Sights and Scenes: Key West

[thelakelander]

A photographic walk through the historic core of one of South's most walkable cities: Key West

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/sights-and-scenes-key-west/

[Charles Hunter]

Very interesting article. Has me considering a trip south.

The Conch Republic Seafood Company is a restaurant and fish house occupying a fish house and ice plant built by Booty Singleton years ago to process Key West Pink Shrimp.

Is this the same Singleton family that sells seafood in Mayport?

[Jason]

Great article!

When were you down there, Ennis?  I was just in Key West for a wedding a couple of weeks ago and, regrettably, wasn't able to do much sight seeing...

[thelakelander]

I was in and out, attending a Florida Trust for Historic Preservation board retreat that has held September 17th and 18th. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to explore as much as I would have liked.

[Jason]

Ok, I was there the week prior.

There is sooooo much down there to explore.  I'm definitely going to be planning another trip.

[jaxlongtimer]

Great article!

When were you down there, Ennis?  I was just in Key West for a wedding a couple of weeks ago and, regrettably, wasn't able to do much sight seeing...

I was in and out, attending a Florida Trust for Historic Preservation board retreat that has held September 17th and 18th. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to explore as much as I would have liked.

We were in Key West about 15 years go.  I had never been and am not one to sit in the sun all day (Note:  Key West itself has naturally rocky beaches - sand beaches there are manmade with sand imported from the Bahamas).  My wife found plenty of things to do otherwise to my pleasant surprise.  Here are few things we did:

1. Harry Truman's Little White House
2. Ernest Hemingway House (with the famous 6-toed cats)
3. Mallory Square at sunset (complete with daily street festival and acts)
4. Eateries and shops on Duval Street
5. Key West Aquarium (a blast from Old Florida's past)
6. 7th Floor Observation deck (was open to the public when we were there) atop the historic La Concha Hotel at the midpoint of Duval Street,
and the tallest building in Key West.
7. Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum (at the time, it featured a gold bar retrieved from the Atocha inside a Plexiglass case that allowed you to handle it - since famously stolen by thieves and no one knows how they did it)
8. "Southern Most Point in the US"
9. Offshore fishing on a party boat or charter
10. Day trip on a fast ferry (or you can take a seaplane for more bucks) to Ft. Jefferson National Park in the Dry Tortugas - 60 miles out from Key West.  Includes snorkel gear and time to swim.
11. First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery - birthplace of Pan American Airways in 1927 and full of memorabilia of same.
12. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory - walk through a butterfly filled pavilion.
13. Trolley tour (FYI, same parent company as St. Augustine trolleys and Duck/trolley tours in other cities.  Just so happens, their corporate HQ's are in Key West.)
14. Sloppy Joes, famous as the hangout for Ernest Hemingway.
15. People watching.  For open minded people only!  Transvestite shows were abundant when we were there  .

We drove so we had a car (a full day's drive from Jax allowing for some sightseeing stops on the keys along the Overseas Highway.  Long summer days are best to take full advantage.)  While not needed in Key West as it mostly all walkable, it did allow us to spend time at Bahia Honda (rated #1 beach in the US one year) and John Pennekamp (best snorkeling reefs in the mainland US and that rival any in the Caribbean) State Parks, see the endangered Key deer, overnight at Key Largo (home to the African Queen boat from the movies), view remnants of Henry Flagler's railroad bridge and travel 7-Mile bridge.

Great eateries and gorgeous sunsets over the Gulf throughout.

Overall, a great time.  Just try to avoid lobster season when the place can be overwhelmed with boaters  .

FYI, when we were there you could by a one-week discount admission book to almost everything in Key West.  This is a great deal if you are there for at least a few days and interested in exploring as much as you can.  It was sold by the trolley company.