Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

On Thu, 10 May 2012 19:20:09 -0500, Oscar 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.

===

We just finished spending a week in Key West and have been there
numerous times before. That said, it still comes down to what you
are interested in. Assuming you like boats and fishing, the water
front walk around Key West Bight is a "must do". This is the heart
of all the charter fishing boat activity, the sunset cruises, small
boat rental, water front restaurants, miscelaneous pubs, dive boats,
glass bottom boats, parasailing, etc. From Key West Bight you can
also catch an excursion bost out to the Dry Tortugas and Fort
Jefferson, definitely an interesting day on the water.

Google Maps - "Key West Bight, Monroe, FL"

A lot of people go to Key West for the pubs and music. The heart of
all that is on Duval Street, particularly the north end. Just walk
around and listen from the doorway until you find something you like.

The north end of Duval is also close to Mallory Square where everyone
goes to watch the sunsets and take in the sights with all of the
street performers. It is also where the cruise ships dock but they
are required to depart before sunset. Mallory Square and the sunset
scene should definitely be on your must do list.

Google Maps - "Mallory Square, Key West, FL"

Other things you might find interesting are Ernest Hemmingway's house,
Harry Truman's vacation retreat, and the "Southern Most Point".

I'd also recommend taking a tour on the Key West Conch train. The
concept is a bit hokey but it is a good way to get a quick overview of
the town and a smattering of local history. Their station is near
Mallory Square and the north end of Duval.

http://www.viator.com/tours/Key-West/Conch-Tour-Train/d661-5046KEY_CON?pref=02&aid=g3111

I assume you already have a place to stay. If not I'd recommend the
Pier House Resort, The Hyatt next door, or the Galleon Hotel. All of
them are conveniently located. I've never stayed there but the Pier
House seems like it is a cut above the rest and they have a lot of
parking available.

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

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

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

On Thu, 10 May 2012 21:15:45 -0400, wrote:

They started cracking down on drinking on the street

===

Perhaps but there is still a lot of it going on. With good behavior
and a modicum of discretion your chances of being hasseled seem to be
minimal.

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

On 5/10/2012 7:12 PM, Wayne B 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.

===

We just finished spending a week in Key West and have been there
numerous times before. That said, it still comes down to what you
are interested in. Assuming you like boats and fishing, the water
front walk around Key West Bight is a "must do". This is the heart
of all the charter fishing boat activity, the sunset cruises, small
boat rental, water front restaurants, miscelaneous pubs, dive boats,
glass bottom boats, parasailing, etc. From Key West Bight you can
also catch an excursion bost out to the Dry Tortugas and Fort
Jefferson, definitely an interesting day on the water.

Google Maps - "Key West Bight, Monroe, FL"

A lot of people go to Key West for the pubs and music. The heart of
all that is on Duval Street, particularly the north end. Just walk
around and listen from the doorway until you find something you like.

The north end of Duval is also close to Mallory Square where everyone
goes to watch the sunsets and take in the sights with all of the
street performers. It is also where the cruise ships dock but they
are required to depart before sunset. Mallory Square and the sunset
scene should definitely be on your must do list.

Google Maps - "Mallory Square, Key West, FL"

Other things you might find interesting are Ernest Hemmingway's house,
Harry Truman's vacation retreat, and the "Southern Most Point".

I'd also recommend taking a tour on the Key West Conch train. The
concept is a bit hokey but it is a good way to get a quick overview of
the town and a smattering of local history. Their station is near
Mallory Square and the north end of Duval.

http://www.viator.com/tours/Key-West/Conch-Tour-Train/d661-5046KEY_CON?pref=02&aid=g3111

I assume you already have a place to stay. If not I'd recommend the
Pier House Resort, The Hyatt next door, or the Galleon Hotel. All of
them are conveniently located. I've never stayed there but the Pier
House seems like it is a cut above the rest and they have a lot of
parking available.





Thanks Wayne I will make a point to check out the bight area. Most of
the other stuff is already on our to do list.

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

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?




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.

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

On 5/10/12 9:47 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Thu, 10 May 2012 21:15:45 -0400, wrote:

They started cracking down on drinking on the street

===

Perhaps but there is still a lot of it going on. With good behavior
and a modicum of discretion your chances of being hasseled seem to be
minimal.



Ahh...drinking...well, that's probably a leg up on the ladder for some
participants in a so-called "boating" newsgroup. How about a thread
about walking on the beach and picking up shells?

I wonder if Sarah Palin could see Cuba from Key West?

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

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?

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

This is looking good. I've never been to the Keys, and am now
wondering with the wife's plans are this winter....

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

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'd recomment one of the Mustang Floater type vests that blow up when
you pull the 'pin'.

Soliciting tourist advice for Key West
 

In article ,
says...

On Fri, 11 May 2012 06:22:16 -0400, X ` Man
wrote:

On 5/10/12 9:47 PM, Wayne B wrote:
On Thu, 10 May 2012 21:15:45 -0400, wrote:

They started cracking down on drinking on the street

===

Perhaps but there is still a lot of it going on. With good behavior
and a modicum of discretion your chances of being hasseled seem to be
minimal.



How about a thread
about walking on the beach and picking up shells?

If you want to walk on the beach and pick up shells, go to Sanibel.
Not much shelling in Key West, unless you buy them from a store.

Isn't much of anything in Key West unless you buy it from a store!!!