I just returned from a wonderful trip to Key West. I'll be posting a full trip report as soon as I have a chance, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things in Key West:

Conch fritters
Sipping a cold drink on the porch of Louie’s Backyard
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
Crepes made by the French lady on Duval
Bike riding
Dining at Latitude’s on Sunset Key
Taking a sunset sail
To-go cups

It was a wonderful trip, thanks to all the excellent info from fellow Fodorites!

Topping in case your full report is on this thread!

Black-bottom key lime pie at Alice's Restaurant

Shopping at Fast Buck Freddie's

Doing the Duval Crawl

Coming home thoroughly debauched (fat, broke, and hungover)...all indicators of a successful vacation.

Stone crab, The Hemingway House, my 5 year old daughter dancing @ the sunset celebration, lunch @ Mangoes, Baha'i Honda, drinks @ Captain Tony's & the Half Shell, & of course the view from the top of the Bull & Whistle (if you know what I mean)...

View from the top of La Concha.

Dinner at Mangia Mangias.

The cookie lady, "Buy a treat so we BOTH can eat."

Scary Dominique and his kitty show.

Tea dances.

Walking through the Truman Annex.

Shopping for escargot and rolls at Fausto's Food Palace.

Seeing Itzhak Perlman at the Casa Marina resort.

Snubbing Planet Hollywood.

Southern most bagpiper.

Anything at all at Louie's Backyard.

Mooning the Coast Guard in the harbor during Conch Republic days. (Hey we were out of rotten tomatoes to throw.)

Afternoon drinkies at Mango's.

Curry conch fritters at Nancy's. Oops. Long gone.

You snubbed Planet Hollywood? It hasn't been in Key West for YEARS!

However, my husband's and my favorite vacation destination is Key West for several generic reasons.

We REST there! We read, walk to fabulous restaurants, he plays golf, we take naps, I walk in the very early morning, we have no cares there, and we don't worry about the "real world." To us, that's everything, even though there are tons of tourist attractions - and we've done most of them!

Key West is the most "unsnobbish", unpretentious place in the world. Everybody is "equal" there. Just having a good time. (And what about the chickens esp. at Blue Heaven?)

unsnobbish and unpretentious? My kind of place!!! I'm sooo looking forwarding to going in 2 weeks! I hope all of the Keys are unsnobbish and unpretentious!

Definitely hit Fast Buck Freddie's..unique and great fun even if you don't buy anything.

I definitely agree with unsnobbish and unpretentious.

It may be the only place we've ever been when you simply can't tell by "looks" what someone does or what they have.

You can be sitting next to a bum or a billionaire on a bar stool and both will pretty much look the same. It took me 4 trips to finally realize I didn't need a black outfit, or even a "nice" outfit, but once I got the picture, I really got it!

I LOVE Key West!

I love the astronomy evening boat tours!

Breakfast at Latitudes. Followed by a full day on sunset island - the best beach! for $15

sunset celebration.

early morning runs

people watching

Arriving...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/157785514_hvB4y-M.jpg

Sailing away from Key West in the morning for an all-day snorkel and kayak trip...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/177510713_6mC7r-M.jpg

A sunset over the sunset pier at the Ocean Key Resort...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/177515500_6Xesv-M.jpg

Drinks at the SWB...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/177517298_e6TTC-M.jpg

Hemingway Days in July...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/177520845_d7oVJ-M.jpg

Frank the magician at the Magic Bar...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/157786989_xCVaz-M.jpg

Dante's where you can use the pool and chairs all day as long as you sip a drink...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/159448628_rgmLX-M.jpg

Peel your own shrimp and a Key West Sunset Ale at...
http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/159448672_pLubk-M.jpg

The Good Ship Danger...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/159448698_CZVqE-M.jpg

Meeting new friends...

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/114263971_uU9dP-M.jpg

And knowing that you are having a good time...
http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/177520913_wkch3-M-1.jpg

Pjk

Sunset Island ?, you mean Tank Island ??? lol

Peter-what is/where is the SWB?

My favorites:

Breakfast at Croissants de France

Fast Buck Freddies

Key West Island Books on Fleming Street

Tuna tempura salad at Bagatelle

Saint Paul's-it's a beautiful church and it's where I got married!

SWB is the Schooner Wharf Bar on Key West Bight. The whole area is charming and filled with restaurants. Try it!

Thanks SusanCS! In my 4 trips to Key West, somehow I've missed that area. That will be on the docket for next time....maybe this summer!

Frozen key lime pie on a stick!