KEY WEST review

[kaykels]

I was there last week and I'm not posting this to debate...this is just MY experience for what it's worth.
If you are 21 and really into bar hopping, Duvall Street is the place for you. If you are cruising DCL this is probably NOT the case though!

My dad and kids are huge Buffet fans so we walked and walked and walked to Margaritaville (it was very hot that day, seemed long). It is very small and not air conditioned. There was a long wait to get it also. And oddly enough all of the bars and restaurants had live music EXCEPT Margaritaville. Go figure.
The kids were hot, tired and bored. We walked back to catch up with a trolley but the line was so long. DH took the kids to the aquarium. It was very small but they still liked it. It kept them busy for about 20 minutes, then they wanted to get back on the ship. By the way.... just an observation..... the trolley looks like a train and train looks like a trolley. Anyway..... either way, no air conditioning and very crowded. $25 pp
Hubby took the kids back on the ship and my dad and I asked a cab driver for a tour of Key West. It was the best $50 spent! Aahhh, finally, I got to see KEY WEST, not the tourist street vendors! The beach was beautiful. We were kicking ourselves for not taking the kids to beach. We saw where the locals do their shopping too. We went to the Cuban district and the cab driver showed us where to have some excellent meals for under $10.00, as well as a wealth of history about KW.
So in summary, next time I WILL TAKE THE KIDS TO THE BEACH! Don't drag them up and down the hot crowded streets, they'll only whine to go back onto the Mickey boat!

 

[cujobugs]

Where was the beach that you liked so much in Key West? I have only heard negative beach review from Key West.

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hi Rachel ---as a native of Key West and a 4 generation at that - I always try to tell folks to stay off of Duval Street - believe it or not Margaretville is 6 blocks South from Mallory Square and yes it is VERY warm in Key West - you are surround by water from the Gulf and the Atlantic - was your cab driver a "real' local or just a transplant? the beachs are not bad in KW - its just you do have to be careful for a number of things - nudity is the thing down there and nope its not the conchs (what few there is left down there).
Glad you got of "dodge" and was able to enjoy the real Key West or what is left of it. Norm and I have been trying to get back home now for months, but haven't made it yet - maybe soon.
Always
Shirley

 

[Stimpy]

I'm sorry your kids didn't have a good time. I do agree that it is a lot of walking in Key West.

My kids actually loved it and asked to go back. I was surprised to hear that. I didn't think there was much there for kids either but DS really liked it. We did the trolley tour and got off at the stops we wanted to see. DS-5 1/2, our little parakeet, actually got a kick out of going to Margarittaville. I agree with you though, it was not a big deal to me. After the trolley tour, which was very entertaining and informative...the drivers were great, we did the new Pirate Soul museum. DS and DH LOVED it. They have a lot of authentic pirate stuff, including 1 of only 2 original Jolly Rogers flags in exsistence in the world today. (Or atleast thats what the Jack Sparrow look-alike guy told us ) It also had some interactive stuff for kids to do. (It took us aout an hour to finish the whole place) DS also liked watching and following the chickens and roosters all over the place.

BTW, my DSis ran into a DCL CM in Key West who told her that the rumor is that Key West is going to be taken off the DCL Western Itineraries soon. I don't know how true that it but I thought it was interesting.

 

[smilingmouse]

Do any of you happen to know where Hard Rock Cafe is and how to get there?

Thanks!

 

[jodifla]

The beach in Key West is not that great.

But the town IS great. The trolley or train does a good job of taking you all over the island to see the place. The aquarium is a nice spot....small, but definitely featuring Florida sealife, which is nice. First time I saw the conch animal, and what i was eating in all those fritters! I haven't been to the Pirate museum, but that sounds pretty interesting, too.

I think my DS would just enjoy the scenery on Duval street....lots of rather unusual things...and people...to look at.

 

[jjgarv]

If you don't want to sight-see around town... We did the most fun excursion in Key West! It was a jet ski tour round the entire island. We booked it in advance through www.islandwatersports.us and we couldn't have been more pleased. They are located right on the pier. We took children as young as four and as old as 35, and everyone had a great time! Check out their website, and they show a map of the route for the island tour.

 

[NowaSki]

Do any of you happen to know where Hard Rock Cafe is and how to get there?

Thanks!

Yes, it's about 2 1/2 blocks south of Mallory Square on Duval Street. Heading south it will be on you left just pass Rose Ln. (Hard Rock Location)

We where there on the 4/23 Western Cruise. I picked up a standard white Hard Rock T-Shirt for $21.

FYI, the Hard Rock in Grand Caymen is just across the street from where the tenders dock. Got a t-shirt for $20. The Cozumel Hard Rock is quite a distance away, but they have a merchandise shop in the Mall accross the street from the dock. Got a t-shirt for $19 in Cozumel.

Three Hard Rock T-Shirts, that was my souvenirs!

 

[kaykels]

Hi Shirley, I was hoping you would pop in here on this one. I was trying to stop by and say hello when I was in PC but your shop was closed early Saturday morning. Our cab driver was a transplant. As a matter of fact, he lives on a sailboat docked off of another key. He's a native Bahamian but he's white guy with an odd accent. He told us about the Bahamian/Key West connection. I'm sure he probably made up a lot of the stories too. hee hee.
Which beaches do you suggest staying away from?
Why aren't the beaches that great (other than the nudity)
Can't be worse than the 1/2 price Mother's Day lap dance offers of Duval Street!
The rest of Key West was beautiful. Shirley, no wonder you and Norm can't wait to get home and visit.

 

[cats04]

I have a question for Shirley too!!! Many, many, years ago my dh and I bought ice cream at a little shop in Key West. I can't remember the street or name of the shop. What I do remember was the coconut ice cream....yummy!! Can you tell me where I might find more????? Is it w/in walking distance of the pier? That's my excursion for Key West.

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hi Rachel,
Conchs had a way of writing or telling stories of the olden days of Key West that kept the younger family/friends in awe - now the best part, most of the stories were really true just got added to as time went by. Living in Key West was living in a world apart from everything bad - we did go through world war 2 and we did lose a number of loved ones, we did go through each war and loved ones again were lost, but they were never forgotten - always throughout Key West - a remembrance day was set aside - it has long gone with a lot of traditions - the blacks always buried their loved ones on Sunday and it was so great to be a part of their traditions - there were no tears but the dancing, the prayers, the cermony was to make your heart feel good - when Key West was invited to be a part of their cermonies, it was like being asked to be part of something very precious and heart warming - this too has long gone to the side.
The Ice Cream shop, Cats4, can not be Al Lamons (Ah-La-mons) cause that was in the 30's 40's and 50's - I understand that at Meson De Pepe, decendants from the Alamons, still have the famous receipes and they do have awesome ice cream made from the real stuff and still by hand -
There is another ice cream shop on the corner of Virginia and Duval that is awesome - their ice cream, almost meets El Lanoms's ice cream, but of course it isn't. They are about a mile and a half South from Mallory Square
Rachel, I am sorry we missed you too sweetie - Norm and I get there to the shop about 6:30AM on the weekend since we had to be at the ships by 7AM . Anyhow the only beach I recommend down in the Keys is Fort Taylor - its clean and you don't have to be concern what is happening as the other beaches - I remember telling one couple to get a room, I was that upset over the behavior - now the city is allowing body painting for clothes - go figure - the place is great for adult entertainment but for kids - nope I am still against it, but then the ol's conchs have either moved away or passed on or they would have stepped in and kept it their way
Norm and I do love going home, but we leave with tears in the heart - this is not the hometown we grew up in nor the folks that really cared about everyone. As for the bahamian hertiage, its true - if the conchs weren't from Cuba, they were from the Bahamas - all intermingled and here we are, tho my great grandparents (on my daddy's side) were from copenhagen, denmark - they were murdered in the high seas outside of Key West and my grandfather, who was only 10 at the time, decided to stay in Key West - this was in the early 1800's - my grandmother's family all came from the bahamas - my mom's side were all from spain and cuba - I have a great mixture and the best of all worlds -
The Hard Rock Cafe is now where the Elks club once stood - it is on the corner of Greene and Duval Street - Its a beautiful place - I remember was once being the place to be for parties and it hosted a number of things for teens.
Now that the tidbits of Key West is done for now ------KNOW WHAT TODAY IS??????????????????? Have a great weekend.
Always
Shirley and Norm
the 2 ol' conchs