So you are visiting our fair island of Key West and you don’t know what to pack? I will make this very easy for you. Key West is a very casual place. Even the fanciest restaurants do not require you to dress up and more than country club casual. Here are some things not to forget. If possible, don’t bring more than a carry on; it is all you should need!
So hurricane season started on June first, but we are now getting into the busiest part of the season. Thus far we have been lucky, with little storm activity and recently dodging Irene. After our past experiences with Georges, Wilma, Katrina, etc, we sincerely feel for the Northeast and the havoc that Irene created there. Chances are the season will remain slow and no evacuations will be called. But in case a storm does come our way and the Keys are in the “cone” there are a few things to keep in mind for those vacationing here.
Well, I have not posted anything for a few days now. My birthday was Sunday so my husband surprised me with a quick getaway to Islamorada, about a 1.5 hour drive away from Key West. Key West is a wonderful place to be, but for those of us who live there we like to get away once in awhile too.
We stayed at the Islander Resort located on the oceanside of US1, right across the street from the famous Lorelei Marina, Restaurant, and Bar. The Islander was built in the 1950’s but it has had some renovations, although the bathrooms still need to be updated. The rooms are clean and large with kitchens and either one king or two double beds in the standard rooms which either overlook the gardens or the ocean. There are also suites for larger parties.
Living and working on a small island, you can imagine that man people like to get around via bikes. It is a great method of travel,with benefits for both the body and the environment. But it seems to me that lots of people believe that just because they are on a bike they don’t have to follow the rules of the road, and it frankly gets pretty upsetting at times. What I think people do not realize is that in Florida a bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle.
When the Eco Discovery Center opened down here, I was skeptical. But my husband and I one day finally decided to check it out. Unfortunately, thinking it would have to be lame, we did no allot ourselves enough time to visit this place, which turned out to be awesome and super informative about the Florida Keys eco-system.
We had enough time to run through the different exhibits very quickly and we also got to see the 20 minute movie, “Reflections of the Florida Keys”, starring local dive celebrity Megan Haney Greer. If you have just a little bit of time here, I highly recommend viewing this film as one of the things you check out. The footage was amazing and the story was very interesting while still imparting lots of information to the viewers. Plus, the theater is HD with surround sound. (If you don’t have time to see the film you can purchase it in the gift shop.)
Looking for a place to hang out, play tennis, bike, or do one of the many other activities that a park can allow? Here is a list of the parks…
Cuban cigars have long been considered among the best in the world. In the late 1800’s, as war gripped Cuba, many Cuban cigar makers fled to Key West, bringing the cigar industry to the United States. For a time Key West was the cigar capital of the world. By the early 1900’s, however, labor strikes, fires, hurricanes, and the depression ended the island’s domination of the cigar industry. The tradition, although now diminished from what it once was, still remains. There are a number of Cigar shops and cigar makers that can still be found in Key West. The cigar rolling tradition has been handed down for generations and will remain a part of Key West for a long time to come.
Last year was the first ever Brewfest held by the Key West Sunshine Rotary of the Conch Republic, and it was such a success that they have decided to do it again this year! It will be held Labor Day weekend, from September 1-5. All proceeds will support the Rotary and their charitable works. If you enjoy a cold one, what better way to show your community support? Attend this years Second Annual! For ticket information please call 1-800-354-4455. Here is the schedule of events:
This Saturday we decided to go downtown to check out Lobsterfest with some friends. The street fair covered several blocks of Duval Street with stands serving up all different types of lobster dishes and vendors sells all different types of wares, from jewelry to hats to clothing to art work. The selection was amazing and everyone was having fun. It was very hot outside and after walking around and checking everything out we were hot and tired and hungry. The lines for the food booths at Lobsterfest were long and we really wanted to find some quiet and shade.
So we walked down Duval Street to the Old Town Mexican Cafe. The seating was outdoor but under huge trees that provided a ton of shade and a cool setting. We chose our seat and our dog Indie was welcome too.
The Rusty Anchor Restaurant and Seafood Market has been around for a long, long time. Mainly locals dine here as it is located on Stock Island away from the touristy areas of Key West. Their menu has local seafood favorites like dolphin, yellowtail, calamari, clams, shrimp, conch, and crab as well as burgers, ribs, and steaks. We go here on occasion for lunch or dinner, and many make this their weekly dinner spot every Wednesday for Prime Rib night.
We brought out friend from out of town here for lunch the other day so that he could experience a traditional Key West seafood restaurant in the comfortable air conditioned dining room. We ordered fish dip, calamari, peel and eat shrimp, fries, and a yellowtail sandwich.
Last night my husband and I went to Old Town Key West on a photo mission. We were planning on eating dinner while we were there, but most places are open air and it was hot, hot, hot. And the places that were indoor were packed. That’s what happens during a special event at 6 pm without reservation! Anyway, we decided to grab a bite in New Town instead, an. I suggested China Garden in the Searstown Plaza on Roosevelt Blvd. There is typically no wait here and last night was no different. (And if you are looking for delivery they are super fast and have never messed up an order for us!)
Since Key West is such a small island, parking is at a premium. Not only do most of the 25,000 residents have vehicles, but many visitors to the island either drive down or rent cars while they are here. The larger hotels and New Town attractions have parking available for their customers, but many of the smaller B&B’s and downtown attractions do not, so if you are driving, you need to find a place to park. You can always take a cab, the Key West Bus, or rent a bicycle which will make this parking issue null. But for those of you that still need parking info, here it is.