Not having enough time should not be a reason why you cannot enjoy a long weekend in the Florida Keys.
A memorable 3 day vacation in the beautiful Florida Keys should be on everyone’s bucket list.
On this trip, we visited Key Largo, Florida. Spanning over 30 miles long and only half a mile wide, Key Largo is the largest Key and only a short hour drive from Miami International Airport.
The Florida Keys offers a wide range of activities and scenic views that could keep you occupied for many days. However, we believe that anyone can visit and become fully immersed in all that the Keys has to offer during a long weekend.
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Day 1: Arrive in Miami, Florida
Logistics
For a memorable weekend vacation in the Florida Keys, fly into Miami International Airport.
Only a short 1-hour drive from Key Largo, MIA is the most convenient airport to fly into when visiting the upper Keys.
Plan to arrive in Miami by 6 pm. This will allow time to grab a delicious dinner and explore Miami’s nightlife. We recommend staying in the Brickell area to be immersed in Miami’s cuisine, culture and nightlife.
Food
For dinner, go check out Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza. This restaurant is known for its vibrant atmosphere and star pizzas.
A tip from a local Miami resident – if Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza is packed with a long wait time, go check out the restaurant next door called Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita. Turns out the restaurants share a menu and you can get the star pizza from either location!
For dessert make your way into Wynwood, Miami’s art district. Located outside of a nightclub, you will find an ice cream stand called Taitaki NYC, a Japanese ice cream shop serving up customizable flavors in a fish-shaped waffle cone.
This was an awesome experience of being in the heart of Miami and enjoying a unique treat!
After enjoying the nightlife, make your way back to your hotel and relax for the adventure ahead!
Day 2: Adventure in Key Largo, Florida
Logistics
To continue the weekend vacation in the Florida Keys, take the short 1-hour drive from Miami to Key Largo.
Once you arrived in Key Largo, head over to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This park is conveniently located a mile away from the Hampton Inn Key Largo.
Read more about the exciting activities do during your weekend vacation in Key Largo here.
Food
Breakfast
Before you leave the Miami area, have brunch in Dorale at Sergio’s. At this restaurant, you will get to experience an authentic Cuban breakfast and be ready for the day ahead of you after drinking a fresh cup of Cuban Coffee.
Lunch
After arriving in Key Largo, stop by Publix and purchased a couple of their famous Publix Subs. Stopping here for lunch was an efficient way to stock up on water for the day and to grab items for a picnic lunch at the Park.
Dinner
To close out the day full of adventure, we recommend eating at the Islamorada Shrimp Shack.
This restaurant is located on the Islamorada Key, which is famous for being the sport fish capital of the world. You are guaranteed to feast on the freshest food at this location. You can take our word for it as well as Guy Fieri. The Islamorada Shrimp Shack caught the eye of many viewers as it was featured on an episode of Diners, Drive Inns & Dives.
Activities
The first full day of the Florida Keys weekend vacation is going to be packed full of adventure and relaxation.
At John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, you can choose from a variety of activities, such as;
- Snorkeling Tours
- Scuba Tours
- Glass Bottom Boat Excursions
- Kayaks & Paddle Board Rentals
- Beach access and swimming
- Fishing
We highly recommend joining a snorkeling tour.
During the tour, the boat Captain and the crew will take you to a protected coral reef miles offshore. It was such a wonderful experience and would go back to this location. For a relaxing lunch experience, be sure to bring your picnic lunch to the park or on the snorkeling tour.
Read more about the exciting activities in Key Largo here.
After hours of adventure in the Florida Key sun, head to the hotel to get refreshed, go to dinner and enjoy a beautiful Florida Sunset. The sunsets are full of depth and color that will truly take your breath away. The Hampton Inn Key Largo provides a front-row view of the unique sky spectacular.
Day 2: Key West & Departure
Logistics
When planning the weekend vacation to the Florida Keys, be sure to book a flight that is late in the evening. Additionally, be sure to plan for the 3-hour drive from Key West to Miami in order to not miss your flight.
On the final day, drive the famous Seven Mile Bridge to Key West. We did not want to go all the way to the Florida Keys without seeing the Southernmost Point of the United States, located in Key West.
After exploring Key West, drive back to Miami to depart the memorable 3 day weekend vacation in the beautiful Florida Keys.
Food
For lunch, head over to the Southernmost Beach Cafe. This restaurant is located on the beach in the heart of Key West.
Before leaving Key West, be sure to check the famous Key Lime Pie. Key Lime pie is truly the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It is even more delicious when you are looking out at a beautiful ocean view.
Activities
When in Key West, 2 of the must-do activities are:
- Visiting the iconic Southernmost Point statue, located at Whitehead St &, South St, Key West, FL 33040; and
- Visiting Mile Marker 0, which marks to beginning/ end of US Highway 1.
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Visiting the Florida Keys for a weekend made memories that will last a lifetime.
Before we knew it, we were back in the office and back to our routine lives. But for one weekend, we picked adventure over routine.