Road Trip Key West 2021

[cstmwgn]

Donna definitely wants to bring one of the cars down there and drive to Key West. I've made that drive several times and it was a good time.

As you know - it is a drive to get here from Michigan. You will probably spend more time getting here and back than you spend here. Anyway, if/when you come, please give us some notice as we would like to get together.

[BluLightning]

Donna definitely wants to bring one of the cars down there and drive to Key West. I've made that drive several times and it was a good time.

[cstmwgn]

Allen, what would be a reasonable idea from the Tampa area going south and driving to Key West? See Key West, and what ever is on the way, have a beach day, maybe go to Dry Tortugas. No particular date, March - April, September - October. How many days would be realistic? I know there's much more traffic and people than where I live, I would love to see some of Miami, but that seems way too busy for me..... Just a conversation for now, Thank you.....

George, this is a tough one for me. If you just wanted to drive (minimal stopping) then you can get from Tampa to Key West in a day easy. If you wanted to be more touristy then I would say there are lots of options.

Day 1 - Tampa to Naples taking in most of the barrier islands including shelling at Sanibel Island.
Day 2 - Naples to Miami using US 41. This would provide a lot of time to check out the Everglades and South Beach.
Day 3 - Start with the Topless donut shop in Ft Lauderdale (if they are still open), then down to John Pennekamp for some snorkeling then mosey down the keys to stop at Islamorada or Marathon for the night.
Day 4 - Continue down to Key West - short drive so lots of time to take in the various key sites and get settled in in Key West. If you going to do the Duval Crawl, get started early as the boat to the Dry Tortugas leaves early
Day 5 - Dry Tortugas
Day 6 - ???????

You could also shorten this up by combining Day 1 and Day 2 which would eliminate some of the barrier island stuff (not really all that interesting at least if you have seen it once)
You could skip the donut shop and go snorkeling (or not) and get all the way to Key West by mid-afternoon. Still some time to settle in and check out the sights on Day 2
Day 3 would then be the trip to the Dry Tortugas

They Keys are only ~127 miles so 3 hours is a pretty casual drive (posted speed limits - for those that believe in that stuff are pretty low)

If this is something your are interested in then let me know and I will actually do some research as most of what I have posted is from memory.

[cstmwgn]

The U.P. Of Michigan would be nice too but the weather this time of the year can be 75 and sunny or 36 with cold rain and wind. We are heading there next week starting with the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race in Stanton, MI. So far the forecast looks good!

At one point, that was our plan to get to Deadwood but when some local stuff in Michigan got cancelled we switched to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Pike's Peak.

[200WINS]

The U.P. Of Michigan would be nice too but the weather this time of the year can be 75 and sunny or 36 with cold rain and wind. We are heading there next week starting with the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race in Stanton, MI. So far the forecast looks good!

I aint never been there either.......

[moparjim71]

The U.P. Of Michigan would be nice too but the weather this time of the year can be 75 and sunny or 36 with cold rain and wind. We are heading there next week starting with the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race in Stanton, MI. So far the forecast looks good!

[200WINS]

Allen, what would be a reasonable idea from the Tampa area going south and driving to Key West? See Key West, and what ever is on the way, have a beach day, maybe go to Dry Tortugas. No particular date, March - April, September - October. How many days would be realistic? I know there's much more traffic and people than where I live, I would love to see some of Miami, but that seems way too busy for me..... Just a conversation for now, Thank you.....

[stroker al]

Agree it would be nice to do something different and especially if you grew up in Indiana. The Florida scene would be good then I could see more than highway 1 to Key West!

[Redline04]

We’ve been to the Black Hills, D-Tower area several times and Love every visit. We would do it again in a heartbeat. This year wasn’t good timing, but early prep and pre-planning would definitely put it on the calendar! Even Florida or ??? would be fine for a road trip. I did really miss seeing the BS gang on the PT, but many are correct about revisiting previous venues. I’m at a point where I’d rather spend more time with friends than go back to the same places. The routes do vary some, but there are only so many variations of crossing Illinois and Indiana... it’s all starting to look the same.

[cstmwgn]

https://parksexpert.com/florida-national-parks/

Well, I may not be the best tour guide for Florida as most of the time when we go somewhere it is north of here. With that said, we like to snorkel so I have been to the Dry Tortugas a couple of times. It is a cool 45min - 1 hour ride on a fast catamaran. The fort is in pretty bad shape but the snorkeling is decent. I have also been to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The snorkeling was also pretty good there. And of course, there is always the Duval Crawl (Key West). Never been into the Everglades (well, maybe just to drive through it) so I can't speak to it. If you go, bring your big snake gear as rumor has it there are LOTS of pythons down there. Driving from Homestead to Key West is cool - a little slow but still a neat drive. Lots to eat and drink in and around Key West. Key West Power Cruise use to be something that looked interesting but I believe it is dead now. IF you had the patience - you could drive down A1A (1 at times) on the east coast then out to the keys and back up the gulf side US41 (Tamiami Trail) and hit most of the barrier islands, then up US 19/US 98 to visit with Dave the Bartender in Sopchoppy. I suspect you northerners would want to do something like this in early spring or late fall as it can get a bit moist in June - September

[200WINS]

https://parksexpert.com/florida-national-parks/

[200WINS]

We had fun at Deadwood, and this was a great event. Personally I'd like to see more places, and National Parks like Doug has done with the Western Scenic Tour. So what kind of places are near you? Allen, what would it take to see the Everglades, Biscayne and others in Florida?

[200WINS]

August 25-29, 2021

https://www.tinlizzie.com/events/koo...0headquarters.

https://www.deadwood.com/event/kool-deadwood-nites/

[htrdharley]

Looks like a great trip for everyone, we have been out there 2 times in the last 3 years and love everything from Sedona Az all the way up to Montana.

Will there be a trip to Kool Deadwood Nights next year? I am guessing PT will follow the same cities it had for this year, which I have been to multiple times. I am thinking a tour out west instead would be lots of fun.

[oletrux4evr]

Did Mike (173rdheard) and the Fabulous Susan K make it back home safely?

Yep. Susie gave us the news. Got their part, too.