If not Key West...

[jpc763]

So there is a Key West with kids thread that has sufficiently scared us off of going to Key West.

My oldest son and I will be doing a Boy Scout High Adventure that sails out of Islamorada, FL (Mile 74).

My wife and younger son wants to tag along and stay in the keys for a week and then the whole family will stay in the keys for another week.

If not Key West, then where?

Our interests are mainly Golf, Swimming, Snorkeling.

Resort names would be great! We trade through II.

 

[theo]

Some (alleged) thoughts...

My wife and younger son wants to tag along and stay in the keys for a week and then the whole family will stay in the keys for another week.

If not Key West, then where?

Our interests are mainly Golf, Swimming, Snorkeling.

Resort names would be great! We trade through II.

No longer belonging to either RCI or II myself, I cannot offer you any informed input on which of the timeshare facilities in the Keys are "II affiliated". However, not wanting to see your inquiry to go entirely unanswered, I offer the following snippets which may be of help or interest to you:

1. Forget about golfing. Florida Keys real estate is entirely too valuable (and entirely too limited) to have it taken up by space-eating golf courses.

2. Key Largo would give you good proximity to some good snorkeling. For example, you can take the (concession) boat out from John Pennekamp Park to go out to the reef, which is a few miles offshore. Beaches, however, essentially do not exist in Key Largo (or, oddly enough, in most of the Florida Keys, for that matter). The nearest good Keys beach from Key Largo is probably Bahia Honda State Park --- about 60 driving miles away. There is a timeshare facility in Key Largo called Florida Bay Club, around mile marker 103. I used to own there. it's an older place (and frankly a bit "tired"), but decent enough and with huge family friendly units. Small dock on site too (also "tired", but still functional).

3. There is a facility that has its' own small beach right on property further "down" the Keys (I want to say Marathon or Islamorada, but just can't recall which --- or its' name).

If you have to exchange through II, I'd suggest just getting out the II directory. I suspect that you'll promptly discover that all of your II options throught the entirety of the Florida Keys can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand...

Hope this helps. If not, what you have paid me for the input will be cheerfully refunded in full.

P.S. Post #5 below jogged my addled memory regarding the facility I could not remember in item 3. above.
It was / is indeed the Topsider.

 

[jjluhman]

jpc-

Are you providing a wide date range really far in advance with a very strong trader? There are only a few properties in the keys, and trading into them is really difficult. FYI - I have a request in for October or November of this year with a Gold (4th of July) Ocean Pointe week that has been in since last summer..... still no exchange.

I have however traded into Key West several times. I would not hang out on Duval street with kids after dark, but I would stay at some of the resorts (Hyatt Beach House, Hyatt Windward Point, and Coconut Beach) with kids. There are some cool thing to do with the kids during the day, and the resorts have nice pools and/or beaches. We always rent a boat for a day or two as well. You can easily shelter the kids from the craziness.

 

[vacationhopeful]

What is the age of your boy staying with your wife? I have done various solo trips with nephews to South Florida, but the age of the boy helps to determine the stuff I do along with their personality and interests?

And is this another SUMMER BS adventure?

 

[silverfox82]

The Topsider resort at MM75 trades thru II. It consists of 20 individual freestanding units, all 2 bed/2 bath. It has a pool, hot tub, tennis courts, free kayaks and bicycles. It does have a small beach and limited snorkling and a great pier for fishing or sunset cocktails. The best units are 1 and 11 which are right on the water. I traded in there years ago and promptly bought 2 weeks.

 

[jpc763]

As an update, the Troop was given a June 7 - 14 tall ship adventure so that has now set our travel time.

I have researched all of the properties on II (all 10 of them!) and determined that I probably will not get one of them for the 2nd week (14 - 21).

We looked into rentals nearby and found a lot of inventory at very reasonable prices. With a rental, my wife can stay put for 2 weeks with my younger son (12 years old) and my older son and I (14 years old) will join them for the second week.

The area is called Tavernier and the complex is called Ocean Pointe. Anybody have any insight?

Thanks again for your input.

J

 

[GeraldineT]

Maybe stay in Islamorada and do a day or two into Key West. Or stay on the north side of the island. Key West is great. So much fun to have lunch at the Hogs Breath while the roosters walk around. Maybe a stop into Sloppy Joes for a drink and a song. They make virgin drinks for the kids. See Hemingway house. The shipwreck museum is kind of cool. you have to take a picture of the family at the Southernmost point of the United States. There is plenty of history and entertainment. Just go during the week and don't stay to late.

 

[vacationhopeful]

I personally do NOT think there is enough to do for your wife with a 12yo that would NOT be repeated when you all joined up with them. The 12yo will be bored either the 1st week or the 2nd week or both.

I would cater the first week to the 12yo with non-adult activites. Tennis, golf or sailing lessons - a program for the WHOLE week. This will allow your wife some vacation time to go shopping or the spa or sleeping in.

How about her sister (or other relative) joining her (them) for the week? After all, a 2bdr would be a wasted on just 2 persons.

Then my other thought is: let them fly up to Orlando and do Disney for the week. There is not a 12yo in the world who turn his nose up on a solo trip to Disney without his big brother (having been back only 5 weeks from that type of trip).

 

[JPD]

If you are military related, there are a few base's in and around Key West. You might be able to stay at the temp lodging and take advantage of the recreational activities they offer.