Joyce Drummond

My husband and I are going to Key West in mid-December. We love good restaurants and good bars (not kiddie bars, we are past the real LOUD scenes and like bars where we can talk to bartenders and patrons).
Also, if you could tell me if the cemetery is a good tour spot. Sounds good to me, but I haven't convinced hubby yet.
We are staying at the Historic Inn and Cottages on Center Street. If you know anything about it, would appreciate hearing from you. THANKS !!!

JoAnn

Yes the cemetery is a good tour spot-some really funny things written on them like "See I told you I was sick" Take the conch train tour to get the feel of the island, rent a bike or moped and do your own thing with a good map. Don't know if it still happens, but at the Moped Hospital there was a fellow there who gave a great bike tour thru the city. Gotta do Sunset on Mallory Square!! Great place for street actors, cat acts, people watching and seeing wonderful sunsets. Eat at El Ciboney on Margaret St. on the Atlantic side, and Mangia Mangia on Margaret just up from the Turtle Krawls. Our daughter went there after college in '77 and never came back. We try to get down once a year at least. Email me if you want any other information.

MCT

Only there for a day on last leg of RC Cruise, but we loved Key West. Visit the Hemmingway house and there's also the Truman summer White House. The Key Lime shop with its key lime pie on a stick!

Owen O'Neill

Hi -
I just returned from a July 4th weekend in KW and loved it! My first time there in 20 years and although there's a huge increase in commercialism on Duval (Hard Rock, Hooter's etc.), there are still lots of good authentic restaurants and laid back bars. We stayed at a new guesthouse, also on Center Street (Jasmine House). The place you're staying in appeared to be nice and Center Street is a GREAT location. It's quiet but a short walk from everything. Do NOT eat at the "Half Shell Raw Bar" at the Bight - food was terrible. Blue Heaven on Thomas Street is funky and eclectic with a greta outdoor dining area. It's a tad pricey relative to some of the Duval Street places but the food is excellent and atmosphere unusual. We took a snorkeling trip with Restless Native (they're on the docks at Land's End Village in the Bight) and it was wonderful. They operate a small and very personal service for snorkel and sailing excursions. Definitely WAY better than any of the big commercial charters. Last not: the conch fritters from the stand by the aquarium entrance are much better than the ones sold on the pier at Mallory Square!

Amie

My will be husband, and I are going to Key West on our Honeymoon next month. We are staying at Duval Gardens. does anyone know anything about it? The couple who own it seem to be wonderful and the brocure looks nice. Also, any highly recommended snorkling spots?

thanks
amie

Carol

To those of you going to Key West: Be sure to visit the new sculpture garden near Mallory Square. Around a monumental depiction of shipwreck salvors, it has busts and plaques about people important in the area history, also benches & flowers. Very pleasant and educational -- a neat idea. I know the sculptor and attended the inauguration last fall.