Travel: Key West Road Trip with GMC Terrain Denali (+ My Favorite Places to Stop)



Last month, I took a little road trip to Key West with my mom and Andy.  I absolutely love going to the Keys and try to go any chance I get. It holds a very special place in my heart.  I love everything from the laid-back style to the food—hello conch fritters and Key West shrimp!



One of my favorite things also happens to be the drive. It’s approx. four hours away from Miami and the scenery of glittering expanses of blue water everywhere is just breathtaking. You pass through some 40+ islands before reaching Key West. Not to mention, you can also catch a glimpse of the old Florida East Coast Railway bridge, which operated until 1935 after it got destroyed by a hurricane.





To make my road trip that much better, I got to test drive the GMC Terrain Denali for my trip. It’s a compact luxury SUV that drives like a dream. I love that it’s super spacious. We all know that when you’re taking a road trip with a toddler, the extra space is much needed. I was able to fit all of our luggage, stroller and cooler and still have room to spare.

It has some pretty cool features to help you stay connected while on the road, like Apple CarPlay, a navigation system with real-time traffic and it also Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities (which meant my little guy could watch movies and keep entertained the entire trip).

It also has tons of safety features, which was really important to me since I was driving with my son and my mom. To help avoid collisions, you’ll find features such as side blind zone alert with lane change alert, rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, a rear vision camera, safety alert driver seat and so much more. It also has a safety alert seat feature that uses vibration pulses to alert drivers of potential traffic dangers.

It’s just a beautiful car overall!




If you’re making the trip from Miami to Key West, here are a few places you might want to check out on your drive back.


Where to Stop:

Pigeon Key:  Pigeon Key is located off the old seven-mile bridge and is accessible only by ferryboat.  It’s a fun place to visit and you’ll also get a guided tour to learn about its history. After the tour, you can also walk the old 7-mile bridge or snorkel. Overall, it’s a nice way to spend 2-3 hours.


Bahia Honda State Park: Bahia Honda was once named a ‘Top 10 Florida Beach’ by the Travel Channel. I mean, it was absolutely gorgeous. I was a bit sad however to find out that the beach got destroyed after Hurricane Irma.  They still have a small spot on the gulf side where you can go in the water (but it’s not the same).  I still wanted to add it to my list in case it happens to open up again.    

Sombrero Beach:  Since the Bahia Honda beach was closed; it led us to discover this other beach called Sombrero Beach. I was pleasantly surprised. The beach was nice and calm, it had easy parking and shaded areas for picnic tables. Overall, it’s a good little beach to visit on your way back.



Conch House: Looking for a place to eat on your way back? Be sure to stop by the Conch House in Key Largo. I discovered this place by accident and now I stop by every time I’m in Key Largo. The house is really cute and quaint and the staff is very friendly. I love their conch fritters and key lime pie.



 Are you planning any fun road trips? 




Thank you to GMC for loaning us this vehicle. All opinions, as always, are my own. 




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