I remember traveling to Key West in the 1960’s with my parents.  We three kids were treated to a fine pool along the ocean at “The Southern Most Hotel.”  My dad always loved swimming. I believe the cost back then for a room was $60.  Today, those rooms go well over $300.

There are 800 keys in total. The road, US1 or known as the “Overseas Highway,” is about 165 miles from Miami to Key West.  The majority of the road is but two-lanes.  The usual speed limit is 45mph, and it is enforced.  I believe this road is one of the most beautiful routes in America, particularly crossing over the 42 bridges with the blue waters below you and the sun in your face.

The first major key is Key Largo.  For a long time, it had the only Publix Supermarket besides the one in Key West. Today, there are several on various keys.  We like to use their bathrooms.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of a kind.  It extends 3 miles into the Atlantic. I have actually camped there; taken a glass bottom boat and snorkeled off its reefs.

Just a few miles south is a Holiday Inn.  One of the two original boats from the movie, “African Queen,” is on display along the creek there.  The other boat is in Uganda.

As the road splits, there is a 3 story building to the left-side.  It is painted today in sea-life scenes.  We saw it painted in 2007 by world renowned sculpturer and artist, Robert Wyland.

The painting on the building in Key Largo was Wyland’s 95^th mural known as “Keys to the Seas.” These famous 100 paintings stretch from China, Samoa, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and many in the United States known as “Wyland Whaling Walls.” As a young man, he was inspired by watching whales off the Pacific Coast.

On September 2, 1935 a Class 5 hurricane hit Islamorada.  Winds were estimated to be 185 mph. Over 400 people died, many of whom were veterans working down along these keys.  So many lives ended on one tragic night.

Even a 11-passenger rescue train was derailed due to a 20-foot wave.  The rail damage ended Henry Flagler’s dream of connecting the keys to the rest of the country. The rail line was eventually turned into the Overseas Highway—US1.

In 1937, the 18-foot-high Hurricane Monument (at mile market “MM” 82) was built to remember everyone who suffered through this tragic hurricane—named by the year back then. About 4000 people or so attended the ceremony.

Along the way are plenty of mom and pop places for restaurants, cafés and motels. Plenty to choose from. We have enjoyed Mile Marker 88, Islamorada Fish Company and Lazy Days and Robbie’s to name a few restaurants.  It seems anyone who travels to the Florida Keys has their special places to eat, stay and visit.

Many people come down in July and August to hunt for lobsters.  I don’t know how lobsters have survived all these years.  We happen to do this experience once.  It is defiantly more physical than it looks.  We were treated to our Ernest Hemingway look-alike, Bruce Wells, a fellow history teacher of mine.

Below Marathon key, is the 7-mile bridge.  The original bridge was a railroad bridge built in 1912.  At that time, it was known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World” as it expanded literally over 7 miles of water. The Labor Day Hurricane of ’35 ended hopes for the railroad.  What remained turned into a narrow road.

The old bridge was used to make such films as License to Kill (a James Bond movie) and True Lies with Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  That movie was directed by James Cameron who later directed Titanic and Avatar.

I thought the car scene on the old bridge is quite exciting.  The small island between the bridges is called Pigeon Key. 

It was first used as an encampment for the bridge workers—as many as 400 people.  Today, the island is used for a variety of purposes, i.e., education.  A multi-million dollar project is nearing completion for a renovated road expansion from Marathon to Pigeon Key.

A new bridge was built in 1982.  It isn’t 7 miles, but is actually 6.79 miles long.  The 7 Mile Bridge name still remains though.

 

We were once stopped once at the northern end of 7 mile bride by cycling wounded military veterans who were trekking to Key West.  We saw this deserving group coming into Key West several hours later.  In April there is a Seven Mile Bridge Run. 

Just a bit south of the Seven Mile Bridge and 45 minutes from Key West is Bahia Honda State Park.  One needs to book 11 months ahead if you ever want to get a camp site.  I was with a friend’s family when I was 14 as we stayed three days at Bahia Honda. Riding the families scooter was a big thrill.

There are several beaches and the snorkeling is supposed to be good too.  I like the old trestle-style bridge that has been left here since 1912.  We did go over the top of it in 1965. Today, it is crumpling down and a section is missing.  It is still quite scenic though.

There is a good reason why they named this key, Key Deer.  There are fewer than a 1000 of these small deers left in the wild.   They have fences along the road.  The speed limit of 45 mph (35 at night) is strictly enforced.  We know people that have seen them.  Our only experience is seeing a dead deer along the road.

On Cudjoe Key, about 20 miles north of Key West, you may spot a large blimp-shaped balloon.  It is a surveillance balloon over-looking Cuba, the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits. It has been flying since 1980.

You may be witness to some interesting cloud formations.  We came across a cloud burst on the Overseas Highway.

Thank you for reading our Florida Keys expose.  Next week we will discuss exciting and vibrant key, Key West.