Why Honeymoon in the Florida Keys
The appeal is the combination of a road trip and a water trip. Driving the Overseas Highway is a pleasure on its own, with long bridges where the Atlantic sits on one side and Florida Bay on the other. You pull over when you want: for a fish sandwich, a kayak through the mangroves or a swim at Bahia Honda.
For couples on the East Coast, the logistics are easy. There is no passport, no long flight and no currency to deal with. Miami has nonstop service from almost everywhere in the country. The Keys also scale up or down nicely. You can spend three nights in a simple waterfront inn or splurge on a private island reached only by boat. And because Key West has real nightlife and good restaurants, the trip has some evening energy if you want it.
When to Go
December through April is high season, with dry weather, highs in the mid to upper 70s and calm seas. It is also when prices peak, especially around the holidays and spring break in March.
May and June are warmer and quieter. The water is often at its clearest for snorkeling. July and August are hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms that blow through quickly.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The real risk window is roughly mid-August through October. If your wedding falls then, buy travel insurance, book refundable rates and keep an eye on the forecast in the week before you leave. Many smaller restaurants and inns close for a few weeks in September. Late October and November can be lovely, with fewer people and stone crab season starting in mid-October.
Where to Stay
Islamorada, about 90 minutes from Miami, is the right choice for couples who want calm. Cheeca Lodge and Spa sits on a stretch of beach with a long fishing pier and palm-shaded grounds. It is classic Keys luxury without the scene.
In the Lower Keys, Little Palm Island Resort and Spa is the famous splurge: a five-acre island off Little Torch Key, reached only by boat, with thatched bungalows and outdoor showers. There are no cars on the island. The main activity is doing very little.
Key West works best for couples who want to walk to dinner. Look for a boutique inn in Old Town, where restored Victorian houses with private pools and tropical gardens are common. Sunset Key Cottages, on a small island a short launch ride from Key West, splits the difference: quiet nights, quick access to town. Book Key West early for winter weekends. As a rough guide, Little Palm Island runs well into four figures a night, while good Old Town inns often cost a few hundred dollars, more in winter (approximate).
Romantic Things to Do
Take the ferry or a seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles west of Key West. The centerpiece is Fort Jefferson, a massive 19th-century brick fort on a tiny island, surrounded by water so clear you can snorkel the moat walls. The ferry ride is long, a bit over two hours each way, so the seaplane is worth considering as a splurge.
Snorkel or dive the reef. Looe Key, off the Lower Keys, is the favorite for color and fish. Up in Key Largo, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park runs boat trips to the reef.
In Key West, join the nightly sunset gathering at Mallory Square, with street performers and a crowd that cheers when the sun touches the water. Later, a sunset sail on a schooner or catamaran is a calmer way to see the same show. Rent bikes; Old Town is flat and best seen slowly.
Getting There and Around
Most couples fly into Miami (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (FLL), rent a car and drive south. Key Largo is about 90 minutes from Miami. Key West is roughly three and a half to four hours, depending on traffic and how often you stop.
Key West International Airport (EYW) has service from several East Coast and Southern hubs, often with a connection. Flying into Key West and out of Miami, or the reverse, lets you drive the highway once without backtracking.
On the islands, a car is useful outside Key West. In Key West itself, parking is tight and expensive; many inns offer bikes or are close enough to walk everywhere. Mile markers, painted on small green signs along US 1, are how locals give directions, starting at 0 in Key West and climbing toward the mainland.
Food and Drink
Key lime pie is the obligatory first dessert. Real versions use the small, tart Key limes and a graham cracker crust. Arguing about the best slice in the Keys is a regional sport. Stop at a few roadside places and pick your own winner.
Fish is the main event. Look for hogfish, a mild white fish that is a local specialty, plus yellowtail snapper, mahi and grouper caught nearby. From mid-October to May, stone crab claws arrive chilled with mustard sauce. Conch fritters are everywhere, though most conch is now imported since harvest has been banned in Florida for decades.
Key West has a strong Cuban influence. Start mornings with a cafecito or café con leche from a walk-up window. In the evenings, Duval Street is loud; quieter restaurants with garden seating sit a block or two away.
Honeymoon Tips
- Drive at least part of the highway in daylight. The views from the bridges are the point. The road is two lanes for long stretches.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard. The sun on the water is intense, even in winter.
- Book boat trips for the morning. Winds often rise in the afternoon and visibility drops.
- Do not expect wide sandy beaches. Bahia Honda, Sombrero Beach in Marathon and Smathers Beach in Key West are the best of a modest bunch.
- Respect wildlife. Key deer in the Lower Keys are endangered and often cross the road at dusk, so obey the reduced speed limits.
- Buy hurricane-friendly travel insurance for late summer and fall trips.
- Pack insect repellent for dusk near the mangroves. Florida sees occasional local outbreaks of mosquito-borne illness, so if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC and Florida Department of Health guidance before you go.
