Tag Archives: Key West

Florida Keys Seaplane
Florida, Florida Keys, Key West, Miami, Sanibel Island, St. Augustine

Florida Lighthouses

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Lighthouses appeal to the romantic in all of us, and Florida has its share of these iconic landmarks lining the coasts. This spider- legged structure, which dates from 1873, sits atop a reef in the Florida Keys named for the USS Alligator, a Naval Schooner that foundered on the coral shallows. The light sits four miles east of the village of Islamorada. It is closed to the public and can only be reached by boat. A local Keys artist now stages the Annual Swim for Alligator Lighthouse event to raise awareness for the preservation of lighthouses. Photo: Rob O’Neal/Key West Seaplanes

Dry Tortugas
Florida, Key West, Plan

Experience a Day Trip to the Dry Tortugas

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Rising with the roosters is not a ritual in Key West, where late-night partying is the norm, but to board the boat to the Dry Tortugas that’s exactly what I have to do. And thanks to the cock-a-doodle-doos of the free roaming “chickens,” as the locals call them, it’s not that difficult to get out of bed. In fact as I make my way to the Key West Bight Ferry Terminal for a 7:15 a.m. check-in, I see the feathered critters scampering about the streets as the sun rises on this Florida island set 90 miles from Cuba.

Although the Dry Tortugas National Park, home to the Civil War-era Fort Jefferson and a coral reef, may not be on your radar, anyone who’s made the trip will definitely tell you to go. A full-day excursion to this chain of seven islands set in the middle of nowhere 70 miles off Key West promises a fun boat ride, a history lesson and a snorkeling adventure, plus breakfast and lunch. 

Dry Tortugas by boat

The Yankee Freedom III, a comfy catamaran, docks at Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas. During the six-hour visit passengers snorkel, tour Fort Jefferson and enjoy lunch back on the ferry. Photo: Patricia Letakis

The park’s Yankee Freedom III, a comfy catamaran with an upper sun deck, sets sail at 8 a.m. with about 200 people on board. I claim a spot on the bow where I can clearly see Sunset Key before giving a final wave to Key West’s Mallory Square and a docked cruise ship. As we ply the Gulf of Mexico for deeper waters, Jeff Jannausch, the perky blonde surfer dude guide who welcomed us aboard, is on the microphone giving a play-by-play. We are now 20 miles out and approaching the uninhabited Marquesa Keys—an atoll or group of barrier islands formed in a circle with a natural harbor in the center—known for superb fishing. With the ocean wind snarling my hair, I peer into the clear water looking for sea turtles, then squint as my eyes peel the horizon for a pod of dolphins. Sure enough, there’s a fin in the distance, and passengers from land-locked hometowns go wild.

Two hours later we’re coming up on the Dry Tortugas, which was first named Las Tortugas by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513 for its abundance of sea turtles, which he didn’t hesitate to take on board as part of the food supply. Later when no fresh water was discovered, the name was changed to Dry Tortugas to warn seafarers that there was no potable water here. As we approach, the guide is back on the microphone pointing out the highlights of each key we pass. East Key has high elevation perfect for sea turtle nesting. Middle Key is an intertidal island that can go awash during high tide. Hospital Key is where in the 1800s yellow fever patients were quarantined and today is home to a colony of brown booby birds. Garden Key, the largest, is home to the fort and a beach, while the adjacent Bush Key is a nesting site for sooty terns. Long Key has a population of frigate birds, and on the westernmost island, Loggerhead Key, a lighthouse first lit in 1858 still stands.

Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas

Day trippers explore Fort Jefferson, which is the highlight of a full-day excursion to the Dry Tortugas, a chain of seven islands located 70 miles from Key West. Photo: Patricia Letakis

When it’s time to disembark on Garden Key, passengers can opt to hit the beach and snorkel, do a self-guided tour of historic Fort Jefferson or join the guide on a fort tour. I opt for the latter. As we cross the moat, Jannausch starts talking and I realize that he’s a master storyteller, with a knack for making history fun. I learn that because of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the United States needed control of the water route from the Mississippi River to Europe and these islands were safe harbor for U.S. ships. The fort, constructed between1846 and 1875, was built with 16 million two-tone bricks. The first tier was made with bricks from Pensacola, Fla., and after the state joined the Union in 1845, the darker bricks for the top tier were supplied from Maine.

After the walking tour, I head to the snorkel shack and pick up my fins and mask to join the others in the shallow waters, 5 to 15 feet deep, off the beach. Finning along the fort’s wall, I spy a few fish, but soon discover a better spot is the South Coaling Dock Ruins. Weaving my way through these old metal pilings, I see sergeant majors darting about and bright blue and yellow damselfish swimming by and on the sea floor fans and brain corals stand out among the seagrass. Before wrapping my visit I take one last walk on the moat wall surrounding the fort, admiring the bastions, cannons and a massive harbor light above and passing the campground where the real adventurers will spend a night in pitch-black darkness.

At the end of my 4½-hour visit, I rinse off and use the park’s dressing room before boarding. The bar is now open, and cocktail hour is in full swing. After a day of sun and surf, most every passenger finds a comfy spot to doze off as the Yankee Freedom III heads back to Key West.

Dry Tortugas Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson, built between 1846 and 1875, is the largest all-masonry fort in the United States and part of the Dry Tortugas National Park. Photo: iStock

 

Key West Sunset, Florida
Clearwater Beach, Florida, Florida Keys, Key West, Plan, Sanibel Island, Trip Ideas

Great Places to Watch a Florida Sunset

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As the sun sinks toward the sea, the western horizon ignites in glowing hues of orange and pink. Yet another magnificent Florida sunset is underway, bringing awe-inspiring visions no matter where you are in the state. In Key West, watching the sunset from the Mallory Square waterfront remains a popular tradition, drawing residents and visitors alike to witness nature’s nightly magic lantern show. But there are also quieter places nearby such as this strip of sand on aptly-named Sunset Key where one can enjoy the day’s ending with a bit of solitude.

Key West Sloppy Joes, Florida
Florida, Florida Keys, Key West, Play, Trip Ideas

Key West’s Infamous Duval Crawl

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When the sun sets over Key West, the flicker of street lamps turning on in the dusky light means one thing: It’s time to start the Duval Crawl. There’s never a shortage of bars, cocktails or colorful characters on Duval Street, which cuts through the western part of the island’s Old Town neighborhood, but it’s after dark that the crazy comes out in full force to kick off the party. By getting an early start, you can sample the island fun without going full tilt and also avoid the crowds while still taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of Duval Street’s must-stops. Or you can start your crawl well after dark when the party is in full swing and the rousing crowds overflow onto the sidewalk and road and the sounds of laughter compete with blaring music.

Key West Duval Street, Florida Keys, Duval Crawl

Key West’s Duval Street is where the nightly party known as the Duval Crawl takes place, with crowds moving from one bar to the next. Photo: Mike Cherim/iStock

When it’s time to head out, simply walk north to the 200 block. Every Duval Street experience must include a stop at Sloppy Joe’s, a Key West icon made famous by author Ernest Hemingway back in the 1930s. Photos of Papa line the walls, and local bands strum island tunes, light rock and jumpin’ jazz. Slip into the adjacent Joe’s Tap Room for a taste of craft beers on draft before heading one door down to the Lazy Gecko. This is your place for a frozen daiquiri or a Gecko Rum Punch, which really packs a wallop. Watch for people dressed in oddball getups, with anything from neon wigs to fuzzy animal-print hats perched on their heads in an attempt to attract attention.

Cross the street and stroll into the Hog’s Breath Saloon to blend with Key West locals, known as “Conchs.” This famous pub prides itself for pouring strong drinks. Slightly quieter than other nearby bars, it’s a good stop for grabbing some munchies like fish nuggets and conch fritters. For a taste of authentic Old Town, you have to stop at the Bull. Murals of old Key West line the walls in this open-air bar, and the balcony of the upstairs room, dubbed the Whistle Bar, is a prime spot for gazing down on the antics of Duval Street while enjoying a finely crafted margarita. The truly adventurous can head to the Garden of Eden, a rooftop bar, which, true to Key West’s anything-goes spirit, is clothing optional.

When you need to soak up the alcohol with a bite to eat, turn south, away from the increasingly celebratory crowd, and onto the 900 block for the delectable offerings at Nine One Five. The chic setting of a Victorian home and an upscale menu belie the restaurant’s relaxed vibe. Dine alfresco on the porch and share plates of beef carpaccio and lamb loin or dive into rich entrees like duck confit with butternut squash or seared scallops with pine nuts. For a taste of local seafood, Blackfin Bistro serves up adventurous versions of Key West favorites. Instead of conch fritters, they have conch cakes served with a house-made remoulade, and their pan-roasted grouper comes with couscous and Key lime avocado tartar sauce, a tasty way to ensure you’ll be walking back to your room rather than crawling with the late-night crowd.

Key West Sloppy Joes, Florida Keys

The action on Duval Street in Key West is non-stop, with daytime shoppers and strollers and nighttime partiers doing the Duval Crawl, the popular bar-hopping scene. Photo: Raul A. Rodriguez/iStock

Depending on how close you want to be to Duval Street, accommodations run the gamut. An ideal base for a quieter Duval Crawl experience is the Southernmost on the Beach Hotel, set on the calmer, southern end of Duval. Although you’ll have to walk a few blocks for party action, it’s steps from the sands of South Beach. Here you can watch palms sway in the breeze and the tranquil Atlantic water lapping up against the sand while sipping a mojito or Rum Runner at the Southernmost Beach Café, which is a relaxing way to start the evening.

If your style is more party hard and fall into bed, then choose a hotel in the heart of Old Town on the opposite end of Duval. The Westin Key West Resort & Marina sits on the waterfront, three short blocks from Duval Street and next door to Mallory Square, where crowds gather nightly to celebrate the sunset. From here you’ll be doing the Duval Crawl in just minutes. The Ocean Key House Resort & Spa, with the address 0 Duval St., is at the very northern end of Duval, tucked between the Key West Harbor and Mallory Square. Staying here, you can start or finish your night on the resort’s Sunset Pier with food, drink, music and dancing.

 

Key West Reasons to Go
Florida, Key West, Plan, Trip Ideas

Key West: 10 Reasons to Go

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The No. 1 reason people come to Key West is to have fun-it’s as simple as that. T-shirts, shorts and a pair of flip-flops will do. Key West’s nickname, the Conch Republic, has a comedic ring to it, hinting that this island is a place where almost anything goes (including a possible succession from the union in 1982). So get ready for some serious fun. You’re on island time now.

1  Old Town

The bustling Old Town is a national historic district, with Victorian charm and tropical gardens. A grid of narrow streets with homes from the 1800s and a mix of cultures from the Bahamas, Cuba, Europe and the Eastern Seaboard give it its intriguing history. Three places worth visiting are Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, President Harry S. Truman Little White House and Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum. Or, heck, just find a bar and chill.

2  Two-Wheel Paradise

You’ll get your share of exercise in this town, but not on two feet. Take your pick from a rental bicycle or scooter and ride with the wind in your hair as you exploring the island on a cool set of wheels. Just watch out for the chickens crossing the road.

3  Sunset Hour

Nowhere else in Florida is the setting of the sun celebrated with so much fanfare as in Key West. Mallory Square on the Gulf of Mexico is where tightrope walkers, fire eaters and jugglers entertain, and vendors with carts of local artwork and beaded jewelry hawk their wares. The shoulder-to-shoulder crowd may be toasting the end of a good day on Key West, but as the fire ball slips below the horizon, the party’s really just beginning.

4  On and Under the Water

There’s no limit to the choices for getting out into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. Start at the Historic Seaport at Key West Bight and take your pick. Adventurers find dolphin-and-shipwreck snorkel trips on catamarans and snorkel trips to the reef by kayak. Fishermen can book charters—deep sea fishing, flats fishing or light tackle trips. The leisure traveler has several sunset sails from which to choose—we opt for the champagne sunset cruise.

5  Duval Street

Key West’s main drag, Duval Street, runs from bayside on the Gulf of Mexico to ocean side on the Atlantic, and you can easily walk the entire stretch. It’s the heartbeat of Key West. During the day it’s a shoppers’ and early-bird drinkers’ street, at dusk it welcomes diners and the five o’clock somewhere crowd and by dark it turns into a serious party scene.

6  Duval Crawl

Bars and drinking go hand in hand, a Key West tradition that one might say began with Ernest Hemingway at Sloppy Joe’s, the author’s favorite bar back in the 1930s. Only today there are more bars and more people doing the “Duval Crawl.” Whether you join the official Duval Crawl event to hit the watering holes or do your own freestyle crawl, drinking and making friends is what happens nightly on Duval Street.

7  Seafood

The catch of the day is always fresh and plucked from surrounding waters. The local hogfish makes a killer fish sandwich, the grilled Key West pink shrimp get a thumbs-up and a basket of conch fritters is a must.

8  Events

There’s never a shortage of events going on in Key West. But the big ones you need to book in advance are July’s Hemingway Days, with its Ernest Hemingway look-a-like contest; and October’s Fantasy Fest, a wild 10 days of outrageous costumes, parades, parties and borderline mayhem.

9  Hop On, Hop Off

Tired tootsies? Short on time? The Old Town Trolley to the rescue. This is the easiest way to take in as much of the island as possible—or just get the lay of the land. The ding-dong of the trolley is heard all over the island as it makes its way to 12 stops from Mallory Square to the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.

10  Stay the Night

Key West boasts some of the most interesting innkeepers, who run the bed-and-breakfasts, inns and guesthouses. Besides maintaining the architecture and history of these buildings—a ship captain’s home, a Caribbean cottage, a Victorian mansion—they make sure laughter accompanies your stay with daily happy hours.

 

 

gale south beach, best boutique hotels in florida
Amelia Island, Florida, Key West, Miami, Miami Beach, Naples, South Beach, Stay, Trip Ideas

Top Boutique Hotels in Florida

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Big is not always better, especially when it comes to finding the right accommodations. We scoured the state to find the places that offer all the amenities you need for a great vacation in a setting that’s just the right size. So if you prefer more intimate hotels, where you don’t have to wait in long check-in lines or fight for a poolside lounge, then these Florida gems are perfect for you.

Gale South Beach

Photo: Gale South Beach, Best Small Hotels in Florida

The Gale South Beach’s rooftop pool provides views of art-deco architecture and the Atlantic Ocean. Photo: CoreyWeiner/The Gale South Beach

Transforming two 1940s art-deco hotels into one very cool SoBe hot spot is what put the Gale South Beach on the hipster map. The five-story boutique hotel sits on the corner of 17th Street and Collins Avenue, right smack in the middle of the scene with neighbors like the iconic Delano and the oh so trending SLS Hotel. Walk into a lobby where elements of art deco—a chrome backlit front desk—blend with modern white leather chairs and mirrored windows. Black-and-white photos of 1950s Miami Beach are a nostalgic reminder of a former heyday. The hotel’s 87 rooms have raised ceilings for spaciousness, and balconies with faux green-leaf walls provide a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean. Enter through the former Regent Hotel on James Avenue and you’re in the cozy Regent Cocktail Club where mixologists whip up retro drinks like Negronis and Mai Tais. As for the beach? It’s just across the street. 

Inn on Fifth, Naples

Inn on Fifth, Naples Fl

The Inn on Fifth’s prime location offers easy access to downtown Naples restaurants and boutiques. Photo: Inn on Fifth

This elegant three-story hotel sits on Fifth Avenue South, downtown Naples’ palm tree-lined six-block shopping-and-dining stretch. Despite its urban location, the Inn on Fifth is just minutes away from the white-sand beach and fishing pier thanks to a complimentary shuttle. A 2013 redo and expansion gave the hotel a fresh modern décor of red and gray with geometric accents, along with a second building across the street. Book a second-story poolside room and sneak out the door at midnight for a hot-tub soak. If you really want to splurge, the Club Level suites in the new building are huge with balconies overlooking the avenue. Everything old is new again at this meticulous gem in Old Naples. 

The Reach, Key West

The Reach Resort, Key West

Located on Key West’s quieter side, The Reach has private balconies with direct ocean views. Photo: The Reach Resort, Key West

Set off from all the hustle and bustle of Duval Street, Key West’s main drag, The Reach is an intimate and sophisticated hideaway. Painted a cheerful yellow with white trimming, the four-story Waldorf Astoria property sits on the Atlantic Ocean. Cross the front yard—a carpetlike lawn with rows of palm trees, delicate flowers and a life-size chess set—to reach the private beach (the 450-foot-long stretch is a real find on Key West), where a weather-worn pier with its own gazebo extends into the water. It’s the ideal spot for sunset gazers. Crisply decorated rooms, with contemporary furnishings that blend neutrals with bursts of orange and rust, have balconies that look out over the ocean or courtyard. The pool below was designed for sunbathing, and there’s no competition for a lounger since the resort has only 150 rooms. Contrasting with the property’s sunny island vibe is the hotel’s Strip House restaurant. Red walls, mood lighting and provocative photography that picks up on the steak house’s name make for a cozy, and somewhat seductive, dining experience. 

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida

A Nantucket vibe and direct ocean views make Elizabeth Pointe an attractive year-round escape.  Photo: Elizabeth Pointe Lodge

Deviating with the Sunshine State’s tropical image, this northeast coastal hideaway on Amelia island surprises with its 1890s Nantucket shingle-style main house. Enjoy coffee in a rocking chair on the big wraparound porch facing a shore populated by long slender sea oats and the roaring Atlantic Ocean. Whether you stay in the main house where a turn-of-the-20th-century décor mirrors the Victorian homes in nearby downtown Fernandina Beach, or opt for a room in the newer West Indies-style Ocean House, the relaxed elegance of Elizabeth Pointe Lodge is always present. With 13 miles of beach right in front of you, a sunrise or moonrise stroll is always in order. 

Bentley South Beach

Photo: Bentley South Beach

The Bentley is just steps from all of the action, dining and nightlife of Ocean Drive.   Photo: Bentley South Beach

Across the street from the Atlantic’s shore, the Bentley South Beach sits on the corner of Fifth Street and Ocean Drive. It’s a favorite with Europeans and South Americans who appreciate the smaller surroundings. Yet despite its size, all of the rooms, from studios to one- or two-bedroom options, are designed as suites with living space. Plus you score a kitchenette where you can prepare your own mojitos. The Bentley is one of the few SoBe hotels to actually have a rooftop pool, in fact make that a lap pool where you can get some serious swimming in or just cool off with a nice soak. The views of sunrises and sunsets are a bonus. If you’re the beach type, stroll over to the hotel’s private beach club, where beach butlers set up your lounger—as well as serve you cocktails. Located near the edge of the less frenetic South of Fifth (SoFi) neighborhood, the Bentley is walking distance, past art-deco buildings, to landmark restaurants like Joe’s Stone Crab and celeb-fave Prime One Twelve. Or you can head north into the heart of Ocean Drive, where alfresco tables spill onto sidewalks and music blares from crowded bars.