THE KEYS, PLEASE; 160 to 0 in two days.(Revs)(information about Chevrolet Corvette)

Byline: DON KLEIN

With its 6.2-liter, 430-hp LS3 V8 and estimated top speed of 190 mph, the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette convertible theoretically can whisk you from Miami to Key West in about 50 minutes. Factor in real-world obstacles such as stop signs, traffic and the Florida Highway Patrol, and the 160-mile trip stretches to about three hours. But to enjoy the journey fully, you'd be wise to allow at least two days.

The Florida Keys are remarkable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the series of bridges that links them, allowing this to be a road trip instead of a boat trip. Route 1 (a.k.a. the Overseas Highway) officially opened for business in 1938. Much of it was built on the skeletons of its ancestors, primarily the remains of bridges originally constructed for the Overseas Railroad, which was largely destroyed in the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. The entire highway was essentially rebuilt in the 1980s, but many artifacts still can be seen. The rusting remnants of the original Seven Mile Bridge running parallel to its spectacular replacement provide an eerie monument to the pioneers who built the "Highway That Goes to Sea.''

For the avid road-tripper, the secret to enjoying Route 1 is getting off Route 1. Many first-time visitors are surprised to discover that at any given point, they're just minutes from either the Atlantic Ocean (on the left if you're heading west) or the Florida Bay. In fact, Route 1 runs so close to the water that it's common for restaurants with entrances on the highway to have rear decks that abut the bay, making for spectacular sunset dinners.

Naturally, the Keys abound in water-based activities-fishing, snorkeling, diving, sailing, kayaking, swimming and glass-bottom-boat tours. But you also can have fun along Route 1 without getting wet. For example, at Sugarloaf Key, you can take an ultralight aerial tour and maybe (no promises, folks) get to do some 0-to-60-mph testing on the old airstrip.

IF YOU GO

The whole idea is to be flexible, so instead of making reservations before you go, you might want to wait until you're there and have found an area where you'd like to spend the night. The exception is Key West: It's ...