Key West vacation

DrunkAndScrewed · Post by **DrunkAndScrewed** » December 14, 2004 12:04 pm

Going to Key West for New Year's. Can someone link the better threads on what is not to be missed. Also if anyone has any info on the Buffett tour I would be most obliged.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 14, 2004 12:05 pm

I've never been to Key West and I nothing of Jimmy's next tour...but I like your screen name!

Y-NO-9-O · Post by **Y-NO-9-O** » December 14, 2004 12:13 pm

Here is a link to a thread that shows another link to another thread. Lotsa good stuff to do. Don't miss Blue Heaven restaurant. And the sunset celebration in Mallory Square is the best show for the money (free).

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... t=key+west

doxadive · Post by **doxadive** » December 14, 2004 12:43 pm

i just got back from key west on sunday, hold on while the tears subside. the 'trails of margaritaville tour' was the best thing to do, but do it the first night you get there. dusty was our tour guide and was very well known on the island considering around every corner someone said hello to him. i did as much as i could on the 4 days i was there and some of my highlights were:

captain tony's (after 7pm tony sits by the t-shirt shop telling stories0
the chart room (as about the tequilla regatta)
margaritaville (the cheeseburgers were great and ask the bartender to see the bible)
the duval beach club was great to sit and relax at and read and have a few cocktails
the top of the la concha where i stayed has a great view of the sunset, but also make it to mallory square for the party
kelly's was a fantastic place to eat
blue heaven was exceptional
and you have to go to faustos to get some chocolate milk.

if you have any other questions email me, i am more than happy to tell you anything else i can think of.

conched · Post by **conched** » December 14, 2004 1:33 pm

This is not just for Key West, but good for driving through the Keys.

http://www.buccaneerpublishing.com/AdventureGuide.htm

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » December 14, 2004 1:49 pm

doxadive wrote:i just got back from key west on sunday, hold on while the tears subside. the 'trails of margaritaville tour' was the best thing to do, but do it the first night you get there. dusty was our tour guide and was very well known on the island considering around every corner someone said hello to him. i did as much as i could on the 4 days i was there and some of my highlights were:

captain tony's (after 7pm tony sits by the t-shirt shop telling stories0
the chart room (as about the tequilla regatta)
margaritaville (the cheeseburgers were great and ask the bartender to see the bible)
the duval beach club was great to sit and relax at and read and have a few cocktails
the top of the la concha where i stayed has a great view of the sunset, but also make it to mallory square for the party
kelly's was a fantastic place to eat
blue heaven was exceptional
and you have to go to faustos to get some chocolate milk.

if you have any other questions email me, i am more than happy to tell you anything else i can think of.

Dusty is a heck of a guide. Was he wearing the Buffett for Pres. 2004 cap for the walk&talk?

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 14, 2004 2:09 pm

doxadive wrote:i just got back from key west on sunday, hold on while the tears subside. the 'trails of margaritaville tour' was the best thing to do, but do it the first night you get there. dusty was our tour guide and was very well known on the island considering around every corner someone said hello to him. i did as much as i could on the 4 days i was there and some of my highlights were:

captain tony's (after 7pm tony sits by the t-shirt shop telling stories0
the chart room (as about the tequilla regatta)
margaritaville (the cheeseburgers were great and ask the bartender to see the bible)
the duval beach club was great to sit and relax at and read and have a few cocktails
the top of the la concha where i stayed has a great view of the sunset, but also make it to mallory square for the party
kelly's was a fantastic place to eat
blue heaven was exceptional
and you have to go to faustos to get some chocolate milk.

if you have any other questions email me, i am more than happy to tell you anything else i can think of.

I feel your pain, doxadive. We spent Thanksgiving week in Key West for my hubby's 50th birthday. We LOVE it there. Here's the email to get you set up with the JB tour: Trails of Margaritaville: AKeyLimey@aol.com
I don't ever see anything about it when we are in Key West, so it is best to reserve your day ahead of time. Since we had our 'keet with us and we were afraid of too much drunkeness (didn't know what to expect), we bypassed the tour, but took the Original Key West Ghost Tour that leaves from the La Concha lobby. It is by far the best ghost tour I've been on (compared to Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine, etc.) and it will make a believer out of you! Also, you learn a LOT of Key West history and stories, which my husband and I cannot get enough of.
A "don't ever miss" part of Key West is Dominique the Catman of Key West and his flying housecats. They perform at the Hilton edge of Mallory Square. We've enjoyed him and his show for years: "Hurry up, Take your time, Hurry up, Take your time, I am I am I am." "You can do it. There's no fire, it's all in your MIIIIIIND!!!" in his French accent. The guy is a bit eccentric to say the least... See the show, and you'll understand. Here's his website: http://www.catmankeywest.com. "Now, go back to your seat." Be sure to take a cigarette lighter and be ready when he says he forgot his. Here's an article about him: http://www.catmankeywest.com/publicity/key_west/
Have a blast, you'll never be the same. We stayed at the Banyan in the midst of the action.

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 14, 2004 2:18 pm

P.S. I agree with all of doxadive's suggestions... Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill and Brewery is where we celebrated my husband's birthday, in the garden. It was incredibly memorable!!! They put out balloons I'd ordered ahead of time and bent their rule of no reservations for parties of less than 7. Just wonderful. Also, a place lots of people miss is the Heritage House, this is a great place for a personal tour by a real Key West character Mike Alpern. He'll tell you lots of history and stories too! He'll tell you how he walks the streets of Key West with tears streaming down his face, knowing that he is in the place he is meant to be. He was the first Capt. Asa Tift at the Shipwreck Historeum. Don't miss the Aquarium either. It's quaint and full of character.
Pepe's for breakfast and B.O.'s for lunch and Half Shell Raw Bar for dinner, and your trip is complete!

doxadive · Post by **doxadive** » December 14, 2004 2:31 pm

carolina girl i will completely disagree with you on the ghost tour, while the guide was very entertaining the first stop on the tour completely grossed me out and i dropped out there, however the next day i did get doomed by the group, i guess that is why i became hung over the next day, crashed my moped and got sun burn. well at least that is what i am blaming it on.

BO's was great, but a word of caution if this is your first time going: BRING LOTS OF MONEY. it is extremely expensive. do the happy hour for yor drinks and drink draft beer. a captain and coke will run you $7 and a draft beer is $4. we never got out of lunch for less than $25 and that is without drinks. the waiter we had at kelly's was great and gave us great suggestions. fortunately when i was there is was their 'slow week' it just so happens my b-day week is their slow week so that was great, but everything is really expensive.

doxadive · Post by **doxadive** » December 14, 2004 2:59 pm

OH YEA...and the other cool thing that happened to me. when i got to key west i completely forgot jimmy was a balding 58 year old. all i could picture him as was a 27 year old smart ass, playing captain tony's and stumbling around

DrunkAndScrewed · Post by **DrunkAndScrewed** » December 14, 2004 3:06 pm

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I can't wait for the trip.

doxadive · Post by **doxadive** » December 14, 2004 3:18 pm

and dont rush getting back to the key west airport...if your plane leaves at noon, getting there 30 minutes ahead is plenty of time

and a good piece of advice i got, but too late was to stay at a guest house, they usually serve breakfast and have cocktails in the evening, that would save some money.

(man i could talk about this trip all damn day)

and go to schooners wharf for lunch to hear michael mccloud.

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 14, 2004 4:01 pm

doxadive wrote:carolina girl i will completely disagree with you on the ghost tour, while the guide was very entertaining the first stop on the tour completely grossed me out and i dropped out there, however the next day i did get doomed by the group, i guess that is why i became hung over the next day, crashed my moped and got sun burn. well at least that is what i am blaming it on.

BO's was great, but a word of caution if this is your first time going: BRING LOTS OF MONEY. it is extremely expensive. do the happy hour for yor drinks and drink draft beer. a captain and coke will run you $7 and a draft beer is $4. we never got out of lunch for less than $25 and that is without drinks. the waiter we had at kelly's was great and gave us great suggestions. fortunately when i was there is was their 'slow week' it just so happens my b-day week is their slow week so that was great, but everything is really expensive.

What grossed you out, the story about the X-ray technician who dug up the dead woman he had a crush on, rebuilt her skin, married her, and kept her around for 7 years, part of that time in a wrecked airplane in his back yard? And that wasn't even a ghost story, just a real Key West tale. You missed a great tour. We doomed the tour group from our upstairs porch when they went by the Banyan the next day, and they ignored us!
P.S. You're right about B.O.'s I'm always shocked at the prices. Maybe you're paying for the atmosphere???

CaptDave · Post by **CaptDave** » December 14, 2004 4:34 pm

Schooner Wharf Bar/Marina is great... not as 'touristy' as the rest of the island... live music, the Rum Runners are good, and the blackened grouper is awesome... and you should take a ride on the Western Union or the Liberty if you have the time...

other than that - id also recommend the Green Parrot Bar (theres some history there)...

And, if you want to do the Duvall Crawl - Id HIGHLY recommend Irish Kevins - that place rocks...

and to step it up - head to Louies....

the cabs are great if you need them... dont drink and bike - it is a crime...

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » December 14, 2004 4:45 pm

CaptDave wrote:Schooner Wharf Bar/Marina is great... not as 'touristy' as the rest of the island... live music, the Rum Runners are good, and the blackened grouper is awesome... and you should take a ride on the Western Union or the Liberty if you have the time...

other than that - id also recommend the Green Parrot Bar (theres some history there)...

And, if you want to do the Duvall Crawl - Id HIGHLY recommend Irish Kevins - that place rocks...

and to step it up - head to Louies....

the cabs are great if you need them... dont drink and bike - it is a crime...

But drinking and walking are ok...

CaptDave · Post by **CaptDave** » December 14, 2004 4:48 pm

absolutly...
and drinking BEFORE the Conch Train is ok, drinking ON the conch train is discouraged....

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » December 14, 2004 4:48 pm

CaptDave wrote:. dont drink and bike - it is a crime...

I was drinking AND bikeing, thank you Fat Tuesdays

buy the 32oz for $12 and get refilled for $10

www.trailsofmargaritaville.com www.keywest.com

stop off at Louie's BackYard for a Bloody Mary, they're awesome

And at least 1 evening at Mallory Square for sunset and the cat show
www.catmankeywest.com

Mango Picker · Post by **Mango Picker** » December 14, 2004 5:55 pm

Has anyone mentioned Jimmy's Shrimp Boat Sound Studios...?

It is across the parking lot from the entrance/parking lot to Conch Republic. CR is an open air bar/restaurant right on the water/d0cks of the old marina area.

SBSS is a small white building, looks like an old ice house at the corner of the dock as you look out the front door of CR.

I saw Mac leaving there (I think) in a black pikumup truk in June.

It has no windows and a small set of stairs leading to the door.

tequilatom · Post by **tequilatom** » December 14, 2004 8:10 pm

got back from key west about 10 days ago, do the trails of margaritaville,we also had dusty.great tour.a bit of info from the tour.jimmy will be recording a album to come out spring/summer.kelly's a great resturant.check the sloppy joe's web site for entertainment.see if the bobby friss band is playing.awsome don't miss.kevin's irish pub a couple doors down from sloppy joe's was pretty good also.have fun

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 14, 2004 10:27 pm

Mango Picker wrote:Has anyone mentioned Jimmy's Shrimp Boat Sound Studios...?

It is across the parking lot from the entrance/parking lot to Conch Republic. CR is an open air bar/restaurant right on the water/d0cks of the old marina area.

SBSS is a small white building, looks like an old ice house at the corner of the dock as you look out the front door of CR.

I saw Mac leaving there (I think) in a black pikumup truk in June.

It has no windows and a small set of stairs leading to the door.

That's where we saw Mac the day after Thanksgiving... Just hanging around during a break in recording. We also hung around earlier, you can hear the recording right out the back of the place.

P.S. If you strike up a conversation with one of the homeless people, such as the Wizard at Mallory Square, as I did, be prepared to be surrounded by them all, wanting hand-outs... They're like pigeons or seagulls ... if you feed one, they flock in no time.

They're clever too. One guy said I was the prettiest gal in all of Key West

and he'd be honest with me. "I have to have a beer, and all I need is 87 cents." I asked him how many beers he'd had that day, he paused, then said, "Not enough."

We gave him 87 cents.

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