Don't Stop - the Florida road trip section UPDATED 3/16 - Page 35 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I'm all caught up Cheryl. The Biltmore looks breathtaking(never been there before). Sorry Vizskya wasn't as impressive as the Flagler Museum. That does seem odd that there was a rehearsal going on there while tourists were also in there. Sorry about all the rain going to the Keys. Your next installment title has me worried. More please.
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Friday 18 December – part four: I expected more of this place...
We stopped at Key Largo to have lunch at Wendy’s and boy, it was good there. Mark had a double cheeseburger and I had a premium fish fillet with cheese, which was much better than McDonald’s, dare I say it!
We then drove over the road to take a quick look at the African Queen boat that was used in the movie of the same name. It was neat, but I did expect more, I must confess.
Actually that whole statement could apply to Key Largo. I really was expecting it to be spectacular, as I had thought it was second only to Key West, as the most visited destination in the Keys. Maybe I was wrong about that, as there didn’t appear to be a lot to the place, apart from lots of places to eat and stay. I was a bit disappointed by it and hoped that the scenery would improve.
Fortunately, it did. As soon as we hit the bridges, we got some lovely views and I couldn’t get over how beautiful and light blue the sea was. It was breathtaking and almost made me want to dive straight into it! Well, it would, if it wasn’t for the rain, that was still coming and going.
Not what I expected to see on the way to Key West...
Fortunately, it was gone again by the time we stopped in Islamorada to see their Hurricane Memorial to 500 people who had died in the 1935 hurricane. Seeing this just brought home to me the power of a hurricane. Not something I ever want to witness close up, but we were about to get our own taste of the bad weather very soon....
Uh oh -- storm's a brewin! Doesn't sound good at all--especially since the road from Islamorada to Marathon has pretty much nothing but water on either side--and then the big bridge!
We've spent a week in Key Largo and found plenty to do. I agree that the main road is primarily restaurants and shops but there's lots of nature and outdoor activities-kayaking, canoeing, boat tours and wildlife watching. There are a couple of state parks that have a lot to offer. It is a pretty laid back place-no museums or really big resorts, although there are a couple of chain hotels if I remember. I think it is visited because of the atmosphere-sort of "beach bum."
It's also has a lot more appeal when the sun is out and the weather gorgeous. I love your pictures even with the rain.
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Sorry Key Largo didn't live up to your expectations....it is very laid back, and you have to get off the main road to experience most of it. I hope that the weather improves - that road is no place to be when it is raining a bunch!
I got a bit behind, but am now all caught up. I love the pictures of the buildings with the colorful lighting. Despite the rain, you still are getting quite a bit done.
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Not long after we made our way through this, we got a message to say not to try going through another road, because there was a Mini Cooper that was floating. Yes, you read that one right – floating. That puts it all into focus as to how bad the weather had been. When we got back to the hotel later and watched the news, they were saying that in some places, the rain had come up to the level of car handles and it was two or three feet deep!
Hmmmm Maybe you found the Duck tour?
I hope the rain comes to an end soon and the sun comes out to stay a little longer.
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Mark had a double cheeseburger and I had a premium fish fillet with cheese, which was much better than McDonald’s, dare I say it! 
Deb
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