Key West --- What to do there / Where stay ?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by 89911

I spent 7 days there years ago. Did you know that is has NO BEACH? I'm not going to knock the place, but if your thinking this is a US Mainland version of a Carribean island you are mistaken. Did I mention it has NO BEACH? It's got a lot of quirky attractions and followings by people of all gender (and transgender) but once in a lifetime was plenty enough for me. I think this a required pilgrimage by all the Parrotheads once in their lifetime. I just didn't get it. I was hoping for a tropical paradise and found out it had NO BEACH! (On the way there, I did think some of the lesser known Keys did look beautiful)

No beaches? Look harder. Higgs, smathers, Fort Z Tayler, beach (and beach bar) at southernmost on the end of Duval. If you have a boat, or can beg/borrow/steal a ride, we go to Snipe point on the weekends.

Not tropical? This is the view from the balcony of my condo:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Thank you, just put another check mark on the list of places I'll never need to go to.

Get out much?

Originally Posted by Eric 951

Since you are driving--check into getting a temporary Sunpass for the turnpike if your route is taking you through Miami--you NEED a transponder to travel the toll road since they eliminated any type of collection booths.

They now have 'Toll by plate', scan your license plate automatically and mail bill, it adds .25 to a $1.00 toll, plus $2.50 once a month.

Don't drive through Miami unless you are stopping, it will add about an hour to the trip.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by DARISC

My wife and I go there on occasion. Fun place to go and play, but if gay would make you stay away, hey!, stay away because the majority of the restaurants and bars in Key West are gay owned/operated.

Which is to say, if you're a tighty righty, anti-gay, right wing whack job, you'll be shocked by the decadence of a society gone flamboyantly queer and will be likely to barf up your eggs Florentine a la Key West when your two gay waiters include you in their morning b!tch fest.

Key West is great...if you're not a typical denizen of the up-tight! Right wing world of PARF.

Yep, those gays chase you down the street and try to nail you in the butt...

Seriously dude, give it up.

[72doug2,2S]

I'd be interested in the fishing, other than that it would be Key Waste.

[Jferr006]

I encountered more weirdos in 10 mins of Las Vegas than I did in 4 days of KW...relaxing island feel!

[89911]

Originally Posted by dad911

No beaches? Look harder. Higgs, smathers, Fort Z Tayler, beach (and beach bar) at southernmost on the end of Duval. If you have a boat, or can beg/borrow/steal a ride, we go to Snipe point on the weekends.

Not tropical? This is the view from the balcony of my condo:




Get out much?



They now have 'Toll by plate', scan your license plate automatically and mail bill, it adds .25 to a $1.00 toll, plus $2.50 once a month.

Don't drive through Miami unless you are stopping, it will add about an hour to the trip.

Try walking out in the water with anything but boat shoes and tell me how tropical it is? Seriously, the weather there is very nice, but we spent the whole week at our condo's pool. Could of done this at Marco island. I did a lot of jet skiing when I was there since any wave riding, surfing was out. Just letting those that haven't been there know that a couple of man made beaches with trucked in sand is not paradise in my eyes. If that's not what your looking for, you should be good.

[Jferr006]

I'm not certain which beaches are man made but the public areas we visited outside of the naval annex were gross to walk on and kimd of stagnant. The annex beaches were very rough but, at least there were some waves.

[VINMAN]

You have to realize , the Keys are basically the top of a giant coral reef .

[pc100porsche]

The 3500 mile roadtrip from San Antonio to KW return went well (will post a few pics once I work out how to get pics out of my gf's iphone).
I was fortunate to stay at Waldorf Astoria Casa Marina .. great rooms/great service/good gym/nice beach.... good parking (they kindly put my 911 undercover at their sister property).
Favourite bars were Schooners & Green Parrot..... super good ambience and music....
Can recommend Prime 915 (great steak & offer corkage) ... La Trattoria on Duval was nice for Italian .... I also enjoyed the fish tacos at Schooners with many accompanying beers !!
Thanks for the Pelican recommendations .. couldn't try them all, so that is a good enough excuse to do this again ... !

[lendaddy]

Indeed the beaches on Key West do suck, they are just not "comfortable". I enjoy the people watching and weirdness though so in that regard it's a ball. But a "tropical paradise" type experience it's not.

[911dean]

Just got back 2 weeks ago. Stayed at the Sothernmost at the beach, great hotel. I definitely enjoyed Key West, but I don't think I'd return, there are other places I'd like to visit.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Indeed the beaches on Key West do suck, they are just not "comfortable". I enjoy the people watching and weirdness though so in that regard it's a ball. But a "tropical paradise" type experience it's not.

[pc100porsche]

Had to improve the Key West pics :

[pc100porsche]

My 88 at Waldorf Astoria Casa Marina after driving from San Antonio .. good hotel. plus .. they washed and garaged him ...

[72doug2,2S]

Those pics are truly frightening. That would be a strong discouragement from Key West.

Anyone know SWFL Estero area? I'm scheduled to fly down for a job interview next month.