Key Largo / Marathon?

vettegirl · 07-25-2006, 12:29 PM

Lonnie finally has a weekend off, so we were thinking about cruising down toward the Keys this weekend since neither of us have ever been there. Any suggestions on places to stay, places to eat, things to do?

Thanks!
Lauren

DonnyRebel · 07-25-2006, 05:29 PM

ya gotta cruise Duval St. in Key West. There's hundreds of great places to eat and shop all up down and around it. Duval St is famous for all the cool machines that cruise it constantly.

davisfire · 07-25-2006, 10:29 PM

I have only been to the keys twice in 47 years as a Florida resident. I went once in October 4 years ago and it was stone crab season. Wow! I'm not sure when it starts but you should ask. We took a moonlight cruise from Duck Key to Key West with a VW Cabrio convertible. It would be awesome in a SSR. I gotta go back! Big Pine Key is a nice place to stay too. Not crowded but close to Key West. There is a famous fishing tackle place on Islamarado (can't think of the name of it) I think that is fun to look at and nice waterfront restaurant too. It faces west and we got the sunset and stone crabs!

I gotta go back!

GASSR · 07-26-2006, 04:43 PM

You have to be in Mallory Square at Sunset ... watch the sun slip into the Gulf. Cool street performers and stalls there. Sloppy Joes, MaragritaVille if you like Buffet stuff. Great snorkeling and diving. I seem to remember there is an Audubon museum. Just don't look for great beaches!!

Paul Simpson · 07-26-2006, 05:27 PM

Now you`re talkin`. Been a fan of the Keys for years. Do the Key West scene, but only plan a couple days of it. Mallory Square is a "Happening" every day at sunset. If you`re not prone to sea sickness, take a "Fast Cat" ride to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. It`s an all day trip and includes a continental breakfast and a coldcut lunch at the fort. It`s a "must do' unless you get sea sick easy. After 2 days of Key West, you will be ready to back off the touristy stuff and enjoy the simpler life around Key Largo. On a road that goes behind the Key Largo Holiday Inn is a little place on the water called Sharkey`s. It`s a real local hangout and appears to be a dive, but the food is good and they have mango pie. And if their mango pie doesn`t make your tonge slap your brain, you must be dead. It`s the best thing in the Keys. On the north side of the Holiday Inn is a marina where the original Jungle Queen is on display. You can almost hear the voices of Humphry and Katherine as you gaze at this artifact. Another good resteraunt in Key Largo is The Fish House and as far as I`m concerned, it`s the best seafood in the Keys. Go Early, there`s usually a wait at meal time. Fine dining is great at Marker 88 at, where else, MM88. Plenty of other great things to do, like snorkeling off a sailing cat out of that marina by the Holiday Inn. Have fun..........Paul

Paul Simpson · 07-26-2006, 05:36 PM

Sorry, forgot to recommend a place to stay. Key West is EXPENSIVE. Rooms all way over $200, if you can find one. In Key Largo area, about MM85-90 or so is Popps Motel. Not the fanciest place, but it has always been clean and has a great beach on the bay side. Besides that, it`s close to Sharkey`s and The Fish House........Paul

topjimmy · 07-26-2006, 10:09 PM

Lonnie the keys are great,all these fanatics ideas are good. Fort Jefferson is awesome. If you dont like boats or dont have the time Key West airport has seaplane flights dailey to the fort. The flight is only about 40 minutes. Bonus is the water is shallow and you see lots of fish and shipwrecks as well. Also the fort is a state park and therfor protected as well. Last time I snorkled around the south wall I swear the biggest lobster alive was just looking at me like you cant touch me ( IM PR0TECTED) . Anyway I have got over that little bastered, have a great time.

Jim

Purple Penelope · 07-26-2006, 10:47 PM

Been there the last two years in October. Everything stated is good info.

FWIW...I stay at the Andrews B&B...right behind the Hemmingway House. It's downtown (about 125 per night)and you don't need transportation to get around. Having trans is a plus. Andrews has a web site...check it out. Have fun Lauren.

P/P

Peace

Paul Simpson · 07-27-2006, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topjimmy

Lonnie the keys are great,all these fanatics ideas are good. Fort Jefferson is awesome. If you dont like boats or dont have the time Key West airport has seaplane flights dailey to the fort. The flight is only about 40 minutes. Bonus is the water is shallow and you see lots of fish and shipwrecks as well. Also the fort is a state park and therfor protected as well. Last time I snorkled around the south wall I swear the biggest lobster alive was just looking at me like you cant touch me ( IM PR0TECTED) . Anyway I have got over that little bastered, have a great time.

Jim

Yeah Sure! Sounds like you`re still salivating over that bug. My last trip to the Fort was punctuated by a boatload of Cuban refugees landing on that little protected island just to the south. They were in that 14 foot boat for 9 days and I`m still amazed that they landed there on that little speck instead of washing up on Texas. The remoteness of Fort Jefferson just takes my breath away.....Paul

Paul Simpson · 07-27-2006, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Penelope

Been there the last two years in October. Everything stated is good info.

FWIW...I stay at the Andrews B&B...right behind the Hemmingway House. It's downtown (about 125 per night)and you don't need transportation to get around. Having trans is a plus. Andrews has a web site...check it out. Have fun Lauren.

P/P

Peace

P/P that`s got to be the best bargain in Key West. I`ll try it the next time I go. Thanks for the tip......Paul

Doug Allen · 07-27-2006, 11:33 AM

If you go all the way to Key West, the prime rib at Turtle Kraals is excellent, and the bartenders at Hog's Breath are always friendly .....

HotRodGirl · 07-27-2006, 02:07 PM

7 MILE GRILL, MM 47, BS, Marathon, FL - (305)743-4481
This nearly 50-year-old, weatherworn open-air restaurant easily could serve as a movie set for a 1950s-era black-and-white movie based in the tropics. At the Marathon end of the Seven Mile Bridge, it serves up friendly service that rivals the casual food at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Favorites on the mostly seafood menu include fresh-squeezed orange juice, creamy shrimp bisque, and fresh grouper and dolphinfish grilled, broiled, or fried. Don't pass up the authentic key lime pie, which won the local paper's "Best in the Keys" award three years in a row. MC, V. Closed Wed., plus Thurs. mid-Apr.-mid-Nov., and at owner's discretion Aug.-Sept.

If you like shrimp...........order the shrimp burger

We ate here twice while we were visiting as the food is superb!

As stated below don't miss Mallory Square at sunset!

BIG COUNTRY · 07-27-2006, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettegirl

Lonnie finally has a weekend off, so we were thinking about cruising down toward the Keys this weekend since neither of us have ever been there. Any suggestions on places to stay, places to eat, things to do?

Thanks!
Lauren

ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, IT'S GREAT DOWN THERE. I GO ALOT!