Challengers galore in Florida

We just went to the Keys for a winter getaway and we couldn't help but notice the huge numbers of Challengers on the road. So many varieties and colors. We were having fun seeing them all. I felt like waving to a few but I had to remember we were in our Trans Am convertible and these Challenger owners would have thought I was nuts. It was tempting to take the R/T but cruising the Keys and it's bridges cries out for a convertible.

 

Thanks for the pictures. We're hoping to get to the Keys later this Spring.

If your next trip brings y'all through Jacksonville ... holler and I'll buy you cold - or hot - beverage.

 

Same goes here when you visit the mountains again. Thank you!

One thing on the negative side of visiting the Keys is the incredible cost of everything compared to when we visited in the past. A normally $100 room at a Fairfield Inn was putting us back $250 per night on Marathon Key and that was CHEAP!! Another guest told us they were paying $360, and many of the resorts were over $400 per night. Then they add on resort fees, incidental fees, and anything else they can think of.

Key West 'all day' parking started at $40 and we saw $70 rates near Mallory Pier. Seafood went from $20 per meal to over $30 per meal. Fortunately I set aside some hobby sales $$$ (petroliana items) or this little trip could not have happened. We had a lot of fun still but I sure failed in life at making the big bucks, and I'm amazed at how many folks can spend so much. Good for them but I'm not in that league.

A few more pics of the trip. The sunset at Mallory pier in Key West is always a treat and the street performers just add to the atmosphere. We also saw a manatee at a marina, and some spoonbills along US 41 going across the Everglades.

 

The hotel room prices in the Keys are out of control and are a big reason why we have been vacationing in the mountains. Very different than even just 5-7 years ago.

And the sneaky practice of adding “resort” fees AND “parking“ fees is annoying. In my best Kramer voice ,,, why don’t you just tell me the price!

Still … we’re going to make a “Retirement Celebration” trip down there this year.

 

Love key west and can't wait to take my next road trip down there in my new challenger. But, the prices you mentioned are giving me a little anxiety. I've rented a 3 bed, 3 bath condo before, split 3 ways and it didn't come out to what you were quoting for a hotel. Yikes!!

 

I'm not sure what their rates might be now, but check out www.kwvpr.com - key west vacation properties and rentals. I've stayed in several of their properties over the last 8 years, across several key west trips and they have always been great to work with, with great pricing. Not sure what it might be now, but worth a look for those of you who like going as much as I do.

 

Yeah, I actually went and looked at that and the other shipyard units, to get an idea for my next vacation down there. It's really not bad, if you're going with multiple people and split the cost. Even at two people, you come out about the same as a hotel, maybe a little bit more, for a nicer experience.

 

^^^^ ... and everything within walking distance so you don't have to pay those wild parking rates I mentioned earlier. That really adds up.