Tell me about Key West

[red-beard]

Wife and I are thinking about a short vacation inside the US and this popped up as a possibillity. I am looking to fly into Miami on a Sunday and leave Key West on Friday.

Tell me about places to go, fun out of the way stuff, and stuff to avoid, etc.

Thanks

[Hugh R]

Hemingway's house, the southern most point in the continental US, a bunch of Hemingway knock off bars. Stop at some of the keys on the way down for lunch at a local restaurant.

[g_vaxed]

I was just there for the first time this past October and I've been all over FL the past 20 years. Very good party town, good for walking around and taking in the sights or renting a scooter and doing it that way (without the drinking and driving thing that is). Great place to eat, drink and party. I liked Key West but it has no 'real' beach. It's seems to be all man made beaches.... We partied in Key West and went swimming, tanning, lounging, relaxing at Bahia Honda State Park (just South of Marathon - highly recommended!). Beautiful blue-ish/green caribbean type water!!!

[azasadny]

Go to a restaurant called "Turtle Kraals" on the southern end of Key West, great food and beautiful scenery!

[JeremyD]

Sloppy Joes - in Key West - Duval street -

Go to the World Wide Sportsman - Islamorada, FL (Tarpon, Hemmingway's boat (sister ship))

CHEECA LODGE & SPA is a great place to stay - easy drive to key west

[Mericet]

+1 on Turtle Kraals.

[ramonesfreak]

i really like sitting at schooners wharf for some afternoon beers, cigars and oysters, looking at the boats. been there maybe 5 times and always had fun

Schooner Wharf Bar - Key West, Florida. "A Last Little Piece of Old Key West" - Live Entertainment!

ive rented scooters. almost got killed and im used to riding big sport bikes and harleys. be careful!!!lots of drunks on scooters and in cars. if your not a motorcyclist, i would skip doing it. rent a bicycle instead. if you do rent a scooter, dont be tempted to ride without a helmet and dont wear flip flops!!

ive done the scuba tours. fun! watch out for sharks and wear a t-shirt or youll get very burned without realizing whats happening

i like walking around the older neighborhoods seeing how people live

i would try to do some fishing if your into fishing. best fishing in the world around those parts

[byfdinky]

Be sure to stop at Bentleys in Isla Morada on your way down. Great food and bar.

[craigster59]

I've heard you can get a "Passport" for the bars on Duval St. Bars you drink at will stamp it. Never been up to the challenge, but hey, it's Key West.

I've heard they have a "clothing optional" bar called Garden of Eden or something like that. Bring along some sanitizing wipes in case you want to sit on a barstool, just sayin'.

[ramonesfreak]

ive been wanting to go here for a while. looks good but i dont know for sure..next time

Restaurants and Bars in the Florida Keys - Hogfish Bar and Grill Stock Island, FL

[HardDrive]

I love the keys. I'll be joining my parents in Big Pine Key in a few weeks.

Key West is a blast.

[dafischer]

If you're leaving Miami in the AM, you should stop for lunch at the Lorelei, in Islamorada. It's at mile marker 82, on the right. Look for the mermaid sign. Great view, excellent seafood, and cold beverages. It gets you prepped for the long ride to Key West...and the great scenery. And watch out for speed traps...they're serious about the revenue.
Turtle Kraals...meh. Had a so-so dinner, mass production seafood. For excellent Italian, try LaTrattoria on Duval St. For outdoor oceanfront, try Louie's backyard off the southern end of Duval. A little pricey, but very good. Louie's also has the Afterdeck which is a great tiki bar on a deck out over the water. And don't forget the Duval Crawl. Down one side, and back up the other, stopping for a beverage here and there.
Can you tell we ate and drank our way through Key West?
Take an evening sunset cruise on the schooner America, not cheap, but worth it. Bring your camera on this.

[lendaddy]

I recall enjoying the southern Cuban area more than the northern tourist/cruise landing area. That said we saw some great shows at Sloppy Joes. Wasn't cheap at all and the beaches suck(no sand, just crushed shells) but the night-life was really good. Found a great breakfast place in the Cuban area that was literally a families back yard, no sign or anything just knock at the fence.

We rented a condo and scooters and would do both again. Some cool history and architecture but make no mistake that place is one big party.

[Scott R]

Great diving, we're going back in 2012 to dive the Vandenberg, you may have seen them sink it on the History channel.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I recall enjoying the southern Cuban area more than the northern tourist/cruise landing area. That said we saw some great shows at Sloppy Joes. Wasn't cheap at all and the beaches suck(no sand, just crushed shells) but the night-life was really good. Found a great breakfast place in the Cuban area that was literally a families back yard, no sign or anything just knock at the fence.

We rented a condo and scooters and would do both again. Some cool history and architecture but make no mistake that place is one big party.

Agree with all of the above. Ive been going there at least once a yr, just about every year since 1985 I go every Nov. for the offshore powerboat races.
The southern end is more relaxed and MUCH cheaper. There is a great place for breakfast on the corner of simonton and south st. a little stand connected to the corner store. Louies backyard is a definately have to. Also hit the rooftop of the La Concha hotel for a great view of the island.
The cemetary is a very interesting place to visit.


Duval st has gone downhill in my opinion. it has become too touristy. And extremely expensive. , every other store is a t shirt shop. the place is over taken by Eastern Europeans who tend to be super pushy and obnoxious.,

But, otherwise it is still one of, if not my favorite places.

[widgeon13]

Take a day and go tarpon fishing from Bud & Mary's in Islamorada.

[Eric 951]

Lots of good suggestions already.

I have been going to the Keys for years. For a first time trip, you will have to hit Duval, just to say you were there--hit up Sloppy Joe's and Cap't Tony's (the original Sloppy Joe's). The Garden of Eden is the clothing optional bar on the roof of the Bull & Whistle(also on Duval). For more culture, go to the Hemmingway House--very good tour depending upon your guide. There is a really cool "indoor courtyard" garden in the back of the Pelican Poop store.
The butterfly sanctuary is worth a visit.
Old Town and Truman annex are nice.
To get a good overview, take the conch train tour--they hit the highlights and provide some history on the island.
On the drive down, stop off Big Pine Key to the No-name Pub for some good pizza--it can be tricky to find, but is near the key deer preserve--grab some slices and a beer and then drive into the preserve to see some endangered deer.
No real beaches, but if you ant a great setting for a nice sunset dinner make a reservation at Latituds which is on Sunset Key. You catch a boat from Mallory Square--great dinner on the beach, but a little pricey.
Speaking of mallory--great place to acth the sunset--there are also free street entertainers in this area.
For good lunch food, try Schooner Wharf, Half-Shell raw bar isn't bad, but I orefer Turtle Kraals for oysters. They also have turtle races on Mondays (IIRC).
There is also the Mel Fisher museum--has artifacts from the Atochia, and the Key West shipwreck museum--a little hokey, but some good history provided.
The green parrot is a decent bar as well.

There is alot to do in the Keys and Key West, just not confined to Duval Street, and the people are nice. Check Tripadvisor and the "Key West forums" for more information than you can shake a stick at.

[widgeon13]

Doesn't Kelly McGillis (what a waste of a woman) have a restaurant in Key West?

[Eric 951]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Doesn't Kelly McGillis (what a waste of a woman) have a restaurant in Key West?

Yes she does. "Kelly's" near Truman Annex. Decent bar/restaurant--beautiful courtyard overgrown with vegatation.

It is housed in the building where Pan-Am got it's start.

[Roosterrusek]

This post pleases me, I want to drag my boat down there for some fishing, for like, a month. 10 days is more likely but it seems you could bounde around and never be sad.

Plus, the wife and I want to hit up Fantasy Fest!