Florida Keys About This Page:

[Beth L.]

My sister dumped me on the trip to WDW but because of the great ticket prices to Fla from CT and my daughter & her fiance agreeing to watch our DS, my DH is coming with me. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] This means, OMG, for the first time since our son was born 10 yrs ago, Bill and I are going to be alone. It's the honeymoom we never had! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] So, if you have gone to the Keys with the man of your dreams, please tell me the things that you would consider the most important things not to miss.

My DH loves to fish and an owner of another business that I deal with at work, has told me of a party boat that leaves from (these are his directions) the 1st parking lot on the left as soon as you get into Marathon. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] Has anyone been on one of these boats? If so, how was it? I really want Bill to have the best time ever on this trip. If you didn't like the party boat thing, is there a charter you would recommend?

Next, there is no way that if I'm as far down as Marathon, that I'll miss going to Key West. Do you have any recommendations as far as hotels/resorts/inns to stay at and what do we NOT want to miss?

I am soooo excited about this trip! I mean think about it, seven days of no kids, no resposibilities, just us, alone. It's really a dream come true for us! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] We'll only be in the Keys for a few days because of having to visit family but I want to see everything I possibly can while we're there. So, bring it on, I'll go and see anything that's out there.

[Bert & Sully]

Key West was our "first date"!!! We stayed at the Hyatt down in Old Town by Mallory Square. You should stay right down there in the heart of it all! They have GREAT glass bottom tours! We took the seaplane to spend a day at the Dry Tortugas. We are actually planning a long weekend down there in March!

It's less expensive on the Atlantic side. What time of year are you going?

Here's something to get you going:

http://www.keywestsfinest.com/

We fly right into Key West and rented a car because my bestfriend was driving down during one of the days from Miami. DUMB DUMB DUMB!! No need for a car for ten days [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] . They charge ridiculous rates for parking a la Manhattan.

What all did you want to do?

There's a cool aqaurium.

There's also Hemingway's house with the "six-toed cats".......H'mmmmmmm what all are you interested in doing?

Lainey

[ 09-07-2002, 03:46 PM: Message edited by: Bert & Sully ]

[Jenny Pooh]

I've been to Key West 3 times. Loved it! We have stayed at the Pier House and rented a house and a condo. The house was cool, right across the street from Hemingways, with our pool! The Hyatt hotel is beautiful. You must take the fast cat to the Dry Tourtugas(sp). It's has some of the best snorkling around. You won't need a car in Key West, you can walk everywhere or rent those cool mopeds!

[Beth L.]

We're flying into Palm Beach on 10/18 (my oldest daughter lives in West Palm & sister in North Palm), have rented a car and are driving straight down to the Keys when we land at 10:30 a.m.. We will be spending only 3 or 4 nights in the Keys before heading back up to visit my daughter & sister.

I love doing and trying anything and Bill is pretty much open to the same tho our heart basically lies in anything to do with the ocean. I definately would love to see Hemmingway's house while we're there. Also, I hear sunset at Mallory Square is something not to miss, is this true? I only plan on doing a 1/2 day fishing charter for Bill, so the rest is the time is wide open. Like I said earlier, throw suggestions at me. Even though we only have a short time in the Keys, I'm going to try to do as much as we can (without killing ourselves) while we're there. It's like a dream that we're going to be able to be alone together!! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

Lainey, I tried the website you suggested and it said that it was unaffailable?!? [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] Any other suggestions?

[iloverags2]

I'll add another vote for not renting a car. We stayed at a B&B just off Duval St., and walked everywhere! Our car never left the parking lot. If you are driving, keep in mind you really won't need the car to get around, so park cheaply! As Elaine said, it gets quite expensive for parking lots.

There's also Hemingway's house with the "six-toed cats".......

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Hey, anyone want to pay me to see our six-toed cats? We have two of them. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Bert & Sully]

Must be having tech difficulties on the web site. It worked when I pasted it earlier this afternoon, honest!

BTW it's about a six hour drive down to the Keys....Still trying to find the other site for you.

[ 09-07-2002, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Bert & Sully ]

[Beth L.]

Thanks Lainey, I was going to ask how far it was from PBI. By the way, what do you think is the fastest way to go? Also, is there anything you would suggest NOT to do? Do you have any recommendations as far as restaurants?

[ 09-07-2002, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Beth L. ]

[Bert & Sully]

It's about 66 miles from PBI to Miami depending on traffic about 90 minutes and another four hours from there to Key Weston Route 1. - The Seven Mile Bridge down (built by Flagler originally as a RR bridge) is great!

Some of our favorites are:

The Commodore Steakhouse on Front Street In Oldtown

The Pierhouse http://pierhouse.com/ - next to Hyatt

Kelly McGillis has a restaurant called Kelly's Caribbean Bar & Grill http://www.kellyskeywest.com/home.htm

There's a Cuban place that's really good right on Mallory Square called Cayo Hueso Y Habana that's really good.

Well-known bars: The Bull & Whistle, Sloppy Joe's, Hog's Breath are all located on Duval Street..

Just to name a few....Beth just walk around Old Towne and DEFINITELY get to sunset at least ONCE! It's beautiful and there are vendors "selling their wares" from all over the country as well as performance artists, etc. etc.

It's a very [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] "artsy" area. The people there are friendly. Too bad you won't be there for Halloween because the parade rivals the parade in the Village (NY) in imagination and pagentry. I'm still looking for fishing information but YOU MUST do glassbottom boat.

[AKLRULZ]

Haven't been to the Keys, but just want to say have a spectacular time! WHOO HOO!

[Suzy Q'Disney]

I love The Keys! Been to many of them. Love Marathon Key!

Susan

[Jenny Pooh]

Kelly's Caribbean Bar & Grill is a great place to eat. Also if it's still open Damn good food to go, yes that is the name. It was really good food to go! And climb to the top of the lighthouse, awesome views! And the sunset is not something to miss. They have tons of sunset cruises to take too. Don't miss the cat show on Mallory square at sunset. You will also see a ton of chickens and rousters! They are everywhere and crow ALL night!

[MINNIEsota MOUSE]

I love the Keys! My sister lives in Key West so we go down there at least once a year. In fact we'll be down there when you are! (Oct. 16 - 20)

It's true it does take awhile to drive - but the drive is awesome! Especially the bridges! We will be flying into Fort Lauderdale and driving down. Once you are there however parking is scarce and pricey! There are lots of places to rent bikes and scooters.

Some of our favorite places to eat are Blue Heaven (outdoor eating with chickens and cats running around - sounds crazy - but it's really good), Mangia Mangia (Italian), Half Shell Raw Bar (informal - great seafood) Mangrove Mama's (great ribs and seafood) and of course Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville (Cheeseburger in Paradise)!

There is so much to do I never end up doing everything that I want to! If you like history there are tons of museums - Mel Fishers is fun! If you like to shop you can get just about anything - be sure to check out the Key Lime Shop on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Greene Street and you can get handmade leather sandals for $7.00 at Kino's - you'll have to ask for directions it's kind of back behind the Hogsbreath Bar.

And if you want to snorkle, sunset sail, go to the Dry Tortugas or on a Dolphin watch check out Sunny Days Catamarans on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Greene Street. There are other companies but this one happens to be owned by my sister and her husband so of course it's the one I reccommend! They have been down there over 10 years. (www.sunnydayskeywest.com)

Have a great time! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Beth L.]

These are some great ideas and I'm definately going to copy this thread out to take with us!

Lainey, I checked out the sites you gave me and they were great! I doubt in the few days we're going to be there that we'll be able to see everything but I'm going to do my best! I definately don't want to miss the sunset at Old Town, it sounds like a blast! I don't mind the drive because I've always felt that half the fun of going anywhere is getting there! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

MINNIEsota, since you're going to be there at the same time maybe we could meet up somewhere along the line and say hi. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] By the way, have you ever thought of going into P & R for you sister's business? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Bert & Sully]

Oooooooooh be sure and write a Trip Report! We are going back down in late March/earl April!!

[MINNIEsota MOUSE]

Beth - I do send alot of peolple their way - I should ask for commission! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Really though they do do a very good job and their boats are alot of fun to go out on!