Happy New Year! continues with my Florida post
I read somewhere that road trip along the Florida Keys is one of the best in the USA. Well we already drove so far from Orlando to Miami and the Everglades National Park might as well drove all the way down to the southernmost of Florida which is Key West!!
Driving from our Hotel in Homestead to Key West take roughly 4 hours depends on the traffic and how many stops we are making. Starting early in the morning traffic was light...lucky us. There are total 5 keys in the Florida keys but there are over a thousand of small islands in the area, Ther 5 major one are Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys and Key west
we visited John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, entrance fee $8/ vehicle
there are boat, snorkeling, scuba tours available in this state park
more info here ------> http://pennekamppark.com/
the weather was rather windy and many boat tours were cancel, also it was quite chilly for my taste to go snorkeling...oh well maybe next time
instead we join the free plant tour given by an experience ranger
wild orchid
wild coffee, i heard they taste strange
there are a few poisonous tress in this region so it's good to have a prior knowledge before one wonders alone in the forest
the Florida keys are form from rocks and coral so there aren't much soil the most is just 1 or 2 inches of soil from dried tree leaves, that is why the tree roots are exposed here
not much sandy beach mostly rocks and corals....good for snorkeling
i got to say this caution sign does makes me feel at ease(sarcasm)
it was nice to lay there getting some sun tan.... awww boon interacting with some local?! bird ( Shoo Shoo)
the beach is not exactly dirty but it's just too much mangroves leaves and seed
the beach don't really scream jump in
continue our journey along overseas Hwy route 1
a nice short stop @ Seven Mile Bridge
fishies
another stop @ Florida Keys Overseas heritage trail
the trail is quite long ca. 1 mile??
from the bridge we can see Little Money Key not too far off the bridge
the trail leads to the old Florida Keys Overseas heritage trail
finally we reached Key west, there are 2 side of Key west one is more new town commercial with big supermarket and chain restaurants and another side is more old town, layback holiday mode area with local bars and restaurants. And we are staying at the old town
our accommodation in Key West, Key West Bed and Breakfast highly recommended, they definitely make our stay in Key west a comfortable and relaxing one. Will write more in a separate post
The Freeman-Curry House built in ca.1865
walk around the neighborhood, Victorian style homes built in the 19th century
famous Duval Street is just 3 blocks away from our B&B
found this place for dinner, Gabor's Grill
the fusion taco was not bad, price reasonable($20-30/ for two)with big potion
i had grilled fish taco and boon got a Korean BBQ Bulgogi taco
nice stroll around the town after dinner
Key West Art & Historical Society
it's a museum of the local art, culture and history
Mallory Square, it's a nice place to hangout after dinner with so much going on with performances, bar and restaurant and small kiosk selling arts and crafts
it is also the best place to see sunset but we are too late today, thank god we are here for 3 nights
Day 2 in Key West
checking out The Little White House, built in 1890 as quarters for Navy Officer. It was later was used by American Presidents as a vacation home
information to tour around Little White House -----> https://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/key-west/historic-home-museum-tour-tickets.htm
Key West Art & Historical Society during the day
in Key West it's common to see chicken running around, it's park of Key West's identity.
In 2004 the chicken population grew so big a chicken catcher was hired to reduce the number. However his work was controversial, the post was discontinued when he quit
from our B&B it's just 20-30 minutes walk to the Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. Entrance fee for walkers and bicyclist is 2.50, well one can also drive in which cost $4/ 1 person vehicle, $7/2 person vehicle and additional $0.50 for additional person. kids age 5 and under is free.
The thing about driving in Key West is ....how do one describe.... once you found a parking space you wouldn't want to move it! with limited space and tons of tourist in Key west.....you do the math!
our car was parked nicely infront of our B&B for 3 nights without moving it. Basically car is useless in Key West, one might as well enjoy nice stroll or rent a bicycle to move around this tiny island
Fort Zachary Taylor, America's southern most Civil war fortress, was built in 1845 - 1866
it took so long to built was because sudden death President Zachary Taylor, Yellow fever epidemics, material shortage, then war....etc
the upper part of the fort
the upper level was destroyed in 1889 to make way for more modern weapons, the old cannons was buried within the outer wall to save on materials
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is also a nice place for beach activities, picnics areas with tables and grills for a nice picnic BBQ with the family
so excited that we can finally go for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean
we are just 100miles away from cuba
the beach here are of sand and pebbles, best to bring along water shoes
after a relaxing day in Fort Taylor, time to eat some seafood
i had a delicious grilled fish with yellow rice and boon had Cuban sandwich which was just ok @ Caroline's Cafe
i liked my grilled fish so much we gone back the 2 time for it the next day...hehe
price was reasonable, i think my Yellowtail snapper was $19.99 big potion, just nice after a day at the beach
totally recommend this place
after a relaxing nice early dinner we headed back to Mallory Square for sunset
everyone waiting for sunset
just in time
beautiful sunset
in the evening. after our Jacuzzi session, we enjoyed a quite game of monopoly @ Key West Bed & Breakfast . Did i mention they have really awesome breakfast spread every morning
Day 3 early morning after a delicious breakfast in our B&B we head out to Key West Historic Seaport, Harbor Walk
once can book a boat your out for snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, dolphin watching, sunset sailing and more
can't believe we can see big Tarpon fish here at the harbor...i wonder if one can fish here??
we then walked south along Duval Street to the southernmost point
the queue is quite long just to take a picture with the southernmost point landmark
after 15 minutes of waiting, finally out turn,
i was told that on a good weather day one can see Cuba from here
this is the Key West lighthouse & Keepers Quarters Museum.
entrance fee is $10/ adult. $9/ senior and $5/student
It's very pricey entrance fee for just a lighthouse
There is also Ernest Hemingway Home
entrance fee $13/adult and $6/children
we didn't enter to both museum it's simply just over price but if you are a fan of Hemingway there is not price tag to big
walking along the coastal road we came across few beaches
can't remember this beach but it's was small and the water was not really clean
further east there is a small dog beach
finally we settle at Higgs beach
the beach is wider and less crowd
we had a nice time here(no entrance fee, but one can rent beach chair here for $10) getting sun tan and have a cool dip in the ocean, they have a open shower area and toilet too
overall our 3 nights stay here were really relaxing and rejuvenating.
Usually our vacation we will squeeze as much attractions as possible, this time around we just enjoy lazying around the beach and actually finish reading a book
Key West to me is a place you come to re-energize from life and just be, well some might come here for the booze and party as some refer Key West as a party town either way it's a nice place to visit!!!
next post back to Miami....... to be continue
~ cheers~
