Caching In The Keys?

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

We're planning a trip to the Florida Keys this winter, see the sights, maybe go catch a bonefish. Hoping to go up to the Everglades for an airboat ride, maybe over to Sanibel Island to have a beer & sandwich at Randy Wayne White's Rum Bar & grill.

 

Of course want to hunt for some caches! Any must do's? Any tips on places to avoid? Being from the west, we live with rattlesnakes, mountain lions, etc., but don't know much about water moccasins, alligators and the other nasty critters that live in that area.

 

Any tips are appreciated!!!

[+OB Jets]

SLIP, SLAP, SLOP

 

Slip on a hat,Slap on some sun screen, Slop on the bug spray. Those should be all you will realy need. Consider yourself lucky if you SEE a gator in the wild, keep in mind its ILLEGAL to feed them, and during your trip if you see any animals on the land or in the water that are real ugly or pretty...its best to let them be...

 

As for the caching...seams as though you will be covering alot of ground...any idea of what you would like to 'see'? or the types of caches you might tend to favor ?

 

Ob

Edited October 8, 2004 by OB Jets

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Sound advice for anywhere. We intend to kick around the keys for a few days, see the highlights. So, the more interesting "urban caches" are on the menu, but really prefer the "non urban" whereas the ones that take you off the beaten path to some beautiful areas that may not be on the tourist maps.

 

We'll find them, just mostly interested in where NOT to go and what things/critters to look out for. So are mosquitoes a problem in late December? Are cottonmouths near every waterway? Are the natives friendly in all areas? Etc.

[+zygote2k]

Watch out for "Skink"

See also Carl Hiassen

[CacheMonkeez]

I'm going down there tomorrow for a week or so. I'll give you an update after my trip.

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Watch out for "Skink"

See also Carl Hiassen

Wasn't Skink a friendly (although somewhat eccentric) native?

[+OB Jets]

Sound advice for anywhere. We intend to kick around the keys for a few days, see the highlights. So, the more interesting "urban caches" are on the menu, but really prefer the "non urban" whereas the ones that take you off the beaten path to some beautiful areas that may not be on the tourist maps.

 

We'll find them, just mostly interested in where NOT to go and what things/critters to look out for. So are mosquitoes a problem in late December? Are cottonmouths near every waterway? Are the natives friendly in all areas? Etc.

Try and stop by floridacaching.com, Ive asked some of the locals for their picks on the not to be missed caches.

 

There are only one or two caches that I can think of that can be risky, however both of those clearly state that on the cache pages.

 

If the rains keep up the mosquitoes can be bad, Id come prepaired just in case. As for snakes, they seam to be in a hurry to get out of your way.

 

Have a fun trip...

 

Ob

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

OB Jets,

Thanks for the tips and the link......have read some of it and will read more soon.

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

So...........still looking for the "must do" caches in the Keys. Any suggestions? Or any "must do's" for a tourist.

[+OB Jets]

So...........still looking for the "must do" caches in the Keys. Any suggestions? Or any "must do's" for a tourist.

Pending the trip report from Cachemonkeez, perhaps these will help.

 

GCA61D "Trails of Margaritaville" a virt that tours the Island of Key West.

 

or

 

GCA36F "Bay Keys Cache" reg that doesnt seam to be found that often as it requires a flats boat or a long paddle.

 

Have fun...

 

Ob

[+Moses]

The Margaritaville multi will take you pass most of the other caches on the keys and take you to places you might not know has anything to do with Buffet. The southern most point cache is a neat place. There are several benchmarks also if you're interested in that. Download everything and try them all, there's not that many. There's one that takes you to an old cemetary(can't remember the name) alot of history in there.

[CacheMonkeez]

So...........still looking for the "must do" caches in the Keys. Any suggestions? Or any "must do's" for a tourist.

I just got back from the Keys. In general, the caches are pretty lame, but the hikes and scenery are great.

 

This picture was from our favorite: End of the Road

 

Also, check out Look down, Pull up. It's a micro, but the hike is cool.

 

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Thanks for the reports. Scenic hikes are on our agenda.

[CacheMonkeez]

Thanks for the reports. Scenic hikes are on our agenda. 

Or you can see more stuff if you bring or rent bikes.

 

In summary, if you're into trading items, the caching sux. If you're into hiking and exploring, the caching is awesome.

Edited October 19, 2004 by CacheMonkeez

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Thanks for the reports. Scenic hikes are on our agenda. 

Or you can see more stuff if you bring or rent bikes.

 

In summary, if you're into trading items, the caching sux. If you're into hiking and exploring, the caching is awesome.

Again, thanks for the tips!

The bike rental thing might be a way to go for a day. We just want to see the highlights of the Keys and find a few interesting caches. Trade items are not a priority as we usually don't take anything and leave a sig item. Unless, of course, there is another sig item in the cache.

 

This is going to be a whirlwind vacation, abeit a laid back one. See the sights and the scenery, with no hard core agenda.

 

C.J.

[+SeaAggies]

Not sure if you are still there or not, but if you are in the Sanibel area try Heartbreak Cache

 

About a four mile round trip hike. THe cache isn't in such great condition due to rain and such, but the hike was great! Lots of wild boars, gopher tortoises and crabs! Well worth it, even though the cache was in bad condition.