Key West
 

My husband and I will be in Key West in May for a business trip. We will have a couple of days to sightsee. We've been to Key West so many times that we've pretty much done all the touristy things. Our favorite so far is the Truman Annex and Sunset Key for lunch.
Does anyone have any suggestions for something different for us to see or do? We're in our early 60s, so please don't suggest a moped ride!

Have you taken the Conch Train Tour? Toured the Hemingway House? the Little White House? the Butterfly Conservancy?
Have you eaten at Alice's? Michael's? Louie's Backyard? Have you taken a glass-bottom boat ride, have you snorkeled?

Thanks for the suggestions. We haven't been to the Butterfly Conservancy. How long does it take to see it?
Any suggestions for relatively inexpensive restaurants with good seafood in Key West?

You can do the Butterfly Conservancy in about an hour.

A great, funky spot to eat is Blue Heaven at lunch. Don't miss it!!

I really like Half Shell Raw Bar down on the docks. Decent food at a good price. Very good conch ceviche.

It seems to me that prices of food in Key West have gone WAY up in the past couple of years, so places that used to be relatively inexpensive aren't anymore. I love the Half Shell Raw Bar, but I don't think it's as good a bargain as it used to be. Another option in the same general area is Two Friends Patio...not cheap but on the lower price end of the spectrum. You might also check PTs - behind the Historic Seaport - for food on the reasonable side. If you haven't used the Menu book on previous visits, try and find one when you get there...it's got sample menus from quite a few restaurants and might help you make dining decisions.

We always eat at Rick's Blue Heaven every year. The first year we passed it up. It looked scary! Thank goodness we went back the next year and have ever since. There's a business dinner at the Half Shell every year.
I emailed the Butterfly Conservancy and the lady who answered said that most visits usually last about 45 minutes. Twenty dollars for two seems a bit steep for such a short time.

Would someone please tell me more about Alice's, Michael's and Louie's Backyard?

By the way, we always stay at The Buckhorn Inn (www.buckhorninn.com). I highly recommend it if you want to get away from the glitz of Gatlinburg. It's quite a treat. The cottages and rooms are wonderfully decorated, the food delicious and the path through the woods is beautiful.

Nanafischer....did I miss something. You inquired about things to do in Key West, then your last message is about how you always stay at Buckhorn Inn in Gatlinburg.

I just wanted to add that there is a funky restaurant around the 8 or 10 mile marker called Bobalou's that has great homemade food. They have a large selection of vegetables that are fresh. Their daily specials alway have a seafood dish. Plus their jerk chicken is wonderful.

Another restaurant, "Café Solé"

Nana - I mentioned those restaurants after reading that you'd enjoyed Latitudes at Sunset Key, which I consider to be fairly expensive. Those three - Michael's, Alice's, and Louie's Backyard - are all pricey, especially Louie's. All 3 have menus online. Alice's used to be at La Te Da but moved back across the street last year. Her yellowtail is the best I've ever eaten.

SusanCS, thanks for the info about Alice's moving--I'd have headed to La Te Da for it without thinking on my next trip, whenever that might be. Is there a story behind the move?

Ruth - the story I heard (which may or may not be true) is that Alice wasn't getting along real well with the management of La Te Da. Her original restaurant was across the street and that's where she's returned, so it wasn't a major move. The food is still wonderful and much of the menu remains the same. I don't think the restaurant is nearly as pretty as the one at La Te Da, but it's fun and funky (like Alice!)
and seems to suit her very well :)

Sorry. We are going to Gatlinburg first before we go to Key West. I am working on both trips!
Thanks for all the suggestions. We only go over to Sunset Key for lunch on one day. It's much less expensive than dinner and such a treat. We try to get a table on the beach side in the sand.