Key West Summary

I am no longer moving east, west, or south. In the next couple months I will only be moving north as I make my way towards Maine. One stop in Key West was for a photo of miler market zero of Highway 1. Now that my first Key West experience is complete I’m still trying to understand that place! In terms of the most interesting people, people watching, character, weirdness, craziness, and anything else I think it’s 2nd to only Venice Beach of where I’ve been on my trip. It’s an eclectic place and I understand why writers head there for inspiration to clear writer’s block (although I hardly did any writing there). It’s an inspirational place with a unique vibe. Overall Key West probably has the most things to do of any town that size that I’ve visited and quite possibly the best restaurants.

Here’s a big list of all the great places I was so fortunate to try:
Upper Crust (great thin crust pizza)
Haagen-Dazs (of course everyone has had this, but you can never have too much ice cream)
Two Friends (mmm I tried the grilled shrimp cesar salad)
Kermit’s Key Lime Pie (can’t go to Key West without trying some key lime pie)
Half Sell Raw Bar (tried my first oyster, other than a rocky mountain oyster that is)
Louie’s Backyard (great place to sit outside and look out on the ocean)
White Street Deli (great for a light lunch and good home cooked food, mmm scalloped potatoes and spinach)
La Te Da (a nice place for a fancy dinner, great service, and great food)

Now there is one more restaurant, and this is hard to decide, but I think that it takes the best restaurant of the trip through 31 states, Santiago’s Bodega. So stop by and order a few tapas.

There is a great list of things to do in Key West. It would take me a month to summarize it all in detail, but here is the list of my experiences:

Atlantic Shores – world famous for clothing optional tanning
Southernmost Point - just 90 miles to Cuba
Butterfly Conservatory – stunning butterflies!
Reef museum – because you need an education about the ocean and coral reef system
Drag shows – you have to attend a drag show or two while in Key Wet
Mallory Square – people come here from around the world to watch sunsets and they have amazing street performers (mom you would especially like the one who has cats that jump through a flaming loop)
Hemingway House – where some of the greatest novels were typed
Mel Fisher Museum – I wish it was me who discovered $200 million of treasure

Anyways, finish off your stay with a sunset boat cruise and watch for that famous green flash. Key West, I will be back! Thanks for everything Bill.