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Longboardn' ASEL&S wrote:A friend of mine from Boston just re-located to Key West this past fall. He's doing fine in his new job and living quarters , and his accent isn't interfering at all
There was someone in this group that said their father has lived in Key West most of his life yet still enjoys the Conch Train!
I've never taken it, thinking it was too "touristy", and that I had seen everything, but after reading that , I think I'll give it a try one day.

My wife and I had an amazing gig for 8 straight years. We "house sat" for some friends of ours who had a great house in Old Town on William Street between Caroline and Eaton Streets. Every July they came up north to visit their daughters and grandchildren for 2-3 weeks and my wife and I would head down to KW and house sit. Feed the cat twice a day and put a chlorine tablet in the pool every other day. Great gig. Anyway the fact that I had been visiting KW off and on since 1978 and then 8 straight years of housesitting I felt like I knew the island as if I was a Conch Republic citizen myself, i.e. I would never do anything so touristy as ride the Conch Train.
Wrong. My wife finally talked me into riding the Conch Train one year and ...... it was great! I learned a lot and really enjoyed it. Who knew? I highly recommend it.

Yes, everyone should do the train at least ONCE, good info on the town, not ALL the info but good.

I'm the one whose father lives in KW and still rides the Conch Train....and my dad has lived in KW since the '70s. Helps that he does work for the owner and doesn't have to pay....

I can't even count how many times I've ridden it. Heck, I still ride it every time I go home for a visit.

Oh, and you can get the Conch train at a three places...there is basically a stop on either end of Duval, as well as one right when you come onto the island.

Pepe's for breakfast may be my favorite. Huge portions, and you get to see the natives in their most interesting state....hungover. Pepe's is definitely one of those places off the beaten path and not frequented by tourists because it is a hole in the wall and way down the end of Caroline Street.

Someone also rec'd BO's Fishmarket. Good food there, too.

Another place for a local flavor, off the beaten path, is Mangrove Mama's. It is located on Sugarloaf Key (MM 20), on the right hand side going South. It is not a hole in the wall...but a hole in the mangroves. Great food, good prices, and great atmosphere.

If it has not been said, I'd also hit No Name Pub out on No Name Key. Bring an extra dollar for the wall.