Key West Travel Blog Page - The Key Wester

Key West Fishing & Weather

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:October 23, 2011
Post category:Activities Fishing

Well, we had an unusually soggy week in Key West last week. It rained for about 5 days straight, flooding parts of the island. That means that most activities like fishing, sunset sails, and water sports tours were shut down during that time. Visitors were relegated to only hanging out at the bars like Sloppy Joe’s or visiting museums like the Hemingway House. Now that can be fun and relaxing, but after a while people surely want to get out and about. Now is the time. Weather is clear and a little breezy making the outdoors extremely comfortable this time of year in Key West.

(more…)

Key West Historical Markers: The Captain George Carey House and the Pirates Well

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:October 6, 2011
Post category:History

I was wondering downtown the other day and I came across a sign posted in front of one of the historic downtown homes that said “Pirates Well.” I have walked by this place a hundred times and had never noticed it before, so I read the marker at the house and did a bit or research on it.

Apparently where this house sits was where the first fresh water on the island was found by pirates in the 1700s. But this house, located at 410 Caroline Street between Duval and Whitehead Streets, known as the Captain George Carey House has a few more claims to fame.

(more…)

Discovering Key West

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:October 3, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

I have lived in Key West for nearly 13 years now. Wow! I know the island pretty darn well. But every once in a while I still get surprised. Hard to do on a 2×4 square mile island? I say not! Key West is very tourist industry driven so we have a ton of restaurants, bars, shops, and attractions directed toward capturing that tourist market. Often times businesses start up and don’t make it so something new will pop up before you know it.

(more…)

Key West – Shooting Range

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:September 20, 2011
Post category:Activities

Until about a year ago, local gun enthusiasts had no place to go to shoot their firearms unless they took a boat offshore. I guess that could be fun but I would think that aiming on a rocking boat would be pretty hard to do. And plus, what would you shoot at? Sounds like a big old hassle, and an expensive one at that with fuel prices what they are. Anyway, we now have the Big Coppitt Gun Club located just about 7 minutes north of Key West.

(more…)

Key West Fishing Report

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:September 17, 2011
Post category:Activities Fishing

September is a notable month for inshore fishing. The flats are alive with baby tarpon, bonefish, and permit, although there are many other species available as well such as sharks, jacks, barracuda, snook, redfish, and jack crevalles. Typically this time of year though avid flats fisherman, both spin and fly fisherman, tend to visit our area for the trifecta of tarpon, bones, and permit. I have to say that the Dream Team is doing a great job with their clients at it too.

(more…)

Key West Cuisine 101

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:September 14, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

Key West has an eclectic hodgepodge of restaurants for locals and visitors to choose from. You will find everything from Jamaican, French, Cuban, American, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Mexican and of course local Key West style fare. What exactly is Key West fare you ask. Well, if you consider the location and heritage of the island, you will find a great deal of influence from the Caribbean islands as well as an abundance of local seafood items in several of these recipes, although plenty of recipes will make the landlubbers happy too. Cubans and Bahamians introduced items such as black beans, rice, marinated pork, plantains, conch, and flan to Key West. Today you can find these items served as they originated or in a style locals have coined as Conch-fusion.

(more…)

Key West SLAM

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:September 9, 2011
Post category:Fishing

So it is fall and the temperatures have dropped, if only very slightly, and the flats fishing game is on full speed. Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit all around. Even with good numbers of fish around this time of year, these are some of the most challenging fish to catch. It is almost like a hunting trip, stalking the fish silently as your guide poles you down the flat.

(more…)

Mel Fisher, Key West Treasure Hunter

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:September 2, 2011
Post category:History

Mel Fisher was arguably the most famous treasure hunter in modern times. Probably because in 1985 he discovered the Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank off of the Florida Keys in a hurricane in 1622. With over $450 million in treasures found so far from the wreck, including 40 tons of gold and silver, Pieces of Eight, emeralds, artifacts, and over 1000 bars of silver, Mel and his crew were known by everyone in our little island community.

(more…)

What to Pack for a Key West Vacation

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:September 1, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

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!

(more…)

Hurricane Season

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:August 31, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

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.

(more…)

A Weekend in the Upper Keys

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:August 30, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

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.

(more…)

Road Rules for Bicyclists

Post author:Island Genn
Post published:August 24, 2011
Post category:Uncategorized

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.

(more…)