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From dolphin excursions to a tour of Hemingway’s house, check out the myriad of family vacation activities in the quirky and charming Florida Keys.
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But there’s much more to Key West than attractions and museums. It’s a vibrant, colorful town ruled by pedestrians, bicycles … and watering holes. This is Margaritaville after all (look for the original Jimmy Buffet restaurant). It’s said that there’s a bar for every day of the year. The streets of Key West are always teeming with people from all walks of life enjoying a casual, laid-back atmosphere with endless blocks of restaurants, shopping and colorful kiosks.
A perfect home base for taking in the whole scene is the Ocean Key Resort nestled at the very foot of Duvall Street, Key West’s central street. The resort has oversized rooms with living areas that are perfect for small families (two-bedroom suites are available for larger families), and with designs delightfully in sync with local Key West tropical flare. The resort’s Sunset Pier is one of the hottest spots for sunset dining overlooking the water.
Andy Newman
Just next door is Mallory Square, which transforms before sunset into an oasis of street performers. My daughter and I watched acrobats juggling machetes atop a ladder (how did they think of that act?), cats jumping through fiery hoops, magicians, a flame thrower, and a gymnast who does handstand pushups among other performers—all acts require audience participation in one form or another. The performances are all kind of normal for the Florida Keys, where quirky is the norm, and there are no worries.
Looking for a beach break in the Florida Keys? The destination isn’t famous for it’s stretches of sand, but don’t let that stop you from planning a Florida Keys beach vacation. There are plenty of great sandy spots at which to hang your hammock.
Bahia Honda State Park has three appealing beaches. Read our Florida Keys Beaches round-up for more ideas.
As one person summed it up for me, “When you drive down [to the Florida Keys], there’s a sense of ‘ahhh’ we’re here.” It’s a sigh of relief, and I totally understand what she means. In the words of another fellow traveler, this one awaiting a delayed flight to the Keys, “It’ll all be okay once we’re there.”
So relax, enjoy and revel in the quirks of the Florida Keys. If it’s your first visit, it most assuredly won’t be your last.
Copyright © 2008 TravelMuse, Inc. All rights reserved.
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2 Comments on this article | read all commentsStrip House in Key West
by Donna on August 25, 2008
I found out recently that one of my favorite steak houses in New York has opened a branch in Key West—Strip House, located at the newly renovated Reach Resort. Signature dishes include the Strip Steak, Truffle Creamed Spinach and Goose Fat Potatoes. Definitely not for dieters, but just dandy for those of us who love rich foods! And of course, the dessert menu includes the local favorite Key Lime Pie. Address: 1435 Simonton Street. Tel. 305-295-9669. www.striphouse.net, www.reachresort.com
Adding this to my Trips...
by speckle614 on June 9, 2008
Great guide to the Keys; thanks for all the internal links to speed up my research process!