Trails of Margaritaville Tour, Key West

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » March 20, 2008 6:23 pm

I'm heading to Key West next month for the first time and planned to take the "Tours of Margaritaville" tour that many in BN said was a good thing....

Today I clicked on my saved link and got the dreaded "IE cannot display the web page". I did a Google search and found a similar sounding tour now called "Tales and Trails of Key West" that mentions Buffett trivia.

Anyone know if this is the same or new version of the original???

Thanks......

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » March 20, 2008 6:30 pm

I think it might be a new, separate tour. I saw Frank Everhart last month (he used to be one of the guys who worked the Trails of Margaritaville) and he said he wasn't doing it anymore and hadn't for a while, but I didn't think to ask if the tour itself was still going on.

dnw · Post by **dnw** » March 20, 2008 6:53 pm

I think this is the same tour: trailsandtalesofkeywest.com

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » March 20, 2008 7:03 pm

dnw wrote:I think this is the same tour: trailsandtalesofkeywest.com

Yeah it is. I recognize Tim (One of the tour guides) in the photo.

Karacal · Post by **Karacal** » March 20, 2008 7:14 pm

popcornjack wrote:
dnw wrote:I think this is the same tour: trailsandtalesofkeywest.com
Yeah it is. I recognize Tim (One of the tour guides) in the photo.

We just did this tour in Feb. while it was still called Trails of Margaritaville and Tim was our guide. He said the name of the tour was changing to the Trails and Tales of Key West. We were on a cruise and only had a short time in Key West. It was a lot of fun although the walk back to the ship was a little hazy after Rum Runners at the Schooner Wharf.

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » March 20, 2008 7:40 pm

just do like I did. Read up and do it yourself

bobandjodi · Post by **bobandjodi** » March 20, 2008 9:07 pm

This tour is OK if you are in town for a short time like a crusie ship. However most of the stuff on the tour can be found on your own if you have a little time in town or visit a few times. Their "big" advertisment is showing you Jimmy recording studio. Hint, it is a plain white building next to Conch Republic Seafood and not much to see.

brznbeaches · Post by **brznbeaches** » March 20, 2008 9:43 pm

It was fun to go when I went down by myself-met some crazy nice people that I got together with later that night. early morning! TIm took us to to some places, told some stories I didn't know about that early in my PH career.

ches4me · Post by **ches4me** » March 20, 2008 10:36 pm

Tim Glancy, is the same on the Tour. He is the original magician who traveled with Jimmy back in the day. He now owns all of the tour companies in Key West. While I have not taken this tour. I know that the Trails tour was stopped as of Jan 1, for Legal issues.

I am sure if Tim knows you are interested in Buffett stuff he will add more of it to the exixting tour. However the actual Trails tour and Company no longer exists.

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » March 21, 2008 6:32 am

Thanks to everyone for the information. Earlier posts about KW on BN had seemed to indicate that the "old Trails" tour was a must do. Now I'm not so sure......

We'll be there for 4 days so I'm starting to think our time might be better spent doing things on our own instead. Grab a tour book and start walking!

So, are any of the KW tours worth the time & money for first-timers?

Summerlover · Post by **Summerlover** » March 21, 2008 7:12 am

Bfan53, have a great time and let us know about your trip. Where are you staying if I may ask? We would like to go to KW next year, first timers also. It looks beautiful and I'm a little scared I may encounter some depression upon our return to corn country.

This year it's Panama City Beach which is fun too but KW just has that tropical look that I love. This trip we have the anchors (teens). Next year no anchors. They stay home.

blank1127 · Post by **blank1127** » March 22, 2008 3:56 am

Bfan53 wrote: So, are any of the KW tours worth the time & money for first-timers?

Well, I had a really good time on the first KW Original Ghost tour I went on with Jason as the guide. The last one I went on was not as fun, but it was the new town tour. I don't regret riding the Conch Tour Train, it's sort of a tradition but I don't know that I'd do it again. My favorite "first time" experience was the sunset sail aboard the Western Union, but that's not in business right now. I'd never been on a sailboat before so I decided to check that out. The whole Mallory Square thing just wasn't my scene, I was more in the mood for complimentary liquor and a wooden schooner. 4 days is more time than I had on my first visit, you should be able to accomplish quite a bit in that amount of time. Schooner Wharf is a great little funky bar to grab a sandwich, and El Siboney is a classic little hole in the wall that serves great cuban food. Otherwise, I'd say some research is probably your best bet.

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » March 22, 2008 6:39 am

Summerlover wrote:Bfan53, have a great time and let us know about your trip. Where are you staying if I may ask? We would like to go to KW next year, first timers also. It looks beautiful and I'm a little scared I may encounter some depression upon our return to corn country.
This year it's Panama City Beach which is fun too but KW just has that tropical look that I love. This trip we have the anchors (teens). Next year no anchors. They stay home.

Our friends going along made all the arrangements through their local travel agent. The agent booked the 4 of us a package deal with air fares to Miami, 1-way rental car (we'll fly from KW to Miami going home), & rooms at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort out near the KW airport (here's the link to the hotel: http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/ ... a/index.do

This would not have been my choice for accomodations, but we were told that only a limited number of KW properties were eligible for our package. So, we'll need to rely on public transportation to & from Old Town. The benefit should be at least it will be quieter to sleep out there! Honestly, I appreciate our friends making all of the arrangements & we're happy just to be finally going to Key West.......

When I get back I'll send you a PM with our suggestions for your "first time", OK? Hope you & your family have fun in Panama City Beach!

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » March 22, 2008 6:52 am

blank1127 wrote:
Bfan53 wrote: So, are any of the KW tours worth the time & money for first-timers?
Schooner Wharf is a great little funky bar to grab a sandwich, and El Siboney is a classic little hole in the wall that serves great cuban food. Otherwise, I'd say some research is probably your best bet.

Your suggestions seem to mirror what most people are saying, expecially about the Schooner Wharf & El Siboney. Rather than any of the organized tours I think we're leaning toward exploring KW on our own with a sunset sail........

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts & suggestions!!!!!

ches4me · Post by **ches4me** » March 22, 2008 11:27 pm

2 things you MUST do are the chart room bar. ( inside the pier House) it is like the oldest ricketiest bar on the island . Everything that ever happended in old KW was planned and happened there. Jimmy hung out there. When they wanted to build a resort where the Pier house is the only way they could do it was build the Resort around the Chart Room Bar. Mel fischer planned the search for the atochia at the bar there. and so much more . It should be on the tour or someone down there will give you the history..
and BO's fish shack. It looks really bad. but the best fish on the island, (Jimmy always eats there a lot when he is in town i am not in KW often but have seen both Mac and Utley there.

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » March 23, 2008 5:59 am

ches4me wrote:2 things you MUST do are the chart room bar. ( inside the pier House) it is like the oldest ricketiest bar on the island . Everything that ever happended in old KW was planned and happened there. Jimmy hung out there. When they wanted to build a resort where the Pier house is the only way they could do it was build the Resort around the Chart Room Bar. Mel fischer planned the search for the atochia at the bar there. and so much more . It should be on the tour or someone down there will give you the history..
and BO's fish shack. It looks really bad. but the best fish on the island, (Jimmy always eats there a lot when he is in town i am not in KW often but have seen both Mac and Utley there.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll add both to our rapidly growing itinerary!

digitalprintman · Post by **digitalprintman** » April 1, 2008 8:49 am

First thing is to probably check the other thread going on with suggestions for Key West.

I would recommend the Tales and Trails tour, it is very good and will give you some more info behind some of the places that you otherwise might just walk on by. Tim is full of Jimmy info. If it's your first time to Key West, probably a Must Do. Your decision though.

Go to Blue Heaven for breakfast in Old Town, have Lobster Benedict. Great Banana Bread, Bloody Goose (Bloody Mary with Grey Goose Vodka) Mamoisas.

http://blueheavenkw.homestead.com/Blue_ ... _West.html

Schooner Wharf Bar in the old seaport, Jimmy's studio is about spitting distance from here. Check the website for coupons for buy one get one FREE

http://www.schoonerwharf.com/

B.O.'s Fish Wagon just up the block from Schooner Wharf. Met Mac McAnally there in January when Mac and Jimmy were recording Illo.

Very nice spot to visit and it is FREE, it's on the beach side of the island, might need to take a taxi. The Key West Garden Club:

http://www.keywestgardenclub.com/

Of course Captain Tony's:

http://www.capttonyssaloon.com/

If you have time take the ferry to the Dry Tortugas or better yet take the seaplane out. Sea Planes of Key West. Did this a few years ago. Fabulous trip:

http://www.seaplanesofkeywest.com/

You might also want to check this little joint out, I hear it is somewhat popular:

http://margaritavillekeywest.com/

Have Phun!!!!

We always do when we are in Key West and throughout the Keys.

digitalprintman · Post by **digitalprintman** » April 1, 2008 9:01 am

Whoops forgot to add.

Yes, the Schooner Western Union is out for repairs. We have ridden on it and was a blast.

In February we took the Hindu out for a sunset cruise. A very nice 85 year old schooner that has been lovingly restored. The crew is great and hopefully on your voyage you'll have Captain Kevin. He is a hoot and has his northeast accent heavy duty. Good food, all you can drink beer, wine and champagne. The Hindu is docked right outside of the Schooner Wharf Bar. I give it and AAA+++. Captain Kevin will also let you take a turn at the wheel of the ship. I believe the cost was right around $50 per person. You can find cheaper sunset cruises but this is a true gem of a ship and I'm not much for new style boats. Captain Kevin might even shoot off the cannon, even though it sometimes bothers Will the tight wire walker at Mallory Square. Kevin does make sure that Will is not up on the wire.

Here is a nice article on the Hindu along with plenty of reference to Captain Kevin.

http://boothbayregister.maine.com/2006- ... _home.html

Bfan53 · Post by **Bfan53** » April 1, 2008 6:02 pm

Thanks so much for all the great info. Next week I'll be in KW!!!!!!!

tigzoe · Post by **tigzoe** » August 23, 2010 6:16 am

Has anyone done this recently?

http://trailsandtalesofkeywest.net/

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Trails of Margaritaville Tour, Key West

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