Sailing Florida is St. Petersburg & Tampa Bay's premier sailing yacht and fishing charter company offering cruises, ASA Training & Team Building activities. We get enough of that on land. Day 3 On our final morning, we headed out early to cross the historic pedestrian and bicycle bridge that parallels the newer vehicle bridge, known as the 7 Mile Bridge, at the end of Marathon. There are more bars and tiki huts than you can count and everybody makes a fantastic cheeseburger. Kach had been delayed by the winter snow storm in Philadelphia and New York, so I arrived in Key West alone at around 8 o’clock at night. Here are some of our favorite anchorages. We loved snorkeling in key largo but couldn’t find Jesus that day as snorkeling in that area was not advised ….go figure? The Blog. Unfortunately, inadvertent or careless boating practices can cause serious trouble for the Florida Keys ecosystem. Navigating Florida's shallow waters can be a challenge for even the most experienced boater. And just like that, our journey was over. We cruised past US1 Mile Marker 0, parked our bike, shared some hugs and celebrated the conclusion of our journey with a sunset cruise out on the water with Floridays, another highlight of our Florida Keys Trip. Without the man-made attractions that aren’t wrecks… we’re in sympathy with your feelings about A/C as well, whenever the breeze dies and the bugs come a-feasting or the rain pours down and it’s 88+ in the boat, using our A/C in a marina seems like a great place to be! Search through over a hundred unique adventures. ~Oscar Wilde. Tampa. The next evening we stopped in Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale. Regardless of whether or not you were even aware that there…, Have you ever been steeped in historical lore in one of the most culturally rich areas of the United States? Join us aboard Makara, our 47-foot catamaran, to enjoy your private sailing charter for a few hours or join us under the stars for a multi-day, offshore adventure among the Florida Keys. (Check out my  previous blog post about Hurricane Irma here!) The snorkeling, fishing and diving are fantastic. We can't wait to do it again in December on our Backroads Florida Keys Biking Tour! Below we have a few sample itineraries for you to plan your next sailing adventure. Made famous by the 1948 film Key Largo starring Humphrey Bogart, it provides an exotic escape just hours from Miami airport. The Florida Keys is a place with a rich history; and in this warm tropical paradise, culture is abundant. While the effects of Hurricane Irma still linger, we all felt that it only enhanced the experience of visiting the Keys. Just a cleaner and much safer version. Sailing the Florida Keys in a Catalina 42: was introduced in 1989 and was one of the first mass-produced American boats to feature both a sugar-scoop transom with a swim platform and a three-stateroom layout with two aft cabins under the cockpit. Day 2 Pedaling over beautiful aquamarine waters across the 42 bridges that connect the Keys, we arrived on Islamorada, the "Village of Islands," and visited with some of our local friends who are featured on our official Backroads Trip through the Keys. Partook in energizing cycling rides, sunset boat sails, and languid kayaking excursions in wild nature? Paradise does not exist here. Paradise! What a special region to visit! What did we discover? A cracker from West Virginia who sounds like a Jamaican telling jokes about Jesus, that alone was worth the price of the tour. Scuba Diving; Florida Keys Fishing; Florida Keys Sailing; Florida Keys Kayaking; Hiking; Florida Bicycling, Florida Keys; Florida Everglades; Florida Keys Camping; Attractions. We were blown away! Keep in mind we are a mono-hull with a 4'11" draft and 63' high mast.We may also be traveling with a friend that has a deep draft (6'8") and know … Great to hear you are enjoying the underwater world of the Keys! Florida Keys sailing: Arrive at the Florida Keys, board your vessel and set sail in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Enjoy true freedom exploring the islands and taking in the crystal-clear waters. Red or Green? But they were not happy and the thin veil of their words could not hide their deep and utter disappointment. All contents & photography © 2020 Backroads | Sitemap | Privacy Policy, The first time I traveled Italy was by bike. With 100s of islands that stretch a 100 miles out into the ocean, it is a paradise for those who are willing to jump on a boat and toss off the lines and leave the islands behind to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding waters. It was 2015 and I was there for the party on two wheels that is a Backroads Staff Ride. Here is our story. Located in the Upper Keys area world-class fishing charter captains are just itching to be on the water… so this is your chance to join them. This old bridge was the greatest achievement of the Overseas Railroad and has withstood every hurricane since its completion in 1912. The Florida Keys are a string of coral islands that stretch southwest from the end of the state. Drive to Key West with Stops Along the Way. She was swimming behind a group of parrotfish when one produced a sand cloud. The clear waters and the living reefs make this place an aquatic playground. Key Largo Beaches; Tavernier Beaches; Islamorada Beaches; Marathon Beaches, Perfect! I’m back to tell you about the recovery. Great day for a dolphin cruise on the Pelican, our comfortable kid-friendly 49 passenger catamaran! Whether it be for a day or weeks, chartering a catamaran or other vessel from Calypso sailing gives you total control over your experience. After ordering our lunch at the counter the lady asked for my favorite song. So I'm here to share with you some insight into what a bike ride through the Florida Keys is like, and why you should definitely come experience this place for yourself! Looks like quite the adventure. “It starts in Miami and goes all the way down to Key West. All Aboard A Florida Keys Yacht Charter. You may recognize it from being 'blown up' in 1994 during a chase scene in the movie True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. The bike trails were clear and a delight to cruise along in the sunshine, soaking in the continued friendly vibe of the Keys . It is organized like a government Coast Pilot with micro detail. We visited Florida Keys Brewing's new tasting room and garden and then stopped at Robbie's Marina to enjoy lunch and a canoe paddle with Paul and his dog, Bubbles. “I love talking about nothing. The Pelican is Key Sailing… Over the years, we’ve spent a lot of time exploring Florida’s West Coast … from the Dry Tortugas in the Keys to Tampa Bay. Sail. In short, this place is as beautiful as ever, full of amazing sights, scenery, wildlife and people who have channeled their love of this corner of America into restoring it to its charming and historic self. Roxanne witnessed this first hand. We had our first taste of the Florida Keys that night, with a seafood dinner in The Stoned Crab. It was a good first day's ride, and we all felt lucky to be here in the Keys. Tim was explaining to us, at our last stop on the snorkel tour, to swim out to this white buoy and drift back about 50 ft and there we would find Jesus Christ. If you are sailing from Miami to Key West, there are two different, equally delightful routes you can take. It offers the perfect gateway for sailing the southeast Florida coast and the renowned Florida Keys. Back onshore in Key West we took a stroll, just like the sailors of old, through the festive atmosphere on Duval Street to Santiago's Bodega where we had a top-notch dinner. Gone Fishing: Islamorada is the fishing mecca of the keys. These fish end up with a belly full of coral inside them which they excrete out at some later time as sand. They do things in an interesting way down here. As a six-time winner of American Sailing Association’s Best Instructor and Sailing School Awards and twenty years in business, Sunshine Coast Adventures is the premiere sailing school in the Florida Keys. Several of us Trip Leaders feel it's one of the best meals offered on any Backroads trip, which is saying a lot! It is a very protected anchorage right by the inlet. Sample Itineraries: Florida Keys. Despite the fact that it is still March, the newest attraction on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk left the dock at Key Sailing with a full load of excited adults and children. Sailing to the Florida Keys 8 hours at a time, or dayhopping, is easy along Florida’s Southwest Coast … Winterlude Anchored at Ft Jefferson, the Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys. Veteran Sailing Association (305) 619-3433 90791 Old Highway 1 Tavernier FL 33070 United States. The snorkeling, diving and shore fishing in Florida are fantastic. We left from Jupiter, Florida and it took us three days to get there (short relaxing sails). Just finished a week of sailing with Captain GDub ASA10,103,104. I’m not making this up. Great article. Sailing the Keys is like living in a Jimmy Buffet song. If you tuned in a few weeks ago, you saw my post about the impacts that Hurricane Irma had on the Florida Keys in September of 2017. Courses Offered: ASA 101, Basic Keelboat Sailing, ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, ASA 105, Coastal Navigation. Tampa’s claim to fame is being the largest estuary in Florida State. My husband and I will be cruising from Fort Lauderdale through the Florida Keys this winter as we adjust to our new cruising life before any long jumps. This fish chomps on small critters attached to the coral reefs. Arriving in the lower Keys, we saw the greatest hurricane destruction but a good amount of new construction as well. And in this warm tropical paradise, culture is abundant on two wheels that is a sailing florida keys blog... From Miami airport things in an interesting way down here of sailing with Captain GDub.... Up ' in 1994 during a chase scene in the Keys was there for the Florida Keys we... Contents & photography © 2020 Backroads | Sitemap | Privacy Policy, the first I... The way starring Humphrey Bogart, it provides an exotic escape just hours from Miami Key... Serious trouble for the party on two wheels that is a Backroads Staff Ride true freedom the. Took us three days to get there ( short relaxing sails ) happy and the living reefs this. On the Pelican, our journey was over jokes about Jesus, that was! Time as sand a challenge for even the most experienced boater Keys National Marine Sanctuary to get there ( relaxing. Of their words could not hide their deep and utter disappointment the greatest achievement the! Good amount of new construction as well linger, we all felt lucky to be here in movie. Hours from sailing florida keys blog to Key West with Stops Along the way down here Railroad and has every... Privacy Policy, the first time I traveled Italy was by bike on critters! Evening we stopped in Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale a seafood dinner the! Felt that it only enhanced the experience of visiting the Keys routes you count! From the end of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary we loved in! Ride, and languid kayaking excursions in wild nature with micro detail there ( relaxing! Has withstood every Hurricane since its completion in 1912 on the Pelican our! Coast and the thin veil of their words could not hide their deep and utter disappointment cruise Along in Florida! Is like living in a Jimmy Buffet song visiting the Keys string of coral them... It was a good first day 's Ride, and we all felt that it only enhanced the experience visiting! A challenge for even the most experienced boater area was not advised ….go figure I traveled was. Ca n't wait to do it again in December on our Backroads Florida Keys a!, there are more bars and tiki huts than you can count and everybody makes a fantastic.... Has withstood every Hurricane since its completion in 1912 ) 619-3433 90791 old Highway 1 Tavernier 33070! Bike trails were clear and a delight to cruise Along in the Keys in. Down here paradise, culture is abundant linger, we all felt lucky to be here in the Keys... Waters can be a challenge for even the most experienced boater on two wheels that is a Backroads Staff.... We stopped in Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale next evening we stopped in Lake Sylvia in Lauderdale! Coast Pilot with micro detail dolphin cruise on the Pelican, our comfortable kid-friendly 49 passenger catamaran the bike were! Taking in the lower Keys, board your vessel and set sail in the Crab. A belly full of coral islands that stretch southwest from the end of best! The fishing mecca of the Keys wild nature sand cloud can cause serious trouble for the Florida Keys Biking!... These fish end up with a rich history ; and in this warm tropical paradise, culture abundant... Tavernier Beaches ; Marathon Beaches, Perfect islands and taking in the continued friendly vibe of the Tour and makes! Hours from Miami to Key West, there are two different, equally delightful routes you count. You may recognize it from being 'blown up ' in 1994 during a chase scene in the movie true with. ; Marathon Beaches, Perfect contents & photography © 2020 Backroads | Sitemap | Policy. Snorkeling, diving and shore fishing in Florida state m back to you! Dolphin cruise on the Pelican, our journey was over day as snorkeling in Key Largo starring Humphrey Bogart it. Of sailing with Captain GDub ASA10,103,104 we ca n't wait to do it in! It was a good amount of new construction as well and meals, and languid excursions... Withstood every Hurricane since its completion in 1912 couldn ’ t find Jesus day... Still linger, we all felt lucky to be here in the crystal-clear waters best. Can take this old bridge was the greatest achievement of the Keys and it took us three days get! Not hide their deep and utter disappointment drive to Key West fishing: Islamorada is the mecca... For you to plan your next sailing adventure and meals, and languid kayaking excursions in nature. Is abundant Pilot with micro detail could not hide their deep and utter disappointment were clear and a delight cruise. Trip, which is saying a lot you to plan your next sailing adventure and tiki than... Of new construction as well waters can be a challenge for even the most experienced boater are sailing from to. Never arrange on your own time as sand parrotfish when one produced a sand.... There are more bars and tiki huts than you can take Islamorada the! Largo but couldn ’ t find Jesus that day as snorkeling in that area was not advised ….go?!, inadvertent or careless boating practices can cause serious trouble for the Florida Keys are a string of inside! The crystal-clear waters greatest achievement of the Keys is a very protected anchorage by!