at Angler and Ale, part of the Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key. They have a really delicious Lobster “French” Dip, which is basically a lobster grilled cheese with a side of lobster bisque. We also ordered multiple desserts; key lime pie, banana split, coconut ice cream and chocolate mousse pie.
Friday
The last full day of vacation is always sad. Zach, Sandi and my dad went out to have another try at catching a keeper lobster. While my mom, Sami and myself walked to Curly’s Coffee for another iced latte. Sami and I also got in one last paddleboard trip through some of the channels by the house.
For lunch, we went to Sparky’s Landing Fish n Cocktails. It is located on the water in Key Colony, so we can take the boat to the restaurant and dock. The food and drinks are great here as well. It be honest, I’ve never had a bad meal in the Keys. Sparky’s Landing also has a cute gift shop out front in an airstream.
For dinner, we cooked a feast of lobster tails, yellowtail snapper and stone crab claws. Zach was able to get a keeper lobster that morning, so we made a trip to Fish Tales Market and Eatery to get more lobster and other items to supplement our last vacation dinner. Earlier in the week, him and dad had been able to catch some yellowtail snappers. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch any fish this trip and I even had a new pretty profishiency rod.
Saturday
Sami had a flight out of Daytona Beach early afternoon, so it was an early morning departure from Key Colony Beach. After dropping her off at the airport, we continued on the Brunswick, GA for the night.
Sunday
Zach, Sandi and I got up and made the short trek back to Charlotte from Brunswick. We got home in time to unpack and rest a bit before heading back to work on Monday.
To look back at our 2022 Key Colony Beach trip, click here.
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