To kick off the start of the season (if you can believe it is here already), J and I took our last weekend together and hit the road one last time in July. This was our July trip de la resistance, and we took our sweet ass time checking out the last stretch of Florida that we hadn't yet hit... the Keys. To date, we have been just about everywhere one might want to go in Florida except Miami (still haven't been anywhere but FIU and UM) and the Redneck Riviera, aka The Panhandle. Pretty good for only living here 2.5 years.
We started off our final Florida road trip with a drive down to my friend Aimee's house. She graciously puppy-sat for us and after some delicious sushi and a shopping trip (because SOMEONE conveniently forgot his swim gear), we headed south. On our way down to Key Largo we stopped to take in the sites at the University of Miami and then were on our way again. The drive was beautiful and we got into Key Largo with enough time to go kayaking, swim in the hotel pool and then out for dinner on the water where we could take in the sunset while chomping down on some very fresh seafood. We were in tropical heaven.
The next day we drove 100ish miles south on the Overseas Highway to Key West. It was so much more laid back and fun than I was expecting. While we can certainly see why people go down south to fish and go boating (and were lusting after all of the boats ourselves), there is still a LOT to do in Key West on land. We rented scooters and trolled around town. As we stumbled into town during Hemingway Days Festival and didn't exactly plan ahead, we were thankful to get what seemed to be the literal last hotel room in town. Also, there was a Hemingway look-alike contest so everywhere we went there were old men with white beards. It was trippy :)
Of course we had to eat as much key lime pie as we could, we took in the sunset from the rooftop bar of the Westin (highly recommend) went for a swim in one of the best pools of my life, held hands all day and shamelessly acted like silly tourists. I can say it was more fun that two people should be allowed to have. It was SUPER hot out but we had a blast. Once the sun went down Duval Street (the Bourbon Street of Key West) really got bumping and we had fun checking out all of the bars, meeting new people, dancing a smidge and people watching the night away. Key West had people of all ages and the vibe was very come-as-you-are which was really refreshing.
After we said our good-byes to Key West, we headed back north and stayed our last night at the Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale. It is one of the only Ft. Lauderdale hotels right on the beach AND they have a lazy river. We were treated like royalty, went out for a fancy dinner at The Capital Grille and cried the night away because our trip was over.
It was a very magical, memorable weekend with my sweetie. I'm so grateful he took me on such a great month's worth of adventures capped off with a trip to remember always. Thank you for being so wonderful sweets, I love you!
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| THE SUN, OUR EYES! |
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| Oh hey handsome |
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| Nothing like eating seafood by the seaside. There were INSANELY huge Tarpon swimming next to us |
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| Snappys |
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| No Peckerheads allowed! We played this hook game for like 40 minutes and I won only once.... Sigh. |
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| Um.... it was a BIT muggy out |
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| Nerd Alert |
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| We got to kayak out into that beautiful water past the pier |
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| El Caribe |
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| Overseas Highway |
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| Our first stop in Key West! |
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| Sweetface |
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| Had the place ALL to ourselves |
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| Southernmost Scooter and Southernmost Thumbs-Up |
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| Lovebirds |
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| Southernmost Pier |
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| We waited for about 10 mins in the 100 degree sun... it was worth it :) |
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| Southernmost Photograph |
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| Or two... |
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| We found the one beach in Key West :) |
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| We weren't the only ones |
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| We didn't go to a single place that didn't have a key lime pie avail |
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| Yep, that's a chocolate dipped slice of key lime pie on a stick. NBD. |
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| He likes it |
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| NOMS |
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| One of the best smoothies of my life... Key lime, pineapple, strawberry & banana |
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| Kermy's! |
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| Action heros |
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| We didn't go in but... we look good outside! |
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| Hemingway's Place |
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| Add caption |
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| Southernmost Hotel |
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| Yup, Tourists. |
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| Love him |
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| Zilch |
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| No More Miles |
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| THE END |
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| Famous Key West 6-Toed Cats |
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| Some Presidents Stayed Here |
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| Key West Sculptures |
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| Boot scoot boogie |
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| Our crazy room at the Southern Cross Hotel. Last room in Key West avail for the weekend and we got it! |
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| Back up north we went to Ft. Lauderdale |
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| YES |
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| Don't worry about our room |
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| Check out this sweet ass view! Cuteness overload with the rocking chairs |
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| Fords love the beach |
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| Pelican Grand Beach Resort! |
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| Representing So Cal |
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| YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS |
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| Oh, don't mind our insane rainbow! |
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| I couldn't get over our room and view |
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| Thumbs up is RIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT Baby! |
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| Lovebirds out for our last vacation meal at Capital Grille... NOMS |
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| Only in Florida will it rain at night and still be HOT HOT HOT out by the beach |
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| Didn't want the night to end |
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| Enjoying the rocking chairs and ocean breeze |
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| DONT PACK THEN WE WONT HAVE TO LEAVE |
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| You best believe we were all up in that lazy river |
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| !!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Someone can't believe the flippin view in this place |
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| We were spoiled |
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| Can you spot the rainbow? |
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| Is this a dream??? |
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| Pelican Grand Beach Resort, Ft. Lauderdale |
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