The veranda outside of his bedroom was really something! Can you imagine waking up, walking outside on the veranda into that lush greenery all around in the early morning? No wonder he was so inspired to write in Key West Florida. It is a wonderful place to be.

Some of the works of Hemingway are housed on the second floor in glass bookcases that you can’t touch. I tried to get some photos of his books but it is hard to see the titles.

For Whom the Bell Tolls, do you remember this book? If you never read any of Hemingway’s books, this novel was said to be one of his finest works.

It was about the Spanish Civil War, or how about The Old Man and the Sea, the novel that made Hemingway a celebrity, which was about a Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant Marlin out in the sea.

Then there was A Farewell To Arms, about an ambulance driver in the Italian Army in WWI. This book was published in 1929. You’ll get a kick out of this rare known fact. There were three obscenities in the book and when it was published, they put dashes where the cuss words should have been! I can imagine it made Hemingway a bit mad that they altered his book and so he took  two  books and put the cuss words back in by hand. None of his published work has ever had the actual cuss words in.

If you go to Key West Florida, you have to stop in to see Hemingway’s House.

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I already told you about the most well known bar in Key West, which is of course Margaritaville. In this post, I’ll mention a few other bars that you will want to stop and check out perhaps while doing the “duval crawl” in your travels to the Keys.

Willie T’s, 525 Duval St, a great restuarant and bar with live entertainment daily from 1 – 4 pm and 7 pm. They have this 10 foot wide Theatre Wall projector screen where you can see some of your favorite shows and a happy hour with half price beer and well drinks! My kind of place!

Sloppy Joe’s is very touristy and is a must stop on your visit to the keys. This famous bar has been on Duval Street since they moved from around the corner in 1937. Not only is there a main bar, but a Tap room with specialty crafted beers and a big screen TV. If you go in July you just may see a whole bunch of bearded guys trying to win the Hemmingway look a like contest that has been a tradition since the 80′s.

Fat Tuesday’s is smack dab in the middle of the Duval Street craziness and they are famous for their frozen Daiquiris, which are New Orleans style drinks and actually the whole place reminds you of New Orleans. They have a full service bar so you can get more than their famous New Orleans Daiquiris there. Good Times!

The Green Parrot is legendary, sited as one of the Best Bars in America by Playboy. It has live music and you just have to stop in and check it out when it’s in full swing. It’s address is 601 Whitehead St. If you haven’t been to Key West before, you will want to grab a map of the keys at any store or shop and you’ll be able to find places much easier.

Here’s a video of Cap’t Tony’s, the original location of Sloppy Joes.

This is just a few of the bars in Key West….if you love bar hopping, late nights out and just plain old fun, then Duval Street in the Keys is the place you want to be.

The craziness on Duval Street!

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It really depends on where you want to be and what time of year you will be visiting. If it is Key West hotels you are looking for, the cheaper ones are found away from Duval Street and yet within a cab ride of the center of town. N. Roosevelt Blvd. runs around the city and you can find some pretty decent prices there. If you don’t have a vehicle, some hotels have buses that will take you into Duval Street. Of course you can always take a cab or even rent bikes. Key West is only a few miles around so it won’t be difficult to find your way.

On Roosevelt Blvd is Days Inn Key West Hotel. It has about 133 rooms and a no pet policy, but it does have an outdoor pool. The rooms are not fancy, they are typical affordable hotels. Florida Keys does have some fancy luxury resorts and I wrote about those in another post.

Here’s what one couple said about their stay at the Days Inn:

My wife and I stay at the Days Inn in Key West was very relaxing. We were very satisfied with the personal that work at the motel, especially at the front desk. They were very kind and honest. I left my scheduling calendar in my room, I called the front desk the following day, and the next morning my calendar was in my hand. I rate the staff and Days Inn 5 star!

Here’s a more realistic review:

We love Key West, but hate the expensive prices downtown of the hotels. Key West is not a huge island and everything is only a few minutes away at all times no matter where you stay. This hotel has friendly staff, we love the waffle house on premisis open 24 hours. We weren’t pleased with the laundry being locked up at 10pm, but overall this hotel is a great place to stay if you are on budget.

You can also find affordable hotels in the Florida Keys, right in the heart of it all. Around MM 51 in Marathon is the Siesta Motel, a familiar one that has been around for over 30 years. They claim to have the cleanest rooms in the keys. The rates are right around 80 to 90 dollars a room.

Here’s what people are saying:

What a wonderful place. Fantastic great, clean room and the garden area was nirvana to our soul.

or this:

Not fancy and expensive but everything and more than we expected for a small motel.

Sounds like any of these two would be affordable hotels – Florida Keys is affordable if you do your research.

Casa Marina Resort is located on Reynolds Street in Key West. This is the premier place to stay when you are at the southern most part of the US. It has over 1,100 feet of private beach where you can hide, especially if you are a business tycoon, artist or dignitary. Since the early 20′s, anyone who is someone has stayed here. Here’s a two minute video on what the resort looks like and gives you an idea of what it will be like staying at one of the luxury hotels in Florida Keys.

If you don’t want to be directly in Key West and all the Duval street partying, www.cheeca.com is the place to relax and submerge in bliss. This luxury lodge is in Islamorada and will enchant you with lush oceanfront scenery.
The Cheeca Lodge claims to be one of the premier luxury hotels in Florida Keys and I believe they are right. It is like heaven with a lavish spa, secluded private beaches that you can call a tropical oasis.

They call themselves the crown jewel of Islamorada. See for yourself in this video:

Oh My! Don’t you just love those waterfalls?

Little Palm Island is one of the luxury hotels in Florida keys that you can only get to by motor shuttle. The island is nestled on Little Torch Key right around mile marker 28. When you arrive they have a pitcher of their famous drink, the Gumby Slumber, a mix of pineapple, cranberry, orange juice and Captain Morgan spiced rum and Parrot Bay Rum waiting for you. All I can say is Yum! I had to find you a video because you don’t want to miss one of the best luxury hotels in the Florida Keys:

That was a commercial video but let me show you a video of someone who was there and reviewed the island:

Which luxury hotel would you stay at? I love all three and will have to keep going back and trying all of them!

If you are looking for a 4 diamond hotel, then you will want to explore the Westin Key West Resort! This hotel sits about a block from Mallory Square, enabling guests to walk to all the major attractions in Old Town Key West. What I liked about it, is you park your vehicle in their garage and everything is right there for you to enjoy a relaxing vacation without a lot of worry on where to park, where to drive to, and what to do. It’s all right around the corner from the Key West Westin Resorts.

When we were there, we watched a few cruise ships coming into and leaving port which you can see from the hotel. This is a full service hotel and has guest rooms and suites sitting right along the marina. What a vacation experience! This hotel has an outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi and a fitness room and massage studio that you can access 24 hours a day.

If you want to see what the view looks like, take a look at this video from the Today Show when Al and Matt were filming from the Westin Resort in Key West.

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Ready for some Florida Keys news about Stargazing? In the month of Febuary, if you are an amateur or even a professional astronomer, you may want to head on down to the Lower Keys because they have their annual Winter Star Party during this time.

People actually come from around the world for a chance to view the southern constellations, comets, stars and objects that are only visible from the Keys. One of the reasons that they are so visible is because there is not a whole lot of artificial light making it almost perfect to stargaze from the most southern point in the United States.

This is not the first year this event was held and I’m not sure how long it’s been going on but I do know that it is hosted by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society from Miami. This is great Keys news so tell all your astronomy lover friends!

What kind of stuff do you do at a Stargazing party? Well, stargaze of course, but you can also attend lectures and they even have presentations by some well known astronomers and speakers. It wouldn’t be an event without vendors so you can also shop for anything astronomy! They even have special activities for the youngsters!

I know the event is open to the public and you have to register prior to the event. To register you can contact heinrich1@windstream.net or call 386-362-5995 and you can ask questions about the registration.

Here is where you can get more info on the society. http://www.scas.org/wsp.html

This video has some great shots of the sky:

Here’s a great 9 minute video about going to the Star Party. Right around the 4 minute mark is where you get to see the star gazing.

I found a few places where you can rent houseboats on the water. One company, Rentmyisland.com I’ve talked about before in earlier blogs. This rental company, owned by Bob & Jeanne, has 2 unique house boating experiences to choose from. In Charlies cove off of Marathon, you can rent a two bedroom houseboat and it even includes a private island! Yes, you heard that right, you get an island to go with your houseboat! Imagine living off the boat and hanging out on a private island with no worries. They will even give you a power boat to get back and forth! It stays permantly docked at Charlie’s island, and you can camp, picnic,kayak and snorkel during your time there in this private cove surrounded by the Gulf waters. Enjoy a rustic adventure in a beautiful place. Kick back and relax while on this vacation, especially if you enjoy private moments!



Eighteen miles south of Key Largo is another houseboat rental company, Houseboat Vacations of the Florida Keys. These boats can go out in the water and can sleep up to 10 people. Completely furnished, a bathroom with hot and cold water and a gas barbecue on the deck along with a rooftop sundeck makes it a vacation to remember while you are in the Florida Keys! Even before you head out, a marine instructor will show you simple navigation to teach you how to start, stop and anchor the houseboat. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Equipped with safety equipment and a Florida Keys Cruising Guide, you can easily navigate your way throughout the waterways which is a 20 mile range of shore line along the bay. Anchor the houseboat in a secluded cove and enjoy a Keys sunset that will leave you spellbound. I personally can’t wait to go once again to the Florida Keys to see for myself what a unique experience this is!

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This place is a tropical hide-away when you first head on down to the Keys. The location is right around mile marker 103.5. They are on the Bay side and with 55 sites that sit right along the Black Water Sound you get to see awesome sunsets every night. Seminole Indian built Tiki Huts are scattered throughout where you can enjoy the setting sun.
Doesn’t it sound marvelous? But hey, you don’t have to have a travel trailer because they also have tent camping and motel rooms and efficiencies to rent out. If you have a boat, bring it along, you can use one of their boat slips too. I think it’s got every thing you could need right there!

This isn’t Kings Kamp but just a random video I think you’ll get a kick out. Someone added banjo music to it and shows some young kids tent camping in the keys:

What if you don’t have an RV and you just don’t want the hassle of renting one? They do have some RV’s already set up in the campground. The one I love is in the photo below:

This rental is really great because it is right on the water and you can see what it’s like to be camping in an RV. Perhaps you want to try this on one of your Florida Keys Vacations?  Actually, the cost to rent is not bad. If you’ve been to the Keys before you know that hotels are incredibly high! To get something this close to the water for a little over $100 a night is fantastic!

Check Kings Kamp out! I did!

July Events

In the beginning of July is the Ladies Dolphin Tournament. The cost is $400 entrance fee but you can win much more in cash prizes. Ladies, if you are interested, call 305-304-7674 for more info.

July 4th is a great time in Key West. A big show is launched from the White St. Pier and most people will view the fireworks from the water. They have tours you can take and enjoy an awesome time and the fireworks will begin right after sunset. Google Key West July 4th Fireworks Cruises for more details.

Mel Fisher Days is a big, big event. He is one of the local legends and treasure hunters and they celebrate his discovering the Atocha, a spanish galleon that was loaded with gold, silver and treasures that made him rich. You can call 305-296-6534 to find out just when they have the celebration.

If you like to shallow fish, then this is the event you want to be at. The Del Brown Permit Tournament is considered one of the hardest yet most rewarding amongst anglers. Call 305-942-0428 and see if you have the skill to partake in this annual event.

Annual Hemingway Days is a week long celebration of Ernest Hemingway, the famous writer who lived in Key West in the 1930′s. This is when the Hemingway look a like contest goes on. There are also short story contests, bill fish tournaments and the annual running of the bulls. Hemingway’s grand daughter runs the writing contest.
Here’s a cute video of Hemingway contestants!

A fishing sport called the Lobster Mini Sport Season also runs in July. For 2 days, hundreds of boaters search for Florida lobster. There are quite a few rules for this event that you have to abide by so you will want to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife info line at 305-289-2320.

Next time we will take a look at what’s going on in the months of August, September and October.

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On Little Torch Key there is a resort that could be perfect for your Keys vacation. It’s about a half mile off of Route 1 but is nestled along the water and the atmosphere is just fabulous. It is called Parmers Resort.

What I like about this Florida Keys Resort is that no matter who you are, if you are single, a couple, married with kids, gathering together for a family reunion or just passing through you can find  whatever you need at this resort.

For instance, if you just want a motel room, just ask! They have one with a King or Queen bed and a daybed if you need it. If you want an efficiency with a kitchen or a 1 bedroom with kitchen, whatever you need you can find at this Florida keys resort.

I like the idea that if I’m just passing through I can get a motel room and still enjoy being right at the waterfront. If I want to stay a week, I can always stay in the efficiency and here’s a great idea: If I want a bit more, I can stay in their new Luxury Suite!

I’m anxious on my next trip to the Keys to try out their waterfront cottage. It is a secluded getaway for adults only called the “Lagoon”. If you want a taste of the Old Keys charm, you may want to try it out. It’s privacy and luxury on the water. Check out their website, I sound like a commercial but it is a great place to stay and you’ll see that the rates are affordable.

If you are on a budget, September to December seems to have the best rates where you will pay a bit less.

Want to get married while you are at a Florida Keys Resort? They do weddings too. Check out the cute photo above. Adorable, aren’t they?

What are the MM (Mile Markers)

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I gotta tell you about the Shipwreck Museum on our Florida Keys Vacation. It was kind of rainy and gloomy and so we didn’t get to go out on the glass bottom boat as planned. Well, we could have went out but I overheard the Captain of the ship telling people that the waters could be a bit rocky and it’s been years since I was on the water, so we opted to visit museums instead.

So we found this awesome museum on 1 Whitehead Street right in the center of Key West Square. It didn’t cost too much to go in, maybe around twelve bucks each and as we waited for them to take us in we met these cool guys who were dressed up in period clothing.

Now the story goes that at least one ship per week would wreck somewhere along the Florida reefs. There were at least 100 ships to travel through the Keys each day. These men would watch from observation towers and then ring the bell and race to salvage the goods to sell at auction. This became their way of living back in the 1800′s. One man, Asa Taff you will see in this fun video. The Shipwreck Museum adds fun to the tour by having actors recreate a period in time that many people wondered about. You’ve got to see this one on your Florida Keys Vacation!

Now, if you enjoyed that, watch how he recruits this cute little kid……

We also got to go up in the look out tower, which rises about 65 feet above the museum. That was fun. I have some videos of that I will show you in a new post. Here is a photo of me ringing the bell at the top of the tower. When a wrecking crew member spots a ship that has wrecked, he rings the bell and everyone scrambles to get out on their little ships to start the work of bringing in the cargo.

What a great Florida Keys Vacation! We haven’t even skimmed the surface yet of all the things to do in Key West. Check out the booty from the wrecked ships!

Ready to take a walk up the tower? Come along with me up the tower of the Shipwreck Museum….

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It really is considered the heart of the Florida Keys.

When you come for your Keys Vacations, you can find plenty to do here in Marathon Key. This is where the old seven mile bridge is housed. You can’t drive on it anymore as it is used for a fitness path but if you like to walk, you can take a long hike and see the beautiful waters up close.

Crane Point Museum is must on your list. It may not sound like much but it is an amazing walk through history and nature. There are trails and walkways along with a homestead from a Bohemian immigrant and his family.

There is the Marathon Wild Bird Center, a hospital for cranes and other birds and don’t forget to stop in at the Museum of Natural History to see all about Sea Turtles and to actually see shells on display.

Coco Plum Beach, at mile marker 54.5 is natural and dog friendly, so if you have a pet that needs to get out and run or walk, this is the perfect spot to take a break. It’s right off of 1 on Coco Plum Drive.

One of the major places to stop on your Keys Vacations is the Dolphin Research Center. There you can swim with Dolphins and they also have Sea Lions. If you know you are going to stop there, don’t forget to go online and download a coupon or stop by the Keys info center and pick up some coupons. There are plenty of places throughout the keys to get coupon books.

If you here to fish, Marathon is a good place to find Flats and Backcountry fishing, light tackle and offshore fishing too. And if your really into it, check out the party boats, where you can spend a day fishing and partying. Rental boats are everywhere and if you don’t want to bring your fishing gear, they have that to rent also. You could come to your Keys Vacations with nothing and find all you need right here in Marathon Key.

Stop by Willie T’s for the rock sensation Gerd Rube

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The Key West Bar Card is one of the best deals I’ve seen so far in Key West. What it does is entitles the card bearer to a 2 for 1 cocktail each day at some of the best bars in Key West Fl. Every time you visit one of the bars mentioned on the list you will get 2 drinks for the price of one. Think about the money you are saving!

For example, you decide to purchase a bar card for you and your spouse. After breakfast you stop in at Hog’s Breathe Saloon. Order a drink, enjoy and then whip out your bar card and have another one FREE! Cha-ching! You just saved yourself some money!

Head on out and do the tourist thing for awhile, then stop for dinner at The Schooner Wharf Bar. You and spouse each get a drink and then once again whip out your Key West Bar Card! Buy one – Get one FREE! Money saved!

Do you see where this is going? You can hit every bar on the list but you can only use it one time per day in each establishment on the list.  Now if you do the Duval Crawl, you will save yourself some major bucks….just email me and let me know if you made it from one end of Duval Street to the other!

The Key West Bar Card also donates 10% to local Charities. I really personally think this is awesome because it’s done out of an act of love for this city and the people in it. The Hospice of the Keys, Key West High School band and Toys for Tots are just a few of the charities that are helped by the donations from the Bar Card.

You can buy the card online at keywestbarcard.com and also if you are already in Key West Fl, you can buy them at certain retailers like Fast Buck Freddies on Duval Street, Peterson’s Harley Davidson and more. I would go to their website for more information.

I can’t wait for the next trip to the Keys, you can bet I’ll have myself a Bar Card! Here’s a quote from someone else who’s been there and used the bar card:

I can hardly believe what a great deal this is! We were only in Key West for 3 days but we had 2-for-1 drinks everywhere we went – and we discovered some GREAT new bars we had never been to before. The card more than paid for itself on our first night.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t go without one!

Until next time…..



Key Restaurant Card saves you money!

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The Florida Keys have hundreds of hotels, motels and places to stay ranging from modest prices to high end. You have to know that if you go unprepared as we did, the room prices can be a bit high, just like anywhere else you would go without checking first. But  hey, that’s the fun of a road trip if you can do it!  Now the plus side of not making arrangements for your Keys Vacations is this; We found an awesome hotel in Key Largo that dropped their price almost $50 when we stopped in to check out their room rates. Can you believe it was a Holiday Inn?

A nice Holiday Inn.

When we got there it was around 4:00 PM. I went to the front desk to see if they had any rooms available. That’s the thing when your on a Keys Vacations. You never know who is booked full and who has rooms available. If you are traveling with children, you will probably want to make reservations and plan an itinerary for your trip. For us, our kids are grown, we had plenty of time to take a road trip and some savings that we just decided to put to a good cause: A memory that we would cherish forever on our Keys Vacations.

So, the guy at the front desk acts like a spy on a tv show. It was funny watching him. He asks me what I needed and then he writes down a price and slides it across the desk as if he is giving me a secret packet. (I’m sure he’s done this plenty of times before) but that is ok, the rooms were normally $180 and he had written on the slip of paper that a room with 2 queen beds near the pool was $129. We took it!

After finding our room, we waked over to the Tiki bar and pool area. We met the Irish bartender, who made us one of the best rum runners we ever tasted. Looking around there was two pools, one with a waterfall and a separate hot tub. Nice! We didn’t swim but sat at the Tiki bar enjoying our drink and then ordered some food, which the bartender was kind enough to go inside to Bogie’s Cafe and get our meal for us.  The place was well worth the money, especially since we stayed at a few hotels on the way down that cost just as much and weren’t near as nice. This was a very nice stay and I recommend it if you stop in Key Largo.

This is just one of our recommendations and I’ll get into more places to stay next post. Until then, here’s a little video of the Holiday Inn. Remember I’m no expert but I’d rather you see things firsthand than a commercialized video.

Campgrounds and where they are located

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Funny thing is 820 acres are protected because this is the home of the National Key Deer Refuge. Yet people do live here, there are about 43 homes currently and visitors and residents alike like to hike through the refuge or kayak around the island.

The history of this island is pretty interesting. They have a record of about 44 settlers that date back to the 1870′s, whose main jobs were probably fishing and salvaging.Then from the early 1920′s until about 1938 the ferry landed at No Name Key. This was because there was no way to get an automobile from the upper keys to the lower keys as there was a 40 mile gap because no road existed then.

Another interesting historical event was that No Name Key was the training grounds for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Also, people have said that Howard Hughes owned this little island at one time, although no one has ever verified that bit of gossip.

Here is a video of a few of the key Deer that you will see when you go to No Name Key.

I also have to show you this one. There is a little naughty deer who was hungry and got into someones garbage.

Now here is a very interesting yet strange video….it is of a blue heron and a Key Deer on little Palm Island in the Florida Keys.

What can you do in No Name Key? First you can stop at the visitors center on Key Deer Blvd. You can birdwatch or visit the National Wildlife Refuge trails, and visit the Blue Hole to see the alligators and you can enjoy casual dining at the No Name Pub. The pub is not on the No Name Key but right at the bridge before you head to the island.

I hope you enjoyed the Key Deer videos and remember to visit this area when you are in the Florida Keys.

Next up, Pidgeon Key!

Stop in at the No Name Pub!

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Is it true the Beaches are not very nice?

The beaches in the Florida Keys are not gleaming white. The offshore reef eliminates the surf action that normally carries in sand to the shore. The Florida Keys shores are sharp with coral shards making them unglamorous to say the least.

Is there any Beach in the Keys worth going to?
Yes, you may want to try the Bahia Honda State Park, where it is said to have one of the most beautiful beaches around. Also, the Long Key State Park.

Can I fly into the Keys?
Yes, you can! There are only two airports in the Keys, one is in Key West and the other one is in Marathon, which is in the middle Keys around mm50.

What is the best time of year to go to the Keys?

That depends on you! The most POPULAR time of year is from December to May as a lot of people in the cold areas of the States and of other Countries find solace in the warm , tropical climate of the Keys.

If you want to know the most affordable time of year to go on your Keys Vacations, that would be in March, September, October or November. The rates are lower than any other season. Also, if you don’t mind the humidity and daily rainfall from June to October is where the rewards are much more as the crowds are fewer and the hotels reduce their rates.

I don’t want to be there during Hurricane Season. When is that?

Jun through October is the hurricane season, but don’t worry because the National Weather Service has gotten very good at tracking the storms and they give plenty of warning if there is an evacuation. Don’t stress, you can enjoy your Keys Vacations any time of the year, it just depends when you are willing to go.

Let’s move on to the Southernmost Point in the USA

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That was the first time I ever drank a Margarita! I know that sounds awful, here I am almost 50 years old but what better place to have my first one than in Jimmy Buffets during my vacation in the Keys!

The cheeseburger was really delicious, I will say that and most of the burgers in Key West run about $6.00 or more so my guilt of paying so much for a burger went to the wayside.

I’ve got to show you this awesome photo that someone painted on the wall above the entrance door!
I don’t know who the artist is but they did a great job!

The bar is really cool too. We opted to sit there instead of in the dining room. There were coins and such from back in the day embedded under glass in the bar. There is also a balcony where you can sit and eat or drink. Of course the gift shop is right there, have a few drinks with your food and hit the gift shop! Jimmy Buffet singing his hits in the background and a big video screen covering one wall. Our vacation in the Keys would’ve not been the same had we not stopped here. It really gets you into the feel of the music and free spirited life here.

Check out the video for yourself!

Hungry for Key Lime Pie?

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Whether you are a big kid or you want to take your kids, I have to tell you about a great place to go when you are in Key West. It is called the Pirate Soul, a museum that claims to have the largest collection of Pirate artifacts on display. With the interactive technology of today, this is much more than a museum, it is an adventure with touch and audio-animatronics almost like you see in a theme park.

You can go above deck and below to see all the pirate’s lore. They have almost 500 museum quality artifacts. Even Captain Kidd’s journal of his last voyage can be found here. Captain Thomas Tew, who had the only known authentic treasure chest can be found at this museum in the Keys. You will be taken back to a time you only heard about in the stories you read as a kid.

If you are into the pirates weapons, here are some interesting facts for you to check out when you go to the museum. Most of the pirates were armed and in order to survive battles the pirates were armed to the teeth. They say Blackbeard had six pistols and a sword, a cutlass and a musket. Tools doubled as weapons as well. You will hear about the boarding axe, hand weapons and cannons, chain shot and grape shot.

Here is a coupon for you to enjoy. Just click here for a dollar off the admission.

Here’s a plus, when you get done in the museum, you can go right to the Rum Barrel, where you can get something to eat and taste over 100 different rums. Here is a coupon for you. I love finding all these coupons because they add up when you are on vacation. Enjoy using them when you are in the Keys and check out the video below that shows you just what the Rum barrel is like.

Rum Barrel Key West- Key to the Keys from John H on Vimeo.

Love to fish, how about flat fishing in the Keys?

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For a relatively affordable day out in the Keys, you must take a historic tour of Pigeon Key just west of Marathon. This island wasn’t much use to anyone until Henry Flagler needed it to complete the 7 mile bridge for his railroad that he was determined to build all the way to Key West. If you don’t know anything about Henry Flagler he was a partner with Rockefeller and they owned the Standard Oil Company together. He was probably one of the wealthiest men in the turn of the century.

Since then, this 5.31 acre island has had quite a history. It was used as a base camp for the workers who helped to build the railroad. History tells us that the conditions there were terrible and mosquitos, hurricanes, and other atrocities made living on the island horrible for the 400 workers who were housed there for 4 years. In 1912 the railroad was completed but it only lasted until about 1935 when a hurricane did so much damage that it was decided not to fix the railroad.

Today Pigeon Key is a museum that honors the builders of the Key West Extension. The Pigeon Key Foundation is also something you may want to look into. If you go to their website they have a very informative video of what you will see when you go visit. They also have a Marine Science Camp for kids ages 8 to 18.

What I like about this place is there is several ways to get there. If you stop at the Pigeon Key Visitors Center, you can take a trolley down to the island, or you can walk down to it using the old railroad/road that’s no longer used as a railroad but the town utilizes it as a walking trail. Or, if you are in Marathon or Knight’s Key you can take a ferry across the gorgeous blue waters. So if you are into history or just want to go to a private beach, there is one on Pigeon Key.

Glass Bottom Boats in the Florida Keys

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Even on a rainy, drab day the waters were beautiful, at least in our eyes.Everywhere we looked in the Fl Keys seemed to be rainy and dreary but that didn’t stop us from going out and about to enjoy the town of Key West. The crowds had thinned down a bit which made it better for us to enjoy our first day in town.

Check this out:

We drove down White Street and stopped at this wonderful little park area. I think it is for the pets to run around in and enjoy. But, at the time there were no pets, only birds! You can see how fierce the water can be on a stormy day. Even though it rained, our keys vacations was enjoyable to us. It seems like it rains for a bit, then stops, then starts up again. Not a big deal because there are so many places along the way where you can stop. We even took the Conch Tour during the rainy part of the day. The Conch Tour is a trolley guided tour and if you get down to Key West, you really should think about going on the tour. It was well worth the money spent. Our tour guide was the best! We learned so much that we never knew about the  Fl Keys.

When we were at the pet park, I took a video of some cactus growing out of this building. Can you guess what the building was? Take a look here:

Can you believe that is part of an old Civil War fort? I’ll tell you more about that in another post and post some great videos we took on our Keys Vacations. Ernest Hemingways Home, Duval street, Mallory Square, the Disney Cruise ships and a guy running around with a rubber chicken on his head just to name a few. I’ve got great clips of the entertainers on Mallory Square, which includes a dog, bicycles and fire!

See you soon and I’ll be back to tell you more about the Fl Keys!

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Before I tell you all about the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys, I’ll show you instead a video that one of the volunteers made. This video is not all glamor but shows you exactly what you will encounter when you stop there to see the Dolphins. It will run about 3 minutes so sit back and enjoy these gorgeous fish.

Thank you to Jeffrey, my new you tube friend from the Netherlands. He was kind enough to allow me permission to show his video here on my blog. Jeffrey, is a young man who volunteered at the Dolphin Research Center in the Keys in the summer of 2009. His greatest wish is to become a trainer. I am sure he will as his passion for dolphins and whales is tremendous.

When you get to the Keys, you will want to stop in Marathon to check out the DRC, or Dolphin Research Center, a non-profit research and education facility. The dolphins are called Atlantic bottlenose and they also have California Sea Lions. They also rescue and rehabilitate mammals in distress, including whales.

Swim with the dolphins or just watch these beautiful creatures, whatever you decide you will walk away with a whole new love for them.

If you decide you want to go when in your in Florida, here’s a link to get a coupon that will save you $3.00 off admission…..admission coupon The ad is only good until 2011, so after that you won’t be able to use it. Hope that helps you save a few dollars. You can use it for up to 6 people.

If you have the time and money, something else you can do is have an encounter with a dolphin, which could involve several different programs. You could meet a dolphin, paint with one and play with one. Or, you could be a trainer for a day, researcher for a day or take a Dolphin Dip! If you go to their website, Dolphins.org you will see the many different things you can do.

Until next time, have fun exploring the Dolphin Center…..

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Continuing on in my Calendar of Events for the year, if you read my other posts you will know that I am only writing about a few months at a time. If you are visiting Key West, you may want to plan your trip around some of the great events going on all year.

May Events

Annual Yamaha Dolphin Masters Invitational.The boat that catches the biggest fish gets the reward. We are talking about Dolphin fish, not the Dolphin like Flipper dolphin. There is a big difference. The dolphin fish is also called Mahi-Mahi. This event costs money to get in but the prizes of up to $13,000 may entice you to join in. Call 305-304-7674 for info.

Annual Schooner Wharf Minimal Regatta is a hysterical race where you build your own boat using supplies that are very minimal. Try to build a boat with one sheet of plywood, a few 2X4′s and a pound of screws and a roll of duct tape. This sounds like a blast so if you want to be creative or just watch these fun loving contestants, call 305-292-3302 for details. Below is a video of the fun you could have going to this Regatta.

Watch this ten minute video and be prepared to enjoy it!

Golf Anyone? During May is the Annual Tiger in the Woods Golf Tournament held at the Key West Golf course. If you want to be a part of it call the KWCOC at 305-294-5232

June Events

There isn’t a lot going on in June but you can still find something to do.

The annual Renegade Run for the Southernmost Seminole Club has a sunset run along the waterfront and the money goes to local scholarship funding. If you call 305-360-2026 you can join in the run.

In June there is a Gay/Lesbian Pridefest in Key West that honors the diversity and freedom of gays. There are dance parties and contests, shows and activities throughout Key West. For info call 305-292-3223

Or if you aren’t into the Pridefest you may want to check out the Key West Gator Club Dolphin Derby which is a fishing tournament. You can call 305-304-7674 for more information.

Next time we’ll be talking about one of my very favorite events of all, the Hemingway look a like contest. This is a great event and you may just want to plan your trip in July so you don’t miss it! Hope you are enjoying reading about all the things to do and see in Key West.

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We’re at the last installment of Key West Events. I hope you found some things that may interest you because no matter when you go to the Keys, there is always something going on, even in the middle of the worst off season there is.

What’s going on in October?

October Events

October is a good time to go to the Keys because the prices are about 30% less than Peak Season in Jan/Feb. If you go in October you won’t want to miss the Goombay Fest on Petronia Street. Just off of Duval Street, this street fair is very Caribbean with things to buy and lots of tourists and locals enjoying this great time. There is live music and the event is FREE. Here is a little short video of the festivities like live music and food and lots of people!

Fantasy Fest is a weeklong celebration and actually it is Key West’s largest party of the year. Many adults only events take place here. Here’s the official meaning of Fantasy Fest by Wikipedia: “The first Fantasy Fest was held in 1979 when two local businessmen, Tony Falcone and the late Bill Conkle, organized a party to stimulate business. The event has escalated to a ten day celebration that includes balls, a parade, costume competitions, AIDS fundraisers, body painting, drag queen contests, costume parties, alcohol, and pet and neighborhood parades for the whole family. Fantasy Fest has grown to rival New Orleans’ Mardi Gras as an event drawing out-of-towners.”
I couldn’t have said it better than that.

Here is a great video done by the Travel Channel on what the Fantasy Fest is all about:

November Events

Annual Meeting of the Minds? This is the Parrothead Convention with many events for members only. Some of the members of Jimmy Buffett’s band attend. This includes a Margaritaville Street Fest that is FREE to the public.

Key West World Championships powerboat racing. Top power and super boat offshore racers compete for the World Champion title. If you are in Key West in November you will want to check out the harbor and see these power boats at speeds of 100+ mph!

December Events

Key West Triathlon is a sporting event where over 500 athletes run, swim and bike in competitions. You can call 305-394-3469 if you want to be a part of it or find more information on the triathlon.

Key West Bight Before Christmas Holiday Celebration is a gift to the community from the Bight Preservation Association. They offer live holiday music, kid’s games, FREE cookies and eggnog and holiday cheer with photos with Santa. You can call 305-304-2633 for info.

This may be fun! Pirates in Paradise! Historic Key West and Fort Zachary Taylor are transformed into a pirates stronghold. There are more than 150 pirate entertainers with living history encampments, pirate sails, arts, crafts and more. Call 305-296-9694.
Pirates in Paradise 2011

That’s the Calendar of events for now in Key West!

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Just what is a glass bottom boat? The hull of the boat has glass panels from which you can see everything in the water. The captain will take you over coral reef where you can see underneath the water up close without getting wet! Fish, like parrot fish, zebra, barracuda, snapper, nurse sharks, sting rays and grouper can be seen. You will see some beautiful and colorful coral like the purple fan, a very known soft coral that is very dominant in the Fl Keys.

Here is a video of one of the popular tour guide companies that offer glass bottom boat rides in the Fl Keys.

If you are just entering the Fl Keys, you may want to stop at Key Largo, the very first of the Islands. Near the Holiday Inn, near mm 100 at the Holiday Inn docks on US Hwy 1 sits the Key Largo Princess, a 70 foot glass bottom boat that will hold about 129 passengers. It is a twin diesel aluminum motor yacht that will take you on a luxurious ride into the coral reefs. You can stay on deck where you will have a panoramic view of the ocean or inside where of course it is air conditioned and you can enjoy the ride in a comfortable seat. They even have some snacks and sandwiches that you can buy, along with drinks including beer and wine and my hubby’s favorite, mixed drinks.

This is probably something you won’t want to miss when you are in the Fl Keys.

Florida Keys Beaches

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That’s where you wanna go to get away from it all

Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand

We’ll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band

Down in Kokomo

Does Kokomo really exist in the Florida Keys? If you’ve never heard of Kokomo, it was from a song the Beach Boys sang and everyone thought it was in the Florida Keys. Well, turns out Kokomo isn’t even close to Florida. It is in Indiana. This midwestern city is known as the “City of Firsts” thanks to its rich automotive heritage and history of technological discoveries. So, why has everyone been searching for Kokomo in the Florida Keys?

Seems that the writers of this Beach Boy song thought they made it up. They had no idea a place called Kokomo even existed. It actually was supposed to represent any tropical place where people would want to get away to escape everyday life. It could be anywhere in your dreams where you were wishing to be in a tropical place and enjoying the laid back life.

When I checked my sources on Wikipedia, they say something similar yet different. Sandals Cay used to be called Kokomo Island and is part of the privately owned Sandals Royal Caribbean all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The original name for the island came from the song “Kokomo,” performed by The Beach Boys. The inspiration for the song was a pool-side bar in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys.

So where is this poolside bar in Islamorada? If you go to the Florida Keys and ask any of the people there, they may just put up a sign at their local bar and give you a hearty “right here”. No one seems to know. But it sounds to me like Kokomo is anywhere in the Keys because it is all an island tropical paradise.

Until next time…….

Glass Bottom Boats

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