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Monday, January 16, 2017

Florida Sunshine State - Miami beach

Our last night in Florida!!! after an amazing 3 nights in Key West we are heading back to Miami ( flying back to NY from Ft Lauderdale / Hollywood Airport).

Parking in Miami Beach area can be expensive but luckily we found a parking garage which is just few blocks away from our hotel. Located at 13th street @ Municipal Parking. Cost only $1/hour and if you park over night it's only $21(if i remember correctly).It's always wise to check up on the parking cost before hand as some parking garage can cost up to $5/hour. Of cause there is always valet parking(too bad travel in style is not in our budget ha!).

Its was off season(end of Nov) our hotel in Miami south beach(Chesterfield Hotel & Suites @ Miami Beach) cost $110/ night tax included. Good location,just a 5 minutes walk to the beach (but there are so many other hotel choices in the area)


Collins Ave, where all the hotels, restaurants and bars at!



Ocean Dr







welcome to south beach in end on Nov, weather was great but the water was a little cold for my taste but i went in anyway...hehe



our spot, out hotel even provide us beach towel


i do prefer the beach here than in Key West, no stones and sharp corals








we had a chance to try a Peruvian Restaurant( Chalan on the beach) just a nice 10 minutes walked from our hotel. The food was amazing.... love it! we order seafood with their special garlic sauce, was soooooooo good and the potion was really big. Their appetizer a green sauce, i'm not sure what they called it but it was amazing, spicy but very delicious. Price $ 40 for 2 person. Definitely recommend this place !!!!


the next morning, we went to the beach for a morning walk














enjoy our morning walk by the beach one last time before catching our flight back to NY @ Ft Lauderdale / Hollywood airport.




it's really nice and relaxing


i sure gonna miss this place



all happy vacation must come to an end. we really enjoyed our 11 days vacation in Florida, beach, sun, theme parks, wildlife, oranges and great seafood. I think i did a rather good job with our Florida itinerary!!! not a dull moment and just the right amount of fun and relax time



till our next adventure

~ adios~

Monday, January 9, 2017

Florida Sunshine State - Key West Bed and Breakfast

The bed and breakfast we stayed was so nice that i have to rave about it.

As i was planning our Key West accommodation, 3 months before our travel date(with Key West it's always wise to plan months before hand or else the hotel price is going to cost alot), i came across a blog introducing few of Key West old town area B&B, i called and emailed but many was already fully booked. Luckily one replied my email saying they have a a room available on our traveling date but there was a minimum 3 nights stay. Initially we planned to stay 2 nights top but since there wan't any choice i move my plans around and booked the B&B for 3 nights. Jody (the owner of Key West Bed and Breakfast) was really friendly and fast reply


Key West Bed & Breakfast,

car parking is FREE(provided you can find one on the side walk), we were lucky to have found one just in front of the property.







there also some books and board game


our room can actually fit 3 person, however the bathroom was not attached but it's just the opposite room


i wish my balcony is this nice


what i love the most was their breakfast...it's all fruits and oven fresh home made pastry
and freshly squeeze orange juice...... best breakfast(budget traveler like me) i had in US hotel/inn\ B&B so far. Bests all those oily sausages and cold eggs


enjoy our breakfast in a shaded garden,
oh ya they also have a hot tub.... late Nov night can be chilly it's nice to soak in the hot tub


backyard garden

ok let's talk price. We were there during Nov ( i think it's their low season) so price 
for the room for 3 nights
room total  : $330.00
Plus tax   : $41.25
subtotal     : $371.25

the price is actually quite reasonable for Key West, most of the hotels here are really expensive and location wise is not as convenient as this area. Most importantly is the service of the staff here, they were so friendly and helpful. We do enjoy chit chatting with them.

The B&B was really clean and tidy, there is always fresh clean towels. If i ever come back to Key West this will definitely be my 1st choice

~ cheers ~

Friday, January 6, 2017

Florida Sunshine State - Florida keys & Key West

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~

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