After spending hours reading back posts, I still have some questions. We will be in key west on may 5-7. We are staying at the artist house. I posted a question on this place a few days ago with no response, if anyone knows anything about it please let me know. I have been to key west and key largo several times. I love to snorkel but I always go to J.P. state park on key largo. Is this the best place to go? I am not familiar with the snorkling on key west. We are interested in all other activities and having trouble deciding what to do in 3 days any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. we are 21 and 28, f and m. we plan on shopping, dining, snorkling maybe renting a boat or parasailing, kayaking, like I said, everything. Also, for the activities we choose, where do we go, who has the best business in town? We don't want to be part of a huge crowd, especially on a boat (mallory square etc. excluded).
thanks in advance
cb

CB,

I'm very sure I posted a reply message on one of your post about the Artist Guest House! Here is another website, which I'm sure I gave you, to do some researching on. John Pennekamp State Park is by far the best! The Dry Tortugas National Park in Key West, is my other recommendation & is also know as Fort Jefferson. Check these websites!

http://www.johnpennekamp.com/general.htm

http://www.travelflkeys.com/ - go to the bottom of the page where the bar is & click on "jump to a page". Hope this helps!

http://www.myflorida.com/

http://www.fortjefferson.com/

http://www.nps.gov/drto/

http://www.forttaylor.com/

http://keywestadventures.com/ - kayaking
in Key West.

http://www.captainscorner.com/ -Diving in Key West.

http://www.floridays.org/

If the wind is low and the water relatively calm, good snorkeling can be had from KW departure points. I went with restless native, a small operation that takes a maximum of 6 people per trip. They also offer kayaking and thee owners, Rebecca and A.D. are very cool - really nice people. I paid $60 or $65 for a "half-day" trip - far more than the big charters charge but they often pack 50-80 people onto one huge boat and do it three times per day. WE snorkeled off DRy Rocks reeef and it was excellent - much better than the snorkeling I did a few years prior at JP in Key Largo. Others I've spoken wiht had great snorkeling at JP - I think I was taken to a poor part o fthe park - small reef section and few fish. there are some other snorkel charters that take small groups but I haven't tried them. I've also heard good things in general about the trip to Dry Tortugas but I think the snorkeling available out there is not quite as good as the reefs on the Atlantic side.

CB,

In Key West, the best dive, scuba & snorkeling sites are Sand Key, Rock Key, Dry Rock & Sambos. Well know outfitters include Lost Reef Adventures, Lands End Marina, phone 296-9737, Captains Corner Dive Center, 0 Duval St., phone 296-8865 & Southpoint Divers, located within the Hyatt Resort, phone 292-9778. Hope this helps!

thank you so much everyone. i didn't get any responses about the artist house (at least not that i know of). thank you for taking the time to respond twice. we can't wait to go, these suggestions will be very helpful.
cb

CB,

Here is the website for the Artist Guest House. You are in a nice quite neighborhood & not far from where all the action takes place. Enjoy!

http://www.artisthousekeywest.com/