What is there to do in Key West?

[Kim&Chris]

I can't seem to find too much info on this topic here on the Dis.

I did a search on the net, and it seems as though Key West is a popular shopping destination. It also seems like a popular drinking destination

Do any of you venture out to the Beach areas, such as Bahia Honda State Park?

Or, do you just venture out & shop? Or, do you just stay on the ship?

I'd love to hear some opinions & advice!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Contact Shirley at The Perfect Gift. She has lots of brochures from KW that she sends to people. Just seach the www for theperfectgift.com (I hope)

 

[soccerdad-Chris]

Kim & Chris---

We were on an October DCL cruise whose first stop was Key West. There really aren't any good beaches (that we know of) in KW proper. There are some interesting historical sites which can take a little bit of time, and there are other excursions to take, mostly by taking buses and such.

I hate to sound crass here, and I have no idea if you guys are partyers or teetotalers, so this may come as good or bad news, but the main attractions in KW are really the bars and clubs, and the main activities are drinking and dancing in said bars and clubs.

That's why, when you hear people talking about "the fun times" in KW, they're rarely referring to the excursions you find on a Disney cruise.

 

[snelsonbrown]

I wish you could have known the Key West I was born and raised in - it really really was a tropical paradise - being raised away from the mainland, the news filtered down very slow down the keys into Key West - children were allowed to go almost everywhere and the whole island was our playground - everyone knew everyone and everyone was a caretaker of the children - the beaches were so clean, that it breeded every type of seafood - we seldom ate meats for just about all our food came from the seas - the bars were strickly in a forbitten area of the island for this was only for the service men who were stationed there - which you could hardly blame them for they were shunned by the natives and there was nothing for them to do in Key West - history in Key West is very rich - I grew up with it and still love hearing the stories - the merchants were as honest as the days - now what to do is Key West - there really isn't anything to do - it is a party town and great for adults - shopping? if you can watch for every second what you are paying for, it does have some - stay off of Duval Street and you would be fine -
Do I believe that all that is advertised is true - heck NO -
Now I do have a lot of information on Key West and it is good to have while in my hometown - the best way to get around now is a :space: or just sitting in an open bar and do some people watching - you are most welcomed to drop me a note at snelsonbrown@aol.com and I will help any way I can - sorry I gave you so much negative side of Key West, but unfortunalty its the sad truth.
Always
Shirley

 

[Otimon]

We went to Key West twice last year as part of the Western cruise.

The first time we walked down one side of Whitehead St. to the end (Southernmost Point marker) and back the other side. Stopped at Hemingway's house and Truman's Little White House. The second time we walked down one side of Duval St. and back the other side. So many interesting little shops and restaurants, cafe's etc. to see.

Enjoy your visit.

 

[disneysooz]

Not to take away anything from what Shirley said, because in addition to being a true sweetheart, she is also our resident expert on KW!

Here is our experience with KW. We were married in Key West, at the Pier House hotel beach at sunset, in April 1997. We spent a week there and absolutely loved Key West and had a fabulous time! We did everything; shopped (and watched the sunsets-not to be missed!) at Mallory Square, went parasailing thru Fury Catamarans (awesome!), sunset catamaran cruise, did the maritime museum, the lighthouse, Hemmingway House (best part is the outside/garden area where they have the imprints/names of all the cats in concrete!), conch train tour (we had a great guide and received an informative and entertainingc overview of the history of KW), aquarium, went to the southern most point, walked on Smather’s Beach, ate outside at the restaurants for every meal. And of course, we spent some time in the infamous Key West bars. Now we are not BIG drinkers, but we stopped in Sloppy Joe’s a couple of times in the afternoon and they always had some type of stage entertainment going on. We found all of the stage acts very entertaining/talented. Other bars had live bands at night also. So there are plenty of things to do there, even if bars are not your thing. We were supposed to go to KW on our western cruise this past September, but lost this port due to losing 2 days of our itinerary because of Hurricane Jeanne. We were so disappointed!

So remember, you are only there for one day. Keep your expectations in check and get in touch with Shirley to get some brochures. You can probably find something to do that would be fun, interesting or memorable. OR just stay on the ship and enjoy it! Hope this helps! Have a wonderful time on your cruise!
Susie

 

[snelsonbrown]

Please let me add - Norm and I DO LOVE OUR HOMETOWN - we just get so disappointed in the treatments of our vistors - yes you can go to the Southermost Point and even speak to the Alberts that have sold sea shells etc there for as many years as I can remember - you can have a 360 degree view of Key West not only from the lighthouse, but the LaConcha Hotel located on the corner of Fleming and Duval Street - the best of beaches is at Fort Taylor - if you wander around the side streets such as Eaton, Fleming and Southard Street, you will find a number of quaint shops and interesting people - want to hang with locals? go to 5 Brothers on the corner of Grinnell and Southard Street or Jose Cantina on White Street - You can walk out on the Key West White Street pier and see fishing going on - there is also an old fort there - The San Carlos Museum on Duval Street was started and my grandfather became the first latin proffessor there until his death in 1935 - he didn't want the latin children to forget their hertiage - chickens are found everywhere and fun to watch - they have the right of way everywhere
You can go out to Roosevelt Blvd and you can find inexpensive shopping malls and just about anything else you can use or need - if you look hard, you can still see some of old Key West in and around Virginia Street (I grew up there)
BayView park is a neat place to take kids and they have a play ground - you will also see what is left of our tropical fruits trees - awesome -
As for the sunrise and sunset - it doesn't get any better - if you listen close, you would swear that you can hear the water zizzling from the heat of the sun as it sets - it is a beautiful place, you just have to know where to go to see the real beauty of it all - I still enjoy my hometown of Key West, but I still am wise enough to say be careful and enjoy - President Truman would wander all up and down our streets and most of the time with just locals as his escorts - He loved Key West enough to come everytime he had a chance.
we have had some very famous folks as our neighbors - Tennessee Williams was my favorite - Mr. Hemingway was "interesting" - I do have lots of information that will help or you can call me or Norm - Norm was a postman there for 40 years and the stories he can tell are awesome.
Thanks for asking about Key West and enjoy it.
Always
Shirley

 

[TooPure4u]

For families....isn't the Ripley Believe it or not Museum in Key West? Isnt that something interesting to do?? I thought it would be .....or not? lol

 

[disneysooz]

TooPure4u-
You know...I am not sure about that one? Maybe Shirley could answer? I do not know if their is a Ripley's in KW or not. But if there is, you are right... that would be a great family thing to do!
Susie

 

[RKB]

There is a butterfly farm that you may want to visit if you have children with you. Also - is there a pirate museum - or ship treasure museum of some kind? We wanted to do this, but it was closed by the time we found it....

 

[snelsonbrown]

As a lot of folks already know, Norm and I are heading down on the 28th of this month - they do have a Ripley's believe it or not and they do have the butterfly farm which is South on Duval Street - I have coupons for these events that I will be most happy to share them with whoever wants them - I will be picking up some more information while we are down there and checking out some other stuff out - also spoke to Cece at Key West Electric cars and he will give you conch rates if you will give him my business card - I am waiting to see after Mark from MARKANDSANDRA gets back for I called while he was at the shop for he wanted to do this and they told me then they would abide by my request - if it works, will let you all know ok.
Chat with ya all later.
Always
Shirley

man oh man getting mighty cool and very very windy - the Wonder was rocking and a rolling this morning when she came in - we were there at 7am this morn.

 

[TooPure4u]

Hi Shirley....I took your cell phone number off your thread and definitely look forward to meeting you even if for a moment. Will call when I get off the boat in Key West unless you plan to be close by....I will bring my cell phone.

Tracy

 

[Babs417]

Are their any good fishing trips?

 

[disneylover5]

I would like to know about Fishing trips in Key West as well....anyone have any info?