Decisions Made

I'm sleeping much better at night now, save for the party across the street in the high school parking lot. And then there's the AP US History test that my students took last Friday...but as for Key West, my big decisions are made!

Since I last wrote, I've secured our first night in Miami. This was a fairly big decision, as I needed to find a hotel that would be comfortable for the four of us to share a room, would provide a decent breakfast the next morning with no hassle (the decent part my husband's requirement), and would put us firmly in place for our travels to the Keys the next day. Mission accomplished with a brand new Best Western that should offer a clean and comfortable stay with two queens, a sleeper bed, and more than just a stale doughnut and warm OJ for breakfast. And this is all according to tripadvisor.com. The hotel is 12 miles from the airport and also close to the road south to the Keys. Sounds great. We'll hope our first night sets the right tone for the rest of the trip.

Previously I was worried that perhaps I'd be disappointed in our plans to only be spending one night in Miami Beach (our last night in Florida). It sounds, though, like this is probably a wise decision. Most people have written comments about Miami Beach as being crazy, loud, a party place and very expensive for what you get (again, according to tripadvisor.com). My friend confirmed this as well, based on her week-long travels to South Beach. So I'm quite comfortable with the Courtyard Marriott that we booked right on South Beach so that we can see the Art Deco district, colorful Miami, and leave the next morning. I'm certain that the Keys will offer us more relaxation and a laid-back attitude that usually goes with tropical, island lifestyles.

As for transportation, my rental through Hotwire.com of $237 for nine days' worth of a full size car still seems to be a great deal. I really shouldn't look at the rates any more as my reservation is confirmed, paid for, and non-refundable, but it's just too tempting to resist. I love to see the fruits of my searching paying off with rates that I just can't seem to beat. $20 a day plus tax is an awesome rate for this car.

Now that the big decisions are out of the way it's down to the details. I've done some Google searches and read through TV Network recommendations of restaurants and activities in Key West. I've booked us all on a 4th of July fireworks "booze" cruise. So the fireworks are for the 4 year old and the booze is for the adults. Who says that Key West is not a family-friendly destination? I've discovered some must go to restaurants such as Blue Heaven, Kelly's, and El Siboney for Caribbean food. It looks like there's some fun places to visit like a pirate museum, butterfly conservatory, and of course Mallory Square for sunsets, music, shopping, and to dig the Key West vibe. Mostly this vacation should be a whole lot of pool, beach, and leisure! That means no structure.

My next task is to research neighboring beaches and destinations. Who says we have to limit ourselves to just one island? What do the other Keys have to offer?

Perhaps I should stop while I'm ahead and save the other islands for tomorrow. After all, what else will I do between now and the end of June?