Gotta walk down Duvall St. Go to Sloppy Joes, Irish Kevin's Pub, take some pictures at the Butterfly Emporium. Watch the sunset at Mallory Square. I love staying at The Southernmost Guest House, excellent service! Ask for Mona, she runs the house. Go see Hemmingway House too. Have a good time & don't bend over anywhere on Duvall St. (just kidding) Take the Admiral to The Blond Giraffe they have chocolate covered key lime pie on a stick that is to die for !! There is also Margaritaville on Duvall too.

 

We were trying to get in there over Christmas, everything was booked.

Go to the NYTimes.com and go to the travel section.

For a resturant, we liked Louie's Back Porch. (It has been several years since we were there-check to see if they are still in business)

Hotels: Marquesa.

Duval Street at night - get at least a couple of pictures of some drag queens!!! :grin:

You can pick up a charter and do some sport fishing. Sail or Kings.

 

The traffic is insane in key west. If you drive, lock up, lots of freakazoids this time of year.

 

If you are going to Key West bring a second liver and a good sense of humor. :smt043

 

Stay at Heron House on Simonton Street, 1 block off Duval. See the sunset at Mallory Square every night.

Don

 

I lived in Key West 18 months while in the military. All of the suggestions are right on target. Also include a trip to the docks where shrimpers come in. They back their boats up and steam the shrimp in beer and sell it by the plate full, right there on the docks. You can also take a trip on the Conch train for a tour thru Key West and see all the sights. There are glass bottom boats that will take you out for tours of the reefs and huge schools of red snappers. If you feed them cheetos or cheese puffs they will surface to eat them. And remember to eat some key lime pie...I have had key lime pie all over the world and none compare to Key West's version. Be sure to try a hogie sandwich on Cuban bread and eat at a restaurant that serves pulled Cuban pork with yellow rice and black beans.

 

The Duval Crawl! Drink heavily and enjoy the weather/scenary.

 

Last time I was there with the Admiral we took the ferry to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson. It's a long ride but well worth it. When you get there you can snorkel and the wildlife is outstanding. We were in the water with a school of Tarpon that had to be 6 feet long! Plus the fort is pretty cool, that's where Dr Samuel Mudd was held after he was convicted of helping Booth. We're going down in three weeks for a long weekend and staying at the Casa Marina Resort. It's got a private beach and off of the main drag and the "Drama"!:smt038

 

This is a great, out-of-the-way bar. Great food & drink. Try the hogfish sandwich and the conch fritters. Then the Blond Giraffe for dessert.

 

Dude that was probably the best fish sandwich I ever ate! Great suggestion!!!!:thumbsup:

 

No children allowed venues.

Go to the Garden of Eden, (Duval Street) open air bar on the fourth floor above the Bull something bar (Clothing optional) and be amazed at what some will do, note some folks will pull all of their clothes off and dance naked. --some should perhaps leave their clothes on--

Catch the drag show at the 801 Bourbon Club (Duval Street) for a few laughs. not for proper language freaks, the language gets quite rowdy, no PC here.

Louie's BackYard was open last year, but it is a bit more expensive then other places.

Mallory Square is entertaining

There is the Red Fish/Blue Fish Grill almost across from Mel Fisher's museum, which has some fine jambalaya at a good price.

And for my money the "Hard Rock Cafe" on Duval Street has the best burgers.

:thumbsup:

 

I am loving this thread....I will be in Key West for the first time Jan.18th...woohoo !

 

All the suggestions are great so far! The boys will be staying with gram and gramps. Unfortunately, we are only there for 2 days. It going to be marathon just to find all the places suggested.

Quint4 we haven't nailed down exactly when we are going. Might be cool to have a tall cool one with a fellow CSR member though. Keep an eye on the thread. I'll leave a post if we'll be there around the 18th.

Nick K

 

All the suggestions are great so far! The boys will be staying with gram and gramps. Unfortunately, we are only there for 2 days. It going to be marathon just to find all the places suggested.

Quint4 we haven't nailed down exactly when we are going. Might be cool to have a tall cool one with a fellow CSR member though. Keep an eye on the thread. I'll leave a post if we'll be there around the 18th.

Nick K

2 days is plenty of time to hit every bar in Key West. :thumbsup: It's not that big of a place.

 

Sounds Good....correction our cruise ship stops there on Jan. 19th from 7am until 3pm.

 

We go every year for 2 weeks. Leaving 2/18. Being retired military we stay at Trumbo Point, walking distance to down town. We love the old port area, off the beaten path. Lot's of small locals bars. 2 of my favorites are Dante's which has a pool bar, and Schooner Wharf.
This is where the locals drink. The Conch Train is a good way to cover a lot of ground on your first day. The State Park has a nice little swimming beach and is a great place to see the Sunset without all the crowds. There is also an old fort you can tour. But you have to do Mallory Square at sunset at least once. Once you go you'll be back.

 

Where do you stay at Trumbo Point, at the Navy Lodge?

 

All of the above are good. Rent bikes and ride around and through all the side streets. Visit the Truman Annex and go through JFK's southern White House. Harry Truman used to hang out there too. JFK (or was it Truman?) used to play poker there with members of the supreme court. House is still as it was then. Second the comment on Louis's Backyard. Used to be the best dinner on the key per locals I know down there. It is was very good a few years ago.

 

The Navy Lodge is on Sigsbee Island, not close enough to walk. We have stayed there.
We stay at the Condo's, converted housing, near the Fly Navy building, on base, Trumbo point. MWR runs it.
Mike

 

Go fishing.
http://www.gulfstreamiiifishing.com/index.html
Old friends boat from the north.
Captain Jamie, is living the DREAM on her boat everyday.
She told me any further south and she wouldn't be paying taxes.

 

Teasers. But when they tell you it'll say 'sports bar' on your credit card receipt, it's bs.

 

Well, we made it to Key West. Had a hell of a rainstorm last night. Duval street was pretty dead as a result. Having lunch at Kellys right now.

Sorry we'll miss you Quint. Taking the ferry back tonight. Enjoy the sun!!


Nick K

 

Enjoy!!

 

We're flying down on Friday, just in time for another New Jersey Snowstorm! Hope we make it!

 

Going down Feb. 8th and staying for a few days in Southernmost Hotel. Will try to hit all the hot spots mentioned.

Glenn

 

My wife and I just spent last weekend in Key West. It was a great break from the Mid Atlantic winter.

We used some of the information on this post and had a great time. I recommend renting a scooter to get around for the day, it was a great way to see a lot and not have any problems parking.

The sunset at the State Park was great, thanks for that suggestion! We stopped in many places along Duvall Street, but really enjoyed the seaport area. Schooner Wharf was great for drinks, and Half Shell Raw Bar had great food. Last weekend, there was also a seafood festival going on and we saw some great live music there as well. Salute on Higgs Beach was also a great place to grab a drink on the outdoor terrace overlooking the beach.

Once again, thanks for all of the suggestions on this board! We'll definitely be back.

Mike

 

I am driving down to Key west Thursday night, March 31, 2011 and coming back on Monday, April 4, 2011. I was going to do the Dry Tortuga's trip, but from I can gather the seas are typically 3-5's near Key West this week, so they will probably be a bit larger further off shore, (if there are waves at the fort, snorkeling may not be any good due to, too much sediment being stirred up.) and I have not heard anything good about the current new Tortuga Ferry owners. Scuttlebutt has them being called the puke ferry now, They haul butt out, folks over indulge eating and drinking while waiting to return and then they haul butt back to key West so I am going to pass on this trip this time. This information comes from one of the vendors selling the tickets, and also there is supposedly only one ferry operator now

I am going to try the hog fish sandwich though.

I am sure I will have some fun though

 

I am driving down to Key west Thursday night, March 31, 2011 and coming back on Monday, April 4, 2011. I was going to do the Dry Tortuga's trip, but from I can gather the seas are typically 3-5's near Key West this week, so they will probably be a bit larger further off shore, (if there are waves at the fort, snorkeling may not be any good due to, too much sediment being stirred up.) and I have not heard anything good about the current new Tortuga Ferry owners. Scuttlebutt has them being called the puke ferry now, They haul butt out, folks over indulge eating and drinking while waiting to return and then they haul butt back to key West so I am going to pass on this trip this time. This information comes from one of the vendors selling the tickets, and also there is supposedly only one ferry operator now

I am going to try the hog fish sandwich though.

I am sure I will have some fun though

The Hogfish Bar is a "Do Not Miss", and there's a Seaplane Service that fly's out to the Fort if you don't want to do the "Chum Run"! :thumbsup:

 

We're going to be in the Turks and Caicos from April 21 to May 30, then we head to Key Largo for a day then to Key West for two days, then Orlando for 4 days then back home.

Thanks for all the suggestions about things to see (Garden of Eden) and do in KW. We're really looking forward to this trip!!!

GFC

 

...

Thanks for all the suggestions about things to see (Garden of Eden)...GFC

It is spring break this week, so guess where this lecherous older man will be Friday night? :smt101 :grin: