|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.By BicycleBusy highways with no bike lanes deter casual bikers from mak-ing the long run down from Miami.Once in the Keys, a wonderfulbike trail runs most of the way from Key Largo to Key West, al-though biking it can still be dangerous.The path peters out inthe Lower Keys and picks up again near Key West.Bridges in theKeys are relatively wide and have enough room for moderatelycomfortable biking.In spite of the traffic, many bikers do make the trip from Miami.A few are killed each year.My suggestion is to find another wayof getting yourself and your bike to Key Largo before starting offon your two-wheeled adventure.Buses will carry bicycles withsome packing restrictions.Greyhound, for example, will carry bi-cycles packed in a substantial container no larger than 8" x 32"x 60".For $10, Greyhound sells boxes suitable for packing a bicy-cle.By BoatThe absolute best way to get to and enjoy the Keys is by boat.Theroutes down along the Intracoastal Waterway or on the oceanside through Hawk Channel are two of the best boat rides in thecountry, with calm, clear water and relatively undisturbed wild-life.Getting from key to key is a pleasure.Although the entirearea is very shallow and requires your attention, the channelsand flats are well marked.For the purposes of this book, the Intracoastal Waterway runssouth from Miami through Biscayne Bay (to the north, it contin-ues a long way up the country s East Coast).It hits Key Largo atJewfish Creek and continues through Florida Bay alongsideEverglades National Park, past Big Pine Key to Key West.Boaters frequently cross from the bay side to the ocean side of theKeys at either Elliot Key, just north of Key Largo, or at TavernierCreek, just south of Key Largo.The well-traveled Hawk Chan-nel runs on the ocean side about two miles off from the chain ofthe Keys all the way to Key West and is a delightful sail.Travel Information 74 CommunicationsNAUTICAL CHARTSNOAA charts are a must.I suggest selecting the detailedcharts for the areas you will be passing through orspending time in.NOAA s website is difficult tonavigate.Instead, visit www.nauticalcharts.com,which has an easy-to-use interface and allows you toorder charts online.Most NOAA charts sell for $17.75.You can also buy them in the keys at major marinesupply stores, such as World Class Angler inMarathon or West Marine on Caroline Street in KeyWest.CommunicationsTelephoneThe area code for Everglades National Park and theKeys is 305 throughout, but starting sometime in 2005,area code (786) will be used for new listings.Long-dis-tance charges may apply when calling out of the immediate area.A call from the Keys to Miami is charged at long-distance rates,for sure.Cell phones work fine in most areas of the Keys.There are occa-sional dead spots, and I find poor coverage, if any, in Flamingo.Hotels typically charge 75¢ for local calls.Ask about charges ifyou plan on making lots of long-distance calls.Internet AccessMost of the major providers have service in the Keys andoffer local dial-up numbers.When dialing from your ho-WWWtel room, use a local number (call your provider beforeyou leave home and ask for their access Keys number).A numberwith a 305 area code may not be a local call.Check with the frontdesk if you are unsure.A few of the upscale hotels havehigh-speed connections in the rooms, but it is not common. Accessibility 75Special ConcernsAccessibilityHandicapped access is becoming more and more com-mon and you will find the Keys to be on par with otherparts of the US.Some of the trails in Everglades Na-tional Park are designed for wheelchair use.The Old TownTrolley in Key West can accommodate wheelchairs and is a greatway to see the town.Gay & Lesbian TravelThe Keys, and Key West in particular, are famous fortheir tolerant lifestyle.Whatever your sexual prefer-ences, you will probably feel quite comfortable here.Tohelp you get what you want from your trip, I mention guest-houses, bars and other establishments that cater specifically togay or lesbian travelers.The Gay & Lesbian Community Cen-ter, 513 Truman Avenue, 305-292-3223, www.glcckeywest.org,can provide more information.HospitalsFisherman s Hospital, MM 48.7, Marathon, 305-743-5533HLower Keys Medical Center, 5900 College Road,Stock Island, 305-294-5531Mariner s Hospital, MM 91.5, Plantation Key, 305-852-4418Public NudityTopless or nude bathing is against the law on all FloridaKeys beaches.It is tolerated on a few resort beaches, butdon t expect to toss off your clothes wherever you feellike it.While body painting replaces actual clothing during someTravel Information 76 Information Sourcesparty events in Key West and nudity is more or less tolerated atthose times, it is still against the law and people go to jail for it.You should avoid Key West s notorious Fantasy Fest if public nu-dity offends you.Some guesthouses encourage nudity aroundtheir pool areas, but ask before you strip.Traveling with PetsMany hotels remain hostile to our fuzzy animal compan-ions, but others have more enlightened attitudes.Traveling with a dog may seem crazy to some but, formany people, traveling without their pet seems like travelingwithout their spouse or kids.Florida is a popular destination forempty nesters and many drive down with pets on board.Wise ho-teliers welcome neat pets and their money-spending owners.Most pet-friendly hotels will ask for a cleaning deposit and somecharge a bit extra (up to $25/night) if you bring a pet.Some other-wise pet-friendly hotels refuse large dogs.Many hotels refuse an-imals of any type.Fines or ejection can occur if you are caughtsneaking around the no-pet rule.Be sure to check before booking.Everglades National Park allows pets if kept on a leash and awayfrom public trails.AUTHOR NOTE: Gators gobble up small dogsand cats from time to time, so keep your petsclose to you and away from the edge of pondsand swampy areas.Information SourcesWeatherNational Weather Service, 305-295-1324, www.nws.noaa.gov, features national and local weather mapsand warnings.www.keysnews.com, is a local site offering news and weather. Reading Resources 77www.fla-keys.com/weather.htm, has regional weather re-ports and forecasts.Reading ResourcesSwamp Screamer, At Large with the Florida Pan-ther, Charles Fergus, North Point Press, 1996, ISBN0865474915.A well-written description of various con-servation efforts for the Florida panther.Bone by Bone, Peter Mathiessen, Random House, 1999, ISBN0375501029.A fictional account of rough life in Ten Thousand Is-lands at the turn of the 19th century.Last Train to Paradise, Les Standiford, Three Rivers Press,ISBN 1400049474.Good history of the old Flagler railroad andhow it was built.However, the author seems not to have actuallybeen to the Keys, getting directions wrong and, very incorrectly,stating that visitors cannot see evidence of the old railroad.Stilla good read, though.Storm of the Century, Willie Drye, National Geographic Soci-ety, 2002, ISBN 0792280105.A well-researched and highly read-able account of the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, one of the mostpowerful hurricanes to hit the US in modern times.To Have and to Have Not, Ernest Hemingway, Simon &Shuster, ISBN 0684818981.A classic that gives a good feel for lifein old Key West
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plhanula1950.keep.pl
|