Five Days in Florida (Day 3)

Day 3 - Get up early, you bum. A few blocks south of the Versace Mansion on Ocean Drive is an awesome place to start your day. If you are a Versace/fashionista fan, then a short pilgrimage to the steps where a deranged Andrew Cunanan murdered Gianni in 1997 would be worth the few extra steps. There is an al fresco coffee shop (I'm sorry I can't remember the name) with an excellent international newsstand that is prime people watching real estate. Get there early, buy a newspaper or magazine, find an excellent bistro table and let the South Beach morning unfold before your eyes. Rarely will one find a more eclectic migration of souls in such a small place. Honestly, one could write a novel just utilizing only the characters passing by on the sidewalk. If coffee didn't make me so jittery, I could do this every day for the rest of my life and still want more. If coffee isn't your "cup of tea", and romantic isolation is, then opt for a great stroll on the beach. It's South Beach, fool. By about 10 am, checkout of your South Beach hotel and aim your convertible south on A1A. We are headed to the Keys. First stop Key Largo, the self-proclaimed and over-exaggerated, "Dive Capital of the World".

I love just about everything the Florida Keys has to offer. Except the traffic on the Overseas Highway. And, I will be the first to admit that their "come as you are" way of life keeps me dreaming of my next visit. I'm asked at least monthly if I could live anyplace in the continental US and money was no object, where would I live. Answer: The Florida Keys would be in the top 2. I don't want to have to pick between Key West and Austin; my hometown might lose.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park located at MM 102.6 is fun for all ages and skill levels. Even if you don't want to get wet, the park offers glass bottom tours that allows one to experience everything a snorkeler sees in the dry confines of a boat. This is an American diver/snorkeler "must do" experience in Florida. You don't go to the Cayman Islands and not visit Sting Ray City nor do you go to Rome and ignore the Colosseum. You don't tour the Keys without John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Canoeing through the mangroves is a highlight for me.

At MM 82 is Cheeca Lodge Resort and Spa in Islamorada, this is the luxury resort in the area and sometimes even worth it. They charge an automatic $39 resort fee; I hate these add-ons. The service is flat and some of the bungalows are unacceptable and need attention. (I still think they owe me a $169 credit to my credit card from Sept. 2001) But the location and views are unbeatable. Cheeca Lodge offers all kinds of cutesy packages that induces one to stay on property. Don't fall for it. Just get a nice bed with an ocean view. That's all you need. Take a walk out on the pier; early in the morning nurse sharks scour the sand at the end of the pier for any opportunity. In the evening, right after dusk, the giant tarpon show looking for a hand out, literally. Watch your hands. If your want to utilize the extensive amenities that Cheeca Lodge offers then check at the concierge desk before check-in. You can also do this online at http://www.cheeca.com/. Islamorada is truly the Sportfishing Capital of the World and a vacation in itself. Don't financially commit to any charter before you see what the nearby competition has to offer. You will be pleasantly surprised how affordable world class sport fishing can be if you are not afraid to barter.

Day 3 is much slower than Days 1 and 2. The tranquil magnificence of the Florida Keys will do this to you. Slow down and savor it.

Come as you are,

Al, the Travel Valet

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