I took a $185 ferry to the Florida Keys for a day trip. It was great despite a few small issues.

Key West Express transports riders from Florida's Gulf Coast to Key West.Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock

• I took the Key West Express, a ferry that transports riders from Florida's Gulf Coast to Key West.
• Choosing the wrong seat made me nauseous, and the ferry felt crowded on the way back.

I've lived in Miami for nearly seven years, and I love experiencing the city's neighborhoods and beaches.

And with so many great options for day trips, it's no surprise people are moving to Florida en masse.

Recently, I took my first trip to Fort Myers, where the Key West Express ferry transports travelers from the Gulf Coast to Key West.

Driving from Fort Myers to Key West can take more than five hours, so I wanted to see if this 3-½ -hour ferry ride was a good alternative.

Despite some minor hiccups, I think it is. Here's how it went.