Key West

[TwinMom7]

A group of family and friends will be in Key West later this summer to celebrate a 50th birthday. I'm looking for some fun and interesting things to do BESIDES bar hopping and shopping. I'm not worried about these two things because I know plenty of that will happen.

I'd love to hear about some other fun tours or excursions and the MUST SEE things.

 

[sk8belle]

Budget Travel Online recently had an article on doing the Keys as a road trip. One of the places they covered, of course, was Key West. Don't know how much time you'll have or if you'll want to drive to other islands, but there were some good ideas listed in the article. If you're interested, here's the link.

 

[The Mayor]

Do a snorkeling excursion on a Catamaran (3-4 hours) and waverunner (Jetski) tour of the island (1 1/2 hours)...both are really fun and worth it.

 

[Cantw8]

I haven't been in a few years, but there was a really cool Pirate Museum right in the middle of town Not sure if it's still there but I thought it was pretty cool

 

[I Heart Disney Too]

I went many many years ago. We went to a sandal factory, very cute and very inexpensive sandals for sale. Also some kind of a giant turtle zoo. And we ate at an oyster bar right on the beach.

I'd like to go again sometime soon.

 

[hydster]

We took a sea plane to Dry Tortuga! It was awesome! Then you have the Hemingway house, the lighthouse museum, Mel Fisher maritime museum, the Pirate museum and we also took a sunset "booze" cruise on a schooner at sunset. It was great fun! We rented mopeds and cruised around the island,sat at our cute little hotel pool and drank sangria. We are scuba certified so we did a dive and on the street there are tons of little booths with all kinds of activities you can sign up for.

Just a word of warning however....we stumbled upon this in a slightly drunken stupor known as the beginning of the Duval Crawl and I believe the bottom bar was called the Bull & Whistle Pub and the top bar is called The Garden of Eden. Now we should have had an idea when you get to the top of the stairs and it says:

18 only, no cameras. Thinking it might just be a topless bar we set inside. Now remember we were starting to get to the early stages of tipsy here. Inside on one part of the room was a tent and inside were bunches of nude people getting body painted. Quite a site to see and one I couldn't wait to run away from!

There are tons of things to do. We rented a convertible and drove up to Key Largo and over 7 mile bridge.

 

[ducklite]

The Hemmingway House with the Polydactyl cats!

Anne

 

[Tybug]

There is a trolley tour which will give a good lay of the land. Of course the southern most tip, Mallory Square at sunset, the sandal factory(loved it!), Hemmingway house and I know you weren't asking but... As for bars, my personal favorite is Irish Kevin's. Of course you'll have to at least stop in Sloppy Joe's and Margaritaville just because!

 

[bballmom56]

We are going in late June with DD23, DS18 and their SO's. Three of us have been before so we plan on doing the glass bottom boat excursion, visiting the aquarium, the Little White House, Mallory Square for the sunset celebration, the Hemingway House, the Chicken Store, possibly renting the mopeds, and will probably have to do the sandal store for DS's girlfriend!

 

[dodukes]

How funny we were just there last monday. Drove down for the day. Anyway, Are you driving down ??? If you are there is a kool place called Robbies. (robbies.com) about halfway or so down, (mm 77.5) anyway you can stop and for a few bucks you can feed the tarpon, that is pretty kool and unique.

Anyway as far as key west, theres a ton of museums and thing, mel fisher, the lighthouse, theres the art museum across from mel fisher, there the aquarium, the pirate place as well as shipwreck museum across from the aquarium. That should keep you pretty busy. Also at sunset yolu can go to mallory square and hang out and there tons of street performers. Make sure you get some conch fritters from the stand, they are pretty good. ALso there is the blonde giraffe for the best key lime pie.

A little ways off is the 90 miles to cuba point, you have to go there and take a pic, there also the southernmost house near that block you can go to. Lots of people rent the scooters, we just drive and park and walk for most of what we can.

 

[hydster]

Just thought of a few more:

Visit Captain Tony's saloon for a kick butt Pirate punch and you can leave a bra or 3 on the ceiling as your "calling card".

There's also a fabulous cemetary *complete with a color map* with stories of people who are interred there. It's got different areas and generally really interesting in a kind of odd way.

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

Don't forget about Robert, the Haunted Doll at the East Martello Museum. I saw a tv show that explained the whole story behind him- very interesting. In the early 1900's, a Bahamian servant gave the doll to the little boy of the house, supposedly in an act of revenge for being mistreated by the boy's father. The boy became instantly attached to the doll. And he remained attached to it into adulthood. His wife became upset by the strange attachment. (Her husband had a room constructed to scale for the doll, for crying out loud! I'd be upset, too.) Local children claimed to see Robert moving from window to window. Now, they say one of Robert's favorite tricks is never let a picture be taken of him. Cameras suddenly break, or they find the picture of Robert (and only Robert's pic) to be blacked out when they develop the film. I really reeeeaaallllly wanted to test Robert when we were in Key West, but my husband basically said "NO. We are NOT wasting our time on a stupid doll!" But, Honey....he's an Enchanted Doll!!!

Gotta Get To Disney!

 

[momrek06]

It was awesome! Then you have the Hemingway house, the lighthouse museum, Mel Fisher maritime museum, the Pirate museum
There are tons of things to do. We rented a convertible and drove up to Key Largo and over 7 mile bridge.

Key Largo is and my pics of the 7 mile bridge are awesome as we are driving up and over it!! Also go to Pigeon Key and tour the Flagler Railroad Museum!!

There is a trolley tour which will give a good lay of the land. Of course the southern most tip, Mallory Square at sunset, the sandal factory(loved it!), Hemmingway house and I know you weren't asking but... As for bars, my personal favorite is Irish Kevin's. Of course you'll have to at least stop in Sloppy Joe's and Margaritaville just because!

All these places are the tops to see. We also loved the Harry Truman winter home in Key West. Ahh...such good memories, I want to go back!!!

 

[TwinMom7]

OH MY GOODNESS - You guys are just the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all the great ideas!! We are driving down from Central Florida and we have three nights booked.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Don't overlook the Chicken Store! What a place! I brought home a bumper sticker but my DH won't let me put it on my car. It says "I Heart (insert name for rooster)". He does let me wear my "hot chick" tshirt from there.

 

[Amity 3]

We are driving down from Central Florida

make sure you're veering away from the Miami area on the drive down. once you hit Pennekamp Coral Reef, you're on one of the most beautiful drives in the world.