PHOTO: PETER FRANK EDWARDS
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The private beach at Bay Harbor & Coconut Bay Resort in Key Largo.
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The Florida Keys, never shy about hosting a party, is celebrating a bicentennial—two hundred years since the establishment of Monroe County, which covers the entire island chain. For at least a hundred of those years, tourists have relished its laid-back vibes, turquoise waters, epic fishing, and culinary delights (stone crab claws, conch fritters, plenty of shrimp, and of course, pie). On a trip to the Keys, G&G contributor T. Edward Nickens and his wife wanted to get a taste of the region beyond the usual spots. “We planned a slowpoke road trip, hunting down off-the-beaten-path Florida Keys restaurants, lodgings, and attractions,” Nickens writes. “In other words, the Keys visitors often miss.” Read about their five-day island-hopping adventure below.
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MORE FLORIDA KEYS STORIES |
Novel Retreats of the Florida Keys |
A Perfect Night in Key West |
Little Palm: The Dreamy Island
for Rent in the Keys |
Fly Fishing’s All-Star Cast |
Some of the world’s greatest anglers gather in the Florida Keys for a few days of instruction with some very lucky students
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ELIZABETH HUTCHISON HICKLIN
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Lake Keowee, South Carolina. As summer slid toward fall and our infant twins settled into a solid routine, our newly minted family of four decided to brave a change of scenery. Growing up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, my husband would relocate to the lake with his family as soon as school let out. This September, a friend’s house at Lake Keowee—an under-the-radar gem nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains—allowed us a chance to establish our own lake traditions, if only for a week.
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Remote beauty. Formed in the 1970s by Duke Energy, Lake Keowee covers 18,370 acres,and while there are no hotels, there are rental homes aplenty. For us, the lake’s pristine depths, secluded beaches, tumbling waterfalls, and showstopping mountain views more than made up for the lack of amenities. Jocassee Valley Brewing offers live bluegrass and open mic nights as well a rotating roster of local food trucks if your group needs a night out.
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Jocassee magic. It’s hard to understate the allure of nearby Lake Jocassee’s crystal clear waters and largely undeveloped shoreline. We stopped off at Jocassee Outdoor Center for gas, lunch provisions, and a paper map of the lake’s six waterfalls (cell service is spotty here) before heading to Devil’s Fork State Park, the Jocassee’s only public access point. We trailered our own boat, but the outdoor center rents both pontoons and ski boats. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are available inside the park.
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Adventures farther afield. Leaving the lake is tough, but this corner of South Carolina is a well-situated springboard for other outdoor pursuits and day trips. With a pair of nine-month-olds strapped to our chests, we easily made the short trek to the overlook at Upper Whitewater Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. We also made the forty-minute drive to Cashiers, North Carolina, where we stopped at Cornucopia for lunch and grabbed beers on the kid-friendly lawn at Whiteside Brewing. And if you’re traveling with older kids or just adults, the Chattooga River offers excellent rafting and fishing opportunities.
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MORE TRAVEL STORIES FROM G&G |
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