Miami-Everglades-Key West-South Beach

Day 2: Little Havana, Coco Walk

  Arrived in MIA at about 4:00 pm. Was surprised to hear announcements in Spanish in the airport. Little Havana is close to the airport area; the best way to understand the local culture there is to visit Wal Mart / Publix. Certainly not an advertised tourist spot, but stores in Little Havana are certainly worth the trip. All employees are conversant mostly in Spanish and very little English. The products seem tailored to the hispanic community there; wonderful coconut macroons, banana chips, canned coconut water,  fresh Cuban bread, are products that one must taste.  Billboards are in Spanish; the whole area seems like a different country.
We passed through Coral Gables and did the Coco Walk - more a collection of trendy shops and nice eateries on the sidewalks.

The hotel was clean, comfortable and provided all amenities promised. The breakfast was fulfilling and comprehensive; and that is a compliment from a vegetarian!

Day 3: Everglades

I recommend going to the Everglades National Park first and then, if required go to the Everglades Alligator Farm. The park has a number of trails which are short and handicapped accessible too. Do not miss the Anhinga Trail - we captured a bird eating a fish on video. You can also see alligators, fish etc.
The Alligator farm has its own reptiles as seen in the pic. There are several shows with snakes, alligator feeding; airboats are not really a must-do-trip. If you have kids, great place. Else, feel free to spend the time in the park - there are several lovely picnic spots by lakes and ocean.

Robert is Here Fruit Stand
I had to visit this fruit shop after all the reviews I read. It has a good collection of fruits and veggies, jams and jellies. But I was so thoroughly disappointed with the famed Key Lime Shake.  So much that I returned this to get a Banana shake instead. Trust me, I come from a country where we gorge on tropical fruits. This key lime shake is way overrated. Save your money.

Day 4: Key Largo to  Key West

The Pennekamp Reef State Park offers glass-bottom-ship tours and snorkelling tours. We did not go on either and instead spent some time on the "beach", as we planned to snorkel in Dry Tortugas. Apart from some trails nothing much of interest here. Safe to skip if not snorkeling. The drive thru the Keys is amazing.
The 7-mile bridge is breathtaking. The mangrove islands are a sight for sore-eyes. One of the best-discoveries of this trip were the public beaches with picnic facilities.
We stopped at the Anne's Beach (MM ~73.5) to have lunch. It was absolutely fantastic, seats facing the ocean. Why this is has not been advertised beats me.



Sunset from Mallory Square was wonderful. We watched it from the piers by the dock. There are street shows featuring acrobats, fire-eaters, escape artists - all of whom will entertain you. At the same time, socially pressurize you for tips, which is fair.

Our hotel was very nice. Room was clean, and also had a small kichenette of sorts - pleasant surprise! Microwave and fridge available.
You will walk a lot because parking is a nightmare. Hold on to your spot.

We dined in Blue Heaven - "only veggie restaurant" - which was terrbily overpriced along with everything else there. Paid 25$ for what amounted to rice and beans!

Day 5: Dry Tortugas

This is definitely the highlight of our stay in Key West. Exotic marine sanctuarty, 70 miles from key west. The Yankee Freedom ferry crew make it an enjoyable experience. The ride lasts for about 2.5 hours. The queasy may feel a little sea sick. Breakfast and picnic lunch on island provided.  They also give you snorkelling gear for free, which is a saver. Remember to look for student discounts when buying tickets online.

If into history, the tour of the fort is given. Fort Jefferson is  incomplete and has an interesting past. We were more interested in the pristine clear waters. Perfect opportunity for first time snorkellers. Lots of coral reefs, fishes, sea turtles and beware of the Portugese Man O War!



   

Day 6: Keys to South Beach

Been unlucky with my choices of key-lime products. Blonde Giraffe's "award winning" key-lime pies, could not entice me. Too bad they would not even offer me a small sample of their pie and so was forced to buy a whole slice. Again, dont waste your money on it. Wonder who gives out the awards. After a visit to Southernmost point, we were off north, to South Beach. Of course, lunched in Anne's beach - it is beautiful to say the least. The day was too hot to get me parasailing or jet skiing. In addition, our student budget would not let us settle for the exorbitant prices being charged along the keys. So we stuck to watching Pelicans :)

South Beach is a whole different story. First of all, let me warn you about the Hotel - South Beach Plaza Villas. The folks there are unfriendly and do not care about the customer. They do not provide what is promised (microwave/fridge / bkfast) and behave very rudely. The rooms are very small and cramped, with random pieces of furnitures. Mosquitoes and dust from the bed keep you company. Conversations from neighboring rooms are easily heard.

Oh, and PARKING. The hotel provides Valet Parking for 25$ per day. If you dont want to take it, you better start searching for alternatives coz they will not offer any information about parking. South Beach area makes money off parking and every free space is a tow-away zone. Metered parking spaces are almost always full. Welcome to parking hell.

The experience left such a sour taste that we advanced our flight by a day and checked out the next morning itself.

Day 7: South Beach, Ocean Dr. & Miami

South Beach is clear, beautiful and alluring. The waters finally feel like a beach, with the waves and all. The art deco walk is interesting; buildings with the olden look, mostly renovated. Take care of your belongings, as there was one person who found her purse missing, when she looked away to take a picture. So I guess, it aint all that rich.

Raja Indian Cuisine

The address on Yahoo travels is wrong (as was the South Beach Villas address). So we spent quite some time searching for it. If you have tasted authentic indian food, then this is really not for you. Over priced  for too little quantities. Again, who ever writes those "wonderful" reviews.

Bodies - The Exhibit

If it is still on, be sure to see it. Wonderful presentation of real human bodies from a more educational standpoint.