From Miami to Key West, road-trip along the Overseas Highway!Were you dreaming of spending the winter in the sun and making an original road trip? Then leave for Florida! Off the southern coast of the United States is a constellation of islands called the Keys. These islands are all connected by a highway over the ocean: the Overseas Highway. Once a year, a vast marathon brings thousands of people together on this road that spans the turquoise water. So rent a car in Miami and cross this mythical road in several stages!
Departure from Miami for the first stage
You arrive in Miami, a city whose name brings us all images in mind. It is particularly known for its Cuban influence. It is for example here that the district of Little Havana is located, where you will be able to buy cigars which you will smoke in the terraces of coffee.
Miami is properly divided into two parts: on the one hand, the city formed around its center (Downtown), and on the other Miami Beach where you will find the huge white sand beach of Biscayne Bay. We advise you to spend only one night in Miami to avoid running out of time.
The Overseas Highway, here we go!
It’s time to hit the road! Just leave Miami and follow U.S. Route 1. You can already see the turquoise water of the bay on the horizon. After a few small suburban towns, you will drive along the southern part of the Everglades. A national park full of crocodiles that will be worth a detour if you have some time left when you come back from this road trip!
Direction Key Largo! You leave the American continent for good to drive over the ocean. This is the beginning of the Overseas Highway. A mythical road that links all the islands of the Keys together. It was built at the end of the 30s and extended over 113 miles or about 180 kilometers. 43 bridges to cross to go from one island to another. Driving over the ocean is an indescribable sensation. Although the road is not so long, we recommend you make several stages to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Keys.
Key Largo, the most famous of the islands
First stop: Key Largo. This island is the largest of the Keys. Formerly an island of pirates, it became a haven of peace during the Prohibition era, since taverns openly sold alcohol there. Key Largo offers a quiet, almost Caribbean atmosphere with its straw huts, its marina, and its sunsets.
Whether you like diving or not, take advantage of a day in Key Largo to try it! You will be able to swim in the middle of rainbowfishes, find the submerged statue of the Christ of the deep, and especially, go to the coral reef. A unique experience!
Islamorada and its dolphins
Second step: Islamorada. Much smaller than Key Largo, this family island is still worth the detour! Here you will be able to get closer to the dolphins and even swim with them. You can also rent a boat at the marina to go offshore and fish for the big game.
You will also find many luxury hotels on the island. If there’s one thing to do on this trip, it’s to be here!
The Lower Keys, a movie set
Once past Marathon Island, you will cross some unusual places that make you want to stop there. First of all, you will start the longest bridge on the Overseas Highway: the Seven Miles Bridge which was the setting of many American movies, from James Bond to Fast & Furious.
On your right, you can see a small island that seems to float as it tries to get closer to the bridge. It is Pigeon Key, a former worker’s island. It houses a museum that tells the story of the old Keys railroad. If you want to go there, you have to turn around and go there by foot or by ferry from Marathon!
Second last step of this road trip: is Bahia Honda beach. If you are not going to sleep here, you can nevertheless spend the day there. It is simply one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. There are three of them and the most beautiful one is located in the south of the island. White sand, palm trees, and turquoise water, not to mention the view of the old railroad: a dream setting!
Key West, Hemingway’s refuge
The end of this journey: Key West. Many pirates hid their loot between Key West and Key Largo, so it’s not surprising that the novelist Ernest Hemingway lived on this island for years, before crossing the sea and leaving for Cuba. Key West inspired him with various texts, short stories, and novels, which we can only advise you to read during this road trip.
You can of course take the opportunity to visit his former home, now a museum. It is also a refuge for all the cats on the island because the author loved them. It is in this house that he wrote, among others, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, A Farewell to Arms, and For Whom the Bell Tolls.
There are other tourist attractions in Key West, like Key Largo, a pretty marina. Different beaches are waiting for you, and water activities, diving, and fishing are also available. Start by strolling through the shaded streets of the center, walk along Duval Street, and wait for the sunset quietly installed on the terrace of a bar or a restaurant. It’s the best way to enjoy the lights and warmth of the Keys.
Also Read:Top 10 Amazing Camping Destinations in the US – Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain and more
