Going to Key West !

[Brown Eyes]

I can't believe I let my husband talk me into this, but we're going to Key West later in the month. We're actually going to West Palm Beach, but apparently... we're going to get up insanely early one morning and drive to Key West, because he's always wanted to go. More for the experience of driving through the Keys than the city itself.

Have I mentioned I have a phobia of bridges?

Ok, so aside from Margaritaville, which I told him was not optional, what else do I need to see there? We want to spend some time at the beach, and we're traveling with our 7 year old.

Also while we're in Florida that trip we're going to Jupiter (a much closer adventure!) and going to Castaways, where the video for 5 o'clock Somewhere was shot. I negotiated this into our trip after learning of the 7 Mile Bridge.

Merci beaucoup.

[chalksoperations]

Are you interested in Nautical Antiques? I can give you the location of guy that salvages a bunch of stuff from old ships and boats. He is kind of pricey, but interesting.

Send PM if you want directions, he is in Miami on the way down.

I won't bother with the other list of MM locations as you will get slammed with, but I can tell of a good place to stop for a bite that I take my kids to for lunch alot. Craigs in Islamorada, just past Tavernier Creek Marina on the bayside. Best fish sandwich around, you won't regret it.

[unclejohn]

You can scuba dive some shipwrecks...there are a few.

[Sidew13]

Have I mentioned I have a phobia of bridges?

You'll have a great time, trust me.

OH and If I remember right, there are 42 total bridges in the Keys to get to Key West

[ZeroDuval]

Have I mentioned I have a phobia of bridges?

You'll have a great time, trust me.

OH and If I remember right, there are 42 total bridges in the Keys to get to Key West

and SW stopped at each one to relieve himself!

Do a couple searches on this site for 'Key West' there are many threads with suggestions of places you can stop on your travels down to the rock.

Have a great trip......

[Sidew13]

Have I mentioned I have a phobia of bridges?

You'll have a great time, trust me.

OH and If I remember right, there are 42 total bridges in the Keys to get to Key West

and SW stopped at each one to relieve himself!

Hey, when ya gotta go, ya gotta go

[ColdWaterConch]

Are you doing a one-day down and back trip? If so, that's a heck of a trip.

[12vmanRick]

There is no beach in KW to speak of. I suggest Hemmingway's in KW, especially if you like cats. Don't forget Mallory Square. You won't regret the drive but be sure to exit off Card Sound Road and go to Alabama Jacks.

[BoozeInTheBlender]

No beach? I found a very nice one in Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. It's on Southard Street.

[Cuervo]

Have I mentioned I have a phobia of bridges?

You'll have a great time, trust me.

OH and If I remember right, there are 42 total bridges in the Keys to get to Key West

and SW stopped at each one to relieve himself!

Hey, when ya gotta go, ya gotta go

I'll have to give you a copy of Peein' your way thru the Keys : Cuervo's guide to Bars, Restrooms, Bushes and Trees

[ColdWaterConch]

No beach? I found a very nice one in Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. It's on Southard Street.

If you thought that beach was nice, then you have a pretty low standard for beaches. That beach is a pile of rocks.

[bananawind]

I would suggest Sloppy Joe's (get the conch fritters and the Key Lime Pie) - and Captain Tony's of course! Tony's is a bit seedy, but a GREAT place to have a beer!! Go out to Fort Jefferson (Dry Tortugas) - you can snorkle/dive. Also, if you have a full day, take that tour trolley. Great to do with kids; they have several stops -you can get on/off all day- and it takes you all over Key West.

Have a great time! I'm Jealous ~ Wish I were anywhere but here!

K

[jhamel]

Just got back from Key West. We rode the ferry from Ft Myers Beach. It was a 3 and 1/2 hour trip, but it sure beat driving. We went to Margaritaville, had a cheeseburger in paradise. Had conch fritters and key lime float in Mallory Square and just spent too much money in the shops. But it was fun. They played the whole License to Chill cd at Margaritaville while we were there. It was hot in Key West, but the trip back to Ft Myers Beach was cool. We you are going 45 mph on the Gulf you get cool.

[Mango Picker]

Try to eat at the conch republic in the old marina area. Across the parking lot at the corner of the dock is a small white building. It is Shrimp Boat Sound Studio, Jimmy's place.

Also, ask about the little place where they hand make leather sandles. Good prices and the place has been there for ages. Not to far from the cruise ship dock area.

Duval Street is NOT all there is to Keys & Key West. Yes, there is a beach, as mentioned in an earlier reply. It is a LONG way from Margaritaville down to the red 0 mile marker.

A drive down from West Palm Beach? Leave EARLY. I drove it from South Miami in June (where I grew up) and it was 3 hrs.

Enjoy all scenery, the long and short bridges, the people fishing, swimming and boating... There is a cool watersports store on Key Largo at mile marker (MM) 100 on the east/left side. I hit that place every time I go down there.

Headed south, farther down from MM100, is a big 2 story store that has outdoor/fishing stuff. Inside is Hemingway's fishing boat, Pilar. Out back are a couple of bar/resturants.

Have a good time! If you want it, buy it. You may not get back to the shop or store!

Oh, and Brown Eyes... while you are going across the 7 Mile Bridge, DO NOT look over at the old 7 mile bridge... it is in really bad shape and you DON'T want to think your bridge could be like THAT ONE!!!!!!

[Desdamona]

On a quick trip with a 7 year old? The Conch Train
is the only way to see it all and entertain the young'n
with a "ride". Then you can see where you want to
go based on the train tourguide's comments.
http://www.conchtourtrain.com

[7lords]

Stop here and feed the tarpon by hand and grab a bite to eat at the Hungry Tarpon:

http://www.robbies.com/

[tryin' to reason]

Have I mentioned I have a phobia of bridges?

You could always take the tunnel instead...

[RinglingRingling]

From the "Uncle Billy" "See KW" list:

Bars
Sloppy Joe’s
It’s not my favorite, but it’s big with the tourists
http://www.sloppyjoes.com
Capt. Tony’s
This is my favorite, don’t miss this place
Margaritaville
it’s a rule,, I have to list this one
http://www.margaritaville.com
Schooner Wharf
great place to hang out
(Michael McCloud plays in the afternoons)
http://www.schoonerwharf.com
Hog’s Breath Saloon
Another great place to hang out
http://hogsbreath.com/
The Green Parrot
funky local kinda place
http://www.greenparrot.com
Rick’s
fun place in the middle of the action
http://www.rickskeywest.com/
Bull & Whistle
(the Garden of Eden, rooftop bar is clothing optional)
http://www.thebullandwhistle.com
The Iguana Café
bar stools right on the sidewalk (try the alligator)
http://www.worldfamousiguanacafe.com/
Fat Tuesday
not bad,, if you make it this far up Duval

Places to eat
Blue Heaven
corner Thomas & Petronia St. (don’t miss)
Two Friends Patio
Front St. (one of my all time favorites)
http://keywestmenu.com/2friends/
Half Shell Raw Bar
Schooner Wharf (another favorite of mine)
http://www.halfshell-rawbar.com
Turtle Kraals
Schooner Wharf (good food, fun atmosphere)
http://www.turtlekraals.com/
B.O.’s Fish Wagon
corner Caroline & William St. (don’t miss)
El Meson de Pepe
Mallory Square (Cuban cooking)
http://www.elmesondepepe.com
El Siboney
900 Catherine St. (Cuban cooking)
Bahama Mama’s Kitchen
324 Petronia St. (Bahamian cooking)
http://keywestmenu.com/bahamamamas/
Margaritaville
500 Duval St. (cheeseburgers & other stuff)
Louie’s Back Yard
700 Waddell St. (pricey, but a must for parrotheads)
Pepe’s Café
806 Caroline St. ( a Key West classic)
Rooftop Café
310 Front St. ( good food, and great people watching)
Mangia Mangia
900 Southard St. (if your in the mood for Italian)
http://keywestmenu.com/mangiamangia/
Duval Beach Club
South Beach ( Good food, good prices, great view )
http://keywestmenu.com/duvalbeach/
Duffy’s
corner of Truman and Simonton (great prime rib)
Billie’s
Front St. (best stone crab claws & banana daiquiris)
Conch fritter stand at sunset celebration
(best conch fritters in town)
Frozen drink stand at Sunset Celebration..


Sights to see & things to do
Hemingway House
Lighthouse & museum
Mel Fisher Treasure Museum
Mallory Square (nightly sunset celebration)
Fort Taylor
Aquarium
Duval St. Shopping and just walking
Ride the conch train like a tourist
Ghost tours of Key West http://hauntedtours.com
Leaves nightly at 8 from lobby Of La Concha Hotel (reservations required)
Trails of Margaritaville tour (305)292-2040
tours start daily at 4 from Capt. Tony’s Saloon


Sunset sail (Try the Western Union)
http://www.schoonerwesternunion.com/
It’s a beautiful old schooner.
Back in the 70’s Buffett took his first trip
to Cuba on the Western Union,
While he was doing the soundtrack
for a documentary on Hemingway .

The Schooner Wolf plays up the pirate theme.
The catamarans are just drinking platforms.
They have no romance about them.

Snorkel trips
You have to get out to the reef at least once.
There are several boats that you can choose from.
My favorite is the Appledore, they spend winter
in Key West and the summer in Maine.
Sunny Days http://www.sunnydayskeywest.com/
and Seabago http://www.keywestsebago.com/
are two of the big catamarans. They both do nice trips.

Beaches
Smathers beach
Everyone goes here to play, but the swimming sucks

Higgs Beach
My favorite, for swimming,
and snorkeling around the old sea wall

South beach
small beach, usually quiet, water is very shallow

Fort Taylor Beach
best beach on the island,
nice shady area for picnics, great place
to relax, swim, sun, and just spend the day.

Bring aqua socks, the beaches in the keys have
a coarse coral sand that’s hard on the feet.

[Brown Eyes]

you guys ROCK!

Ok, where is the best conch in Key West? Our taste buds are fired up... you just can't get good conch in Middle Tennessee!

[mrmiata]

Conch fritters? I like Alabama Jack's, but then you aren't technically in the Keys when you stop there. You still have a few hundred yards to go.