Need more info about Key West!

[mevelandry]

Hi!

We're going to stop at Key West for an afternoon during our next cruise in march 2016.

I would like to try the Sloppy Joe's and Key Lime Pie (never had it, want my first to be in Key West). I've been reading reviews online about Sloppy Joe's and Key Lime Pie Company and I think I would like to try them (they both seem close to the port). And what about Pepe's Cafe?

About the activities, I think I would like to try the Old Town Trolley Tour... But I'm not sure. Is there some kind of animation along the way? (I don't want to hop on and hop off)

I would like to know what you thought of these if you tried.

Also, is there anything we should avoid? (I think I read something bad about Duval Street but I'm not sure what is wrong with it).

Thanks in advance.

 

[perditax]

I think there's just a higher than average chance of encountering adult-oriented stuff on Duval St.

 

[Melissa S]

In my experience Duvall street is geared for adult entertainment. People wear very little clothes and there is a "nightlife" vibe (drinking, partying, etc) all day. We will be avoiding it because we are traveling with my DD and her cousin who is also almost 5. I personally don't want to expose my child to that. When I was in college it wasn't a big deal, but you become more aware of those things when you have kids.

I really enjoyed the Hemmingway House, Southernmost Point, and the Shipwreck Museum. We also did a Fort tour and ghost tour, which we won't have time for next week. We did a trolley tour in San Diego and loved it because of the hop on/off feature and the tour in between. I haven't been on the one in key west. I am very excited about stop. Much like the ports in Canada, it is beautiful just to walk around.

 

[MarleneP]

Sorry....we did not try the Key Lime Pie there.
We did the Trolley Tour. They gave a history of the area and pointed out some tourist spots. I tried to take some pictures of some of the things pointed out (like Hemingways House) but it never stopped long enough for a good shot. My husband & I were with my 13 & 9 year old sons. I thought Duval Street was fine because it was during the day. I heard the after dark crowd may not be appropriate for kids.

We had lunch at the Hogs Breath. We all loved it there. There was live entertainment by a guy named Zach. He played music with some added humor. Some of the material may not be appreciated by very young children. My 13yo thought he was hysterical. The food was just OK. However, if we are ever back in Key West, we will be going back to the Hogs Breath, for sure! We also enjoyed walking around the stores.

We watched the sunset from the ship and it was incredible!

 

[bumbershoot]

Is there some kind of animation along the way? (I don't want to hop on and hop off)

Animation meaning tourguide stuff? Yes.

 

[mevelandry]

I think there's just a higher than average chance of encountering adult-oriented stuff on Duval St.

It's ok, DH and I are childfree. And we'll be there during the afternoon. We should be fine... I think. LOL

 

[mevelandry]

Sorry....we did not try the Key Lime Pie there.
We did the Trolley Tour. They gave a history of the area and pointed out some tourist spots. I tried to take some pictures of some of the things pointed out (like Hemingways House) but it never stopped long enough for a good shot. My husband & I were with my 13 & 9 year old sons. I thought Duval Street was fine because it was during the day. I heard the after dark crowd may not be appropriate for kids.

We had lunch at the Hogs Breath. We all loved it there. There was live entertainment by a guy named Zach. He played music with some added humor. Some of the material may not be appreciated by very young children. My 13yo thought he was hysterical. The food was just OK. However, if we are ever back in Key West, we will be going back to the Hogs Breath, for sure! We also enjoyed walking around the stores.

We watched the sunset from the ship and it was incredible!

Thanks... I just googled Hogs Breath and it looks fun. I'll add it to my list!

 

[mevelandry]

While we're at it... What is the difference between the trolley and the conch train?

 

[egesicki]

Conch fritters at Turtle Kraals, Key Lime Wine from the Key West Winery, and we enjoyed the Green Parrot more than Sloppy's.

 

[mevelandry]

I did not know they made key lime wine. Do they only sell it in bottles or do they sell it by the glass as well?

 

[Funfire240]

I did not know they made key lime wine. Do they only sell it in bottles or do they sell it by the glass as well?

They do testing you don't get very much but you can at least try it. They have different flavored, mango mamma is my favorite. Green parrot is nice because it's a little off the path. Another nice place is schooners wharf bar. We enjoy relaxing drinks there. We've had our kids there during the day with no problems. We have taken them in sloppy joes, captain Tony's and other places too

 

[mevelandry]

As long as everything is in a safe part of the town... I'm fine with it.

 

[abja09]

While we're at it... What is the difference between the trolley and the conch train?

I did the conch train last February in Key West. My son and I enjoyed it. You could hop on/off or just stay on for the round trip tour. We did round trip and did not get off at any stops. They take you past all the sights - Hemingway house, southernmost point etc and give a nice history of all you the site as you pass by.

 

[mevelandry]

I did the conch train last February in Key West. My son and I enjoyed it. You could hop on/off or just stay on for the round trip tour. We did round trip and did not get off at any stops. They take you past all the sights - Hemingway house, southernmost point etc and give a nice history of all you the site as you pass by.

I would be interested in that.

Do you know if it's the same tour? (as the Trolley)

I wonder which one is the most comfortable... LOL

 

[mevelandry]

Related/unrelated question: I've never read Ernest Hemingway. But since I'm going to Key West, I would love to. Any book (or movie) you would recommend?

Thanks in advance.

 

[clareyfairymouse]

There are a couple of different train tours but both run from the little market square not far from the cruise dock.
Hogs Breath is a good venue for food& drink & the key lime margaritas in Mallory Square are pretty good too!

 

[dcassetta]

Related/unrelated question: I've never read Ernest Hemingway. But since I'm going to Key West, I would love to. Any book (or movie) you would recommend?

Thanks in advance.

I find Hemingway's fiction so depressing that it would not get me in the mood for a cruise. I do like "A Moveable Feast" about his experiences as a young man in Paris.

 

[phinz]

The Old Man and the Sea is a decent way to break into Papa's writing. It's relatively short, but it definitely is as depressing as a lot of his other writing. It will give you a taste, though.

Sloppy Joe's is a tourist hole. The drinks aren't very good and the entertainment is so-so. Hogs Breath is the same. If you must do Duval Street, do it, but there's a reason locals and a lot of repeat visitors avoid it like the plague.

Best Key Lime Pie I've had is at Blue Heaven and Fausto's Food Palace. The Fausto's pie is usually sold out, but it can be worth it to step inside the store at Bahama and Fleming to see if they have it in stock. Blue Heaven can be crowded and the wait can be a while, but you may be able to get a seat at the bar and order the pie.

Blue Heaven pie:

Pepe's Cafe is a *fantastic* breakfast (If they have the berry coconut french toast special, it's incredible, and if you get biscuits and gravy, get a half order or you'll never finish it), and is far enough off of Duval to still feel like Key West used to. It's a charming little spot and has pretty darned good Key Lime Pie too. From there you can walk to Schooner Wharf, which is a *much* better bar choice than the Duval dumps. It's just up the way from Turtle Kraal's, Dante's and Half Shell, plus it's right on the water where the Western Union is berthed. It's more traditional Key West than Sloppy's and HB will ever be again. If you're lucky, Michael McCloud will be playing on the stage. He's been playing there for 30+ years. Jimmy Buffett's studio, Shrimpboat Sound, is right next door, but if you don't know what you're looking at you'll never know what it is. You'll also be steps from Kermit's Key Lime Pie and the Key Lime Pie Co., which are both on Greene as you head back toward the port (and Duval, if so inclined). Kermit will most likely be standing outside with a pie, greeting visitors.

Schooner Wharf:

If you don't eat at Pepe's, I'd recommend having lunch at B.O.'s Fish Wagon at the corner of Caroline and William. You can't get much funkier than B.O.'s, and the grilled dolphin sandwich is to die for.

B.O.'s:

Green Parrot is where a lot of locals end up at night. Get the root beer shooter. If you like craft beer, visit The Porch. If you want a gorgeous view, quieter surroundings and a legendary bar, head to Louie's Afterdeck. You can eat at the bar if you want, or you can just sit on the deck and drink while taking in the gorgeous beauty of Key West.

The view from Louie's:

I would do the Conch Train over the trolley if I'm not hop on, hop off. The Southernmost Point is cool but can be very crowded. If you don't want to stand in line, don't bother. Just go by it on the Conch Train and take a picture. The Hemingway House is a neat stop, but don't believe that the cats are descended from Hemingway's cats. They aren't. Hemingway didn't own a cat when he lived in Key West, as his wife Pauline was allergic. He *did* enjoy the strays in the area, though. I love to wander the Key West Cemetery. It's a fascinating place, with the USS Maine memorial and the BP Roberts "I Told You I Was Sick" epitaph, among other things.

I could go on forever.

 

[mevelandry]

I find Hemingway's fiction so depressing that it would not get me in the mood for a cruise. I do like "A Moveable Feast" about his experiences as a young man in Paris.

The cruise is only in 10 months... But since there is Heminway's house in Key West, if I like it, I'll be much more interested in that attraction.

 

[mevelandry]

The Old Man and the Sea is a decent way to break into Papa's writing. It's relatively short, but it definitely is as depressing as a lot of his other writing. It will give you a taste, though.

Sloppy Joe's is a tourist hole. The drinks aren't very good and the entertainment is so-so. Hogs Breath is the same. If you must do Duval Street, do it, but there's a reason locals and a lot of repeat visitors avoid it like the plague.

Best Key Lime Pie I've had is at Blue Heaven and Fausto's Food Palace. The Fausto's pie is usually sold out, but it can be worth it to step inside the store at Bahama and Fleming to see if they have it in stock. Blue Heaven can be crowded and the wait can be a while, but you may be able to get a seat at the bar and order the pie.

Blue Heaven pie:

Pepe's Cafe is a *fantastic* breakfast (If they have the berry coconut french toast special, it's incredible, and if you get biscuits and gravy, get a half order or you'll never finish it), and is far enough off of Duval to still feel like Key West used to. It's a charming little spot and has pretty darned good Key Lime Pie too. From there you can walk to Schooner Wharf, which is a *much* better bar choice than the Duval dumps. It's just up the way from Turtle Kraal's, Dante's and Half Shell, plus it's right on the water where the Western Union is berthed. It's more traditional Key West than Sloppy's and HB will ever be again. If you're lucky, Michael McCloud will be playing on the stage. He's been playing there for 30+ years. Jimmy Buffett's studio, Shrimpboat Sound, is right next door, but if you don't know what you're looking at you'll never know what it is. You'll also be steps from Kermit's Key Lime Pie and the Key Lime Pie Co., which are both on Greene as you head back toward the port (and Duval, if so inclined). Kermit will most likely be standing outside with a pie, greeting visitors.

Schooner Wharf:

If you don't eat at Pepe's, I'd recommend having lunch at B.O.'s Fish Wagon at the corner of Caroline and William. You can't get much funkier than B.O.'s, and the grilled dolphin sandwich is to die for.

B.O.'s:

Green Parrot is where a lot of locals end up at night. Get the root beer shooter. If you like craft beer, visit The Porch. If you want a gorgeous view, quieter surroundings and a legendary bar, head to Louie's Afterdeck. You can eat at the bar if you want, or you can just sit on the deck and drink while taking in the gorgeous beauty of Key West.

The view from Louie's:

I would do the Conch Train over the trolley if I'm not hop on, hop off. The Southernmost Point is cool but can be very crowded. If you don't want to stand in line, don't bother. Just go by it on the Conch Train and take a picture. The Hemingway House is a neat stop, but don't believe that the cats are descended from Hemingway's cats. They aren't. Hemingway didn't own a cat when he lived in Key West, as his wife Pauline was allergic. He *did* enjoy the strays in the area, though. I love to wander the Key West Cemetery. It's a fascinating place, with the USS Maine memorial and the BP Roberts "I Told You I Was Sick" epitaph, among other things.

I could go on forever.

Wow. Thanks for all the infos and pictures. I will definitely take all of that in consideration. P.s. Blue Heaven has been added to my list.