Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa
Islamorada (2 nights)
Part of the Islamorada scene since 1946, this amenity-rich beachside resort is set on 27 lush acres. (pool, spa)
Ocean Key Resort & Spa
Key West (2 nights)
Superbly located at the foot of Mallory Square, the epicenter of the famous nightly sunset festival. (pool, spa)
This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-2
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
Daily Route Options (drag to see full )
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| 1 |
Biking |
7 |
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| Biking |
15 |
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| Other |
Airboat Tour (1 Hour) |
| 2 |
Other |
Snorkeling Excursion or Glass-Bottom Boat Tour (2.5 Hours) |
| Kids |
Fishing |
| 3 |
Biking |
11 |
0 |
33 |
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23 |
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Dolphin Research Visit (1.5 Hours) |
| 4 |
Biking |
11 |
0 |
34 |
0 |
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17 |
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| Other |
Sunset Sail (1.5 Hours) |
| 5 |
Other |
Stand-Up Paddleboarding (1 Hour) |
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Note:
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires.
Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.
Meals
All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day’s ride is a bike that’s perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)
Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.
Touring Bike (Included)
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem ($400 rental fee)
Do you prefer to spin in tandem with your partner? You'll love the Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo tandem on your Backroads trip. You can upgrade to a Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem on your trip.
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem (Upgrade)
Custom Kids Bikes (Included in your trip price)
Backroads is the only travel company to manufacture its own line of kid's bikes. While the wheels might be small, the performance is big—it's the perfect choice for kids. On all Backroads Family Trips, you'll find 20" and 24" bicycles for the younger set. They say good things come in small packages; when it comes to bikes for kids of all ages, Backroads is the expert.
Custom Kids Bikes (Included)
Burley Kazoo trailer bike (Included in your trip price)
The Burley Kazoo trailer bike, for children up to 85 pounds, attaches to an adult bike with your child providing some of the pedal power for a real team effort! It's ideal for kids who may be comfortable pedaling around the neighborhood but aren't yet ready for bike touring.
Burley Cub trailer (Included)
Burley Cub trailer (Included in your trip price)
The Burley Cub trailer, for one or two children 60 pounds and under, is sturdy carrier that attaches to our bikes. It provides a comfortable and safe ride in the spacious interior with inner pockets for snacks and drinks, a reclining seat with a secure five point padded harness system and an adjustable sunscreen.
Burley Cub trailer
Also Included
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Get the Straight Talk about This Trip
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
A Place Like No Other
The Florida Keys have a unique charm all their own. You'll bike past the meticulously restored Victorian homes of Key West, cruise ships parked offshore, a few strip-malls and the occasional tackle shop. Isolated sandy beaches are few and far between in the Keys; instead it's the vibrant character, fascinating history and quirky culture that make the keys such a one-of-a-kind destination.
Traffic & Crowds
The Keys have their share of crowds and traffic—especially over peak holiday and spring break months, when it is not uncommon to experience traffic delays and slow service during meals. Not to worry, we have built plenty of time into the itinerary to account for the relaxed pace—which the locals call "Keys Disease"!
Terrain
The Keys' narrow islands are connected by the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, which allows us to travel through them on dedicated bike paths. These paths are flat—perfect for laid-back spins—and run parallel to the highway. Please note that cars will typically be within view and you'll occasionally have to cross the main road.
Weather & Activities
Water activities in the Keys are weather dependent. In the case of bad weather, alternative activities will be planned. In colder months, the water temperatures average 70 degrees, and wetsuits will be available.
Why Travel with Backroads in Everglades and Key West
Not Your Typical Day at the Beach
Designed by a Backroads expert who grew up in the Keys, this unique family trip explores a side of Florida that most visitors miss. Your gang will enjoy biking, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking and boating in the National Marine Sanctuary, the vast reserve that encompasses the Keys and the world's third-largest barrier reef. And in the Everglades we venture far off-road into a cypress dome forest filled with colorful birds and rare plant life. Welcome to the secret Florida.
Leaders Focused on Families
When everyone's together, there's lots going on; and when kids' and adults' priorities diverge, it can seem like two different trips. That's why our Family Adventures in Everglades and Key West have three Trip Leaders—including a dedicated Kids Activity Expert who regularly takes younger travelers off to do their own thing. Other companies try to get by with two leaders; we step up and do it right. For more on our family focus, check this out.
Everyone at Their Own Pace
We design and support our Everglades and Key West trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Plenty of Kids on Your Trip
It may be hard to imagine being on a family trip with no other families on it—but it happens regularly with some companies. On a Backroads Family Adventure there are typically several families on each departure, creating more opportunities for your kids to make new friends as they try fun things together – which is a big part of the experience.
Get the Most Out of Each Day
Coordinating multiple activities throughout a single day can be tricky, but with Backroads you'll never know it. When you explore Everglades and Key West with us, you switch activities seamlessly without missing a beat. We invented the multi-adventure concept, and we're constantly adding new dimensions and fine-tuning the experience to make it even more enjoyable.
We Invented the Multi-Adventure Trip
After more than 30 years of creating Backroads Multi-Adventures, our trip designers know how to blend the perfect balance of biking and hiking with other activities to showcase the best of a region. And then they arrange the seamless transitions that would be so hard to orchestrate on your own—adding dimensions to your trip that are exciting, inspiring and just plain fun.
Signature Backroads Picnics
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
A Second Van When You Need It
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Everglades and Key West—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
More Leaders to Support You
On our Everglades and Key West trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road and trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Time Together, Time Apart
Backroads is the leader in designing trips that ensure everyone, young and young-at-heart alike, has an amazing time. Your Backroads Family Adventure balances family activities with diversions designed exclusively for the kids—giving the adults a welcome break from making decisions, other than choosing whether to explore a few more miles or just enjoy each other's company. A family vacation where everyone gets to relax, recharge and have fun – what a concept!
Custom-Designed Bikes for Kids
Only Backroads provides bikes specifically designed for younger riders. Find out more information on all of our kids' bikes and optional accessories. And check out Tom Hale's blog post about biking with your kids.
