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6 nights in Key West

Posted on 7/6/16 at 2:50 pm
Posted by ngulin123
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2005
337 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 2:50 pm
Wife and I are going next week for our anniversary, and both of us have never been. Any suggestions would be great for things that are must do, nightlife, and most importantly places and dishes that are must eat!
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45794 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 2:56 pm to
I have been to Key West twice and both times missed out on a trip to dry tortugas. Are yall trying to spend a day there?
Posted by ngulin123
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2005
337 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:05 pm to
Not sure if it would be worth a full day??
Posted by wickowick
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
45794 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:08 pm to
Key west has very little beach, if that is something you were looking for, there is one small public beach where they truck in sand. IT is more like Bourbon Street without the smell...
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115468 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:15 pm to
I wouldn't miss some of the fun places along the middle keys.
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:17 pm to
Be prepared to see the same things over and over again. it gets old quick

For sure hit up blue heaven for breakfast/brunch and dinner.


The keys are far more enjoyable on the water. Key West gets old quick once you have seen it in the daylight and night
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:18 pm to
quote:

Not sure if it would be worth a full day??


If you can plan a full day away from KW, do it. Tortugas is beautiful on the way. see if you can do a private charter or rental
Posted by Fun Bunch
New Orleans
Member since May 2008
115468 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:21 pm to
quote:

Be prepared to see the same things over and over again. it gets old quick

For sure hit up blue heaven for breakfast/brunch and dinner.


The keys are far more enjoyable on the water. Key West gets old quick once you have seen it in the daylight and night




Yeah I enjoy KW but 6 nights is a long time for me there.

Personally I would start in Miami, spend a night there, drive down to the Keys, spend a night in the middle keys in say Isla Morada and go to some cool seaside bars, then drive down to KW for a few days.
Posted by ngulin123
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2005
337 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:24 pm to
quote:

I wouldn't miss some of the fun places along the middle keys.


any where you recommend?
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 3:24 pm to
quote:

Yeah I enjoy KW but 6 nights is a long time for me there.


I spend at least a week, sometimes 2-3 in the keys a year. We stay lower keys, usually big pine or ramrod. Even if we have guest, its usually one day trip and one night trip to KW.

Islamorda is a great break from KW
Posted by BigB0882
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2014
5308 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 5:04 pm to
I only spent a few hours there while in port on a cruise but from what I could gather I think 6 days is a LONG time. Could you maybe plan something for a few days somewhere else, within driving distance?
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
75148 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 7:46 pm to
Marathon cool too
Posted by notiger1997
Metairie
Member since May 2009
58103 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 8:47 pm to
quote:

I only spent a few hours there while in port on a cruise


That's not really experiencing a city. That's like visiting bourbon street for a few hours and thinking you experienced new orleans.

I've stayed four nights at a little cottage right off of Duval and loved every minute of it. When I got a little board with the island, I went on a snorkeling trip and a fishing trip.
Posted by Boston911
Lafayette
Member since Dec 2013
1933 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 9:22 pm to
Been there a couple times, Hemingway house is cool, all the spots on the harbor are fun, rent a car and go to the other Keys, there is a good diving museum up there on Islamorado
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
101293 posts
Posted on 7/6/16 at 11:06 pm to
quote:

Not sure if it would be worth a full day??


If you're going to be there for 6, it would probably make sense.

Key West is a neat long weekend type destination, but I could see it wearing thin for 6 days straight. Take the day trip to mix things up.
Posted by ellunchboxo
Gtown
Member since Feb 2009
18781 posts
Posted on 7/7/16 at 1:21 am to
Seven Fish for dinner
Posted by weaveballs1
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2010
3037 posts
Posted on 7/7/16 at 1:34 am to
Cannot recommend Fort Jefferson enough. It's one of the most beautiful and unique places on earth and has some amazing snorkeling. Really a marvel of engineering from the 19th century. Book the Ferry soon, they can sell out quickly. Where are you staying? I lived there for a summer after college, and things have changed a bit, but some of the places we enjoyed going were:

Day Stuff:
Hemingway House
The Garden Club and Botanical Gardens at West Martello Fort (one of my favorite places, it's located on Higg's beach right next to mass grave of slaves that died on a crossing that was discovered fairly recently)
Mel Fisher Museum is cool
Aquarium
Fort Zach Taylor (I believe it's a few bucks to enter the park, but it's worth it. The fort itself is interesting, as well as the nature trials around it and it also has by far the best beach in KW)
BRING WATER SHOES - The beaches are crushed coral and are extremely rough to walk in if you don't have shoes on.
Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center (interesting place to learn about the ecology of the keys, there's a small aquarium here as well.)
A jet ski tour can be fun, depending on the surf conditions on the Atlantic side of the island, and how knowledgeable the guide is.

There's of course all the touristy bullshite on Duval you can do as well, souvenir shops, etc. There are some decent shops on the south side of Duval, and I'd recommend a trip to the Wyland Gallery.

In my opinion, a scooter is the best way to get around the island, and Fury tends to rent the nicest ones. Grabbing a drink and going for a cruise is a great way to see the town.

Night time stuff:

My favorite bar on the island is the Porch, which is located in the home of the first Doctor in KW, and has a really cool, kind of NOLAish feel. They have an excellent beer selection, and there's a cocktail bar across the hall when you walk in. There's usually a band playing in the courtyard as well. It's on Caroline St, a few steps off Duval, so you can take a break from the craziness and all the tourists if you want and get back to it when you feel like it. My recommendation from there would be to hang a left on Whitehead and cruise on down to the Green Parrot, grab a Dark and Stormy and enjoy the band they've got in there on the weekends. Sloppy Joe's is worth a trip to say you've been there and to get a Sloppy Rita, but it get's crowded quickly on weekends. Captain Tony's around the corner can be a great time too if you feel like catching a game of pool. Schooner Wharf is always a good time as well. I'd also check out the White Tarpon in AB marina. Grab a key lime martini and take a walk around the docks. If you're into day drinking, Dante's throws a pool party/brunch every sunday that can get pretty rowdy.

It's kind of touristy, but the ghost tour is campy and entertaining if you're into that kind of thing.

Food:
Conch Shack on Duval. Get the Cracked Conch(Konk) with the pink and green sauce and ask Dave to tell you about the guy getting his picture taken with a tranny. Best Cracked Conch on the island IMO, and I've eaten a lot.
Take a ride to Stock Island and go to the Hogfish Bar and Grill. Blackened Hogfish sandwich is killer. Hogfish is probably the best tasting fish in the ocean.
Breakfast at Sarabeth's and Blue Heaven (if you can find a spot to park)
Cuban Sandwich from Sandy's Cafe
I really enjoy Half Shell Raw Bar for Seafood
If you want to do an upscale dinner, Louie's Backyard is a really great place, you can dine on the deck or inside.
I'd recommend Lattitudes on Sunset Key for your last night, get there about 30 mins before sunset, the view is absolutely incredible and the food is very good. I'd book now because it can be tough to get a reservation if you plan on going.

If you have a free day, I'd drive up to Bahia Honda State Park. By far the most beautiful beach in the keys.

Sorry for the long post, I tried to think of pretty much everything I could
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 7/7/16 at 7:40 am to
quote:

I'd drive up to Bahia Honda State Park. By far the most beautiful beach in the keys.


For sure.

We usually boat to Bahia Honda, but I believe you can rent kayaks here as well and paddle around the Key. If you can bring a raft to float on and some sort of rope/anchor, walk out about 100 yards or more and float.



Obviously we tether to the boat, but from this point you can walk to shore, its that shallow. Best part about around this area is there isnt any coral in the water, just sand.
Posted by ngulin123
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2005
337 posts
Posted on 7/7/16 at 8:28 am to
Thank You for all the info!

After all the reviews i have read, i am going to go ahead and plan a day to make the trip to Fort Jefferson!

quote:

I'd recommend Lattitudes on Sunset Key for your last night, get there about 30 mins before sunset, the view is absolutely incredible and the food is very good. I'd book now because it can be tough to get a reservation if you plan on going.


I just tried online and cant get a table before 9:15 for any of my 6 nights.... Would you recommend just going and having a few cocktails at the bar around sunset?

We are staying at Ocean Key and it has a sunset pier that is supposed to have great sunsets, but this Lattitude place looks like something we would enjoy too.

quote:

Conch Shack on Duval. Get the Cracked Conch(Konk) with the pink and green sauce and ask Dave to tell you about the guy getting his picture taken with a tranny. Best Cracked Conch on the island IMO, and I've eaten a lot.


How is it at Half Shell?

quote:

If you have a free day, I'd drive up to Bahia Honda State Park. By far the most beautiful beach in the keys.


I was planning on doing this and catching the No Name Pub on the way back. Have you been to this place or heard good things about it? Is this drive to far to take scooters?
Posted by ngulin123
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2005
337 posts
Posted on 7/7/16 at 8:30 am to
quote:

For sure. We usually boat to Bahia Honda, but I believe you can rent kayaks here as well and paddle around the Key. If you can bring a raft to float on and some sort of rope/anchor, walk out about 100 yards or more and float.


Thanks for the info! Will prob rent a Jeep to go here so i can load down with a ice chest and floats!
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