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Florida Keys Trip Report

Hi all, We got back from our week in the Keys last night. None of us had been there before and thought it was quite interesting. When we arrived last Sat. morning it was overcast and scattered showers from Ft. Lauderdale down to Marathon where we were staying. Stopped at Lorelei's in Islemorada for lunch. Great food, really like the Key West Sunset Ale they have down there. We were staying at a condo/time share of some friends in Marathon which was nice since it is half way down. Had dinner our first night at Shuckers in Marathon. Excellent restaurant. The weather gradually got nicer thru the week. I guess I wasn't prepared for the "tackyness" of the islands- WOW! But the sun was wonderful! The next night we went to the Quay in Marathon for dinner. I thought this was really overpriced. The food was fine but nothing exciting. The restaurant itself was very rundown. One day we spent at Bahia Honda Park/beach. We rented kyaks and layed in the sun, walked around and had a little picnic. Very pretty park, the water was cold but we waded out to the sand bar. Everyone was very surprised that this beach had been rated one of the state's best though. Dinner that night at Porky's Bar-B-Que. YUM! Fantastic ribs, very casual outdoor type restaurant on Marathon. O.k.- here's the controversial part!!! Wednesday my boyfriend and I swam with the dolphins at Dolphin Reseach Institute. Definatley a highlight. We started with an hour class about the dolphins, the center and what is going on with these mammals in the wild. Most of the dolphins they have were born there. 1 is a retired Navy training dolphin. The dolphins at the center are extremely happy and healthy. They are fed wether or not they "perform". We saw a couple of animals "refuse" to do things and they were still given their fish. Also all the pens are in the bay lagoon with 4 ft. high nets seperating them from the wild. These creature jump at least 8 ft in the air, they can go anytime. During hurricanes the pens are actually opened so the dolphins can find shelter- they always return. Again, they were born there so they wouldn't survive in the wild. We spent about 30 minutes in the water with them, entertaining them! They are so curious! They will ignore the trainers if they think you are more interesting. Very educational. Only 2 of us did the swim as it is very expensive but 7 of my friends came to watch and take pictures, they had to pay park fees. We all thought that DRC was a great not for profit center. That night we ate at Marker 88 in Islamorada. Wow!! Wonderful gourmet food, great service, fantastic views. Definately splurge and go here if you get a chance! We spent a day in Key West and I definately thought if I ever returned to the Keys I would just go there for a few days. Fun party town! Checked out the Hog's Breath bar, Autobaun House (sp?), Hemingway House, Southern Most Point, Mangoes (for Margarita's), Mallory Square for Sunset Celebration and Sloppy Joe's. Fun, fun, and very pretty! Decided to head back towards Key West the next day and rented jet ski's at the Holiday Inn, had the whole lagoon to our selves! Afterward had a drink at Margaritaville and headed back to Marathon. Dinner at 7 Mile Grill, not impressed! Dumpy, dirty place with fair food. We did like their pie though. Last day- took an all day trip out to Looe Key to snorkle the reef. Gorgeous coral! Tons of fish! But the water was rough and almost half the boat got sick from being in the waves (including me!). Dinner the last night at the Island on Marathon which again was great!! So we all had a great time in the Keys, were glad we went but probably would not choose to go again (unless just to Key West). Back to frigid cold and wet Seattle! Trying to keep my tan!

Great trip report. The tackiness of the Keys is akin to the tackiness of Vegas, that's what makes the place unique. Key West is definitely the best place in the Keys IMO. Interesting comment about 7 Mile Grill that place is always recommended. Thanks for the info...

Great report. Thanks. WHat did you mean by tackiness? Just curious.

I think she was referring to all the t-shirt and souvenir shops, hotels that date back to the 40's, roadside stands hocking sunglasses and lobsters. There are definitely few zoning regulations down there. You will see an expensive resort next door to a tacky trailer park or tourist trap. That's the Keys for you...

As far as the tacky comment, x is right. There are just so many plastic manatee mailboxes, shell shops, and strip malls. Also restaurants which really have not been touched since the 70's! I was mentioning to a friend that our parents needed to get some "water shoes" for the beach and someone chimed in that I must go to Beal's- the best outlet store around! haha! It was even Senior Monday the next day so my mom could get a discount!! How exciting!. Where else can you see a trailer park next to a gorgeous resort next to an Outback Steak house?? The Keys! ;)

Wendy-They do have KMarts in Key Largo, Marathon and Key West. Yes, the place is tacky and the hotels look like they are from the 50's. Lots of neon colors too. How did you like Marathon? I used to go down to the Keys before they built Kmart, Home Depot and the rest of the chains. Back then it was a nice, quiet laid back place.

I have been to the keys many times and do not find it tacky at all. I think those dolphin mailboxes are cute, and the old motels and restaurants charming. There are not many places left in the U.S. that are the way they were years ago. Would you rather that the keys be built up with high-rise condo buildings, high-rise hotels, fast food restaurants (I know Key Largo has some), enclosed malls, and amusement parks? Its still quiet and laid-back, there is very little to do on any of the keys. Its the best place in the U.S. to get "away from it all". And it is in no way as near tacky as Vegas, they practically "roll the streets up at night" in the keys.

Wendy, we were in Key West on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. As a matter of fact, I am still in Florida and FYI, the weather still sucks. It rained all day yesterday (now I am talking about Ft.Lauderdale). Today it hit maybe 70 ish, but tonight it is going down to 50. I missed the warm weather that we had in December, but I guess it beats upstate NY where home is.I have to agree with the Tacky part, but being a Key West lover, I must say that this is the beauty of the Island. I guess one of the posters said it all. Vegas is tacky also, but peole flock to it. Did you eat at the Islemoada Fish Company? The food is great there. We stopped on our way back. Great report. We did just about the same things you did except the swimming. Burr---

Thank you for the report, I agree with Bob about the Seven Mile Grill comment- somebody always seems to recommend it when the dicussion of middle keys restaurants comes up. Yet all the place seems to be is just a "locals" style diner with no view, run of the mill food, and average service. I'm not slamming the place, if you want a quick cheap breakfast or lunch it is fine, but it is really nothing special and no different from many other diners of this type in the Keys.

Carol- We flew out of FLL so we saw the rain all that day also, yuk! We didn't eat at the Islamorada fish company but on our way out we had lunch at the Fish House in Key Largo which we all really enjoyed! Larry & Bob- I specifically went to the 7 Mile Grill because of all the recommendations. There are so many other good restaurants that we ate at that I just can't fathom why people like this place. But of course that is just my (and my two friend's) 2 cents worth.

topping for the other Wendy

It rains here a lot but you'll still get sunburned and sweat terribly if you are not in AC. Many of the places you mentioned have been around a long time so of course they're going to be old and run down. I'm surprised you liked 88. We went there years ago for a special treat and found it too expensive for the plain food I like to eat. Most of the touristy restaurants aren't very good. The good seafood is in the really run down, mom and pop, places, where they catch and cook in the same day. I'm always surprised that people rave about Bahia Honda..it's just a beach and not a great one either. The beauty of the Keys is out in the coral reefs, which unfortunately are being ruined and losing much of their beauty. The Keys is laid back, no-pretense, Beals fashion, then Key West is party town. Two different atmospheres. Neither are luxury resort areas...but both can be wonderful.

Instead of "tacky" think of the Keys as not being trendy or caring about trends...you can wear your clothes from the 60's, 70's, 80's, or the new retro stuff...it doesn't matter cause no one really cares what you wear, don't wear, luxury or cool. You're there for the water, reefs, weather, ambiance, beer, fishing, boating, and seafood. It's a nice break from the superficial competition of the main land...hope you were able to let loose, relax and enjoy yourself Keys style. It does rain a lot here but we still get sunburned, continue with most of our plans and keep the AC on in South Florida. Only lightening stops people briefly.

topping for Linzi and Dolphin

Wendy, now I've seen your trip report. I didn't realize you were 'topping' this for me so I didn't read it. Here's my side on DRC. Yes, they do train dolphins by food deprivation, just like any other captive dolphin park. There is a picture of a training session at DRC on www/dolphinproject.org. The picture at this park shows a dolphin tailwalking, which is not natural for a dolphins and something you would NEVER see in the wild and the way they got that dolphin to learn that trick is by 'food rewards'. Don't let these people fool you into thinking otherwise. The most probable reason they fed those dolphins even though they didn't do the tricks was because all the toursit were there! They can't NOT feed them. That would look like abuse! How would look to all the tourist who pay those big bucks to keep the parks open? And yes, they will always come back because they can no longer fend for themselves, or never knew how. This is fundamentally wrong. Tourist should not be allowed in a research facility, but unfortunately, here in the US, it's illegal to have 'captive' dolphins for private facilities, so the DRC has to admit 'guest'. Non-profit or not, rest assured they are bringing in lot's and lot's of money, most of which will go to maintaining the park and the dolphins, alot of which is also going into someone's pocket. For a facility that says they care about marine mammals it's a crying shame that they do not have any desire to release even those that can and should be. As for so called 'education', as Jacques Cousteau wrote: "There is about as much educational benefit to be gained in studdying dolphins in captivity as there would be studying mankind by only observing prisoners held in solitary confinement". The dolphins at DRC do not represent what dolphins are really like. For more information visit www.dolphinproject.org or read the book, "To free a Dolphin". As I stated in the other thread, you'll find out all kinds of real information on DRC and others. Not what they are telling you, but the TRUTH.

Dolphin, I appreciate your interest in dolphins as I have it too however I read your website and saw no proof but only claims. I actually spent time at DRC and can tell you that your "facts" on them are wrong. I can not speak to other facilities as I haven't spent time there. There are people who neglect, abuse and profit from wildlife and I agree with you that it is wrong. DRC is not one of them however. Thanks for your response.

Resectfully Wendy, Really, just because you've been there does not mean you really know how they operate. That is all I'm saying. They are not going to portray themselves in any other way than they did to you, or any other toursit, but that does not mean they are giving you the whole truth. There IS a picture on the web site that shows the trainer at DRC teaching a dolphin to tailwalk. That is a fact. I never meant to imply that DRC in any way neglects their mammals, or abuses them, per se, but the simple fact that they hold dolphins that can and should be released is indeed ABUSE. Seems you and I will just not agree about how wrong this entire industry is, but I wish you would read the entire web site, and the book. If you love dolphins as much as you say you do, it will change your mind. Thanks for listening. I've enjoyed 'debating' with you and in no way mean to flame you, we just have different opinions. Let's just agree to disagree, okay? Friends?