Okay Frank and Denise you talked me into it. I'll throw in some Key West pictures too. But first a story.
When we left Alabama Saturday and drove to the Fort we gained an hour going from the Central to Eastern time zone. On Sunday morning we went to Daylight Savings Time and moved clocks forward again one hour. Two moves in two days was "two" much for my crew. I wanted to hit the road early at sunrise (my kids call me Captain Daddy) but it wasn't happening THAT morning. But we ate a quick breakfast, broke down the camper, and left the Fort right at 9 a.m..
I left WDW via Osceola Parkway by Wide World of Sports and headed east to the Turnpike. I had bought a Sunpass and loaded up some money on it for tolls so we could roll right through the toll stations like a Florida resident. It was wonderful. We got lunch to go just where the Turnpike ends south of Miami and then headed down to Key Largo on US Highway 1. Key Largo is the first island of the Keys and the approach is made through about 10 miles of two lane highway through marsh and canals. Then a big bridge looms ahead and drops you into the laid back islands of the Keys. Largo is about 100 miles from Key West so you drive along and watch the mile markers count down as you drive through Islamorada, Marathon, across 7-mile bridge, Big Pine, and on into Key West.
We were staying at a private campground called Boyd's on Stock Island (mile marker 5) which is in the Key West city limits. I had tried to get in the state parks in the keys (cheaper) but they book up FULL 11 months in advance this time of year and we planned 3 of our 4 full days in Key West so I wanted to stay close. I'll share more on Boyd's later but I would recommend it with some stipulations. Got checked in and set up by 4 p.m. and headed to Publix for some grub. Dinner was at Hogfish Grill there on Stock Island less than a mile from Boyds near where the fishing boats tie up. Good food, relaxed setting, not too touristy. Naturally I got hogfish for dinner.
Monday our first full day in Key West was sight seeing day. Land is scarce in the Keys and parking lots/rates can be expensive but I had researched and found a surface lot on Simonton street near Sloppy Joes Bar for only $10/day. So we parked, slathered on some suntan lotion, and hit the streets. Let me say the weather all week was wonderful, high about 80F and low about 70F with 50% humidity and UV indexes of 10+. Roosters/chickens roam free and loose all over Key West.
It was quiet on Duval Street full of t-shirt shops, hotels, restaurants, b&b's, moped rentals, and we headed for the Southernmost point marker. Got the obligatory family photo there but here is the marker.
Then we ambled down Whitehead street and visited the Key West lighthouse, Hemmingway's house, US 1 Mile Marker 0,Truman's Little White House (lots of houses, huh?), the Mel Fisher Maritime museum, and then we sat in the shade of the Mallory Square shopping district. We had packed a picnic lunch which we discreetly ate after the Hemmingway tour all the while trying to keep the 6-toed cats from getting my cheese curls.
We got some pizza for supper from a place on Duval Street then headed over for one of the must-do's in Key West, watching the sun set from Mallory Square.
For those that don't know, Mallory Square is a large open brick plaza on the west end of the island. About 90 minutes before sun down every day, street performers set up (maybe 6-7 of them and they are carry permits from the city) and entertain the crowds until sunset. Donations are accepted and I will say warranted in most cases. We saw a tumbler/gymnast, an escape artist in a straight jacket, a unicyclist juggling flambeaux, an acrobat team (the best), a fire eater, and more. Some call it street art, others a freak show, but it is entertaining.
But it all pauses as the sun sinks to the horizon out over the water.
The crowds dispersed and we headed back to the car. It being spring break in Key West the night life was about to heat up and I had to do my fatherly duty and get the children in the car QUICKLY. Because I don't condone that kind of behavior.
So we called it a day and headed back to the trailer.
Bama ED