Posted: 1/16/2012 1:07:03 PM EDT
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Need info on what to do, where to stay, where to eat for a couple on their 25th wedding anniversary. They're both mid 40's. It's likely this will be their only time to the Keys. We expect they will be going the end of July- early August 2012.
I had also posted this in the travel forum. Thanks, Scott |
| That's right around lobster season so it will be crowded. Definetely take a trip to Looe Key for snorkeling. If you are going to Key West go to the sunset show on the square and hit up Irish Kevins. For food I would go to Hogfish Grill on Stock Island (the last Key before Key West). |
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A lot of answers here. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1251231_Florida_Keys____give_me_the_scoop_.html |
| Key West - Great Fishing, All night night life, Great hotels with a wide ranging price and amenities, Sunset Parties every night, Sailing, Snorkeling Tours, Many really good restaurants. The rest of the Keys are pretty much residential . The Upper Keys are dominated with day trippers out of Miami . |
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Key West - Great Fishing, All night night life, Great hotels with a wide ranging price and amenities, Sunset Parties every night, Sailing, Snorkeling Tours, Many really good restaurants. The rest of the Keys are pretty much residential . The Upper Keys are dominated with day trippers out of Miami . The truth, he speaks it. |
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Key West - Great Fishing, All night night life, Great hotels with a wide ranging price and amenities, Sunset Parties every night, Sailing, Snorkeling Tours, Many really good restaurants. The rest of the Keys are pretty much residential . The Upper Keys are dominated with day trippers out of Miami . The truth, he speaks it. Great info. Thanks, and keep it coming. |
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To me, the beginning of Lobster season makes the keys almost unbearable with the amount of traffic & people. You can wait hours for a good restaurant in the evening. I haven't been there for lobster season in many years, so please consider that.
The time your friends are going, There are two lobster dates to work around. The first is the mini season that is only two days, wednesday the 25th & Thursday the 26th. All the people pretty much plug up the place for that whole week, tapering off significantly after the 26th. The regular season starts Monday, August the 6th & packs the place again. It is highly unlikely your friends could find rooms for these weeks, even this far ahead. To avoid the crowds & still hit their date window, they could go the week between the lobster dates. Maybe July 28th thru Aug 4th. My wife & I did this one year & the place was almost deserted. That probably 10 years ago so thingsmay have changed since. Best bet would be to call the hotels they're interested in & ask them about it. |
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To me, the beginning of Lobster season makes the keys almost unbearable with the amount of traffic & people. You can wait hours for a good restaurant in the evening. I haven't been there for lobster season in many years, so please consider that. The time your friends are going, There are two lobster dates to work around. The first is the mini season that is only two days, wednesday the 25th & Thursday the 26th. All the people pretty much plug up the place for that whole week, tapering off significantly after the 26th. The regular season starts Monday, August the 6th & packs the place again. It is highly unlikely your friends could find rooms for these weeks, even this far ahead. To avoid the crowds & still hit their date window, they could go the week between the lobster dates. Maybe July 28th thru Aug 4th. My wife & I did this one year & the place was almost deserted. That probably 10 years ago so thingsmay have changed since. Best bet would be to call the hotels they're interested in & ask them about it. It all depends on if you want a quiet get away or you want to party. But the above is still spot on. Fortunately I have a friends house I can stay at on Summerland Key. |
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Quoted: Make sure you go to Robbie's and feed the tarpon. Here is a vid of my wife feeding them. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/?action=view¤t=DSC_1075.mp4 |
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Make sure you go to Robbie's and feed the tarpon. Here is a vid of my wife feeding them. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/?action=view¤t=DSC_1075.mp4 Last time I was there, I lipped a 100lb tarpon so my wife could get a good pic. It wasn't the smartest thing to do since their mouth is like 10 grit sand paper. But, I got a great pic out of it. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Make sure you go to Robbie's and feed the tarpon. Here is a vid of my wife feeding them. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/?action=view¤t=DSC_1075.mp4 Last time I was there, I lipped a 100lb tarpon so my wife could get a good pic. It wasn't the smartest thing to do since their mouth is like 10 grit sand paper. But, I got a great pic out of it. My wife got some skinned up fingers, nothing bad at all though. Don't feel bad. The first time I caught a sheepshead I did what you did. He bit down on my thumb and I was luck to have not lost it. I did not know they could crush oyster shells prior to that. One thing to do there is to call a friend/family member and have them watch you on the internet live cam. My kids got a kick out of it when we did that. |
| The Chesapeake Is very nice, Good spot for a stay. Bahia Honda, camping , or day time visit. Clean and interesting. On Key West I actually like the smaller hotels. You can walk most anywhere you dont scoot. Prepare to drink on this island. It will be happening. |
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I go down to Key West on business periodically and have discovered a few hidden gems. All reasonably priced with outrageous food. Truthfully, there are sooo many great places to eat in the Keys but these are some of my most recent favorites. Actually, these 3 are located on the Overseas highway and would be places to stop at on your way to or from the Keys if you're driving from Miami or anywhere else in South Florida.
Alabama Jacks - located in Key Largo off Card Sound Road. It's a biker 'style' saloon on the water and has great atmosphere and the absofrickenlutely best conch fritters you will ever have. EVAR! 100% guaranteed!!! Mrs. Mac's Kitchen - also located in Key Largo but off the Overseas Highway. Great, I mean GREAT fresh catch seafood. The Stuffed Pig - located in Marathon about an hour or so from Key West. They have stone crab omlettes and lobster egg benedict. 'Nuff said. When you're in Key West, go to DJ's Clam Shack on Duval Street and get the best MAINE lobster roll of your life. It's ALL claw meat served on a butter drenched toast. It's ridiculous and it's only $13 or so. Another great place in Key West is Blue Heaven - pricey for Key West but well worth the money. |
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Alabama Jacks - located in Key Largo off Card Sound Road. It's a biker 'style' saloon on the water and has great atmosphere and the absofrickenlutely best conch fritters you will ever have. EVAR! 100% guaranteed!!! You take your life into your own hands going there. It can be a cool place to go on your way down or back during the day, but I wouldn't stay past dark. The best cracked conch in the keys is Mangrove Mama's on Sugar Loaf Key. Fresh pounded conch and hand battered. |
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The Chesapeake Is very nice, Good spot for a stay. Bahia Honda, camping , or day time visit. Clean and interesting. On Key West I actually like the smaller hotels. You can walk most anywhere you dont scoot. Prepare to drink on this island. It will be happening. +1000 for camping at Bahia Honda, I go at least twice a year for a week. while you're there check out looe key. |
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I took this from Mallory Square. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0236-1.jpg I have the "same" pic. Man I love being in the Keys. |
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I took this from Mallory Square. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0236-1.jpg Your Picture is so good I "stole" to show some people! + 1 on avoiding trhe Lobster seasons. I used to go when I was younger (and single), but eventually the madness and frustration of the crowds overwelmed the pleasure of bug hunting so I quit going. Been many years since I've been there, but by all reports it hasn't improved any over the years. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I took this from Mallory Square. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0236-1.jpg I have the "same" pic. Man I love being in the Keys. You mean one like it? I love the Keys also |
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Quoted: Quoted: I took this from Mallory Square. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/banditman1/DSC_0236-1.jpg Your Picture is so good I "stole" to show some people! + 1 on avoiding trhe Lobster seasons. I used to go when I was younger (and single), but eventually the madness and frustration of the crowds overwelmed the pleasure of bug hunting so I quit going. Been many years since I've been there, but by all reports it hasn't improved any over the years. Are you going to pay me royalties?  |
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Cheeca Resort?! Go have a dinner at Lorelei which is a about 2 blocks north. Great place to see the sunset with good food and live music. While Lorelei has a decent atmosphere. The food and service has gone downhill. Do yourself a favor and go to Lazy Days next to Bud and Mary's, Phenomenal food. Also Morada Bay literally next door to BassPro. Sunsets, Live music, and Excellent food. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Cheeca Resort?! Go have a dinner at Lorelei which is a about 2 blocks north. Great place to see the sunset with good food and live music. While Lorelei has a decent atmosphere. The food and service has gone downhill. Do yourself a favor and go to Lazy Days next to Bud and Mary's, Phenomenal food. Also Morada Bay literally next door to BassPro. Sunsets, Live music, and Excellent food. I was there in November and the food was great, the drinks were strong and my Wife and I had a great time. |
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quiet end of duval only place I stay when I go with the wife
And when we are resting we sit on the top porch and have a few drinks and enjoy |