The Route 1 drive over The Florida Keys is among the many nation’s most scenic drives. Hopping from one pint-sized island to the subsequent – the waters of the Atlantic to the east; the calmer waves of the Gulf of Mexico to the west – is serene in a manner that solely Jimmy Buffet can absolutely respect. However arguably the easiest way to expertise the Keys is from the air.
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Which is how we discovered ourselves aboard a helicopter sunset flight with Viator (yet one more nice tour that was a part of our participation in Viator’s Ambassador Program). Final 12 months’s flight over the Canadian Rockies was, in a phrase, unforgettable. Our newest flight supplied an altogether totally different, however each bit as memorable, expertise.
Pulling into the tiny Marathon Airport, we discovered it closed. Daily at six o’clock sharp, they lock the doorways. There isn’t a air site visitors management tower. One can solely surmise that is as a result of lack of, ya know, site visitors. Pilots as an alternative depend on the ability and judgement of their fellow pilots to maintain everybody abreast of their plans (fingers crossed …). All of which is to say: it’s small and fairly laid again.
However our pilot, Mike (no relation), met us on the reception space together with his canine, Shane Canine. In line with the no-frills Florida Keys ethos, previous to our tour, there was no paperwork to fill out, no prolonged check-in course of, no security briefing … no actual briefing in any respect really.
From there, we walked just a few hundred toes to our ready chariot. The intense, canary yellow chicken seated solely 4 individuals, together with the pilot, and was each bit as low-key as Marathon itself.
In-flight facilities included two cupholders, an ashtray, and seatbelts (“Please don’t let the straps flap round outdoors the door or they may dent the fuselage.”). There was no AC and there could be no in-flight meal service.
Happily, we had the chopper all to ourselves. Pilot Mike provisioned us with two fanny-pack-esque flotation gadgets, assuring us that we wouldn’t want them. I suppose, if it’s a must to drown, there are worse locations to take action than the Florida Keys. We hopped aboard for a three-minute intro that included rudimentary seat belt instruction and letting the engine correctly warmth up. And up we went …
Nearly instantly, the view was beautiful:
From the bottom, the ocean, the Florida Keys by no means disappoint. However, this was the primary time both of us had skilled the island chain from the air.
In just a few quick minutes, we have been gliding over the well-known Seven Mile Bridge. Mike identified faculties of eagle rays, a turtle, and both a manatee/dolphin/small submarine — we’re nonetheless uncertain — all loitering across the bridge.
Circling over Pigeon Key, we noticed a tour group who couldn’t grasp why this tiny whirlybird was hovering so shut above them. After just a few fast twirls downward, we have been shut sufficient to wave and smile at them, which the group instantly returned. As a result of, actually, who doesn’t like helicopters?
Even at low altitude (500-ish toes), it’s superb simply how far we may see. The Keys are a large archipelago however, from the air, they appear so compact as for those who can seize the complete chain in a single {photograph}.
After just a few extra rounds over the bridge, we headed again for the airport. Fortunately, our “floor crew” (learn: my aunt) noticed our chopper from the bottom and snapped this X-Information-esque photograph of us overhead in silhouette:
It’s straightforward to see why the Pigeon Key people have been apprehensive at first.
Time flies while you’re, effectively, flying and it’s superb how shortly twenty minutes go by. Viator additionally provides a 60-minute flight and I believe we’d go for that subsequent time. Whereas it’d seem to be a once-in-a-lifetime bucket listing expertise, Kelsey and I might do it once more in a heartbeat!
