The Florida Keys
07 - 20 - 2016 // Key West, Florida
Dalton and I drove down to the Florida Keys for our 3-year dating anniversary back when we were in college (look at those baby faces! ha ha we were SO young). It was a very fun weekend! I highly recommend you visit the keys at least once!
The first day, we stayed in Key Largo to go snorkeling with a tour guide at the John C Pennekamp Coral Reef where the Christ of Abyss statue is located. So cool to see in person! I enjoyed seeing all the parrot fish as well; they're so pretty. I will say, it was so hard to swim. I am NOT a skilled swimmer like my husband who swam competitively back in high school. The waves drag you away from the boat so quickly! It felt like I was constantly fighting against it just to stay near the tour boat. When it was time to leave, I was phyically drained by the time I made it on the boat. So worth it, though!
The following day, we had coffee at the cutest little coffee shop and then drove straight to Key West. We had no clue where we were really going or what we were going to do once we got there. Our plan was no plan that day. Just adventure on foot in the small town and see what we could find. It was really enjoyable honestly. We happened upon a wildlife rescue, where we fed the turtles and chickens. We waited in the absurdly long line for the Southern Most Point photo (something I didn't really care for, but Dalton wanted bragging rights to say that we had been there). There was a nearby local garden that was beautiful; however, I didn't get that many good photos there with the harsh midday lighting. The shops down the main strip were a lot of fun to walk through. We had the famous Key Lime Pie and then ate at a restaurant that was a little confusing to find. I could not tell you how we got there or the name of it, because I don't know... We somehow walked through a gift shop, then through a restaurant that wasn't a part of the one we ended up eating at? It was a maze. But the food was good, and I enjoyed the drinks after sweating all day in the summer heat. There was also an aquarium, where they also rehabilitate injured sea turtles. I really loved getting to see them! The aquarium was free entry, but they have a donate box at the entrance/exit where you can slip in how much money you want as you pass by.
After having a fun day in Ket West, we drove straight up to Naples from there. We arrived sometime after midnight, slept for a few hours, and then woke up early enough to get to the Naples Botanical Garden at opening.
They had a cafe located inside, so we got coffee and snacks there before walking through the gardens. Every section of the garden is beautifully designed. Even the kids section was fun to walk through (Dalton may have dipped his head into the splashpad area, because it was so hot). It took quite a few hours to get through the entire place. I highly recommend visiting, if you're ever in Naples, Florida! And make sure you bring a camera! It's a breathtaking garden!
