Florida Keys

obullfish

obullfish

Carolina Trail Blazers
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Location
Candler N.C.
What are the must see and do in the Keys? Spending 8 days in Key West 6/26-7/4. Already booked a full day for the Dry Tortugas and plan on doing some diving a couple days. I’ll be kicking back and relaxing with a lot of hitting the bars I’d say. Going down for a reset and to disconnect as much as possible. Taking the mountain bike for on island transportation and may try to find a couple trails somewhere in the keys as well.
 
Dry Tortugas is a long ass hot boat ride. Bring all the sunscreen and floppy hats.

Schooners Wharf bar has a great vibe, one of my favorites
Conch Republic seafood is touristy as hell but I love it
El Siboney is a fantastic Cuban restaurant

The touristy sunset at Mallory Square is a must.

I've heard great things about the butterfly gardens but never done it personally.
 
x2 on Bahia Honda.
 
Hemingway house for sure. Visit the Coat Guard Cutter on display there. small but cool thing to see. If you like breweries there is one in Key West that was cool with chickens running around and the beer and food were good. If you plan to hit the point for a picture prepare for a line. I was shocked to see that. the Mel Fisher Museum was cool. If you don't know who he is look him up. Kind of a legend in the shipwreck world IMHO. I'll ask the wife when I get home and report back. If you plan on doing any charters book now. Is it a family trip with kids or?
 
I hang out more in Islamorada than anywhere when I'm down that way. Less congested. Also...watch out for Key Deer...they're probably endangered because they'll jump out in front of any car they see.
 
I enjoyed a quick detour riding around on Big Pine Key to see the Key Deer. They just wonder around randomly and kind of cool to see deer that little. Don't hit one! They're very protected. There was cool lunch spot on Big Pine too, No Name Pub. This was all 17 years ago I guess so take it with a grain of salt.
 
I should say I’ve been all over the keys multiple times and will have my truck and will be up and down the keys. Staying in key west so I can stagger back to the room without having to worry about transportation while drunk. Keep y’all’s favorite things coming as I’m making a spreadsheet to have some kind of schedule of attractions. Thanks for the input.
 
ghost said:
Hemingway house for sure. Visit the Coat Guard Cutter on display there. small but cool thing to see. If you like breweries there is one in Key West that was cool with chickens running around and the beer and food were good. If you plan to hit the point for a picture prepare for a line. I was shocked to see that. the Mel Fisher Museum was cool. If you don't know who he is look him up. Kind of a legend in the shipwreck world IMHO. I'll ask the wife when I get home and report back. If you plan on doing any charters book now. Is it a family trip with kids or?
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There will be 2 adults no kids, I really want to take a charter but I don’t think it will happen this trip.
 
Ok the wife and I went there for an anniversary but only for a couple days. I'll get her input. All the boat rides we saw sold quick. We wanted to go fishing but didn't have the time and didn't really plan ahead. We stayed on Marathon. There is a cool Turtle museum up there. We were not able to go but wanted to.
 
obullfish said:
There will be 2 adults no kids, I really want to take a charter but I don’t think it will happen this trip.
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Was gonna recommend Spear One Charters. Local (literally raised there) young guy that knows the water well. Cool to spend a day with and gets results. A month after I fished with him, I saw him on ESPN in one of those shark tournaments with the rulers down the side of the boat. Pretty cool. Just looked on his website and it's not there. We found him through the Orvis at Mallory Square.
 
Dry Tortugas
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take the plane it is worth the money 10 fold
 
Sunset Pier in KW usually has live music and lives up to its name. Any time I have gone it’s been pretty good and service was good. Even with the cruise terminal next to it, it’s never been overly crowded since people tend to split to Duval St and the other touristy stuff. Hemingways house is a cool experience but that’s about all I’m a fan of in KW. The middle Keys from big pine up to Islamorada is more my speed.
 
I have been to Marathon 3 times (know a guy that I used to trade HMMWV parts for a week stay---but he sold his houses down there). The lighthouse, old fort, and coastguard cutter were cool. Also have to ride your bike to the southernmost point just because. There were some offshore boat races going on while we were there onetime, we didn't really watch them other than getting to see them go by a few times. Key west was not really our thing, too busy. Kayaking in the mangroves (in Marathon) is really cool, just make sure to take a tour OR make sure you go in when the tide goes in, and out when it comes out. Ask me how I know haha, we got a workout but it was still fun. The turtle museum was good but I wouldn't waste the time doing it without kids. There is a big boat charter in Marathon, they do reef fishing tours, it's a cheap way to get out where the fish are, but don't expect to catch a sailfish or anything. It's bottom fishing, not trolling.
 
drkelly said:
I would go in January
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We went in October/November twice I think it was, last time I was there was April 21-29 2017. Can't forget that because my dad went in the hospital when we were on the way home and passed on the 30th. It was a good trip, but we lost car keys kayaking, a phone went for a swim, and then my dad, so that week progressively got worse....

I couldn't imagine being down there in the summer. It was hot enough in April.
 
obullfish said:
So would the half day leave plenty of time to see everything and do some snorkeling?
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I was able to get in both but you half to move fast. the half-day includes flying time. I saw the fort and had about an hour to snorkel. we were leaving as the tour boat arrived so you had it pretty much to yourself plus the other folks that are on the plane, they flew two at once so maybe 18 total vs the 100 or so on the boat
PS there is a clothing-optional bar in Key west PM me for details.
And a great BBQ joint on a sail boat at the marina
And no I did not go to the bar
 
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I didn't like Key West. Everyone else had a good time because it was drinking non stop. We fished one day and had it for dinner that night. That was the high point I guess.
I'm not a party animal!
 
rockcity said:
Camp at Dry Tortuga and get to explore it after all the day-guests leave. Have the place to yourself and really relax.
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Talk about roughing it. Camping when the nighttime temps are going to be probably 85 degrees, that sounds miserable! I never went to Dry Tortugas, would have liked to but we didn't think it would be an enjoyable trip with young kids.
 
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