Ride Key West from Miami Video

[The Kite House]

Wanting to ride in key west but not drive?

Take the Key West ferry from Miami. Its real nice, you can load your gear, park for free and it takes 3:40 hours riding on the inside of the reef.

http://www.thekitehouse.com/gallery2/albums/userpics/10001/PA040007_%28Medium%29.JPG (http://www.thekitehouse.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=11&pos=6)

Inside is a bar, food, and flat screen t.v.'s

http://www.thekitehouse.com/gallery2/albums/userpics/10001/PA040001_%28Medium%29.JPG (http://www.thekitehouse.com/gallery2/displayimage.php?album=11&pos=5)

http://www.seakeywestexpress.com/ to get info

then when you get there ,we meet you and you can ride one of our new spots, check it out:

Fx784VFjqY0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx784VFjqY0)

You can come with a few friends and will book the boat out for you, or on your own and go ride the flats as well.

[admin]

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album214/Miami_and_the_Keys.jpg
A new way to go to Key West


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album294/KW_Ferry_VR_s_002.sized.jpg (http://www.fksa.org/gallery/view_photo.php?full=1&set_albumName=album294&id=KW_Ferry_VR_s_002)
Click for large image
The dock just west of the Miami Sea Aquarium on Rickenbacker Cswy. in Miami, FL

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Skyline.jpg
Checking out the skyline just before take off from the top deck of the ferry

This ferry is pretty amazing. Been going to Key West for decades, love the drive but the ferry offers a different great experience as well. The time flies by as your whipping down Hawks Channel within about 1/2 mile of the Keys.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Miami.jpg
Heading out of Miami at almost 40 mph!

So, you have excellent scenery and if the weather is sunny and warm you can do the whole trip on the upper deck exposed to the sky, sun and 38 mph breeze.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Stiltsville.jpg
You ply right through Stiltsville coming and going via the Biscayne Channel, really scenic.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/deck.jpg
You can catch some rays, meet people, read, write a magazine article (did that once) or just hang out.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/sailboat.jpg

When you arrive you feel fresh and ready to go with none of the normal fatigue of driving for hours. I think we used it about four times for overnight trips. If we drive, try to stay two nights at least. With the ferry it seems to workout better.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Channel.jpg

Here's an idea, just book some digs through the Kitehouse, take off on a Friday morning at 10 am arrive around 2 pm, the Kitehouse can meet you walk a couple of blocks to the boat and off you go to the flats for instant riding satisfaction. If you like you can rent bikes near the docks, ride or walk around Key West between jaunts to the Flats for stellar kiting sessions. It doesn't get much better than this.

The vessel has a tunnel hull meaning it has a very easy ride. The first time we took the ferry, we blasted into a 3 to 5 ft. head chop at 38 miles an hour. The deck didn't really heave or more much at all, amazing. Never gone that fast over the water with so little hull motion. Add to that you run instead the Florida Reef Tract for most of the trip, waves are usually fairly minor even in stronger winds.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Hull.jpg
Checkout the hull

The crew says that water people love the experience as have ever kiter that I have talked to about the trip. Wind, water and great sights, what else do you need?

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/water.jpg

They have a snack counter with sandwiches, drinks, TVs in the lounges on two decks for folks staying inside. It is like going on a small casual cruise for just a short time as you blast at high speed down the island chain.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Galley.jpg
The galley deck

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/deck2.jpg
They have two interior decks similar to this

You can bring your kite gear usually without extra charge from Miami. If it is more crowded you may have to pay something to have it stored in a locker. If you ride with the Kitehouse, you DON'T NEED to bring gear. They supply clients with new kites and boards, even blow them up and rig them for you. Boat in kite caddys! If you want to bring a bike down it is $20.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Paul_Menta.jpg
Paul Menta tooling down himself via bike to take us over to the boat to the flats. He's carrying two kites, boards and accessories. Bikes are good transport on Bone Island.

The crew is friendly, helpful and capable. I have to process some video and tell a story about how they managed in a squall line blow up just outside of Miami on our return. The winds were gusting past 45 kts. healing us over a fair amount for about 45 minutes as we laid too. No worries, the crew had things well in hand, the vessel rode through things easily. It was a intriguing, even fun experience.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album294/21_G.jpg
Heading out of Key West Harbor to start the fast run back to Miami

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/girls_on_deck.jpg
Time to go home but the trip has just started

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Ferry_s.sized.jpg

The website currently lists $102. per person round trip, less for children, seniors and only $83. for current college students with ID.. They have discount coupons at times. We even scored some two for one coupons a while back in the newpaper!

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/sunset_3.jpg

No room at Mallory Square for a good view of the sunset? No problem here, just grab a seat anywhere and watch the day move to night as you fly up the channel.

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/Sunset_2.jpg

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album325/sunset.jpg

It is a great way to see the Keys, just for a few days or longer.

[Todd RT]

I've taken that from Ft. Meyers to K.W.

Will they let you take plenty of gear though??

[admin]

I've taken that from Ft. Meyers to K.W.

Will they let you take plenty of gear though??

If they aren't crowded there shouldn't be any problem with bringing some kites and boards. If you are going out with the Kitehouse, they'll supply gear for you. If the boat is crowded you may have to pay to stow your gear, perhaps $20. although I haven't heard about anyone having to do this yet.

** Just added a bunch of images to the post above this one.

[The Kite House]

i have brought a bunch of stuff, tell them you are kiteboarding, they are real cool with it.

[admin]

How has it gone for other folks that have taken the Key West Ferry? Would have liked to jumped on one sorting through the photos yesterday. Sure is a great way to run down the Keys.

[JCM]

How long is the drive down to the keys from miami in comparison?

[BigR]

4 to 5 hours depending on traffic

[kiwiar2000]

very nice.
Key West has its charms

[Ross Bond(blu Swchblde 2)]

you can stay as many days as you want right? like leave on a fri and come back sun night?

[ricki]

Yes, we used to go on a Saturday morning and return Sunday but then the boat is just an hour from our house. Most folks might go down on a Thursday or Friday, some even staying the week. I see they have changed the schedule, leaving both Miami and Key West later.

Be sure to check the website for the most current time and rate info! Just pulled the following off their site. It is subject to change.
http://www.seakeywestexpress.com/

Fares from Miami to Key West
Miami Fares inclusive of all charges
Adults
$102.00 per person round trip

One way $51.00

Juniors
Juniors up to 12 years
$70.00 round Trip

One way $51.00

Seniors - 62+
Seniors - $83.00 round trip

One way $51.00

College Students
with current ID
$83.00 round trip

All one way fares between Miami and Key West are $51.00

Depart Miami 10:00am Arrive Key West 2:00pm Depart Key West 7:00pm Arrive Miami 11:00pm

[The Kite House]

its leave miami at 8:30 am - get in at 12:30 pm.......and go out on the water for sesssion!

and i belive 5:30 pm leaves key west

[admin]

its leave miami at 8:30 am - get in at 12:30 pm.......and go out on the water for sesssion!

and i belive 5:30 pm leaves key west

That is the schedule that we followed the times I went down. They have changed it though to a 10 am Miami departure arriving at Key West at 2 pm. I confirmed this by phone before putting it up in this post. The boozers must have been complaining about leaving Miami too early?! The good news is that you get to leave Key West an hour and a half later though at 7 pm.

[JCM]

Someone mentioned the same kind of ferry or same company not sure wich, but could you post their websight and prices leaving from Naples to the Keys.

Thanks