Travel

Hotel

Drift Hotel

Drift Hotel is a very "Keys-ey" destination. It is small, quiet, has a little beach leading to the Bay. It is one of the less pricy accommodations in the area. This hotel generally is priced around 250$/night. You can book direct but I always recommend looking on Expedia for exact pricing and room selection. This is where we were engaged, on a paddle board, near sunset, in the bay. You can snorkel here, swim, kayak, paddleboard, lay in the sun.. its clean but could use some newer paddle boards. This is located at Marker 95. The wedding is at Marker 81. The keys has one Road- A1A, that goes from Key Largo to Key West. Everything is referred to by "markers". So this location is 14 miles north of the wedding location and will take about 20 min to get to.

Hotel

Creekside Inn Islamorada

We LOVE Creekside. You are not on the Bay or the Ocean here.. you're on a creek/channel in between. We love to "paddle the Keys" here. You can rent kayaks a few doors down to kayak the mangroves or out to a little island in the ocean. There is also a great breakfast place, a little tiki bar, and a dive shop where you can go snorkeling or spend your week getting certified to Dive. There is also a marina across the A1A where we have rented boats several times to go snorkel the reef on our own. Near Marker 90. On Tavernier Creek. The only downfall to Creekside- the prices have went up- a lot- since we started staying there 7 years ago. It starts around 250$/night but doesn't have a beach.. there are 2 pools and activities close by.

Hotel

Cheeca Lodge & Spa

We stayed here in the type of room with the Bath on the Balcony. It was life changing. Incredible beds, amazing amenities, several pools, free bikes, free golf, a few restaurants.. also free ocean activities (but we staid during a hurricane)- Kayaks, trampolines, fishing With bait.. such a nice family place! You DO pay for all of these things, but this place Can Not be Beat. It even has a kids Camp (Im assuming daycare like) and the grounds are remarkable.

Discount Code - BREATHTAKING! This place is Incredible.

Flight

Flight & Car Rental Options

You can get direct flights from Columbus to MIA (miami international) for around 140$ OR LESS per person if you wait to book about 10 weeks to 3 weeks prior to your trip. Do not book your flights way in advance- they WILL be more. The best time frame to book a flight will be March 1-April 1 2025 ROOMS should be booked sooner rather than later- they continue to raise. Rooms should be booked in Nov-Jan. I always google search flights to see which airline is best. Always look into the airline bag policy also. For example- Spirit is cheaper but doesn't include bags and they can get pricey. Southwest, American, and Delta include certain bags. Flights to FLL may be less but the drive to the keys is longer. Flight into Key west will be more pricey, rental cars are less to choose from. Car Rental is super easy. You can rent through Expedia directly at the airport you fly into for around 40$/day. IF you want a fancy car.. like a corvette, Lambo, or Ferrari... or just something basic Also check TURO. Its like a VRBO for cars. I always filter by "free Delivery to airport". The renter of the car chooses all of their specifications. If you choose to rent this way and never have- I'd be happy to help.

Travel Note

Plan to DRIVE?

If you plan to Drive- Make your Drive part of your Vacation! Split into 3 days down: Great Wolfe Lodge on a Sunday Night is as cheap as a hotel anywhere else- Charloette NC is 5 hours from home and a nice stop to lengthen your vacation. Daytona is a great stop- 12 horus from home or 7 hours from Charloette. We have been here as much if not more than the Keys- we can recommend hotels and all here too. Daytona to Key Largo is about 5 hours. On your Way Home you could make a stop near Disney/Kissimmee or drive the alligator highway 40 over to the gulf and travel up that side of Florida. If you go up the gulf you will find yourself directly below Pigeon Forge or Nashville area. Just a few ideas to get the wheels turning!

Travel Note

Best Middle Keys Dinning

Everything we suggest is Outside.. I'm not sure we've ever eaten inside in the Keys, actually. They almost all have live music and fresh fish. Most of these are on the water or Beach also.. and can get very busy. Marker 88- AMAZING but pricy- On the Bay- online/google reservations. Request a 'glider booth' or table on the beach. This is 100% keys living. You cant miss this place, even if its for a quick drink and appetizer. Fresh Fish, Lunch/Dinner options. Live Music. Islamorada Fish Company- This is where we will be getting Married! Great food, awesome atmosphere. Next to the Bass Pro Shops which is one of the biggest buildings you will find in the Keys. It is also on Bayside- you will see Tarpon here. Fresh Fish, Lunch/Dinner options. Live Music. Lorelei- On the Beach, Bayside. White plastic tables and chairs. Live music. Lunch/Dinner Wahoos-On the ocean side at Wahoo Marina. Lunch stop, upper level seating. Hog Haven- Amazing after dark stop. Amazing food- lunch or dinner. They have indoor seating, pool tables, bar type atmosphere. We always go outside where there's a floating stage and usually live light rock music. Theres a path to the left that goes down a little boardwalk to the 'Beach'. People can boat docks in the little cove to come eat and there are always fish to feed. They do have lights in the water after dark too. We love this place. Food is amazing American- nachos, wings, burgers, fries- huge menu. Made 2 Order- Breakfast at creek side inn, on the canal, cheap, all of your breakfast favorites. Get there early- its small and gets busy.

Travel Note

Key West

If you have time, spend a day here. Here are a list of places to eat and things to do. Food: Hogfish on Stock Island (Old Key West)- very unique, amazing food, Jimmy Buffet use to frequent this place. The Stuffed Hogfish is amazing. Hurrican Hole- Stock Island (Old Key West)- On a dock where you can rent charter boats, jet skis, Tiki Bar boats, etc. Food is incredible and cheap! The Shrimp wrap is incredible- fresh local shrimp. They have a play place for kids and to the left you can walk down the dock and look at nurse sharks in the area they clean fish. Things to Do: Renting a Moped when able is the way to go. Free parking and hope place to place quickly. You can also rent electric scooters. Anything bigger than a moped is hard to park and expensive. Smathers Beach is beautiful. Marker 0 is the end of the A1A on Truman St The Southern Most Point Bouy is a good stop but has a line usually Bahama Village has the BEST key lime pie at Blue Haven Duval St has bars, galleries, and shopping- Duval on the Norther in, near the Cruise boats and Mallory square is a better location for all of these things. Mallory Square area is great and PACKED for sunset. People busk and have some interesting shows and music. The old Boardwalk goes around the marina and a few restaurants and shopping, its a nice walk. Two Experiences you have to plan far ahead and can get pricy are: Dinner on Sunset Key, at Sunset, at Latitudes. You park at the Margaritaville hotel and catch their private boat to sunset key for a fancy dinner. You can book 3 months in advance and look up the sunset time when you will be visiting, schedule about an hours before sunset and request a beach table. This will cost you about 75$/p Take the Sea Plane to Dry Tortuga. ONCE in a LIFETIME. Schedule online, 6 months in advance. This will cost you around 300$ per person. You can call them and talk about the best time of day to go.

Travel Note

Stops Along the Keys

On your Drive Down take Card Sound and Stop at Alabama Jacks or Take A1A and stop at Gilberts Resort to eat- Decide based on traffic! Key Largo: SHELL WORLD- you cant miss it- just stop. John Penncamp State park has a nice snorkel area. Pay to get in. Spend the Day.. add on diving excursions etc. Islamorada: ROBBIES- must stop, must feed the Tarpon. (do it with all of us at the Welcome Event) Take a charter, or rent a boat- get on the water and go out to the Reef. Snorkel a lighthouse. Kayak some mangroves and look for manatees. Paddle the Keys is a great spot for this. Marathon: BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK- Breathtakingly Beautiful. See the 'Broken Bridge' Snorkel the Rock on the bay side or Snorkel the Sea Grass on the Ocean Side. Pay to get in. Spend the Day! Sombrero Beach in Marathon SUNSET GRILL at Seven Mile Bridge Marathon- Amazing food, Pool for Kids, Great for Sunset, nice views of the Bridge. Take Sunscreen and Bug Spray everywhere you go! Even Dinner!!