OT: Beth

[stacyt]

If I remeber correctly aren't you in the FL Keys? I'm setting up a vacation for Sept., and plan on spending a week there. Looking for someone who knows what places are a must see, and the best places to eat. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Also if you know anything about the dive shops, or dive areas would be good to.

 

[beth]

Where in the Keys are you staying?
I've never been to a dive shop actually. LOL Most resturants in Key West are pretty good, and there is a TV channel that will be in your hotel room, or where you stay [it is one of only 3 local stations] that shows commericals of a lot of resturants you'd want to consider and even places you might want go to [Key West only].
Sept is not a good time to visit the Keys, however, as Aug and Sept are our big hurricane mos. Not unusual for an evac to be ordered and tourists are the first to be asked to leave! Even if the storm doesn¡¦t even get here! Because we are tiny islands with only 1 way in and 1 way out, orders in regards to evacs are usually given days in advance. That would be a real downer. Being stuck in a hotel room with no electricity is even a bigger downer. Predictions with the National Hurricane Center this yr says it is going to be a busy season for us...but, you never really know.
Hotel prices in Key West will be steep. If you are staying up the Keys, you can probably find something more affordable, and, maybe even more enjoyable. However, summer prices are better. do you want luxury? or standard chains? There are a good many guest house, B&B's in Key West. Resorts and a lot of the chains. Expect to pay more than you would expect even for a chain hotel.
You might want to go up to John Pennekamp State Park, Key Largo. big reef, dive shop, boating, etc., located in all one place. The beaches: Fort Zackery Taylor and Bahia Honda State Park. Other Key West beaches are the pits. If you like to party, then Key West would be the place, closer to down town [Old Town] the better. That area of town is geared toward catering to tourists, but with plenty of local activity and "color" as well. No LFS here!
There are a lot of tourist sites on the area on the www. Check 'em out!
But, if it were me, I'd go to Disney World.....lol

 

[stacyt]

Thanks for all the good info.
We where thinking about september because I'll be visiting the inlaws in LA. Figiured we'd get down to FL for a quick dive trip while we're down south. May need to look at other options. With my luck I'm sure a hurricane would come.
As far as a place to stay I was looking at the Galleon Resort. I'm trying to trade my timeshare in Maui for a week in the keys.
I'll check into Key Largo as well. If nothing else I could make a day trip down to the keys to get some diving in.
I've done just about everything in Northern FL. I was stationed in Orlando for a year, and spent a couple of years in Ft. Walton Beach as a kid. My parents still have a couple of houses there.

 

[beth]

Hey, you don't have to come all the way to Key West to dive. There is plenty of diving opportunies in the Upper Keys. I don't know if you do scuba, but they did just sink a big navy vessel in the Upper Keys for divers. Unfortunately it landed on its side rather than right up, but still good "mystery" diving. Also, of course, there is the reef at the Pennekamp.
The Galleon would be nice place to stay if you can get a timeshare switch. But, again, the weather is so unpredicable during that time, you may end up loosing out.

 

[stacyt]

I was reading about the Navy ship in one of my dive magazines. I may dive the ship and check it out. It's very similar to one of the ships I was stationed on. I figured all the best diving would be in the lower keys. I'm going to do a little more reading on the upper keys. I also found a nice resort in Key Largo.

 

[beth]

I don't think so. I think there is a good deal of dive activities in the Upper.

 

[stacyt]

I think that we are going to stay in key largo. I'll take one day and drive down to the keys, and maybe get a dive in. I've been to the keys before, but that was in my Navy days, and spent most of the time at bars.
Again thanks for all your info. Would not have thought about it being hurricane season, and knowing my luck one would probably come in as I get there.