Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina Big Pine Key,

[fxdave]

anyone stay here before ? what was it like ? were looking to maybe stay the week here ! any feedback greatly appreciated !

[David Kanoy]

Fxdave,

We are currently at Big Pine Key, (staying in friends yard), and have stayed in Sunshine Key several times in the past. If you haven't already, check out the campground on Google Earth. It is the Florida Keys, so rates are high everywhere.

Sunshine Key has all the best of the Florida Keys, but timing is everything. What I mean is the "Season" (November - April) is the snowbird group and the campground is great - clean, quiet and well mannered and maintained. Sunshine Key also has a "Summer Program" (June-August) and that group is from the Miami, Homestead area and come down for the weekend to drink, party and see who has the loudest boom box. The "party" starts at 6:30 PM on Friday and goes non-stop until until around 4:30 on Sunday when they all go back home in time to sober up and go to work on Monday. Ask me how I know this - we arrived on Monday AM in June and had the park to ourselves until Friday afternoon. (Did I mention that every campsite has at least 2 golf carts, most with 100+ watt stereos or boom boxes, that ride ALL NIGHT LONG seeing who can out-blast the next guy?) So we suffered thru the first night, but when we got up the next day to find out outboard motor had be stolen off the boat parked 10 feet from the RV we demanded a refund and left.

OK enough bitching, any other time except during the "Summer Program" this IS the place to be. Great location for fishing, great marina and very easy access to both the Gulf and the Ocean. Reef is only 4 miles out and deep water only 6-7 miles out. It can be windy in the Winter months and the Ocean can be choppy but on those days you can always fish on the bay side. Sunshine Key is just South of Marathon over the 7 mile bridge and everything is available in Marathon (except Walmart, none in the Keys - there is a Kmart.) Key West is 30 minutes away and is best visited on the days a cruise ship(s) IS/ARE NOT in port. The upper Keys are also worth exploring, swim with the dolphins, great diving and GREAT fresh fish in restaurants that are also seafood/fish markets.

Back to Sunshine Key: The brochure states (or used to) that there is a on-site convenience store, but it is currently closed. We did not use the Bathrooms/Showers much but as of last year they were showing some wear and tear. The campground has full hookups and as far as the Keys goes the sites are close but not on top of each other, access in a 35'-40' MH is easy. Hurricane Wilma did a number on the middle Keys several years ago and some of the larger trees in Sunshine were damaged but there are many nice sites with trees.

You did not state when you were planning to come, but be warned it is HOT and Humid down here in the Summer. We are from NC and now only come during the November - March time period. We tried the Summer and early fall but it was just to hot (for us) to enjoy outside activities during the middle of the day.

Be aware, thunderstorms can pop up quickly year round and RV awnings take a beating down here, we don't leave our awning out if we are going to be gone long. The first year we camped at Sunshine, an afternoon pop-up storm took out about a dozen awnings, 6-8 tents and several inflatable boats. The storm lasted maybe 5 minutes total, was gone and it was nice the rest of the day.

We have been coming to the Keys every year for 35 years now, if you need any additional info, hot spots for fishing, great places to eat, suggested "must see" places you cam PM me.

David

[GaryKD]

Hi fxdave,
I posted this in your other thread. Sunshine Key Resort is a great place to stay. North or South of the Resort, there is a lot to do. The entrance is not well marked (code enforcement). The entrance is about 1 1/2 miles after 7 mile bridge. If you miss the entrance there will be a place to turn around about 8 miles further down the road. There is very large American flag at the entrance to the Resort (on the right).

[fxdave]

thanks guys really appreciate it ill give our take : ) afterwards

[CaptPat]

I would echo all of Dave's comments. We have stayed at Sunshine Key for multiple Christmas vacations as well as for Spring Break. Although the crowds for these two period are definitely "different" we did not experience much in the way of loud or rowdy behavior. One of the things we liked was it's proximity (or distance) to Key West--close enough (about 40 minutes), yet not too close.

If you want a spacious site opt for a premier site, they are slightly more expensive but are very long and wide. As you might expect a weekly or monthly rate offers savings over the nightly one.

WIFI at the park is really bad, COMCAST offers a good deal for cable internet tailored for a temporary stay, they are located in Marathon, the office can provide directions.

[fxdave]

thanks guys we are here an liking it very much !

[fxdave]

we had a blast there ! Dave your right the wind gets testy there for sure ! Gary thanks for the entry tip ! we enjoyed our stay there !

[David Kanoy]

Fxdave,

Glad you had a great time!

You picked the right time of year to visit Sunshine Key.

We were still at Big Pine Key during your stay at Sunshine and we only got to go fishing in the Atlantic twice due to the winds. But as the locals say: "A bad day in the Keys is still twice as good as a good day anywhere else."

David Kanoy

[fxdave]

yes sir i got a day of fishing in snorkeling jet skiing parasailing and a sunset cruise all in also a lot of bikeriding winds really started picking up on weds that nite i rolled up the ole awning ! saw a man that didnt he wasnt a happy camper ! wish we had a chance to hook up an meet !

[Parkerrs]

How's the crowd around April 3-9? I've made reservations but have been reading mixed reviews across the internet about this park. some are great and some are horrible.

[fxdave]

youll love it ! great people ! park stays pretty full ! enjoy

[Crazy Canucks]

fxdave...like Parkerrs we have also read some great reviews and some extremely CRAPPY reviews on Sunshine (Cuban Hobo Camp as one writer put it). As you have just returned from Sunshine, would you mind posting up some pictures. We are looking at staying for the month of March 2012 (waterfront) if we can't get into Bluewater.

Cheers

[David Kanoy]

Parkerrs,

April will be OK at Sunshine Key, especially during the weekdays. The "Cuban Crowd" from the Homestead/Miami area only gets cranking when school is out, but on nice weekends from May - September the park still gets a little "rambunctious".

You can forget about the Owners/Employees enforcing "quiet time" or any other park rules at any time of the year. They are making way to much money to run off their "regulars".

Even with all that said, Sunshine Key is still a GREAT place to camp as long as you know when to go and what to expect.

If you need any suggestions on what to do, were to eat, the best place to see the Key deer, etc, I'll be glad to share my 30+ years vacationing in the lower Keys.

David Kanoy

B

[Parkerrs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Kanoy If you need any suggestions on what to do, were to eat, the best place to see the Key deer, etc, I'll be glad to share my 30+ years vacationing in the lower Keys. David Kanoy B

Yes, please share a little if you don't mind, thanks.