First what time of year? September seems to be a good all round time for the trip. here's a Tip: Don't make reservations, walk in prices are better. Don't go during lobster season or any of the other events. The Keys are expensive anyway, so check the rates to give you an idea of what time to go, before you head out.

What to wear? Wear a long sleeve cotton shirt. You and your passenger will be fried if you don't. Take sun screen, chap stick, and handy wipes with you.
Tip: Sunscreen Towelettes are easy to pack and aren't messy.

Tip: Drink lots of Water on your ride down and and eat salty food or snacks. You've seen those cup holders on bikes right? They must have taken the Keys Trip.

Camping? Are you completely out of your mind! Been there - done that! It rains, it's hot, there's lots of bugs, etc. When it rains, the water stays on top of the coral until the sun turns it into steam. Your tent turns into a nice cozy sauna. If you are going to camp, take some metal tent stakes (gutter nails and a hammer). You'll need them.

How do you get there? Here's the best advice I can give you. You can just get there or you can try an interior road like 441 - ouch!   No matter which route you take, it's not a pretty ride until you get to the keys, so just get there. Let's set out from Daytona.

Take I-95 to the turnpike at Fort Pierce. Grab a toll ticket and start riding south. (It will run about $8.00 - give or take). Stay on the Turnpike all the way to Florida City. What about I-95? Again ouch. You'll wish you had paid the toll when you start going through Palm Beach and Miami (bumper cars). I-95 stops in Miami and then you're in traffic hell for maybe hours depending on the time of day. Tip: Stay on the Turnpike! (a friend once decided it would be fun to take US-1 all the way from Daytona. He had cramps in his clutch hand for a week)

The Turnpike has great rest areas, good food, and you can stop and take a break every once in a while. I've never taken a trip to the Keys that it didn't rain. Take rain gear and a face shield, if you're not wearing a full face helmet. Tip: If you have to stop under an overpass, turn on your emergency blinkers and get away from the scoot. Some moron may be looking at your blinkers and drive right into it.

TIP: at some point you'll have to stop at individual toll booths. The road under them has a layer of oil you won't believe. Be careful, slow down ahead of time and be careful when you put your foot down.

Ok, you make it to Florida City, the end of the turnpike. You don't have far to go to get to the keys now. Stay on US-1 south. Watch the tourists, they're lost too.
Tip: Not far south is a road on your left "Card Sound Road" (Monroe County 905). It's an alternative route into Key Largo. It's worth the extra time it will take to get you there. Look finally some scenery! Watch for the gators in the water (What? Salt water gators - yep.).   There's a  place to eat that will be on your right,  called "Alabama Jacks", I've never been in there but friends that have,  say the food is good. Pics of Card Sound Road. There's a  toll to go over the bridge on Card Sound Road (should be $1.00)

You made it to Key Largo. you've been on the road for 5 1/2 or 6 hours, if it's been hot, you can rest now. You might want to be fresh for the Keys ride, so find a hotel. Take the Keys ride early in the morning. When you're fresh, those 35 mph signs won't brother you as much.

Where to stay? I like the Holiday Inn, Key Largo, only because it has the African Queen boat there from the Bogart / Hepburn movie. Nice pool too. Or if you're up to it, go to Islamorada. and make sure you stop at the Outback Steakhouse. Eat outside near the pool. The Hampton Inn rooms are nice and fairly reasonable too.

Ok, you're fresh let's set out. Get on US-1 and head south. It can be frustrating. the speed limits range from 35 mph to 55. You're bound to get behind a boat trailer at some point. Relax enjoy. You've still got a couple of hours to go depending on traffic. Once you get over the Stock Island Bridge, "cow creek channel", you made it to Key West. Right or left? Well, it just doesn't matter  Roosevelt Blvd goes around in both directions. Go to the right and there's more businesses, to the left is where you're come across the beaches. You can't get lost.

Where to stay and eat? There are lots of high end hotels and low end hotels that charge high end prices. I tend to stay toward the south end around Duval Street. Duval Street is where the action is. You're going to park the bike anyway, Key west is a scooter town. You can take the trolley or just walk it. Everything worth seeing is within walking distance.  The Blue Dolphin isn't all that bad and it's fairly reasonable, if you have the budget the LA CONCHA on Duval Street may be for you - big budget. If you don't mind s, the Spanish Gardens is reasonable and hey, so what if you have to sit sideways on the toilet.....lol.
If you're in Key West, it's party time, you just need a clean place to crash and shower.

There is a great Cuban deli right across the street from the Spanish Gardens, (On the corner of Simonton and South Street) and they have an outdoor (covered) area to eat, with authentic Cuban food. Be patient with the girls, they don't speak English well, but man can they cook. Not familiar with Cuban food? Just ask they what they recommend. They'll make it special. Breakfast? Ever had a egg sandwich on Cuban bread and some Cuban coffee? Count me in..

TIP: Sloppy Joe's Bar is not the original Sloppy Joe's Bar. They may have bought the name, but Hemmingway never passed out at that bar. Capt. Tony's Bar is the Original Sloppy Joe's Bar. A long time ago, they used to have a monkey cage on one side of the bar and sailors would bet how long they could keep their finger in it before one of those nasty critters took it off.

Stop in at Ricks and catch Uncle Bob's act.

Locals Hang-out: The Two Friends Patio (512 Front Street) is mostly a local hangout. Ok, so you have to put up with Karaoke, but some of the pro impersonators come in to practice, so it's not all out of tune. Food there - not bad.

Hey, isn't there anywhere to ride around here? Yep. Not much, but let's go to an almost deserted beach.
Get back on Roosevelt Blvd and head north. We're going to Big Coppitt Key. Turn Right on Boca Chica Road and follow it all the way. It ends at an almost deserted beach, you may even see a Cuban raft on the beach. Walk the beach.
Tip: The beaches in the Keys are not sandy, bring a pair of tennis shoes to walk the beach and short line. Coral can cut you up quick.

Sunset? By far the best place to see the sunset is on the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor. You can fight the crazy's at Malory Square or have the sunset almost to yourself there.



Tip: You don't need to take a snorkeling tour on a boat to see the tropical fish and big fish. Bring a mask and snorkel (and tennis shores and or fins). Just swim along the south side of Higgs Beach pier. You'll see tons of fish of every kind. Wear a shirt - you'll fry if you don't.

Pan Handlers? Yea, but give them your best biker look and walk on by.