Key West - Orlando / Florida Guide
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If your in Florida for an extended period or you have done all the parks andare looking for something else to do why not consider a trip to Key West. You can do the drive in one day and if you do I would suggest you think aboutstopping for lunch on Key Biscayne which is just south of Miami. There are lotsof nice hotels with sea views for that special meal or you can take your ownlunch and eat in the state park. The journey from Orlando to Miami will takeabout 4 hours with about another 2 hours over the causeway to Key West. If youdo this peak season then be sure to book a room ahead of time as everything thatis reasonably priced gets booked a long way ahead. You may also want to checkout the cruise ship schedule, as you get a vast influx of people on the daysthey dock. The whole main area of the city is turned over to shops and bars forthe tourist and if you want to see more you need to be willing to walk or usethe 'conch train'. The train is a good way to see a lot of the area in a shorttime so that you can then go back and pick out the areas you really want to see.One word of caution here, the trains are designed to get the maximum number ofpeople on and if you are over 5'9" make sure you get an outside seat. It's likethe Epcot trams but scaled down. We took the tour and then went back to see the things we like, plus stoppingat the odd bar and T shirt shop. I have tried to remember most of the places wewent but it's such a small place that with a little walking you will see mostthings. We started and finished at Mallory Square, which is the centre of Key West'shistoric waterfront. It was the centre of the harbour and all the trade thatwent with it. Now the old buildings and some of the new are turned over to shopsthat can sell you all sorts of things you never knew you needed. It also has theKey West historic sculpture garden and of course, every evening, the famoussunset celebration. They also have annual power boat events here and if this issomething that interests you then check the plans before your visit. Just round the corner ready to get you in the mood for the rest of your dayis Sloppy Joe's. This is a must see bar and restaurant, the food and drinks areserved in a cool, island atmosphere which is added to by the live music. Itholds a famous Hemingway contest ever year and features on all the TV programsabout Kew West. It's the ultimate tourist trap but it is one I am glad I did notmiss. We managed to sit by one of the open door/windows which is good on a hotday. Sloppy Joe's was everything we expected and more. The drinks tasted goodand were large, the people watching both inside and outside was worth the pricealone. The live entertainment was OK but not special, however the best part wasthe live streaming web-cam out front. Call home on your tri-band phone and tellyour friends to watch you have a drink. However make sure you leave a tip asthey do still ring the bell when you tip the guys behind the bar. You will see afew embarrassed tourists who obviously didn't tip the right amount and the bellremained silent. You come out of SJ's into Duval St and as I said it's a real eye opener.Plenty of nightlife, free entertainment all over the place, and thepeople-watching in itself is a full time event. Plenty of eating places for anybudget from 4-star to fast food. There are all, and I do mean all, the T shirtshops and tourist trinket outlets you will ever need. However you can visit justone and you will have seen them all. Pop in to Irish Kevin's and/or the Bull &Whistle after you have tried SJ's. If you want to find somewhere for a nice meal then try Kelly's Caribbean Bar,Grill and Brewery. It's the Southernmost brewery in the U.S., and is owned byactress Kelly McGillis. We had lunch here, food was good, service OK. Atmospherewas very nice, you can sit in the outside courtyard among large shady treeswhich is nice if you visit in the summer. You need to get there early or have alate lunch to get a good table. The restaurant is one block off Duval, butthat's enough to give it a much more peaceful atmosphere after the Duval Stexperience. After all the shops and bars if you want a bit of culture and history then Ican recommend the following as places to go. At the Wrecker's Museum on Duval Street, you can learn about the nauticalarchaeologists or wreckers that were a part of Key West's earliest economy.Salvaging cargo, and sometimes people, from ships wrecked on the dangerousreefs, the wreckers were both revered as heroes and shunned as scoundrels. Themuseum resides in the one of the most historically significant houses in KeyWest, a white frame structure built in 1829 and the original owner was himself awrecker. In addition to providing information about wrecking licenses, rules,and regulations, the museum has lots of nautical paintings, model ships, andother maritime information. At the Key West Lighthouse you will find a great lighthouse & keeper's housefull of historic displays. This lighthouse is the shortest I've climbed, as itis shorter than the others you get to the top without to much effort. Good viewof Key West all around, make sure to take a camera. Hemingway House is rightacross the street along with a nice restaurant called "Ernest's" next to that Ican recommend for a light lunch. Lighthouse has a large keeper's house and therooms were filled with historical photos and displays in glass displays. Allowextra time for this if your interested in this type of thing. Ernest Hemingway's Home and Museum is at 907 Whitehead Street and is right inthe heart of the Old Town, this property was once home to one of America's mostfamous authors. Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote here for more than ten years.You can step back in time and visit the rooms and gardens that witnessed themost prolific period of this Nobel Prize winner's writing career. Tour guidesgive you lots of extra information and answer questions. You can wander throughthe grounds and enjoy the spectacle of the more than sixty cats that live here. The Audubon House & Tropical Gardens offers a way to relax for all ages. Itwas due for demolition in 1958, but was saved by the Mitchell Wolfson FamilyFoundation which is a non-profit institution. This was the first restorationproject in Key West, and is still considered to be the best on the island. Youwill also be able to see the books of John James Audubon, the world renownornithologist. There are 28 first edition Audubon works in the house. Key West is also where you find the Oldest House in South Florida. This is ahouse which has survived pirates, warfare, hurricanes, fire, economic hardshipand prosperity and now serves as a home museum which pays tribute to themaritime profession of its most important resident, sea captain and "wrecker"Francis Watlington. The house is a one and a half story "New England BahamaHouse" built in 1829. Until about 1832 it was located on Whitehead St. until itwas moved, by mule and heavy rollers, to its current location. The builderRichard W Cussans was among those who migrated to the island after CommodoreDavid Porter and his "mosquito fleet" effectively eliminated the pirates who hadterrorized the islands for many years. Cussans was a ship's carpenter whoincorporated maritime features into the architectural design: mortise and tenonjoinery, horizontal wall boards of now extinct Dade County Pine and a ship'shatch cut into the master bedroom roof, which was raised for ventilation. While you are here it is only a short distance to the Southernmost Point ofthe U.S. It's marked by a colourful landmark buoy and spectacular sunsets makeit a special place to visit. It's the point from which all distances North aremeasured. The Truman White House was the vacation residence of President Harry Trumanit includes original furniture, a narrated tour of Florida's only presidentialvacation home and a video of Truman's years in the White House. We walked pastbut did not have the time to tour it. When you get back to the Clinton Square Market Mall on the upper level youcan find 'A KEY Encounter'. This shows wildlife footage of many differentFlorida Keys fish, Sharks, Dolphins and Rays. You are greeted by three largescreens, each showing a different aspect of the presentation. The underwaterfootage is very good and the whole show takes about 20 minutes. It's a freeattraction and is even open seven days a week. If you really want to see and do everything Kew West has to offer then youwill need at least two full days there, but it will be rushed. Page added on: 20 July 2004
Author: Gavin Lewis (Villa link: www.orlandovillas.com /florida-vacation-rental-796.aspx) We aim to provide acccurate and useful information, but if you feel anything provided here is not accurate or out of date, please email us with the address of the page concerned and any commments so we can amend as necessary. Viewed 162 times since 1 September 2008.
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