Key West About This Page:

[Sue M.]

We will be in Ft. Lauderdale for a couple of weeks before heading up the coast first for 2 days at Cocoa Beach, then WDW. Have booked a 2 day trip down to Key West during our Ft. Lauderdale stay. Booked Sheraton Suites Key West. Anyone stay there? Also any places that are must do's (aside Hemmingways, a given )
All the years I've been going to Florida, I've never been to the Keys!

[Colexis Mom]

We plan on going to the Southernmost point of the US, and getting a slice of Key Lime Pie when we dock there on our cruise in August!!

[rescuesk]

We docked there on our cruise, and loved the area so much that it has made it's way to our "must-do" list! We toured the lighthouse, went to the Southernmost point and toured the aquarium. We had lunch at Margaritaville and did a little shopping in some of the funky and tacky stores!

If we had more time, we would have gone to Hemingway's place, and watched the sunset at Mallory Point. We would have had dinner or a drink at Sloppy Joe's and spent time on the beach. I am not sure if they give tours of the naval base, but that seemes pretty neat, too.

Bill (lizardcop) is very familiar with Key West...I'm sure you'll get lots of advice from him when he sees this thread!

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

We plan on going to the Southernmost point of the US, and getting a slice of Key Lime Pie when we dock there on our cruise in August!!

Key Lime pie is a must for us when down in Florida, yum!

[Tracy M.]

Just got back from the Keys about 2 weeks ago. My father in law has a house on lower sugar loaf key so we never have stayed in any of the hotels in Key West.

We haven’t done any of the really touristy stuff in a few years but we did do Ghost Tours this time and that was a lot of fun. The conch train tour is also a nice way to take a tour of the island.

As far as restaurants go there are tons of really good places to eat. We always enjoy having lunch at Bagatelle, for dinner it’s a bit pricy but Santiagos Bodega was outstanding on our last trip and Blue Heaven has really good breakfast and lunch. Definitely make reservations for Santiago’s, the restaurant is very small.

[Sue M.]

Thanks for the links Tracy!

[Diz]

Congrats Sue!
Can't help you, but I'm having fun reading all the suggestions!
Have a great trip!

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by Diz

Congrats Sue!
Can't help you, but I'm having fun reading all the suggestions!
Have a great trip!

Got lots of good suggestions! My month in Florida is beginning to feel too short I need more time to fit everything in, if only I didn't have to go back to work,

[MMMD]

Be prepared for the heat in Key West. When you are right by the water it's okay but two blocks inland and you want to hurry back to WDW where it's cool! I prefer the upper keys like Islamorada to Key West but it is a place everyone should see once. It's also a loooooong drive from Ft. Lauderdale but it is scenic.

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by MMMD

Be prepared for the heat in Key West. When you are right by the water it's okay but two blocks inland and you want to hurry back to WDW where it's cool! I prefer the upper keys like Islamorada to Key West but it is a place everyone should see once. It's also a loooooong drive from Ft. Lauderdale but it is scenic.

Huh!! Never thought of Key West as being any hotter than Ft. Lauderdale or Orlando!! Good thing our hotel is across from the beach.

[DoraDoug]

We went for a week a couple of years ago and we are absolutely dying to go back. Try to check out the Green Parrot Bar. It's not on Duval St. and alot of locals seemed to hang out there. It's just outside of the Truman Annex on Caroline St. if I remember correctly. It's very funky and alot of fun. There is also Turtle Krawls that's over by this little harbor area. The conch tour train was fun and we also went to a butterfly museum. The Blonde Giraffe has (so they claim) the original key lime pie. It was really good. As you're heading into Key West there is Baby's coffee. They are the southernmost roaster in the US and we actually mail order it since we've been back. They have some amazing beans. It looks like a little old shack and the shop is definitely not Starbucks but the coffee is some of the best I've ever had. That's all I can think of for now. Have a great trip!

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by DoraDoug

We went for a week a couple of years ago and we are absolutely dying to go back. Try to check out the Green Parrot Bar. It's not on Duval St. and alot of locals seemed to hang out there. It's just outside of the Truman Annex on Caroline St. if I remember correctly. It's very funky and alot of fun. There is also Turtle Krawls that's over by this little harbor area. The conch tour train was fun and we also went to a butterfly museum. The Blonde Giraffe has (so they claim) the original key lime pie. It was really good. As you're heading into Key West there is Baby's coffee. They are the southernmost roaster in the US and we actually mail order it since we've been back. They have some amazing beans. It looks like a little old shack and the shop is definitely not Starbucks but the coffee is some of the best I've ever had. That's all I can think of for now. Have a great trip!

Thanks for those tips, I esp. love Key Lime Pie, and coffee When I gt home from work today I'm going to have to write down everything. We are staying at the Sheraton Suites across from Smathers Beach. Do you know anything about it?

[DoraDoug]

I'm not familiar with that hotel. We stayed in the Truman Annex at a friend's condo. If it's a Sheraton, I'm sure it will be fine. They usually have very nice hotels.

[Tracy M.]

Mary's right it can be brutally hot in the Keys in August.

On your drive up to Disney if you get a chance on your way out of the keys hit the Whale Harbor Restaurant on Islamorada. Best seafood buffet around. It's on route 1 like almost everything else in the Keys as you drive up so it's easy to find.

Just be prepared for a wait if you hit it right at prime time for dinner.

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by Tracy M.

Mary's right it can be brutally hot in the Keys in August.

On your drive up to Disney if you get a chance on your way out of the keys hit the Whale Harbor Restaurant on Islamorada. Best seafood buffet around. It's on route 1 like almost everything else in the Keys as you drive up so it's easy to find.

Just be prepared for a wait if you hit it right at prime time for dinner.

Thanks! I love sea food. We'd prob. hit it for lunch. We'll be heading back to Ft. Lauderdale for a few days after Key West, have to pick up other dd who is flying in that weekend, another round of family visits, then up to Cocoa Beach for 2 nights, then WDW
Looks like you'll be arriving at WL as we're leaving! We leave 8/29, always the sadest day