Yah...with 5 ft. the Hawk Channel is a lot easier to navigate but anchorages are few and marinas are too. With 10 days to spend, you can cross over to the inside where it makes sense and settle in as there are more facilities on that side. Suggested stops on the outside include the anchorage at Rodriguez Key and Marathon/Boot Harbor where you can pick up a mooring cheaply and
dinghy in to enjoy a number of restaurants shopping etc. Allow at least a couole of days for Key West as there is a ton of stuff to see and do. John Pennekamp State Park/Reef is definitely worth a snorkle if the weather is settled off the Hawk.