Back from Key West
Apr 18th, 2004, 01:33 PM
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Back from Key West
Thanks to all fellow fodorites for providing info on Key West!
DH & I traveled from Fort Lauderdale to Key West and back. We rented a convertible - highly recommend especially if you need a tan - haha! The ride on US1 was absolutely smooth as I believe we came in at a time when others were leaving and left at a time when others were coming in! The scenery was beautiful but about an hour away from Key West, I was feeling bored and anxious to get to our destination. Here's a quick run down of places we visited, stayed at and things we did:
Frances Street Bottle Inn - despite the glowing reviews found on the 'net, we were not satisified with our stay. It was the biggest disappointment of the whole trip. The floors were not swept the whole time we were there. As other guests came and went, doors slammed and voices could be heard loud and clear through the paper thin walls. The bed was lumpy and way too soft.
We love the architectural style so much that we spent a lot of time just walking around and admiring homes. Even sneaked peeks through windows and open doorways (from a distance!).
Highly recommend a visit to the Hemingway House. The tour guide was witty and informative, but I only wished he spoke a tad louder...I guess I'm a bit hard of hearing. Either way, we loved touring the grounds and the home.
Butterfly Conservatory - Beautiful!!! Walking through the conservatory with butterflies flying around you was such an experience.
Southernmost Point - very quick stop as a line forms to take snapshots next to the buoy. The guy ahead of us drove his Harley from Minnesota and stopped to take a few shots. That was interesting!
Breakfast at Pepe's - we arrived about ten minutes before lunchtime and they still took our orders for breakfast. Peggy is a fantastic waitress who kept coming back to refill our coffee and make sure we didn't need anything else. She was so nice and informative. Will definitely come back to Pepe's on our next trip to Key West!
Dinner at Kyushu - the Sushi was good and the service was excellent. We went in primarily for the green tea.
Dessert at Blonde Giraffe's for their Key Lime Pie. Very sweet & tart all at the same time. Can taste the condensed milk. Between DH & I, we couldn't finish a slice!
We did the stop at the Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and ordered up a couple of milkshakes but honestly didn't think it was anything more fab than any other milkshake...but then again, we're not milkshake connoiseurs... Still, it was a nice break before entering the Everglades.
Everglades - Wow! I wonder what it's like to camp out there! What views! We loved the whole experience. Too bad we didn't have time to rent boats or anything like that. We drove and walked a lot. Viewing the wildlife was...wild!
Stopped at Smathers Beach on our last day in Key West. Could NOT believe how clear the water was. Not picky about beaches, I couldn't see the difference between this and a *natural* beach. I guess I just never paid attention!
Islamorada -
Lunched at Manny & Isa's. Had the fish entree (yellow tail?) with beans and rice - the perfect lunch! Ofcourse we had their famous Key Lime Pie which was not as sweet or as tart as Blonde Giraffe's but good. I guess they're afraid of the competition because I couldn't get her to tell me where I could purchase Key Limes to take back home! (hint, a fruit/veggie stand is a just a few stores up and they had plenty! Robert Is Here Fruitstand also had them)
The sticky buns at the Islamorada Restaurant & Bakery were SOOOO good, I was sorry we didn't get more! (We bought two mini's to take back with us to Fort Lauderdale). Not too sweet - perfect!
Stayed at the Montfiallo Bed and Breakfast in Fort Lauderdale. LOVED IT so much, we made arrangements with our flight and car to stay another night. We were even offered a larger room with a patio for the same price! After our disappointing experience at Frances Street Bottle Inn, the Montfiallo totally made up for it. We hit the hot tub jacuzzi and the pool and back. Enjoyed the fabulously warm and accomodating service. We'll be back for sure if even just to stay there and do nothing else!
DH & I traveled from Fort Lauderdale to Key West and back. We rented a convertible - highly recommend especially if you need a tan - haha! The ride on US1 was absolutely smooth as I believe we came in at a time when others were leaving and left at a time when others were coming in! The scenery was beautiful but about an hour away from Key West, I was feeling bored and anxious to get to our destination. Here's a quick run down of places we visited, stayed at and things we did:
Frances Street Bottle Inn - despite the glowing reviews found on the 'net, we were not satisified with our stay. It was the biggest disappointment of the whole trip. The floors were not swept the whole time we were there. As other guests came and went, doors slammed and voices could be heard loud and clear through the paper thin walls. The bed was lumpy and way too soft.
We love the architectural style so much that we spent a lot of time just walking around and admiring homes. Even sneaked peeks through windows and open doorways (from a distance!).
Highly recommend a visit to the Hemingway House. The tour guide was witty and informative, but I only wished he spoke a tad louder...I guess I'm a bit hard of hearing. Either way, we loved touring the grounds and the home.
Butterfly Conservatory - Beautiful!!! Walking through the conservatory with butterflies flying around you was such an experience.
Southernmost Point - very quick stop as a line forms to take snapshots next to the buoy. The guy ahead of us drove his Harley from Minnesota and stopped to take a few shots. That was interesting!
Breakfast at Pepe's - we arrived about ten minutes before lunchtime and they still took our orders for breakfast. Peggy is a fantastic waitress who kept coming back to refill our coffee and make sure we didn't need anything else. She was so nice and informative. Will definitely come back to Pepe's on our next trip to Key West!
Dinner at Kyushu - the Sushi was good and the service was excellent. We went in primarily for the green tea.
Dessert at Blonde Giraffe's for their Key Lime Pie. Very sweet & tart all at the same time. Can taste the condensed milk. Between DH & I, we couldn't finish a slice!
We did the stop at the Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and ordered up a couple of milkshakes but honestly didn't think it was anything more fab than any other milkshake...but then again, we're not milkshake connoiseurs... Still, it was a nice break before entering the Everglades.
Everglades - Wow! I wonder what it's like to camp out there! What views! We loved the whole experience. Too bad we didn't have time to rent boats or anything like that. We drove and walked a lot. Viewing the wildlife was...wild!
Stopped at Smathers Beach on our last day in Key West. Could NOT believe how clear the water was. Not picky about beaches, I couldn't see the difference between this and a *natural* beach. I guess I just never paid attention!
Islamorada -
Lunched at Manny & Isa's. Had the fish entree (yellow tail?) with beans and rice - the perfect lunch! Ofcourse we had their famous Key Lime Pie which was not as sweet or as tart as Blonde Giraffe's but good. I guess they're afraid of the competition because I couldn't get her to tell me where I could purchase Key Limes to take back home! (hint, a fruit/veggie stand is a just a few stores up and they had plenty! Robert Is Here Fruitstand also had them)
The sticky buns at the Islamorada Restaurant & Bakery were SOOOO good, I was sorry we didn't get more! (We bought two mini's to take back with us to Fort Lauderdale). Not too sweet - perfect!
Stayed at the Montfiallo Bed and Breakfast in Fort Lauderdale. LOVED IT so much, we made arrangements with our flight and car to stay another night. We were even offered a larger room with a patio for the same price! After our disappointing experience at Frances Street Bottle Inn, the Montfiallo totally made up for it. We hit the hot tub jacuzzi and the pool and back. Enjoyed the fabulously warm and accomodating service. We'll be back for sure if even just to stay there and do nothing else!
Apr 19th, 2004, 07:22 PM
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Glad to hear you had such a wonderful trip. Sorry you disliked your B&B in Key West, but I totally understand because we didn't care for the Eaton Lodge--tiny bathroom and termites! Oh well, we just have to live and learn. Other than the room, we had a great time in KW, too. Thanks for all the info!
Apr 20th, 2004, 03:57 AM
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Good news for you 'Getawaytime'..you can buy Key Lime Juice in your grocery store. Look where the lemon and lime juices are. I buy Nellie & Joe's brand, but there are others. Yes, there is a Key Lime pie recipe on the bottle. I make it all the time and have for about 50 years! Great if you don't mind all the calories and carbs...but, hey, it IS Key Lime pie we are talking about here.
Glad you enjoyed most of your trip to Key West.
Glad you enjoyed most of your trip to Key West.
Apr 20th, 2004, 04:46 PM
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Really enjoyed your report. We're going to the Keys in about 2 weeks and will be spending 5 nites at the Wyndham Casa Marina. We don't mind walking to get to the "heart of the action" - in fact, it will be a way for us to work off all the key lime pie we intend to eat. Walking around and looking at - and in - houses, is the kind of thing we enjoy too. How long did it take you to drive from Ft Lauderdale? We're renting a convertible, too. It's the only way to travel!
Apr 20th, 2004, 07:00 PM
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Heartburn, your comment about termites has me wondering. When can a wood-frame building tent to get rid of termites? They will definitely get them so it's a question of when. They only swarm for a couple of weeks, you must have been there during the swarm.
Apr 26th, 2004, 07:59 PM
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Heartburn3 - sorry you also didn't enjoy your B&B in Key West. But the fact that you still enjoyed your trip says a lot! I refuse to let anything get to me while on vacation...at home, well, different story! 
mamajo! Thanks so much for the tip! I never thought to even look around here for Key Lime juice! But at least I found them in Key West and was able to bring them back to my sisters - one, a big time Key Lime Pie fan and the other, a somewhat recent graduate in pastry! Thanks again!! (any tips? heehee)
orangetravelcat - If I remember correctly, it took us about five hours - with a pit stop in Little Havana - which I forgot to mention above! We stopped off at Versailles Cafe (as opposed to the restaurant) and had cafe con leche and a few other treats. Yum! Too bad we didn't have time on the way back from the Keys to try the restaurant tho!
I agree - the only way to travel is with a convertible! Hey, why not, right? One tip, don't forget the sunscreen before you put the top down! I totally forgot on our ride out and arrived in Key West burnt...*sigh* what a novice! heehee Have a safe trip there & enjoy!!!
oh, another thing - if you do the Hemingway house tour - the answer is Sloppy Joe's! heehee! (you'll see!)
mamajo! Thanks so much for the tip! I never thought to even look around here for Key Lime juice! But at least I found them in Key West and was able to bring them back to my sisters - one, a big time Key Lime Pie fan and the other, a somewhat recent graduate in pastry! Thanks again!! (any tips? heehee)
orangetravelcat - If I remember correctly, it took us about five hours - with a pit stop in Little Havana - which I forgot to mention above! We stopped off at Versailles Cafe (as opposed to the restaurant) and had cafe con leche and a few other treats. Yum! Too bad we didn't have time on the way back from the Keys to try the restaurant tho!
I agree - the only way to travel is with a convertible! Hey, why not, right? One tip, don't forget the sunscreen before you put the top down! I totally forgot on our ride out and arrived in Key West burnt...*sigh* what a novice! heehee Have a safe trip there & enjoy!!!
oh, another thing - if you do the Hemingway house tour - the answer is Sloppy Joe's! heehee! (you'll see!)
Apr 27th, 2004, 11:48 AM
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La_Mesan - I believe my review has already been posted. I'm sure you'll still have a wonderful time in Key West and maybe even at the Bottle Inn! Our experience wasn't so horrible that we couldn't enjoy our stay. It just wasn't as welcoming as a B&B should be! imo... Enjoy it out there!
Enjoy it out there!
Apr 27th, 2004, 01:41 PM
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Getawaytime: Your review is apparently there. I must have booked a day or two before your post appeared. I think we have rooms 2 and 5 (directly across from each other.) Some rooms are no doubt better than others. Here's hoping!
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