DIRECTIONS TO TRADEWINDS VENUE
Venue is Founders Park, Islamorada, Florida. It is on Plantation Key (the next key south of Key Largo) in the Florida Keys. Founders Park is on the Florida Bay side of U.S. 1, which is also referred to as Overseas Highway. The park is at mile marker 87, which means it is 87 miles north of Key West (where U.S. 1 starts) and about 75 miles south of Miami.

If you are coming from any points north of the Keys, the most important thing is to get onto the Florida Turnpike at some point.

The Florida Turnpike comes down the center of the state, and most people try to avoid it for as long as possible because of the tolls. The other two major routes are I-95 on the east coast and I-75 on the west coast.

If you come down I-95, it is advisable to switch over to the turnpike well before you get to Miami, because I-95 ends in downtown Miami and dumps you onto U.S. 1, and you will not enjoy the many miles of traffic lights. When we are coming south, we always switch over to the turnpike at Ft. Pierce, because the two highways are only a half mile apart there, and it is also a really good stop for restaurants and gas stations (and Indian River grapefruit).

If you come down I-75, you can just stay on it all the way across the Everglades on Alligator Alley until you come to the turnpike. Exit onto the turnpike south.

Okay, so now, some way or other, you are on the Florida Turnpike. Depending on where you get onto it, there will be an exit ramp to the right that puts you on the “turnpike extension,” which will say something about Key West and/or Homestead. Take that ramp.

Just stay on the turnpike to where it ends at Florida City and merges into U.S. 1, and follow U.S. 1 across some more everglades stuff to the Keys. Occasionally, you will see the descending mile markers to give you some idea where you are in relation to your end goal of marker 87.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO/FROM AIRPORTS:
Keys Shuttle has a regular service to and from Fort Lauderdale Airport for $80 one way or $144 round trip. It leaves the airport at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.

The trip takes a little over two hours, because of the other stops along the way, including picking people up at Miami International Airport.

Return trips to the airports from Islamorada leave at 4:45 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., and 3:45 p.m.

Their phone number is 305-289-9997 or 888-765-9997.

For people flying into Miami International, there are more and cheaper options. The Airporter has three trips a day and is $45 each way (305-852-3413). Greyhound has two trips a day and is $25 each way (800-231-2222).

MOTELS CLOSEST TO TRADEWINDS SITE:
I think these are all the closest ones. There are lots more a mile farther down the road. Don't rely on the rates that I have on some of them, because they are from last April.

Islamorada Motel (Closest)
87760 Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 87.76, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9376
They have a total of 13 rooms, 5 large and 6 small.
Rates: Small room, one queensize bed -- $79
Large room, two beds and kitchen -- $99
Web site: www.islamoradamotel.com

Lookout Lodge (Next Closest) (On the same water as the regatta)
87770 Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 87.77, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9915
They have a total of 10 rooms
Rate range: $139-$350
Web site: www.lookoutlodge.com

Conch-on-Inn (third closest)
Corner of U.S. 1 and Caloosa St. (Mile Marker 89.5, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9309
They have a total of 8 rooms
Rates: One queen bed -- $89
Two double beds -- $99
I think all the rooms have frig. and microwave.
Web site: www.conchoninn.com
.
Holiday Isle Resorts
Mile Marker 84 (just 3 miles south of Founders Park)
Phone: 305-664-2321
They have five hotels on the property, all with different names. You call that same number for all of them and pick the one you want. They all have different price ranges. If you want a peaceful one, get one of the motels farthest north on the property (closer to Founders Park). If you want to be where all the action is, you might want the Tower Building (also called the Horizon) or the next motel north of that. They are the closest to the Tiki Bar, which is far better than the one at Gilbert’s. Holiday Isle also has restaurants on the premises and I think food at the Tiki Bar, too.
Holiday Isle is the big “hot spot” between Miami and Key West.
Web site: www.holidayisle.com

For more motels, go to the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce: http://www.islamoradachamber.com/lodging.cfm