The SO and I just made reservations for a long weekend getaway to Key West (we figured it was as far south as you can get and still be in the U.S.) over Valentine’s Day next year.
Any Dopers visited there? We’re both lay on the beach, soak in the sun (clothed or not, makes no difference to us) types, so we’re aren’t likely to do much exploring. Still, we’d like to see a few sights. Suggestions? Anyone want a postcard?
Incidentally, we’re flying into Ft. Lauderdale and then driving. Anyone famiiliar with the drive?
Not familiar with the drive, but I do have a few suggestions for your stay in Key West.
[ul]
[li]Mallory Square at Sunset - It is truly one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my life. I’ve even got pictures to prove it. And, often, they’ll have jugglers or other performers nearby to entertain you after the sun has set.[/li][li]Margaritaville - Both the store and the restaurant. The restaurant does have (as I’ve told many others) the best Cheeseburgers in Paradise I have ever had the pleasure to taste. And the store has a lot of incredibly cool Jimmy Buffett T-Shirts (though I still can’t find the “Book” one I used to have years ago)[/li][li]Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum - When I was there during Spring Break several years ago, there was nary a soul in the place. (Of course, it was 10 am, so most were probably still sleeping it off!) I liked it better that way. They’ve got lots of neat exhibits, and it’s a great way to pass a little time, if you have it on your hands.[/li][/ul]
Those are the places I’ve been to myself. Other places I hadn’t had the opportunity, but still think would be grand for you to check out…
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[li]Sloppy Joe’s - Famous Hemmingway haunt, IIRC.[/li][li]Hogbreath Saloon - From what I’ve been told, they have great beer. Unfortunately, when I went in to get some, they were out.[/li][li]Hard Rock Cafe - It looked packed when I went by, so I didn’t get in to check it out.[/li][/ul]
Also, a recommendation to just drive around (or rent a moped - they were kinda neat as well) and see the side streets. Sometimes you find great shops there.
As far as a postcard, if you’re willin’, I’ll drool over it in envy every minute!
Definitely the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum (has artifacts recovered from La Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a ship that went down in 1622 in the Keys.)
There’s also Harry Truman’s Little White House Museum, Hemingway House, the end of US1, the marker for the Southernmost Point in the Continental US, the Key West Lighthouse museum, (which is cool, because you can climb all the way up into the lighthouse,) and lots of other really cool stuff.
Best way to get around is to rent as scooter for the day. Don’t forget your sunscreen. Have a good time and be safe. Oh, and if you’re driving? be very careful, and don’t get in a hurry. That hundred something stretch of highway has had 16 fatalities this year, probably mostly because somebody got in a hurry and passed when it wasn’t safe.
Yeah, those other places and things TruePisces mentioned are all pretty cool, too, I think, but I didn’t do them all.
Also, there are things worth seeing on the way down there…The Worldwide Sportsman in Islamorada is a really neat store, has just about anything for fishing, and has a full sized model of a boat that Hemingway owned right in the middle of the floor so you can go onto it and look around.
There is also a LOT of really cool wildlife, including the Key Deer, which is seriously endangered. They are very small, about the size of medium-sized dog. They live in the Big Pine Key area, and speed limits are slower there and strictly enforced.
I guess the biggest point to make about the drive is that it is very slow once you get onto the Keys, because US1 is the only road to get anywhere on. Do not try to pass in no passing zones. Do not get in a hurry. Relax and enjoy the drive, and allow yourself plenty of time to stop and explore things that catch your eye on the drive down and back.
Lady Chance and I did Key West (with Baby Kate) for a week in August/September.
Let me recommend the Dry Tortugas. It’s about a two hour ride on fast cat to get there but there’s wonderful snorkeling there. The water is warm and clear and the fish are used to it all. I absolutely harassed a pint-sized barracuda for 20 minutes. He was about 6 inches long and the cutest thing underwater.
There’s a fort out there that was built to combat piracy and is no abandoned. But it’s a great place to get some solitude, a little history of the gulf, and some snorkeling in.
Let me know if you do it. I’d be interested in comparing notes.
Mallory Square - the missus and I had a few drinks at the hotel next to Mallory square, and then braved our way into the square, which is oftentimes packed.
Alice’s - a fantastic restaurant a ways up from the touristy areas on Duval Drive. Pretty fancy, but the food and atmosphere are fantastic.
Schooner Wharf Bar, has good bar food and an excellent beer garden. Look for Michael McCloud to be playing his guitar there. When the missus and I were down there with baby babe, after spending 5 days in a 12’x10’ hospital room with baby babe’s blood infection, we spent out entire last afternoon sitting there in the sun listening to the music. That was our best day of the whole vacation. (Including the 5 non-sick days at the beginning)
Two Friend’s Bar and Restaurant has excellent breakfast food. It’s located at the end of Caroline Street, if it’s still there. Incidently, when I was last there (1993) the cheapest (more time and less money) parking meters were at that end of Caroline Street also.
Two Friend’s slogan was “There is no greater love than that of one drunken friend for another”.
Also, you must take one of the sunset cruises on a catamaran or other small sailing vessel. Simply spectatular sunsets. Several of the local tours give a package deal where they’ll take to one of the reefs for snorkeling, then take you on the sunset cruise later. P.S. They will negotiate the price.
Captain Tony’s makes a version of the Rum Runner that they call “Pirate’s Punch”. Mmmmmmmmm
Alas, while I was there the legendary Full Moon Saloon closed, but I did get a t-shirt.
Voice of experience One warning about the Hogsbreath: If you get stupid drunk and start playing “stump the band” while tipping the band and the bartender excessively, they will not alert you to this fact.
Neither of us is very much into touristy fare, so we may spend most of the time at the beach and the rest of the time poking around the off the beaten path.
Yeah, I’ve taken the trip a few times, i’d recommend flying into miami, but if your plans are already set just drive down rt. 1. But don’t spend all your time in key west, I found that to be a very commercial area, very crowded and expensive, not exactly the best place to be the entire time, mallory square was packed and wasn’t as great as I thought. Try going to Islamarada, that’s a great key, about halfway down, beautiful beaches, stunning sunsets, not packed with people… AND NOT EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE! Rent a boat from there and go to a place called “Indian Key”, I’ve been there 3 times for the entire day and never seen another person there, very peaceful place. Well tell me how it goes. Pls send me a postcard, I’ll e-mail you my addy.
Key West is one of my favorite places! In addition to the great places already mentioned, you might like:
When the Better Half and I were there about three years ago, we went to an excellent “seance” in one of the old gingerbread mansions. I put seance in quotes, because it is obviously just a show, but it is very entertaining, similar to a magic show. It recreates a Victorian era seance, and there is a lot of audience participation. I think it was called “Theatre des Seances.” Reservations are required.
There is a goofy trolley called the Conch Tour Train that goes around the entire island, this might be nice to do on the first day. The tour is about an hour and a half long, and you see just about everything on the island. This might give you ideas for things that you would want to come back to.
In our opinion, Ft. Zachary Taylor Beach is better than Smathers Beach. It is usually less populated. Note, however, that it is a rocky beach rather than a sand beach, so you would need flip-flops or something for your feet.
For breakfast, try Blue Heaven, on Petronia St. You can eat outside, with barnyard animals running around (it’s not quite as unhygenic as it sounds!).
This time last year I was in Islamorada (I can recommend the Cheeca Lodge - fantastic hotel), and we took a trip to Key West for the day. The best thing about KW is that it’s one of those places that lends itself easily to exploring.
Duval Street gets busy, but it’s worth allowing yourself plenty of time to take everything in. Brilliant if you want to go bar-hopping, or shopping for just about anything. There are some touristy shops selling crap, but the majority of places are quite interesting. Don’t just stay on Duval Street, though, as the side streets running off it are where you find some of the best places to eat, drink and shop.
We ate at Sloppy Joes. The food’s good, and there’s always live music on as well. In the evening, we stayed to watch the sunset, which is when the place gets really busy - everyone comes out after dark.
I was just there this past weekend! I live in Miami and get there about once a month. For the drive from FLL, I’d take I-595 West to the FL Turnpike south, it dumps off onto US1 in Florida City, just north of Monroe County (the Keys). Take Card Sound Road (on the left just after Last Chance Saloon) for sanity and scenery. It may be an extra ten minutes, but the 18 mile stretch of US1 can numb the brain. On Card Sound Road, stop at Alabama Jack’s, my official spot to shake off the stess and enter Conch Standard Time. (Say hi to Mike, the bartender, tell him I sent ya.) Breakfast in Key West at the Deli on Truman (Duval south to US1, left, three blocks on left). Fury Catamaran Snorkle/Sunset, or just Champagne Sunset cruises. Get scooters and go around the island, the back side has houseboats and the big beaches, the quieter side that gives KW some other flavor. The drive will be maybe 4 1/2 hours, with moderate traffic. Depending on your lodging arrangements, they may or may not have parking, but I go to the lot on the 300 block cross-street between Duval and Whitehead. $10 a day. Eat dinner at Kelly’s on Duval, and for God’s sake get the dark chocolate Grand Marnier crème brule for dessert. Epicurean orgasms will follow. Guaranteed. Bagatelle is another very nice restaurant on Duval for a nice dinner.
