Florida 3 Night Vacation With Kids: Everglades, Beach, and Pool

See how to make the perfect family Florida vacation in just three nights!

Last April, Matt and I drove down to West Virginia for a rock climbing adventure for our ten year wedding anniversary. It felt so good to drive from New Hampshire’s depressing want-to-be spring to a place with actual leaves on the trees and flowers in the gardens, that I decided immediately after the trip that I had to “warm up” the following April break as well. I started researching trips and Florida seemed a great choice. No…not Disney (can’t afford and don’t like crowds). I proposed a trip for the family to the Everglades. I’d been a couple times before (here and here) and knew everyone would love the wildlife and unique ecosystem. My husband and kids loved the idea. I decided we could add in a day or two of pool and beach and it would be a fun and somewhat affordable trip.

By August of 2024 - my April 2025 trip was completely booked! So for nine months I’ve been waiting for this trip and it finally came. I can say without a doubt that our three night mini-vacation to Fort Lauderdale and the Everglades felt anything but “mini. From riding the waves of warm ocean beaches, to floating a lazy river, to seeing over thirty alligators in one day - it was a memorable trip of a lifetime. Here’s a breakdown of the trip. 

Family selfie from day 1 - on a nature walk just hours after landing!

Florida 3 Night "Mini" Vacation With Kids: Everglades, Beach, and Pool

Day 1 - Fly to Florida, Mangrove Nature Walk, Pool Time, Crab House (with Alligator Bites), and Dania Beach

We caught a 7 am flight out of Boston and was in Fort Lauderdale by 10 in the the morning. After picking up rental car (we used Avis), we looked at google maps to find an easy lunch spot and ended up grabbing lunch at Burger Fi at Dania Mall close to the airport. Still to early to check into our hotel, we drove to Secret Woods Nature Center. We were pleasantly surprised by this free location. It was the perfect intro to Florida - we walked the one mile boardwalk loop and saw lizards and mangrove forest. From there we drove to our hotel for night one (the Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port) in Dania Beach. I chose this for the first night since we would spend the whole next day at the Everglades. I wanted a clean, easy location with included breakfast and free parking and a pool for the kids. We loved the roomy suite and large outdoor pool. Plus, they let us check in early! Once there, the kids swam in the large outdoor pool, followed by an hour-long nap (since we had got up at 3 am for our flight)! We woke up ready for dinner and more fun. One of my husbands goals was to try alligator and he found it. Nearby was the Rustic Inn Crabhouse. This was an experience and reminded me of lobster pounds back home. The kids malleted their crabs, and we all tried alligator bites and fried frogs legs - tasted like chicken! The evening ended by driving to Dania Beach so we could put our feet in the sand and watch the sunset. It was a great first day in Florida.

Learning about mangroves on the interpretive trail at Secret Woods Nature Center

Cracking crab at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse

Getting silly with our mallets at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse

Day 2 - The Florida Everglades - Airboats and Alligators

The day started with a great continental (included) breakfast at the Residence Inn. We checked out and drove over to Homestead where we met up with Everglades Airboat Expeditions. This was second time using this company (see Florida Girls Trip Blog Post). We loved our one hour tour. Our guide, Mo, was knowledgeable and approachable. He explained all about the current dry season and wildlife behaviors - touching on the impact of invasive species and challenges to the fragile ecosystem. Reflecting on the whole trip - the airboat ride stood out as a favorite for the whole family.

From the boat ramp, we drove to Robert is Here Fruit Stand right outside the park gates where we had delicious smoothies and Cuban sandwiches for lunch. They have a wild collection of rescued animals out back and the kids loved seeing tortoises and emus! It wasn't too busy when we went but I've had to skip it before when the lines get too long. Next, we drove into the National Park and stopped at the Ernest F Coe Visitor Center. The kids got a stamp in their National Park Passport books. We were informed there was a wildfire near the road in the park and we wouldn't be able to do all the hikes which was fine. The hike I wanted to take the family on was at the Royal Palm Stop - here the Anhinga Trail takes visitors on a one mile boardwalk loop where we saw alligators, herons, turtles, and more. The kids were getting tired and we wanted to make it to the other end of the park so we drove the 45 minutes to Flamingo. We visited the visitor center, stared at the gulf coast water, and searched for manatees and crocodiles in the marina. We found a croc but sadly no manatees - I was sad for my daughter who wanted to see one so badly. By then it was afternoon, and we wanted to get back to Fort Lauderdale. It took about three hours to get to our new hotel due to distance and traffic. A quick McDonald's dinner on the way and we checked into our final destination - a resort on the beach. We stuck our feet in the sand and crashed - ready for a relaxing day the next day.

Little Sis was nervous to do the airboat ride
but now she says it was her favorite part of the trip.

Smoothies at Robert is Here

Soft-shelled Florida Turtle on the Anhinga Trail

We saw so many alligators

Day 3 - Resort Life - Beach, Pool, and Lazy River

I searched hard for a resort that we could stay at and essentially not leave for our last final day. I wanted a beach, a kid-friendly pool, and a restaurant on site. The Pelican Grand Beach Resort fit the bill. It had a warm zero entry pool, fun lazy river to tube down, and private beach with attendants to set up lounge chairs and order drinks. The resort also had a lounge/bar, restaurant, and ice cream shop on site. I got the room on Expedia for about $250 a night but with fees, parking, a resort fee, and meals - it obviously racked up quite a bill. That said - the two nights were the full Florida relaxation experience. On Day 3, we ate breakfast on the restaurant veranda while the sun rose on the Atlantic. Then the kids suited up and we spent hours in the pool. They had great attendants and it wasn’t busy. We took a break from the sun for lunch on the lounge deck before applying more sunscreen and popping down to the beach. The hotel provided lounge chairs and umbrellas that they set up for you. We raised a flag on our spot and a waitress came and took our drink orders. Our New Hampshire kids loved the warm ocean waves and played in the sand. The hotel also had boogie boards and beach toys but I’d brought a few from home too. We went back to the lounge for dinner before crashing after a great day in the sun!

One of the main reasons I chose this hotel is
we wouldn't have to drive (or walk) to the beach!

The lazy river pool was a deciding factor in choosing this hotel.  It didn't disappoint!

We ate all our meals on the outside portion of the hotel restaurants

Views from the hotel - Pelican Grand Beach Resort

Lunch at the lounge next to the pool and ocean

Day 4 - One Last Swim Before Leaving

Our hotel was only twenty minutes from the airport and with a 1 pm flight, we were able to leisurely leave on our last day. We had breakfast outside again on the hotel deck, then went to the pool one last time before packing up and heading to the airport. 

It was a perfect vacation!

Wrapping Up Our Florida Mini-Vacay

Even with just three nights, it felt like we crammed in a full adventure: wildlife thrills, beach play, pool splashes, and palm-tree sunsets. We did keep an eye on costs (the Residence Inn cost us less than $200 a night on Expedia, thanks to the free breakfast, and we splurged on two nights at Pelican Grand for about $690 total for the two nights). It was worth every penny for the memories. We saved money by not booking any tours besides the airboat ride ($180 for four), packing snacks from home, filling water bottles in the hotel, and doing a couple cheaper meals. Still, this short trip added up to over $2,000 with airfare added. 

This little escape was exactly what our family needed. We got a healthy dose of sunshine, science lessons on reptiles, and plenty of goofy family selfies in flip-flops. Honestly, between tropical smoothies, a friendly alligator wave, and the kids naming every iguana on the hotel property - the trip felt priceless – a reminder that the best souvenirs are laughter and time together.

The perfect family vacation does exist!

Interested in Similar Adventures? Check out these past posts:

Ogunquit, Maine For Families
3 Family Friendly Nights in Acadia National Park
4 Family Friendly Days in Olympic National Park
South Florida Girls Trip

Follow me on Instagram at FreelanceAdventurer to see similar adventures or DM me with questions!

Girls Trip 2023: North Cascades and Mt Rainier Loop - Hiking, Camping, and Sightseeing

 It's that time of year again... GIRLS TRIP!  Leanne and I are far from "girls" its seems as 40-year-old women, but we still have been having this traditional trip since 2007!  With my parents in Portland, Oregon willing to watch the kids for a week, I looked for a trip that would be easily accessible from this site.  Never having been to North Cascades National Park nor Mt Rainier National Park, I decided to plan a camping/hiking trip that visited both parks with the bulk of the trip centering around some intensive day hiking in North Cascades.  As it seems to happen to us a lot, our plans were sadly changed when fires broke out the day before we entered the park and escalated - forcing us to evacuate and change our plans a bit.  We rolled with it and it still turned out a great trip.  Here's our *revised* itinerary.

Here's how to recreate this adventure....

Day 1: Pick up Campervan in Portland, Oregon and Drive to Olympia, Washington

We started by renting a camper van out of Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, we didn't love the van so I'm not going to name drop (feel free to DM me on instagram for the name). But it had over 300,000 miles on it, broken hubcaps, dirty, and overall beat up. (Spoiler: it made the trip) However, I wasn't pleased.  Either way, we picked it up and drove north.  Our first night camping was at a private campground in Olympia that was meant to break up the drive. The campground was called Riverbend.  Tent sites were large, private, and had a great waterfront access.  There was a flush bathroom on site but it was a bit of a walk, however, each tent site had it's own porta potty too! We made dinner, enjoyed the river view, and spent our first night figuring out the van bed. 

Day 2: North Cascades - Visitor Center, Set up Camp, Short Hikes

We had a leisurely morning, then took off to North Cascades National Park.  We stopped at the visitor center near Newhalem, got a park map, bought some souvenirs, then took off to do a set of short hikes before reaching our campground.  Here are some great small hikes to do when you first arrive:

- Stirling Munro Trail: This short but scenic boardwalk trail is only 300 feet long.  It weaves through trees to a mountain overlook and departs directly behind the Visitor Center.

- Trail of Cedars: This short and easy 0.6 mile out and back trail weaves through Cedar giants, along the shores of the glacial blue Skagit River. 

- Ladder Creek Falls: Though only 0.5 mile loop, this trail is steep.  It crosses a bridge and climbs behind the Newhalem Gorge Powerhouse to Ladder Creek Falls - small, yet beautiful waterfall.

- Gorge Overlook Trail: This 1/3 mile loop trail climbs to give views of the Gorge Dam and Ross Lake.*Here we got our first glimpses of (at that time) a very small wildfire on the hill across.

After we finished these hikes, we checked into our campsite at Colonial Creek South Campground.  We booked this site exactly 6 months prior to arrival - the soonest offered.

Happy to be in North Cascades National Park!

Day 3: North Cascades - Maple Pass Loop and Rainey Lake

- Maple Pass Loop: Today was about a very special hike.  I was dying to hike Maple Pass Loop.  We woke up to a smoke campground and drove east, hoping to escape the bad air on our big hiking day.  We had read that this was a popular hike so we arrived at the trailhead around 8 am and found plenty of parking.  While the hike started smoky, we soon hike above the smoke and had clean air, blue sky, and perfect hiking weather.  We tackled the loop in a counter clockwise manner, which we were happy with.  The hike was moderately challenging, and extremely rewarding.  We got to back to the van around 2pm where we switched shoes and hit up one more little hike.

- Rainey Lake Trail: This trail is 2.0 out and back to the clear blue Rainey Lake.  The ADA trail meanders through flat forest, then emerges on a viewing platform.  We cooled our feet in the water before heading back to the car and campsite.

On the drive back to the campsite, we saw views of the growing smoke and fires erupting from the shores and Sourdough Mountain on Diablo Lake - just a couple miles from our campground.  It was eerie and nerve-wracking.

Maple Pass Loop Views

Leanne hiking along Maple Pass Loop in North Cascades

Day 4: North Cascades - Blue Lake, Washington Pass Overlook, Cutthroat Lake, and Winthrop

Again, we decided to drive east, this time, not only to escape smoke put also to end in the town of Winthrop where we could resupply on ice. The smoke had blown through the cascade valley and unfortunately our entire day air quality showed evidence of the fires back on Diablo. Our hikes and stops included:

Blue Lake Trail: This 4.6 mile out and back trail was a relatively easy to moderate trail that rewarded with beautiful forests, mountain views, and a beautiful alpine lake.  This trail was crowded and busy at the lake.

Washington Pass Overlook: This overlook was our picnic lunch spot, and also included a 0.3 mile steep, yet paved overlook trail that awards is stunning views of Washington Pass and the twisted road below.

Cutthroat Lake Trail: This 3.8 mile easy to moderate trail had views of rising peaks on either side and ended at a solitude lake.  We had to drive a bumpy forest road to get to the trailhead, but the van handled it fine. We started this hike at 4:30 pm and saw few other hikers.  The views were beautiful but the air quality provided a reminder that the park was suffering. 

From this hike we drove another 30 minutes from Cutthroat Lake to the town in Winthrop where we planned to sightsee, grab dinner, and resupply.  Shockingly, when we returned to "service" we discovered the campground and highway 20 had been closed due to the fire and we were suddenly without a campsite.  While the letter said we could get our "stuff" until 10 pm at night, at that point we were 1.5-2 hr drive from the campsite and it was already 7:30 pm.  We decided to abandon our items (laundry line, table cloth, and some food in the bear box) and stay put.  I got us a last minute waterfront tent site at the Winthrop KOA and we hit the town.  We enjoyed walking the cute western town, grabbed burgers at the burger bar, ice cream, and settled in - trying to figure out our next plan of action.

Observing Fire-fighting efforts.  Thank you firefighters!

Winthrop's Western theme was adorable!

Day 5: Drive Winthrop to Leavenworth to Snoqualmie

Unfortunately, now it was a Saturday and we were striking out on finding a campsite as we meandered south toward Rainier.  Fortunately, a family friend offered her home!  Even though they weren't in town, they gave us access to their house in Snoqualmie and we slept in the van on their driveway.  We took off from Winthrop in a cloud of horrible air quality which continued for hours into our drive.  Looking to make the most of this new roundtrip, we decided to stop in the Bavarian-themed tourist town of Leavenworth for lunch.  It was rainy when we arrived, yet still enjoyed sightseeing and window shopping.  We waited in line for about 30 minutes to get a bratwurst and pretzel at München Haus, followed by pastries at the Danish Bakery. We had planned to hike near Snoqualmie, but it continued to rain and we just weren't feeling it.  We settled in at our friends, took much needed showers, visited a local gem and rock shop, then made our camp dinner in their kitchen.

Leavenworth is a Bavarian themed town in Washington.  We loved it!

Day 6: Mt Rainier - Longmire Area

Since check-in at our Rainier campground wasn't available until 1 pm, we had a leisurely morning and had a short (and very steep) hike:

- Snoqualmie Falls: This was a 1.4 mile out and back paved trail through forest descending from the top parking lot to the bottom of the falls.  AllTrails says its 331 ft elevation gain which isn't too bad but it felt steep!  

Snoqualmie Falls

We drove to our next campground - this was a delight!  Elkamp campground was small and wooded with mossy cedars.  A brook ran next to our tentsite with a meadow and mountains behind.  It was only 30 minutes to the Longmire Visitor Center in Mt Rainier.  After setting up camp, we drive through the Nisqually entrance and to Longmire.  We visited the visitor center and did the following hikes in the area for the rest of the day:

- Trail of Shadows- This 0.7 mile loop is an easy trail of packed dirt and boardwalk.  It passes through a large forest with nurse logs, towering trees and marsh.

- Comet Falls Trail - This 3.8 out and back trail leads to the beautiful Comet Falls.  The trail climbs 900 feet in elevation on packed trail, some rock, and even a ladder.  AllTrails rates it as hard.  We saw gorgeous waterfalls, pika, marmots, and deer!  We arrived at the falls (one of the tallest in the park) at 5:30 pm.  We enjoyed taking photos, soaking in the views, then headed back down.  

We saw the sunset as we drove back to Elkamp, had a late dinner and prepared for an early morning hike the next day.

Comet Falls in Mt Rainier near Longmire area

Day 7: Paradise in Rainier: Skyline Loop and more

Today's goal was to hike the Skyline Loop.  The weather continued to mess with us.  After weeks of clear weather, both days we were in Rainier had horrible rain/fog forcasts.  However, we decided to try anyway.  Nervous about parking, we got to the Paradise Visitor Center Parking around 7 am and scored a spot in the first row.  Woohoo!  Banked in thick fog, it seemed silly to start the hike. I snoozed in the van while Leanne packed a trail lunch.  Around 9:30 am, we donned our rain gear and set out on the trail, doing it clockwise.

- Skyline Loop - Skyline Loop might go down as one of my favorite hikes of all time.  I can see why it's so popular.  It has everything in summer - glaciers, mountain views, gorgeous waterfalls, and even epic waterfalls - all in 5.5 miles.  The first part of the hike was all in fog and rain - however, not far after the glacial vista turnoff, we got a few "peeks" of Mt Rainier.  A few more showed up (although Panorama Point was in the clouds), and got a few fun photos with the volcano.  As we hiked the downside, I loved the glaciers and flowers.  We got lucky that the opposite ridge cleared and we enjoyed gorgeous mountain views throughout our descent. With all the stops and crowded trail, we didn't get back to the van until 2:30 pm.  

Our view of Mt Rainier through the clouds.

Not wanting the day to end, we got ice cream at the visitor center cafe, rested in the sun, toured the visitor center, and headed out on another little trail.

- Nisqually Vista Trail - Wanting to continue our experience, we hiked the 1.1 mile Nisqually Vista Trail near the visitor center.  It traveled through lichen adorned forest and (had the mountain been visible) a a nice view of Mt Rainier.

- Reflection Lake - We packed up the van and made one last stop.  We hit up Reflection Lake about 30 minutes prior to sunset hoping the mountain would emerge out of the clouds.  It never did, but the lake was beautiful and we enjoyed walking the short trail around half of it.

We returned to Elkamp and crashed for the night.

Day 8: Return the van

We had to have the van returned to Portland at 10 am.  So, we got up early, packed up and drove back. Returning the van was easy.  I was incredibly relieved the van survived the trip.

In summary

Even with the rickety van, wildfires, and canceled plans - I really enjoyed this trip.  It was definitely "hiking heavy" which was the intention.  Maple Pass Loop and Skyline Loop goes down as top ten hikes of my life.  If you have questions about the trip or want to see more photos, visit my instagram and DM me on here!

Here are some other similar adventure trips you might enjoy:

LA to Colorado - Hiking and Adventuring

Michigan Nature

Newfoundland

Key Largo Weekend Getaway

When my friend asked if I wanted to getaway for a three day weekend in Key Largo,  I thought he was nuts.  Fly 1000 miles for a weekend? Clearly, I was convinced.  In the end - this mini vacation was a great reboot, felt like a real getaway, and wasn't rushed.  A Key Largo weekend getaway was full of adventure, relaxation, and great food.

Here's how to recreate this adventure:

Adventure: 3 Day Weekend Key Largo Getaway

Friday Night: Fly BOS to FLL

After looking into flights to both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, my friend and I chose to fly to FLL.  It was cheaper and only a little longer drive.  I caught a 6 pm flight out of BOS after work on Friday and flew direct to FLL.  My friend, Matt, flew in earlier that day, grabbed our rental car so he picked me up right from the airport.  We spent the night at the Stadium Hotel in Fort Lauderdale - 15 minute drive from the airport.  The hotel was the right location and had an impressive complimentary continental breakfast.

We had a great time on our half day kayak in Key, Largo

Saturday: Kayaking, Pedicures, and Food

We got up around 7 am, enjoyed the complimentary breakfast at our hotel, packed up and headed south.  Our only plan for the day was a half day paddle with Paddle The Keys.  It was an hour and a half drive from our hotel to the paddle spot in Islamorada. It was a surprisingly cold day in the Keys - 60s Fahrenheit.  We bundled up and met our kayak guide - Suzanne.  The kayak was really lovely - we meandered in mangroves, and traveled down residential channels.  Suzanne pointed out fish, waterfowl, and iguanas. We saw some dolphins but no manatees.  We returned around noon - ready for lunch!

We looked for a lunch spot with good drinks and local food.  We settled on Blackwater Siren where I got the fish reuben - really good!  Matt and I shared the "Blackwater Bucket" which was delicious and strong (glad we shared it!)

After lunch, we checked into our airbnb in north Key Largo.  It was modern, clean, and the owner was accommodating and helpful. 

The rest of the day was taken up getting pedicures at T & T nails (call ahead), gourmet desserts at Pinecrest Bakery, and a late dinner at Senior Frijoles*.

*Tip: A lot of local establishments have a coupon to Senior Frijoles.  We saw them near the register at  Divers Direct.

Pinecrest Bakery

Sunday: Everglades National Park, Smoothies, and Sunset Cruise

Sleeping in on Sunday was lovely!  We had a delicious breakfast at the popular The Hideout Restaurant.  I highly recommend paying extra for the hash brown casserole side!  After breakfast, we packed up for a little visit to the Everglades.  It was a 35 minute drive from our AirBnb to the Ernest Coe Visitor Center in the park.  The National Park has an entry fee of $30 per car.  I have a yearly America the Beautiful Pass this year so we didn't have to pay.  Although the original goal was to make it all the way to Flamingo at the other side of the park (see my previous blog post about this drive), we ended up going just halfway so we didn't have to rush or worry about time.  

Everglades National Park Trails:

We enjoyed two easy hikes in the park:

 Ahinga Trail: Royal Palm Parking Area: This 0.8 mile boardwalk loop trail is a fantastic way to see wildlife and Everglades beauty.  The ADA trail walks over lily pad covered marsh.  Spot fish in the water, birds in the trees, and alligators in the water and shores.  On this particularly chilly day, we saw spotted eight gators hauled out along this trail.  It was both thrilling and a little scary!  This trailhead also has a gift shop and bathrooms.

Mahogany Hammock Trail: This 0.5 mile boardwalk loop travels through jungle-like forest.  Listen for birds and try to spot critters in the thick "hammock" of vegetation.  This is also an ADA trail.

Alligators on the trail in the Everglades.

Smoothies at Robert Is Here:

After our little hikes, we left the park.  Before heading back to Key Largo, we stopped at the popular tourist destination-fruit stand called "Robert Is Here".  We enjoyed a fresh smoothie, a walk around the market, and the small animal yard - including emus and giant tortoises.  The market is free to visit and is a fun spectacle.  

Smoothies at Robert is here fruit stand

Sunset Cruise:

We returned to our AirBnb, regrouped and headed to Pirates Cove Watersports to check in to our Sunset Cruise.  Pirates Cove is located at the Reefhouse Resort and Marina.  Our Captain Henry took us out on a little pontoon boat with another couple.  He was easy going and informative.  We had a pleasant water tour of Key Largo, a bit of history, and a fantastic sunset  - complete with jumping dolphins!  This was not a "booze cruise" like I'd done before with another outfit.  I enjoyed the relaxed boat trip. Highly recommend this experience.

Dinner and Drinks:

After our cruise, we walked over to the Breezer's Tiki Bar for dinner and drinks with a view.  It was a great day!

Monday: Snorkeling the Reef, Italian Lunch, and Souvenirs

Our last day in Florida was a delight.  We checked out of the AirBnb and headed back to Pirates Cove Watersports for our snorkel trip.  It was still chilly so we rented wetsuits from them for an addition $10 each (worth it!).  

 The snorkeling was excellent!  We saw schools of barracuda, colorful fish, sea turtles, and gorgeous and diverse coral.  It was amazing.  I LOVED that they took us to two different places.  Both reefs had slightly different communities of fish and it was fun to explore both.  

Snorkeling in Key Largo was fine in the cold with a wet suit.

After snorkeling, we washed off with a hose and headed for an Italian Lunch at The Italian Food Company.  It was a great meal with huge portions.  The best part was the desserts. They had both imported Italian desserts as well as in-house baked items.  

After lunch we drove back to Fort Lauderdale, returned the car, and flew home!

A weekend that felt like a week!

Even though we were only there for a weekend, our Key Largo weekend getaway felt like a week-long vacation.  We packed it in but at the same time felt relaxed.  Whether we were floating at sunset on the ocean, snorkeling with sea turtles, or cruising route 1 for great restaurants, it was a real vacation.  If you love this idea or want to stay longer, check out when I came for a week in summer!

If you liked this post, you might enjoy the following adventures:

- Girls Trip: Florida Keys

- Ogunquit, Maine Beach Weekend

- Spring Family Weekend Getaway in the White Mountains

Girls Trip 2021: Florida Keys, National Parks, and Miami

 

Some of you know that every year, I go on an adventure trip with my best friend Leanne (and often a few other friends).  We were excited that this summer a lot of places have opened up after the COVID 19 pandemic and that, being vaccinated, we would be able to travel pretty freely domestically.  After much deliberation, we spent the past three months planning a week getaway in Sedona, Arizona.  But then...five days before our hiking trip was set to start, we got news that the national forests all around the town were suffering horrible fires and then entire hiking region was shut down indefinitely.  

We had to regroup and pivot to something new.  The Florida Keys had been on our short list of possible destinations but concerned about the possibility of hurricanes, had decided not to book there.  Now, with only 5 days to plan and a 10 day weather forecast we felt safe make the trip.  Even though our trips are usually adventure-based, I realized that many of the adventure activities we'd want would be full and I might be just reading a book by the pool.  I couldn't have been more wrong! We were booked solid with adventure the entire week. 

I'm proud that we were able to pull this trip together in the last minute.  Here's our itinerary:

Day 1

Monday, June 28: Arrive in Miami

Leanne and I flew into Miami International Airport around 7 pm.  We got the rental car and drove to Miami Beach.  After we checked into the Palihouse Miami Beach Hotel, we walked to dinner at The Tavern in Miami Beach.  Our hotel was super cute boutique hotel a short walk from the beach.  It had a serene pool area, hip bar in the lobby, rental bikes, beach equipment, and even cooler lunches to go.  I wish we could have taken more advantage of these, but since we arrived so late, we really didn't.  The Tavern was lively and had good pub food.  Draft and bottle beer/cider choice was limited.  It was a fine first night in the city!

Miami lifeguard towers are all colorful!

Day 2

Tuesday, June 29: Miami Beach, Wynwood Murals, and Travel to Key West

The first thing we did was walk down to the beach.  I really enjoyed walking the Miami Beach Boardwalk and seeing the colorful and diverse lifeguard towers.  It was also exciting to see lizards and iguanas along the path.  After a leisurely walk and quick toe dip in the ocean, we went back up to town and grabbed coffee and breakfast at Starbucks.  We checked out of our hotel around 11 am and drove to the Wynwood area of Miami.  This portion of the city is known for the Wynwood murals - diverse and large artwork painted on the exterior walls of the many buildings.  For $10 each, we were able to enter the exhibition of the Wynwood Walls - "a unique outdoor museum featuring huge, colorful street murals from artists around the globe".  I really enjoyed this exhibit and would highly recommend! As we had a long drive to Key West that day, we decided to leave Miami and get on the road.

The Wynwood area is worth visiting to see these large pieces of art!

The Keys are a long string of islands coming off the southern tip of Florida.  We decided start our trip at the very end - Key West - and then make our way back up.  On the way to Key West, we stopped at Morada Bay Beach Cafe in Islamorada for (a very late) lunch and drinks.  This open air restaurant on the sand had that perfect "Keys vibe" I was looking for - colorful tables, white sand, palm trees and fruity drinks.  We enjoyed the fish and chips and got our first glimpses of the wild/free range chickens/roosters that call the Keys their home.  After lunch, we booked it to Key West - enjoying the water views on the seven mile bridge as we traveled between islands.

Tropical drinks at Morada Bay Beach Cafe

Once in Key West, we checked into our hotel - the Seascape Tropical Inn Bed and Breakfast.  We really loved this little inn.  Open the double doors of your small, but updated room to a central patio and hot tub.  The location is wedged between the historic Hemingway house and the lively Duval Street.  Once we parked our car, we never took out again, as Key West is really easy to maneuver on foot or by bicycle.  By the time we checked in, it was getting late so we walked Duval street - bustling with restaurants, bars, and shops.  We walked to the end and caught last light at Sunset Pier then grabbed giant cookies and ice cream (our dinner) at Mattheessen's Candy Kitchen.  We also found the Mile 0 marker!

Day 3

Wednesday, June 30: Fort, Pool, Hemingway House, and Sunset Cocktail Cruise

We knew it was a long shot, but we decided to try to get on the ferry to the Dry Tortugas National Park on standby.  This US national park is located 70 miles west of Key West and is only accessible by boat or sea plane.  Unfortunately for us, the ferry and planes are completely booked months in advance.  However, visitors are welcome to get to the ferry terminal early and wait to see if anyone doesn't show.  This is a first come, first served basis.  We got there at 6 am and much to our surprise, there were already multiple groups ahead of us on the list.  At 8 am we learned we weren't getting on standby (only 7 people did).  One of the groups that got on told us they go there at 4 am.  We decided we'd try the next day.  Before going back to the hotel, we walked over to the popular photo spot of the "Southern Most Point in the Continental US".

We returned to our hotel for our complimentary breakfast, then packed up our beach bags and went for a walk to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.  This is both a historic park with a walk-able fort and also a beach and picnic area.  Fee was $6 a car (or for us $2.50 a person).  The fort was really cool!  I loved walking the walls and reading the interpretive signs.  As we made our way down to the beach, the sky opened up in a torrential downpour.  We sought shelter under an interpretive sign (we also had umbrellas and jackets) and waited out the storm.

Fort Zachary Taylor has the fort as well as beach and picnic area.

After the fort, we walked to the historic seaport and enjoyed fried conch and fish sandwiches at Conch Republic Seafood Company.  I loved the open air atmosphere and marina views!  After lunch we walked across the street to Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe for a chocolate dipped key lime pie (on a stick) for dessert.

After lunch, we returned to our hotel, soaked in the hot tub and relaxed, then headed back out to visit our neighbor, The Hemingway Home and Museum.  Admission is $17 per adults and is well worth it, especially if you take advantage of one of the included 20 minute walking tours.  I personally am not any sort of Hemingway fan, but I really enjoyed the house and history.  Plus, it was pretty adorable meeting some of the 60 six-toed cats that reside on the property.  

Hemingway Home

The weather had improved so we decided to skip dinner our and jump onto a last minute Sunset booze cruise! For $42 a person we got a cruise and unlimited beer and wine (more for cocktails).  It was awesome seeing the sunset this way!

Day 4

Thursday, July 1: Dry Tortugas National Park and Little Deer

I got up at 3 am and raced to the docks - getting to the ferry terminal at 3:20 am.  I was shocked to see someone had beaten me to the front of the standby line (he later told me he got there at 2:45 am).  As we waited (and chatted) other groups slowly showed up until by 6 am there were over seven.  While the day before, they had put out a clipboard at 6 am to sign up for standby, this morning they waited until 7 am to record the list (boy did I have to pee by then).  Leanne was left to pack up our car (since we would have to check out that morning) and meet me at the dock at 7:30.  WE GOT ON!!!  The ferry to the national park is $190 a person.  It includes the 2.5 hour ride each way to the island as well as breakfast, lunch, and snorkel rental.  We were OVERJOYED (and also a little sleep deprived).  We hopped on the ferry with water, towel, change of clothes, and a lot of sunscreen.  

Dry Tortugas National Park Sign

We lucked out with a great day to ride out there.  Calm seas and beautiful weather - pretty grateful now it wasn't the day before.  Only 1% of this national park is above water - the small island holding Fort Jefferson.  Once we arrived, visitors were free to take a guided tour (either 20 min or hour), hike and explore the fort and island, and snorkel.  Lunch was available for pick up at the boat. We had a little over four hours on the island.  

Leanne and I chose to start with the 20 minute talk/tour which gave us historic background about the fort. After that, we walked the top rim and explored the grounds.  Afterwards, we got our included bag lunch (sandwich, cookies, chips, and drink) from the boat and enjoyed it at one of the many picnic tables.  We got suited for snorkel gear and walked to one of the swim beaches which was an entry point to explore the coral.  

Awesome snorkeling right from the beach!

The snorkeling was so cool!  Pretty good visibility with beautiful coral and diversity of fish.  It was magical stepping out on a beach of white coral sand and into the warm sub-tropical water to explore.  **Advice: even slathered with reef-safe sunscreen, our bums and backs of our legs got sunburned from floating on our stomachs in the water for two hours.  I'd suggest reapplying or wearing covering swimwear.  I was wearing a rash-guard on top and it saved my arms and back from the same fate.  

At 3 pm we returned to the boat and took the 2.5 hour ride return.  One the way, we saw a sea turtle!  We returned to Key West at 5:15 pm, still needing to do the two hour drive to our next hotel in Key Largo.  

On the way to Key Largo, we took a detour at No Name Key.  This was special for two reasons: we had multiple sightings of Key deer - a native (and endangered) species of small deer that live on the island, and a fun pub dinner at No Name Pub - famous for the thousands of one dollar bills on the ceilings and walls.  The nachos were delicious!

We got to Key Largo and our next hotel exhausted but fulfilled from a truly amazing day.  We both agreed, we could leave happy!  

Day 5

Friday, July 2: The Everglades

We got some bad news Thursday night that the all-day kayak trip we had booked in the Everglades National Park was canceled.  Similar excursions at that time were already booked and it looked like we wouldn't be kayaking this trip.  No worries, we could see much of the park on foot and we still had an airboat ride booked for the morning.  

We got up early and drove up near Shark Valley to catch our airboat expedition with Everglades Airboat Expeditions. We booked the one hour semi-private tour for $60 a person.  We loved it! Not only was it super fun to whiz around on the boat at high speeds, but we also saw awesome wildlife and got some natural history about the everglades.  We saw diverse waterfowl and multiple alligators.  

Our airboat in the Everglades

After our tour, we drove down to the main entrance to Everglades National Park at the Ernest F Coe Visitor Center.  It's $30 a vehicle to enter the park.  The ranger gave us suggestions for trails to stop for the rest of our day there.  

Alligator in the water right next to the airboat

Our first trail was at Royal Palm stop.  We walked the Ahinga Trail - a short boardwalk loop.  We saw beautiful birds, fish, and multiple alligators!  Next we drove further into the park and hiked the Pa-hay-okee Trail - another short boardwalk loop where we witness expansive grasslands, diverse trees, and more birds.  Lastly, we drove all the way to the final spot on the road called Flamingo (about an hour drive from the original visitor center).  This part of the park is a salt water ecosystem.  The ranger at the visitor center pointed us to where we could see manatees and crocodiles in the marina.  And we saw both!  What a trip!

Boardwalk trails in the Everglades National Park

Manatee sightings in Flamingo

Fulfilled, we drove back out of the park and returned to Key Largo for a delicious seafood dinner platter at Mrs Mac's Kitchen and sunset on the hotel beach at Marriot Key Largo resort.  

Florida Sunset

Day 6

Saturday, July 3: Reef Snorkel and Biscayne National Park

Our final full day in Florida was dedicated to snorkel and the third (and final) national park of Florida.  We had a 9 am snorkel set up at Sundiver Snorkel Tours in Key Largo.  We had a great experience with them, although were annoyed that on their confirmation noted we'd have to bring our own snorkel (or buy one of theirs).  This seemed a little fishy since our other snorkel tour provided them.  Either way, we LOVED this snorkel.  We went out to the "Christ of the Abyss" statue which is surrounded by a coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  This overlaps with the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Boat that took us snorkeling

After our snorkel, we grabbed lunch overlooking the marina at the Pilot House (yummy shrimp tacos) followed by homemade ice cream at Mrs C's Homemade Ice Cream.  She even made our waffle cone to order.  Yum!

We got in the car and said goodbye to the Keys.  When our kayak had been canceled in the Everglades, we decided to sign up for a paddle in Biscayne National Park instead.  This park is mostly underwater and best explored by boat or snorkel.  This national park is also free to enter and is only 30 miles from Miami.  We snagged an 1.5 hour partially guided kayak with the Biscayne National Park Institute for $39 each which included the kayaks, safety equipment and a naturalist to point us in the right direction and answer questions.  It was oppressively hot but this kept any mosquitoes away and left for calm water a great visibility.  We got to kayak in an aggregation of manatees and weave through a maze of mangroves.  It was perfection!

Kayaking the mangroves in Biscayne National Park

It was bittersweet ending our kayak at 5 pm because we knew our vacation was almost over.  Our kayak guide/naturalist gave us a recommendation to visit Black Point Ocean Grill in Homestead for dinner.  It was another great place to get outdoor seating with views of the marina.  I enjoyed my dolphin reuben (dolphin fish - not marine mammal) and margarita. 

Kayaking with manatees in Biscayne National Park

From Homestead, we drove the half hour back to the Miami airport where we returned out rental car and spent the night in the Miami International Airport Hotel.  I had no idea that airports had hotels in them but this was super convenient since both our flights were before 7 am and the nearby hotels didn't offer shuttles that early.  We simply checked out and were already in our concourse E!

Misfortune Turned Good Fortune

I was pretty bummed when we were unable to go to Sedona due to forest fires.  Pivoting our trip in five days was challenging but not impossible.  In the end, we were able to snorkel, hike, paddle, visit three national parks, ride on three boats, see hundreds of new species, drink and eat delicious new foods, and most importantly, enjoy each others company.  It was an amazing trip!  For questions, reach out on my instagram at freelanceadventuer.

You might also enjoy reading about these other Girls Trips:

Kayaking in Johnstone Straight - Girls Trip 2019

LA to Colorado - Girls Trip 2014

Michigan - Girls Trip 2013

Iceland Road Trip - Girls Trip 2015