On 11/27/2019 at 2:30 PM, sandsys said:

We stayed there and liked it as well but it was so long ago I wasn't sure that was still the case. Details of our Miami visit here:  https://sandcastle.sandsys.org/2009/05/miami-area/

Linda Sand

What you said about large vehicles and downtown Key West  is right, I was driving my dually towing our40' 5er, missed the turn to the Navy CG and wound up on Duval street. Thankfully there are a lot of courteous drivers there who gave me room to maneuver corners until I reached the correct  street corner.

Edited November 27 by Ray,IN

We explored Miami Beach using public transportation (buses). We parked on the street in North Miami Beach and took the bus down to South Beach. We didn’t go to downtown a Miami or any of the neighborhoods on the mainland. Never felt unsafe and enjoyed both the International atmosphere and the amazing architecture, evolving from Art Deco to modern. The beach is beautiful and there is an amazing variety of restaurant opportunities to sample.

I would also take the RV down the Keys. It would be easy to spend a minimum of 4-5 days exploring. You would probably need reservations during peak season though.

Here is my secret for parking an RV and toad for the day in Key West--drive straight in to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park on the far southwestern corner of the island. (You don't want to drive your big rig around much of the town because the roads are narrow.)  There is a dirt parking lot, just past to the paved parking lot that will accommodate big rigs, and the entrance fee for the state park is $6.50 per vehicle!!  (I paid only $4.50 because I was a single occupant of my vehicle.) The dirt lot is almost to the beach.  The person at the entrance booth will direct you.

Then enjoy a walk around the fort and the beach, and then get out your bikes, as I did and enjoy a day of bike riding, or walk out of the park and call an Uber or cab to take you to the main tourist area, or walk there--it is really not too far. 

Or I suppose you can find a campground and just take your toad in, but I have no toad, so have to drive my 32" vehicle around.  The state park was a terrific find.  I had called ahead to ask about parking a motorhome there, and they were very helpful.  Cheapest and safest parking in Key West! 

Thanks Im on it