We don’t have to tell you vanpooling is the greatest thing to happen to commuting since air conditioning, but you’ll inevitably have to slide back behind the wheel of your own vehicle when it’s time for vacation – unless you get consensus among your regular van mates that Myrtle Beach is some place you all want to visit on spring break.
With that not likely being the case (and be sure to let us know if it is!), we’re launching with this post the first in a series of destination road trips that spotlight great stretches of the American highway and the sights, experiences and landmarks along them. And with this being edition number one, it’s appropriate to start with Route 1 – specifically, the stretch of U.S. between Key Largo, Florida and Key West.
U.S. 1 actually starts in Key West and runs about 2,000 miles up the East Coast, culminating at Fort Kent, Maine, but we’re talking here about the stretch through the Florida Keys, jumping on the highway at Key Largo, south of Miami. It takes several hours to make the mostly slow, 106-mile drive to Key West and the lackadaisical pace mirrors the mood of the Keys. The breathtaking scenery, especially from the long, low bridges between the islands, is perfect for cruising in a convertible and quickly relieves your mind of the deadlines and drudgery of work. Heck, it’s such a transformative experience that you’ll probably lose track of time – an experience amplified by the fact the radio stations down there only seem to play Jimmy Buffet tunes. It’s the kind of drive that makes you stick your arm out the window and let it flow with the wind.
An odd, endearing duality is quickly apparent as you cruise over the islands, with kitschy tourist shops sharing strip mall space with high-end galleries; and it’s not uncommon to find a trendy café located across the street from an IHOP. The Theater of the Sea on Islamorada Key (mile marker 84.5) is a great place to get out of the car and check out an educationally minded animal park that offers swimming with dolphins, sea lions and stingrays.
When you arrive at Key West, take this advice: Park your car and leave it for the duration of your stay. There are countless hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns that are within easy walking distance of the city’s main attractions and Duval Street – the main recreation thoroughfare. It’s the best way to see the city. Be sure to take in the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, too.
The return trip on U.S. 1 is only slightly less enjoyable because of the realization you’re heading away from paradise. Regardless, the drive through the Keys is like experiencing a time warp – a wonderfully refreshing, spirit-lifting time warp.
Tags: 106-mile, East Coast, Florida, Key Largo, Key West, Miami, Myrtle Beach, Route 1, U.S. Route 1
Subscribe to our RSS Feed
