List of Adventures to Have in Key West
There are so many Key West Attractions that there is something new to do every day no matter how long you stay. Here are some of our favorites.
To start with, there are several apps you can download for free that have lots of information on the Florida Keys.
The website for the Key West Travel guide will not only give you a variety of things to do during your vacation but under their “events” tab you will find information on the numerous festivals, fishing tournaments, races, etc. that take place through out the year. the link is:
http://www.keywesttravelguide.com/
Rent Bikes
The whole island of Key West is only four miles long so you can get everywhere on bike. There are bike rentals in several locations, so look in the Key West guide for one that has what you want. A place we have rented from often is called We Cycle, and they will deliver and pick up your rental right at the condo. Their Web Link is below.
Hurricane Hole
It is a Marina, restaurant and a place to make arrangements water sports, fishing, kayaking, boat rental, etc.. It is just over the bridge leaving Key West on Stock Island. It also has a great Happy Hour. We often eat there on the water at their marina restaurant. Here are numbers for rentals there.
Marina Boat Rental – Phone # 855-378-6386
The Lazy Dog Kayak Rentals – Phone # 305-295-9898
Want to go to the Beach? Pick one:
Right next door is Smathers Beach. The beach connects to our property, so it is literally steps away. There’s plenty to do at Smathers. There’s rental activities available like kayaks, paddle boards, sailboats, pedal boats, beach chairs, and parasailing.
If you want to snorkel, we usually go to Higgs Beach which is a couple of blocks away. Higgs Beach has a nice pier to access the water as well as number of old pier supports in the water to attract lots of fish.
The other good snorkeling spot is at the Fort Zachary Taylor beach on the west end of the island. The Fort Zachary Taylor beach has a few man-made water breaks that always hold lots of little sea creatures. This beach is one of the best in Key West. To access the park you will have to pay a couple of bucks per person to get in.
Water Adventures
There are several companies that offer water activities. We have done several of different packages: glass bottom boats, kayak tours, fishing, jet skiing, dolphin trips, sunset sails, and snorkel trips. No matter what you want to do on or in the water, they have it. There are also several combination packages so you can do lots of these fun activities at once. Here are the websites of two of the largest;
Sunset Water Sports: http://sunsetwatersportskeywest.com/
Fury Water Adventures: https://www.furycat.com/
Dry Tortugas
We have enjoyed making the trip out to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson is a National Park. I like the history of the place but it also has some good snorkeling and beautiful beaches. https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm
The Dry Tortugas are about 70 miles east of Key West. You can take a seaplane or the Yankee Freedom Ferry to get there. The seaplane can be a whole or half day trip, but it is a bit pricy so make sure you factor that into your vacation budget. The Yankee Freedom is less expensive but it is a 8 am until 5:30 pm trip. www.drytortugas.com
The Best Fresh Seafood for cooking in
If you are looking for the best fresh seafood on the Island for cooking a dinner in the condo you have to try the Keys Fresh Seafood Market It won’t look like much but it’s operated by some of our best fisherman and they sell their daily catch so you are never quite sure what they might have but they don’t filet it till you order it and it can’t get fresher then that. It located on Stock Island, about 4 miles from the condo, sits right on the water. Additionally it will be the best prices in town and these are the guys that sell to the restaurants. Address: 6840 Front Street, Stock Island. (Just past the Hogfish Restaurant) Phone 305-304-8677
It May not look like much but this little hut has the best Seafood in Key West, The Keys Fresh Seafood Market, Highly recommend the Swordfish and the deep water Grouper when available.
Key West Happy Hour
Many of the Key West bars/restaurants will offer fantastic happy hour specials. We have a couple of favorite places that we make sure we get to at least once or twice during our trip. Most of the restaurants will have their happy hour anywhere between 4:00 and 7:00 pm and offer half priced drinks and appetizers.
Some of the best are located at the Historic Old Seaport mainly due to the atmosphere they provide. They’re all open air restaurants that are situated just a few feet away from the pier. There’s a neat board walk that winds its way around the seaport, connecting the different restaurants. All the restaurants at the Seaport offer half price drinks and appetizers with the exception of the Conch Republic which only offers drink specials. We usually let Happy Hour be our dinner, then head over to Mallory Square for sunset.
Our new favorite place for happy hour Monday Thru Friday is The Ram’s Head Southernmost, they have 1/2 priced appetizers that are awesome and at great prices. Check the link for their menu. http://www.ramsheadsouthernmost.com Happy Hour is from 4PM till 7 PM Monday Thru Friday and includes Live music, $3 Beers, Wines, and Well Drinks. We go there for a happy hour dinner and with several drinks get out for under $50. They also are the home of the best Bloody Mary Bar on the Island, for $11 you get a large pour of Vodka and can mix in a wide selection of accompaniments including Apple Wood Bacon, how can you go wrong with bacon in your drink?
The Ram’s Head also serves, in our opinion, the Best Breakfast on the Island, breakfast entrees are big enough to share if you don’t have a large appetite, again check out their link above for some unique items like Captain Crunch French Toast and Crab Eggs Benedict.
Mallory Square
Another must-do on your trip is to check out Mallory Square just before evening for a beautiful sunset. The big draw for Mallory Square, however, is the number of street performers who pop out of the woodwork. Crowds gather each evening to watch the famous Key West performers. Be sure to see the Street Performers. Many of the acts offer world-class performances. The best part is it’s free. If you have a conscience though, you’ll feel obliged to flip them a buck or two after the performance.
Rick’s Blue Heaven Café
This is one of our favorite restaurants. We try to go at least once per trip. The Blue Heaven is a cross between dining in a tropical jungle and someone’s backyard.
The place looks like it should be condemned, but that’s all part of its ambiance and allure. There are freeloaders, the free range chickens and roosters that you will see running around the courtyard. Music usually adds to the ambiance. Their menu is not the cheapest you will find, just to warn you, but it is worth every penny. Many rave about their breakfast but we have only made it for dinner and it is fabulous. The Blue Heaven is known for having some of the best Key Lime pie on the island. Country star, Kenny Chesney, supposedly flew his mom down to Key West just so she could sample their Key Lime pie.
Kim’s Cuban
We have ordered from several times while at the pool since they deliver and have always been fast. Their Cuban Mix sandwich is great and large enough that I usually share it. However, my husband will eat it all. With only three stools, there is not much room for eating there but the food is a great mix of Cuban and Mexican. They have breakfast too.
Kim’s Kuban Key West
2302 North Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West, FL 33040
Salute on the Beach
This is one of our new favorite haunts, whether we are dropping in for lunch after a swim; or sunset dining; or making reservations for a beachside evening, we love it there! Salute On The Beach is located on Higgs Beach (and we mean right on the beach), between the White Street Pier and Casa Marina. Serving lunch and dinner. Bar open for drinks from 11 am to 10:30 pm. Call Salute! at (305) 292-1117 for reservations but we usually just walk in. The Menu is Italian prepared with an island lifestyle and tastes in mind. Featuring lighter, Caribbean-influenced takes on Italian classics—with fresh breads, vegetables and local seafood. Makes for a great evening walk or bike from the condo.
https://www.saluteonthebeach.com/
Hogfish Bar, Grill and Music Venue
If you appreciate joints where the food is great the beer is cold and you never know if a big name musician might stop by try the Hogfish bar and Grill. , whether we are dropping in for lunch, dining; or Happy hour we love it there! The Hogfish is located on Stock Island a 10 minute ride from the condo and you may meet some real KW folks, many live a boards frequent. Check the Website for the music scene but you might see Mac McAnally walk in.
Good Day on a Happy Planet
Museums
If you have had too much sun or if it is one of the few days of inclement weather in Key West, museums are a great way to spend the day. These are the ones we have visited.
Earnest Hemingway House
We have been several times and enjoyed every time. http://hemingwayhome.com/
Little Truman White House
You just thought beach shirts were something of the Jimmy Buffett era. There is a shirt here with the Presidential Seal on it. http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/
Pirate Museum
This is a great history of Key West. It is fun to go through, just expect a few pirates. Johnny Depp would fit right in: 524 Front St, Key West, FL 33040 Phone: (305) 292-1113
Fort Martello West – Key West Garden Club
Great time when you need a few hours out of the sun. Fort Martello West is one of the forts built in the 1800,s to protect Key West and today is the home of the Key West Garden Club and the many plants that make Key West the Paradise that it is. It is fun to go through and just a 1/2 mile walk from the condo on Higg’s Beach.
Duval Street
After my husband and I visited Key West for the first time, we tried to describe Duval Street to friends. The best explanation I could think of was if Annapolis, Maryland and Bourbon Street in New Orleans had a baby, it would be Duvall Street. There are several blocks of bars, restaurants, and shops. Of course there is Margaritaville and Fat Tuesdays, but there are a lot of locally owned places. It’s Duval Street that inspired the line in the Thom Shepherd song, “Welcome to Key West My Friend Where It’s Always Saturday Night”
If this sounds like you next vacation contact us at saltycondo@gmail.com