Have you been to the Florida Keys?

My wife and I are planning a trip. We are considering the Keys.
Can we fly into Fort Lauderdale, stay near there or Miami, and commute to the Keys everyday? Hotels on the Keys seem very pricey.
We love the water and snorkeling, any good tips on places to go? Nice beaches, reefs?
Other places to see?
Good places to eat?

Any tips and advice will be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!

Islamorada is really nice, Bentlys is a very popular restaurant there, so you may want to try it out. There are a lot of little hotels there, you may be able to narrow your chocies down by visting http://www.tripadvisor.com/. Read reviews and make your choice.

The Drive is really long. You have to access the turnpike or US1 then the 18 mile streach/Card Sound then drive for another 30/45 minutes to reach Islamorada. Its about an 1.5 hour drive. I would say stay at a hotel and keep traveling to different parts of the keys so you can see them all. Key West is Wonderful! You should try getting down there and take a pic by Mile Marker 0! There is a lot of keys in the keys.

Have Fun and Be Careful!
Ellie

From Miami to Key Largo is about 1-1 1/2 hrs. Your best bet is to stay at a smaller hotel in the keys and save time and gas money. The bigger resorts are really pricey but you can utilize the nightclubs,bars and restaurants in them.Whale Harbor has a nice seafood buffet in Islamorada, a little expensive but lots of fresh seafood and you can walk along the docks and see the fishing charter boats. Kelly's Motel in Key Largo is pretty decent but nothing fancy. For snorkleing find a boat that goes to the Christ statue. Can be crowded but the reefs are worth it.

The Keys are overrated....nice bridges.....one fast food joint and gift shop from largo to key west..

We were married in key west when it was still fun....i still fish in marathon every year...beaches suck...BIG TIME....they keys are old coral

if you never been there...you should go and make up your own mind.....Long...long drive from Miami...or Fort Lauderdale..You'd tie up 5 hours a day commuting...gosh that would be fun..

The Keys are overrated....nice bridges.....one fast food joint and gift shop from largo to key west..

you can easily stay in Key West for under 100 per night... there are nice & newer hotels on the east side of the island and they offer 24 hour shuttles to drop you and pick you up on demand...

snorkeling is unreal in the keys... take a trip from key west up to around mile marker 20 (Big Pine Key) and this is home to one of the nicest reef in south florida called LOOE KEY (about 5 miles off shore)...

when you hear many many people comment on the un-impressive beaches, they are referring to the "public" beaches... fact is, they suck... so if you want to hit a beach in key west, spend the day at CASA MARINA... you will be pleased....

other nice places to see while there...
key west cemetary (no kiddng, very popular)
Duval street (lots of actions, food, bars, scenery, drag queens)
great fishing (go on a group trip to save money)

places to eat....
Mangia Mangia (fresh made pasta & very fair pricing)
La Trattoria (very good italian but a little costly)
Alonzos (great location great food & before 6 is half price on half the menu)
Upper Crust (unreal pizza but nothing like traditional pizzas)
Banana Cafe (adorable french breakfast or lunch)(really addictive and affordable)

regarding post above me... some comments to note....
"old coral" most reefs are old coral, what does this matter... it is no secret that the reefs in the keys are some of the best dive sites....

from miami, it is about 1.5 hours and other than first 15 minutes of highway drive the rest is nice and relaxing... as a matter of fact the speed limit is really slow too, but it is a lovely drive... don't commute... stay in key west...

Live in state, prefer Marathon or Key Largo. Not as touristy, lots of cruise ships go into Key West. Very over crowded, and priced. Also alot of retired people make up for the passengers, think about it.

I have been to the Keys, and they are so beautiful.
There is a nice beach pretty far down called Bahia Honda. I saw it on the travel channel as one of the best secluded beaches in the U.S.
Just take your time, and sightsee.
I recommend staying in a nice hotel outside of the Keys, in Florida City. The hotels aren't great, but half the price, and you're only 30 minutes away from Key Largo.

THE KEYS ARE DISGUSTING!!!!

NASTY PEOPLE THERE!!

Go to Orlando instead.

I have been to the keys drove from Miami staning in the Miami area and I would make a day trip and maybe overnight out of it but the night life is not a family place it can get crazy. But if you have no kids you would have a great time. It is a great drive 2 hours with some traffic delays out of Miami but it would be a fun little day trip. It is not something you want to commute to everyday. It is a 2 lane road most of it anyways and it does seem like it takes awile to get there. Marathon is nice its a long the way down these a whole lots of diferent little towns which is a different part of the Keys and Key West being the main one. Have fun

I recently stay in Miami and took a day trip to the Keys. It was quite a drive, and I doubt you'll want to do it everyday. But I highly recommend going to John Pennekamp State Park (Key Largo) for snorkeling. It was inexpensive and fantastic!