Florida sight seeing

[tagalong]

We're slipping away from snowy Michigan for a few days and heading to Key West and Tampa to sightsee and visit friends and relatives.  Anyone have any suggestions of what to see in Key West?  Any tourist traps to stay away from?  Anything on the must see list?

See y'all in July in Bellaire!  Please, stop in to donate blood and if you're not up for that, volunteer at the blood drive!

Bounty Hunter and Tagalong

[tank_post142]

3 story bar on duval street. 1st floor nomal, second floor dance, 3rd floor clothing optional. more gold in the sales area of the treasure museum than in the displays save your $$ and just visit the shop. stop at the american legion on stock island. capt. jacks is the original sloppy joes, where hemingway hung out, be sure to toss a coin up into the fish outside.stop at Alabama jacks on the way out of the keys on card sound road for a true florida (non 1%er) bike bar.

[hubcapsc]

We met our pals from California there a couple of years ago... I asked the same question here...

I remember making sure I got "grits and grunts" for breakfast a few times... ask for that and you get
a chunk of grouper or something instead of bacon or sausage with your grits and eggs...

There's a really cool pirate museum in Key West, we went to that.

We rode the tourist boat out to the Dry Tortugas... it takes a couple of hours, but it was worth it.
I've never seen water that color, or sand that white, we swam for a while. The old fort is similar
to Fort Sumter, but there was never a war there, so it is not blown to smithereens...



There's a bar at one of the Keys, "No Name" bar, where people have written message on dollar bills
and tacked them all over the walls and ceiling... completely covered... I think that key is the one
where the small deer are, we saw numerous ones.... it is weird to see a racked Buck the size of a
dog...



People won't believe you really went unless you get a picture here... 



We rented a "beach front" house at one of the Keys. It was cool and all, but I expected a beach, and
waves and sand. Down there the ocean is like a giant lake... here it is, sunrise, low tide...



Cross to the gulf side of whatever Key you're on and it is very different...

-Mike

[Skeeter (Va)]

The "Duval Crawl"  (Duval Street down town )is a good stroll ie., taverns, eats and people watching.  At the west end of Duval there is an every day event called "Sunset Activites" with dozens of performers like cats jumping thu hoops ect.  it's free and very beautiful watching the sunset.

Sloppy Joes on Duval St (bike friendly)  was Hemingways hang and he actually frequented Sloppy Joes #1 nearby that has a different name now.  Anyone can direct you there.  I think it's the place mentioned above with all the dollar bills on the walls.  There are trams that will take you on a tour of KW as well.

There are boat tours too...have fun !!   Skeeter in VA

[tank_post142]

no name bar is on big pine key. with all the key deer.turn right at the only street light on the island, when you come to a fork take it!!
  added note: the no name pub is on watson rd. just before you cross the bridge onto no name key

[RP#62]

The No Name bar is on No Name key, just off of Big Pine.  When I was in highschool I jumped off the No Name key bridge and learned all about tidal flows.  Took me 3 hours to get back to shore.
-RP

[Oss]

Keys was ok, nice pie, kinda touristy for me.

Some great places on the way down...

Bahia Honda State Park on your left driving south, maybe half an hour or so south of Islemorada

 Terrific beach shallow warm quiet best in the keys IMHO  spent 3 hrs there didnt want to leave, safe parking the bike just a few dozen steps from the beach cost a few bucks is all to get in, well worth it if its a nice day  I wasnt on the bike tho but in a red mustang convertible  Sheriffs cruised thru the lot but didnt go on the beach

Sunset is also amazing on Islemorada there is an outdoor bar with live music (help me with the name someone) on the right driving south with lots of seating facing the sun going down between islands that was well worth the drive.  Place had hundred or so folks there all groovin on the evening

Man it makes me want to go down there again just thinkin about it

[captsharky]

Thats the Islemorada sea food house good place great food. Everyone hit most of the high lights. If you can make it to the Dry Tortugas you will not forget it. Some of the best diving in Fla.

[tank_post142]

the lorelei bar !!! frozen key lime pie!!

[Tropic traveler]

We have ridden down there several times. Used to go down twice a year to lobster with a friend who was commercial, now he's in jail! Don't see him much anymore!
Anyways I loved Mel Fishers museum in KW.


One must do the Duval crawl, at least the drinkers should. Make sure you end up at Mallory Square for the sunset, always a treat. Careful where you park, enforcement is strict.


Gotta go here of course.



We usually stay in Marathon & day trip to KW. Parking can be a bee-otch in KW & Marathon is waaay more laid back, just our style.


Like Oss said Bahia Honda is a MUST SEE.


Bud 'n Mary's on Islamorada is fun. Watch the armada of charter fishing boats come & go.


We have ridden down US27 to get there & down the west coast on US41 too. US41 {Tamiami Trail} is more of a PITA but the scenic part through the 'Glades is awesome!
Miccosoukee Indian home just off US41


All in all a ride to the Keys is awesome. Nothing like it anywhere else in the world!

[tagalong]

Thanks for all the imput!  Sad to say, we'll be in a rental car, but, will hit lots of places y'all mentioned!  Somedays, I thinl the internet is a pain in the ass, but, other days i'm, thankful al gore had the time to invent it!!!  jk

see everyone in 4+ months

[bigvalkriefan]

You must stop at the Robert is Here fruit and vegetable stand. After the turnpike dumps you off in Florida City take a right on Palm Drive. You'll see the stand about 1 1/2 miles down the road. You can continue on to Everglades National park, lots of critters to see, which is awesome, but you need a whole day for that. Take Card Sound Rd. and stop at Alabama Jacks, you'll love it.

[RP#62]

You never know what you'll see in the keys.

Here's the bat tower on Sugarloaf


Some boat from some movie on Key Largo


The 7-Mile Bridge back when it was two lane


Sunset from Mallory Square


Pidgeon Key