Philadelphia to the Keys and back

[RedWabbit]

Well we just went on our first real family vacation and I thought I would share the fun.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=S...,19,20,21&z=15


they kinda ran out of changes so for the last bit I couldn't change around dc and baltimore, but this was the drive I took last week, getting back tonight. some nice scenery. the keys were pretty cool but driving 3000+ miles with no a/c kinda sucked. gas wasn't too bad I averaged 340-360 miles from a 14gal tank. south carolina had the cheapest gas with premium at $3.28/gal, regular was around $2.89 throughout S.C. alot of places premium was 3.50-3.60 with Key west being the most expensive at $4.00/gal for premium, key largo it dropped back to $3.65/gal for premium. needless to say the longest part of the whole trip was between our first and last stops at my parents house in SC, it was a 9-10 hour leg. but I couldn't believe how long florida really was, I mean it was soo long with signs for Miami popping up every 5-10 miles to let you know you only went 5-10 miles really made it drag out until I was able to just ignore them.

I'm really happy with myself though, I went 3000 miles without getting a single ticket, well I'll have to wait a few weeks to see if any come in the mail, down on the expressway near Miami they have a toll by plate thing and I went through one of them doing close to 100 without realizing it. Apparently they take a pic of your plate and send you the toll in the mail. hopefully all they send is a toll and not a ticket.

Overall we had alot of fun, got to visit family and hang out in the keys, not bad for our first family vacation. I'll more later with some pics of everything, right now I'm gonna lay down and relax its been a long day.


if anybody notices google says its 51 hours to drive, well I drove the whole time and put in way more hours than that.

[FocusDude]

Nothing is rougher then that Welcome to Florida sign and knowing you still have a day to drive. Almost as bad as the ride home.

We have made the journey a few times. Once by plane and rental car, never again. Twice in the Focus packed to the gills with camping, scuba gear, a kayak, and bikes. Its sooo much better when you have your toys.

We are hoping to make the journey with the kids for the first time. We are eyeing up a place im the lower keys, close enough to party on Duval street.

Honestly. The kids should be gone and we should be in a double wide in the middle/upper keys by age 55-

And if you didn't hit No Name Pub, the journey was wasted

[JST2KWIK]

why did it take 51 hours?! I made it to Orlando in 19 (driving straight through and getting a flat tire in Jacksonville - would have been about 17 without the flat). The keys are only about 7 hours south of that I thought

[DPancoast]

Originally Posted by JST2KWIK

why did it take 51 hours?!

Ummmmm, pick me teacher!

19 + 7 = 26

26 x 2 = 52

And without your flat.....

17 + 7 = 24

24 x 2 = 48

What's so bad about 51 hours round trip with HIS FAMILY lol....

[AWD GS]

Originally Posted by DPancoast

Ummmmm, pick me teacher!

19 + 7 = 26

26 x 2 = 52

And without your flat.....

17 + 7 = 24

24 x 2 = 48

What's so bad about 51 hours round trip with HIS FAMILY lol....

lol i was about to say the same thing. the guy i sold my lexus to drove from philly back to Miami and made it in 22 hours. i'll be taking a similar trip this monday. Philly to Tampa but i'll be flying back

[RedWabbit]

Well that's just the straight driving, that doesn't include the side trips the traffic and all the other bs. When you have children you can't just do quick fill and go's, nah you have to stop for bathrooms, stop for food, stop for gas, and all that happy stuff. In the keys itself I probably drove 200 miles, Jacksonville I racked up another couple hundred miles going around visiting, the only stop that I didn't do anything/drive anywhere was when visiting my family in SC. I relaxed all day in and around the house. but anyways, more important things. My wife has more pics on her ipad, I would have some cool fish pics on my iphone but I only got brave on the last day I was there and when I finally took the phone into the water my son almost drowned me on the way over to the sand levy deal. After that I was done with the swimming.

Some pics
Last night in the keys on the catamaran

Lunch guest at Pilot House Marina Restaurant and Glass bottom bar

Mrs Mac's Kitchen, they had an awesome kids cone

20 minute rain storm in south florida




now this was worse than the pics let on, there was hail and I was pissed. you couldn't see 10' in front of you even if you were lucky. it dropped from 96 into the high 60's - low 70's and my car did not like it at all. lots of hesitation, I was worried our trip was gonna end in the rain storm.

for the most part on the trip south and north I ate at a place called Zaxby's as much as I could

what do I normally get you ask? a Kicken Chicken Sandwich with bacon and american cheese with nuclear sauce instead of tongue torch. if you have a chance to eat at one get this, if you don't like the spicy don't get nuclear, stick with the tongue torch. I normally eat 2 of these at a time

lets not forget Ted, I met him on the way back up around St. Augustine. cool dude wish we had more time to chat when we stopped at the rest area.

and Teds S2K

the walmart in jacksonville near my sister-in-laws house had this thing. yeah its a pontoon boat made from beer stuff. only in the south

[RedWabbit]

Originally Posted by FocusDude

Nothing is rougher then that Welcome to Florida sign and knowing you still have a day to drive. Almost as bad as the ride home.

We have made the journey a few times. Once by plane and rental car, never again. Twice in the Focus packed to the gills with camping, scuba gear, a kayak, and bikes. Its sooo much better when you have your toys.

We are hoping to make the journey with the kids for the first time. We are eyeing up a place im the lower keys, close enough to party on Duval street.

Honestly. The kids should be gone and we should be in a double wide in the middle/upper keys by age 55-

And if you didn't hit No Name Pub, the journey was wasted

I don't know if I want to go by car again, I think we may go by plane next time, its a long drive down, and with gas and food it probably cost the same to fly down. plus we would spend more time in the keys itself.

Our "babysitter" backed out at the last moment so me and the wife didn't do alot of things we were gonna do alone. We certainly did not go exploring as much as we should have but we didn't have much time(2days) to check everything out and keep the kids happy. we didn't get to the no name pub, I honestly don't think I would have gone to it either as when we were passing by, it starting to rain bad, it was later in the evening on the 4th of july, and we had the kids with us. I didn't need any drunken stupidity around the kids. But the next time I go, I will be setting aside some time(and a babysitter) to go there and hang my dollar bill.

[FocusDude]

I will only fly if its into Maraton or EYW, but prices can climb. We flew into Ft Lauderdale (i think just outside Miami) and rented a car. The headaches of it all were not worth it. I prefer driver over fly anyway.

No Name Pub is a dive bar. But it's more a eatery that serves beer then a proper bar, but if it were me I'd sit outside with the kids, but the rain killed that. Everyone in my family has had a memorable time there. And I've met more people from this area there, then I've met at any local bar. Everyone is so loose and ready to chat. And the pan pizza is worth the trip itself.

My Aunt, Uncle, and Father used to haul our trailer down to Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge throughout the 90's and 01,02. My grandparents would winter there and give a spot for the rest of the family to crash. A cheap, air conditioned, accommodation are rare- But I'd move into a trailer in a heartbeat to live in the Keys. Only problem is it was taken away one year by a hurricane.

Next time we go down, I'm making sure to bring the babysitters. I gotta pal that's a first mate outta Key Largo, so a few days of good fishing may be in order. We only snorkeled and free dove Looe Key, I'm hoping to tank the scuba gear this time.

[Foolinaround]

Ive seen that car



And that walmart. I live basically in jax dude

[RedWabbit]

I was so busy with work and other stuff the 3 months before we left that I had no time to get certified for scuba, but before I go back I will have sailing experience and my scuba cert so I can take the sail boat out to scuba dive. I stayed at this place http://www.keylimesailingclub.com/ great people and a wonderful experience. when ever you rent a cottage you have your own 22' sailboat to go with it to use for free. I think next time I might try to get my family and a few from the wifes family to go down so we can have more fun and if we want I have someone watch the kids.

[RedWabbit]

Originally Posted by Foolinaround

Ive seen that car



And that walmart. I live basically in jax dude

haha, that dude is from south carolina, I don't know what he was doing in fl.

that's the OP walmart next to college dr. I lived in middleburg/op/Mandrin for 14 years of my life I couldn't deal with the heat anymore.

then you know about zaxbys, have you had the kicken chicken sandwich?

[Foolinaround]

I have yet to have it! I lived in eagle harbor on fleming island,and lived off 215 in middleburg for a handful of months

[FocusDude]

Originally Posted by RedWabbit

I was so busy with work and other stuff the 3 months before we left that I had no time to get certified for scuba, but before I go back I will have sailing experience and my scuba cert so I can take the sail boat out to scuba dive. I stayed at this place http://www.keylimesailingclub.com/ great people and a wonderful experience. when ever you rent a cottage you have your own 22' sailboat to go with it to use for free. I think next time I might try to get my family and a few from the wifes family to go down so we can have more fun and if we want I have someone watch the kids.

Nice man. I'm a big fan of sailing, just can't afford a boat that will fit more then myself and a child. But be careful of all the coral, shallow spots, and other hazards. I know the Gulf is clearer, but the Atlantic side is a mess. Im not to sure about Key Largo's water, but its gotta be fairly clear if they let anyone take it out, I guess.

O just checked the site, a 22' Catalina is a sweet little boat. Just pull the sail in till its flat and puffy, and then let it out till it starts to ripple, then pull it flat again. DO this again and again. When you need to turn, watch your head, pull the sail in more so its over the boat, and then slowly let it out after you made like 30% of the turn.
It's cake sauce, I can even get a 6 year old spoiled brat who has never done anything for himself to putter along.

Good Luck, I could talk Keys all day.

[RedWabbit]

Originally Posted by Foolinaround

I have yet to have it! I lived in eagle harbor on fleming island,and lived off 215 in middleburg for a handful of months

you need to try it.

I lived right past the ravines across from green road.



I've been so lazy since I got back I haven't even uploaded any of the pics from the wifes ipad.