If you are interested in ever visiting Key West or want to hear about why Mike Leach loved it so much then give this episode a listen.
Key West is a magical place!
Key West is a magical place!
Key West and Mike Leach
- Thread starter JWSDawgs
- Start date
Just don't go in June! Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Key West is its own magical place, but I really love Islamorada in the middle/upper keys. Key West is like an island-sized Bourbon Street to me - good to visit but enough gets to be enough.
If you like to fish AT ALL, much less love it, check with Bud and Mary's Marina in Lower Matecumbe Key and be overwhelmed with the possibilities. The Keys are one of the world's great fisheries. Whatever you want to catch, if it swims in salt, brackish or fresh water, they'll put you on the fishing day of your dreams.
Alternately, if you do intend to stay in Key West, fish with Capt. Tony Murphy on the Key Limey. Reach him through The Saltwater Angler.
Charter ocean fishing is not all big pelagics - though that's certainly available. Charters run out of Bud and Mary's up to the Everglades, out among the reefs, and down to the deep salt too.
I had one of the two best days of my long fishing life with Capt. Tony Murphy on the Key Limey. We caught 9 different species in 6 hours out of KW. The other best day of my fishing life was with Capt. Richard Stanczyk out of Bud and Mary's. My son and I each caught tarpon that would have topped 100 pounds.
Full disclosure: My time on the Key Limey was a comp'd media trip. I paid my own money to fish with the Stanczyk crew.
If you like to fish AT ALL, much less love it, check with Bud and Mary's Marina in Lower Matecumbe Key and be overwhelmed with the possibilities. The Keys are one of the world's great fisheries. Whatever you want to catch, if it swims in salt, brackish or fresh water, they'll put you on the fishing day of your dreams.
Alternately, if you do intend to stay in Key West, fish with Capt. Tony Murphy on the Key Limey. Reach him through The Saltwater Angler.
Charter ocean fishing is not all big pelagics - though that's certainly available. Charters run out of Bud and Mary's up to the Everglades, out among the reefs, and down to the deep salt too.
I had one of the two best days of my long fishing life with Capt. Tony Murphy on the Key Limey. We caught 9 different species in 6 hours out of KW. The other best day of my fishing life was with Capt. Richard Stanczyk out of Bud and Mary's. My son and I each caught tarpon that would have topped 100 pounds.
Full disclosure: My time on the Key Limey was a comp'd media trip. I paid my own money to fish with the Stanczyk crew.
Dry tortugas. Best part of the Key West adventure to me.
Sitting on a balcony bar on Duval late afternoon and watching the people is the best part to me. The transition from sun up to sundown is entertaining to say the least.
Not arguing just stating opinion. Duval was fun, but snorkeling around the fort was the best part to me. We have been a few times and not done DT. I have just thought those times we should have just went to New Orleans.
+ 1 to the snorkling @ZT, and the fish by the little jetty area! I think that's the NaCl-est damn h20 i've ever been in....ever.
A tarpon almost made my wife walk on water. And nobody told us until we were by the piers that it was not uncommon to see hammer heads there. Thank god we did not see any otherwise she would have been done. The water is goregous out there. I think even better that T and Q.
My step dad is currently down there competing in the Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest.
We had bought tickets then the boat broke, so I didn’t get to go. Really wish we’d been able to
I agree, Islamorado is more my style than Key West. Great fishing. One day at Key West was enough for me.
Veteran key westers. Best 3 night itinerary for a long weekend? Never been but want to check it out.
Duval is like Bourbon Street. It has 100 bars to fall in and out of.
The food is good there. Plenty of good music and good vibes. Not much of a beach though. Get a house with a pool, or at least a hotel with one.
The Marquesa Hotel is a cool vibe. Never stayed there, but the restaurant is great. We usually start or end our nights there.
Listen to the podcast episode at top of this thread for all the ins and outs of Key West
There are very few beach’s, it’s Bourbon Street with a beach atmosphere. We like to stay at one of The Southernmost properties, I think they have three ranging from a nice hotel to a Band B. It’s at the southern end of Duval and The Square is at the northern end of Duval so it’s close enough to walk to anything but it’s far enough away to be somewhat quiet. We rarely plan an itinerary, maybe take the trip out to Tortuga one day or plan fishing one day but the rest of the time just see where the breeze takes you.
Had a woman tell me in Miami one time when I was about 25 years old that I must go to Fantasy Fest in Key West. She said it would “change my life”
I’ve been to Key West 4-5 times but never to Fantasy Fest and that’s been about 35 years ago since she made that statement to me.
Maybe I should finally see for myself what she was talking about.
I’ve been to Key West 4-5 times but never to Fantasy Fest and that’s been about 35 years ago since she made that statement to me.
Maybe I should finally see for myself what she was talking about.
This is where I stayed and liked it. I stayed at Southernmost house (Ramos Lopez part), which had a kitchen in our room. The one dinner we planned was Latitudes since we had to take a boat. The first night we got in town, it started pouring after we’d been on Duval, so we ran into the first place we saw. I think it was Blackfin Bistro, and we had a great meal there. Went to Better Than Sex for dessert one night. Other than that, we mostly bar hopped and ate at random places
I've snorkeled there more than once myself and would do it again. But if you go back to Key West and like snorkeling hit up SNUBA of Key West. Or if you go anywhere that has good snorkeling, look for a SNUBA tour. It's awesome. I've always wanted to SCUBA dive but never took the time to get certified. SNUBA is pretty much the same. You just don't have the tank on your back and you don't need any diving experience. My youngest did it when he was 12.
My favorite place to stay in Key West is Casa Marina. It's pricey but not out of sight, especially for Key West prices. It's a Hilton property, so loyalty points apply/accrue. It's its own little world within the KW world -- a good retreat at the end of the day.
Alternately, the Bed & Breakfast options are good in KW also. Check out Ambrosia House for one good option.
I still prefer Islamorada, but KW on a three-day weekend is about right for informing a good basis of comparison.
As far as KW itineraries go, just wander around. Some points of interest include:
• Hemingway House
• Sloppy Joe's
• The Chart Room Bar (minuscule establishment, part of Buffett lore)
• Caroline Street (likewise Buffett lore)
• Jackson Square for sunset or people watching
Consider an excursion to the Dry Tortugas NP, but bear in mind you're committing several hours to it. If you really want to snorkel and don't want to commit 3/4 of a day, there are plenty reef excursions out of KW that are handier, and the whole chain is one great reef anyway.
We've always liked the hop on/hop off tours wherever for a quick boots-on-the-ground intro to a new place. In KW it's the Conch Train - buy a pass on the train or most anywhere - stops at a dozen different places, then you can walk back to wherever interested you. Concierge at Casa Marina sells tickets to it there I believe.
Restaurant qualities rise and fall no matter what the name, so Google or Yelp reviews are handy for Most Recent Information at those.
I really don't care to have a rental car in KW unless I'm traveling up and down the Keys for a purpose. Parking is very limited and KW is all walking/Lyft friendly. If you're flying in to KW, just Lyft to and from your hotel and it'll be cheaper or the same price as renting a car and paying to park it for your duration and you'll skip a lot of needless hassle.
If you're headed to Islamorada, you will need a rental car since you'll be driving up from KW or down from Miami.
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