On Fri, 11 May 2012 11:57:03 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 06:19:00 -0500, Oscar wrote:

On 5/11/2012 1:03 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 10 May 2012 22:03:14 -0500, wrote:

On 5/10/2012 8:15 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 10 May 2012 19:20:09 -0500, wrote:

Anyone have any favorite to do's to share re Key West and the
surrounding area. We will not be arriving on a boat.

A lot depends on how long you are going to be there.
What kind of "boat"?
Like Wayne says, the cruise ships are only there in the day time. Key
West comes alive at sundown, starting at Mallory Square where street
performers do just about anything you can think of for tips.

Then you have the walk up Duval street. Take the shortcut through the
market, go by Captain Tony's if just so you can sing the song.


The song? Last Mango in Paris?

That would be the one. They even have the lyric on the bathroom wall.


Then
cut through the Hog's Breath, get a beer and wave to us on the web
cam and then out on Duval. Sloppy Joe's is across the street. The
party really starts there and goes about a mile up Duval.
They started cracking down on drinking on the street but it is not
absolutely a rule. Sometimes the best place to listen to the music is
on a bench outside. They do get loud.

If you are there for a few days, there is a nice beach down past the
Truman house. (grilles tables etc) It is not a horrible walk from
Duval Street.
They do rent those GEM electric cars.
It is man made from the dredging when they were digging the harbor and
really one of the few beaches in the Keys. Most of the time you are
walking on coral rock until you are in the water.
Some hotels and resorts have made little patches of beach but this is
a nice sized one.
The water there is unbelievable if you have never been in the
Caribbean.
A snorkeling trip or diving if you have a card is worth doing.

The best dive is actually about 35 miles up the Keys at Looe Key
Marine Sanctuary (Big Pine Key). That is a protected reef in shallow
enough water so snorkeling is reasonable. It is better than Pennekamp
in my opinion.

Of course there is some pretty good fishing once you get away from
downtown Key West.

My wife is a non swimmer and I am not a good swimmer so we will be
snorkleing in shallow water, most likely at Bahia Honda or near our camp.
Do you recommend water shoes for protection? If so what brand/style?

Bahia Honda is the next island up from Big Pine. (MM37-38 area)
There is a state park there with a little beach and some snorkeling
but not really a reef.
If you are not good swimmers you probably don't want to do the dive
boat thing

A lot of people like those slipper looking things in the water.
I don't wear shoes in the water but you will need something to just
walk around the land. It is all coral rock. I wear my boat shoes but I
wear my boat shoes everywhere. The traditional Keys footwear is flip
flops. Campgrounds used to sell Hiawatha and I still have a pair but
it has been about 27 years since I camped down there.
Once I introduced the boys to renting a house for our lobster trips,
we never camped again. ;-)
It really isn't that much more expensive once you add up all of those
little fees campgrounds charge.

These things are great - in and out of the boat:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/72766?feat=503381-GN2

On May 11, 8:19*am, Oscar wrote:
On 5/11/2012 1:03 AM, wrote:





On Thu, 10 May 2012 22:03:14 -0500, *wrote:

On 5/10/2012 8:15 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 10 May 2012 19:20:09 -0500, * wrote:

Anyone have any favorite to do's to share re Key West and the
surrounding area. We will not be arriving on a boat.

A lot depends on how long you are going to be there.
What kind of "boat"?
Like Wayne says, the cruise ships are only there in the day time. Key
West comes alive at sundown, starting at Mallory Square where street
performers do just about anything you can think of for tips.

Then you have the walk up Duval street. Take the shortcut through the
market, go by Captain Tony's if just so you can sing the song.

The song? Last Mango in Paris?

That would be the one. They even have the lyric on the bathroom wall.

Then
cut *through the Hog's Breath, get a beer and wave to us on the web
cam and then out on Duval. Sloppy Joe's is across the street. The
party really starts there and goes about a mile up Duval.
They started cracking down on drinking on the street but it is not
absolutely a rule. Sometimes the best place to listen to the music is
on a bench outside. They do get loud.

If you are there for a few days, there is a nice beach down past the
Truman house. (grilles tables etc) It is not a horrible walk from
Duval Street.
They do rent those GEM electric cars.
It is man made from the dredging when they were digging the harbor and
really one of the few beaches in the Keys. Most of the time you are
walking on coral rock until you are in the water.
Some hotels and resorts have made little patches of beach but this is
a nice sized one.
The water there is unbelievable if you have never been in the
Caribbean.
A snorkeling trip or diving if you have a card is worth doing.

The best dive is actually about 35 miles up the Keys at Looe Key
Marine Sanctuary (Big Pine Key). That is a protected reef in shallow
enough water so snorkeling is reasonable. It is better than Pennekamp
in my opinion.

Of course there is some pretty good fishing once you get away from
downtown Key West.

My wife is a non swimmer and I am not a good swimmer so we will be
snorkleing in shallow water, most likely at Bahia Honda or near our camp.
Do you recommend water shoes for protection? If so what brand/style?

I've been trying to wear out a pair of original style Crocks for at
least 5 years now.
i use 'em as slippers around the house, as boat shoes and beach shoes.
I even walk the dog in them sometimes. Wish I could wear them out..
they've never looked the same since I splashed oil based paint all
over them while spinning a paint roller clean.
http://www.crocs.ca/mens-crocs-footw...,en_CA,sc.html

On Fri, 11 May 2012 15:52:19 -0400, wrote:

All that said I see people in Crocs but usually on the street in KW,
not kicking around a camp ground.


===

Aside from their funky look, Crocs are very practical footwear at the
beach or in the dinghy. They do tend to trap sand but it is easy to
remove by sloshing your feet around in the water.

On Fri, 11 May 2012 15:52:19 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 13:58:53 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 11:57:03 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 06:19:00 -0500, Oscar wrote:


My wife is a non swimmer and I am not a good swimmer so we will be
snorkleing in shallow water, most likely at Bahia Honda or near our camp.
Do you recommend water shoes for protection? If so what brand/style?

Bahia Honda is the next island up from Big Pine. (MM37-38 area)
There is a state park there with a little beach and some snorkeling
but not really a reef.
If you are not good swimmers you probably don't want to do the dive
boat thing

A lot of people like those slipper looking things in the water.
I don't wear shoes in the water but you will need something to just
walk around the land. It is all coral rock. I wear my boat shoes but I
wear my boat shoes everywhere. The traditional Keys footwear is flip
flops. Campgrounds used to sell Hiawatha and I still have a pair but
it has been about 27 years since I camped down there.
Once I introduced the boys to renting a house for our lobster trips,
we never camped again. ;-)
It really isn't that much more expensive once you add up all of those
little fees campgrounds charge.

These things are great - in and out of the boat:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/72766?feat=503381-GN2

The only problem with that kind of shoe in the keys is that small
chips of coral rock and shell get trapped in there. That is why Flip
Flops are so popular. Less strappage to trap shells.

I have to be careful in my boat shoes not to kick up too much stuff.

All that said I see people in Crocs but usually on the street in KW,
not kicking around a camp ground.

Hell, I get sand and shells right here in the Potomac. I just put foot in water, shake it around,
and out comes the bad stuff.

Flip flops are not good for your toes.

On Fri, 11 May 2012 16:26:54 -0400, Wayne B wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 15:52:19 -0400, wrote:

All that said I see people in Crocs but usually on the street in KW,
not kicking around a camp ground.


===

Aside from their funky look, Crocs are very practical footwear at the
beach or in the dinghy. They do tend to trap sand but it is easy to
remove by sloshing your feet around in the water.

Try to find a pair of 'true' size 13 1/2 Crocs.

On 5/11/12 5:10 PM, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 11 May 2012 15:52:19 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 13:58:53 -0400, John
wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 11:57:03 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 06:19:00 -0500, wrote:


My wife is a non swimmer and I am not a good swimmer so we will be
snorkleing in shallow water, most likely at Bahia Honda or near our camp.
Do you recommend water shoes for protection? If so what brand/style?

Bahia Honda is the next island up from Big Pine. (MM37-38 area)
There is a state park there with a little beach and some snorkeling
but not really a reef.
If you are not good swimmers you probably don't want to do the dive
boat thing

A lot of people like those slipper looking things in the water.
I don't wear shoes in the water but you will need something to just
walk around the land. It is all coral rock. I wear my boat shoes but I
wear my boat shoes everywhere. The traditional Keys footwear is flip
flops. Campgrounds used to sell Hiawatha and I still have a pair but
it has been about 27 years since I camped down there.
Once I introduced the boys to renting a house for our lobster trips,
we never camped again. ;-)
It really isn't that much more expensive once you add up all of those
little fees campgrounds charge.

These things are great - in and out of the boat:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/72766?feat=503381-GN2

The only problem with that kind of shoe in the keys is that small
chips of coral rock and shell get trapped in there. That is why Flip
Flops are so popular. Less strappage to trap shells.

I have to be careful in my boat shoes not to kick up too much stuff.

All that said I see people in Crocs but usually on the street in KW,
not kicking around a camp ground.

Hell, I get sand and shells right here in the Potomac. I just put foot in water, shake it around,
and out comes the bad stuff.


And you let your grandkids swim and splash in the Potomac south of the
Wilson Bridge. Blech.

On Fri, 11 May 2012 17:11:35 -0400, John H.
wrote:

Try to find a pair of 'true' size 13 1/2 Crocs.

===

You need to get the special sasquatch model. :-)

In an emergency you can mount an outboard on the back for "get home"
power.

On Fri, 11 May 2012 17:39:50 -0400, Wayne B wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 17:11:35 -0400, John H.
wrote:

Try to find a pair of 'true' size 13 1/2 Crocs.

===

You need to get the special sasquatch model. :-)

In an emergency you can mount an outboard on the back for "get home"
power.

"Amen"!!

On 5/11/2012 5:11 PM, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 11 May 2012 16:26:54 -0400, Wayne wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 15:52:19 -0400, wrote:

All that said I see people in Crocs but usually on the street in KW,
not kicking around a camp ground.


===

Aside from their funky look, Crocs are very practical footwear at the
beach or in the dinghy. They do tend to trap sand but it is easy to
remove by sloshing your feet around in the water.

Try to find a pair of 'true' size 13 1/2 Crocs.

They're made of rubber. They'll stretch to fit.

On 5/11/2012 5:12 PM, X ` Man wrote:
On 5/11/12 5:10 PM, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 11 May 2012 15:52:19 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 13:58:53 -0400, John
wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 11:57:03 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 11 May 2012 06:19:00 -0500, wrote:


My wife is a non swimmer and I am not a good swimmer so we will be
snorkleing in shallow water, most likely at Bahia Honda or near
our camp.
Do you recommend water shoes for protection? If so what brand/style?

Bahia Honda is the next island up from Big Pine. (MM37-38 area)
There is a state park there with a little beach and some snorkeling
but not really a reef.
If you are not good swimmers you probably don't want to do the dive
boat thing

A lot of people like those slipper looking things in the water.
I don't wear shoes in the water but you will need something to just
walk around the land. It is all coral rock. I wear my boat shoes but I
wear my boat shoes everywhere. The traditional Keys footwear is flip
flops. Campgrounds used to sell Hiawatha and I still have a pair but
it has been about 27 years since I camped down there.
Once I introduced the boys to renting a house for our lobster trips,
we never camped again. ;-)
It really isn't that much more expensive once you add up all of those
little fees campgrounds charge.

These things are great - in and out of the boat:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/72766?feat=503381-GN2

The only problem with that kind of shoe in the keys is that small
chips of coral rock and shell get trapped in there. That is why Flip
Flops are so popular. Less strappage to trap shells.

I have to be careful in my boat shoes not to kick up too much stuff.

All that said I see people in Crocs but usually on the street in KW,
not kicking around a camp ground.

Hell, I get sand and shells right here in the Potomac. I just put foot
in water, shake it around,
and out comes the bad stuff.


And you let your grandkids swim and splash in the Potomac south of the
Wilson Bridge. Blech.


Who lives north of the bridge? Barry and Mitch?