The Sunshine State

It’s the end of January and sadly winter has finally hit Ontario.  With the constant pattern of snow, slush, and freezing rain that seems to be on repeat (thanks a lot mother nature) I think everyone is craving a little bit of sunshine.  Going along with this theme it only seemed appropriate to make my first riding destination a hot one.

The Florida Keys are the perfect holiday destination for beginner riders, or anyone who desires a relaxing scenic stretch of highway.  The Keys are the most southern part of Florida and all of the major inhabited islands are connected by a portion of U.S. Route 1 know as the ‘Overseas Highway’. 

 

The highway is 205 km long and will take you from Key Largo all the way to Key West.  It’s a good road for beginners because it provides the tropical experience of palm trees, a warm breeze, and blue ocean as far as the eye can see, but doesn’t require a high level of skill that would overwhelm someone new to the riding scene.  The speed limit on this road never exceeds 45mph (72km), there aren't a lot of bends or changes in elevation, and its short distance makes it an easy ride.  For the ultimate thrill seeker the lack of challenge may make the Overseas Highway seem like a bit of a boring ride.  In reality though, if you relax and take in the scenery that is completely surrounding you on this stretch of ocean highway, you probably wont mind the fact that for the majority of the ride your driving in a straight line.                                    
                  

If you do make it all the way to the end of the highway and stop in Key West for a while, renting a scooter may also be something to consider.  The island has a very lively ‘New Orleans’ feel to it and the common transportation trend, with both tourists and locals, is a scooter.  The nice thing about this island trend is that it won't break the bank (scooter rentals are fairly cheap) and its something that can be done in large groups because you don't need a motorcycle licence to rent one.