Most people dread the long road trip from Central Florida to Key West — but not me. I absolutely love it… maybe a little too much! If I had my way, it would take me days to make it all the way down because there are just so many places I want to stop and explore. When Quin and I plan a trip like this, we start with my (usually very long) list of must-sees, then slowly narrow it down. Luckily, he always leaves room for one or two spontaneous “ohh” or “ahhh” moments — because when I spot something intriguing, I have to stop and see it!
One of our planned stops was Bahia Honda State Park, and we couldn’t have timed it better. When we pulled into the parking lot, there was just one other car — meaning we basically had the entire park to ourselves. We made a beeline straight for the old bridge, and while Quin read the informational signs out loud, I was busy snapping photos of everything beautiful around us. I still can’t wrap my head around people actually driving on that narrow bridge — I’m pretty sure I would’ve had a heart attack!
As we wandered along the shoreline, the turquoise water shimmered under the morning sun, practically begging us to dip our toes in. We followed the path to the butterfly garden, which turned out to be pure magic. The breeze danced through the wispy plants, birds fluttered from tree to tree, and tiny butterflies floated all around us. That’s when I saw my very first Miami Blue — a rare species that now thrives in Bahia Honda. Discovering them felt like finding treasure, and it’s one of the many reasons this park has become one of my absolute favorites.
Before heading out, we popped into the gift shop and then took a quick stroll down to the beach. By that time, a few more people had started to arrive, and the day was beginning to warm up. We still had miles to go before reaching our final destination, but starting our morning at Bahia Honda was the perfect way to kick off the day — peaceful, beautiful, and full of those little moments that make road trips so special.
Visit the website for hours & up-to-date information: https://www.floridastateparks.org/BahiaHonda
