I am leaving for Key West on Wednesday and am in the process of packing right now. I've gathered from other postings, that it is a very casual atmosphere. Are shorts alright for evening dining - I want to check out many of your suggested resturants - but just wondered if we needed to bring dresses for me and dress slacks for my husban. Also will I need a jacket this time of year for the evenings - the weather looks great low 80's during the day, but how are the nights? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Sue - Key West is the most casual place I've ever visited. There's no restaurant that frowns on shorts for either daytime or nighttime dining. There are, however, a couple of places I feel more comfortable wearing long pants than shorts. In general, the restaurants that are more "high end" I prefer wearing pants. I think my husband wore slacks rather than shorts once or twice during our last two week stay, but there were lots of people wearing shorts. In Key West it's always advisable to have either a sweater or light jacket because the breeze off the water can be chilly even if the temperature is warm.

Dress code for the keys: shorts, t-shirt, and sandals, nothing more, nothing less.

Don't forget to make sure that 90% of your wardrobe is black. Everyone on the European board says to dress in black while you're on vacation. I suppose its because you have to be prepared to attend anyone's funeral at the drop of a hat.

visit the garden of eden on the roof of the bull and whistle and you won't need any clothes-it's clothing optional.

To some extent it's a question of what yo feel comfortable wearing. The more upscale restaurants in KW will generally draw a number of people dressed in a manner similar to how they might dress for a "nice casual" restaurant at home. Hilton's Latitudes restaurant on Sunset key suggest "country club casual" and that appears to be as dressy as it gets for dining out in KW. I wore a nice polo shirt, dress slacks and loafers - my date wore a simple black dress (yeah... I was dressed in black too but it's just gotten to be a habit because
1)makes me look thinner 2)clothes stay cleaner 3)I spend lots of time in NYC and I'm just oh so trendy - NOT!). That evening was a dressed up as we got. Temps are always hard to predict but the advice of having a light jacket or sweater is good. Chances are that you may not need it but one never knows...

Susan is right. There isn't a place down here that has a dress code (you wont find a local that would obey it, lol!) but some will suggest collared shirts for men (meaning no tank tops). A nice pair of dress shorts will work at even our nicest places but so will a cute sundress if you would rather that. The weather has been really nice lately. I haven't been chilly at night in several weeks so you might be fine just bringing one pair of pants if you do get chilly one night and/or a very light jacket. It is staying in the 70's at night so it is really nice and comfortable. This next FYI might not make a lot of sense but if it does you will appreciate it. This is also the time of year when our islands guest gets fooled by how nice it is during the day and after spending a day in that nice, warm sun, they look like a lobster walking around at night and complaining they are chilly because of the "sunburn chills." That would really be the only thing I would make a mental note of. Bring lots of sunblock and use it. Have a great time.

Chaps with your ass exposed. Watch out when you bend over to p/u stuff.

Thanks so much for the great advise. I love this site! You people make travel eaiser and much more fun. I've used your advise on the last few trips I've taken and can honestly say you have been right on target with all your suggestions. Thanks again. I'll post a report when I return!

I have to agree with Owen. I think we were there about the same time last year. December- business casual for the upscale places and cute little black sundress' for the ladies. I agree with the black theory. Thin and clean.

Florida is a whole other world anyway. I lived there for 16 yrs & plan to visit the Keys this summer. Shorts, Skorts, Khakis, sundresses. Just prepare for the cool breezes and not the attitude!! If you are cool natured like me, lightweight sweater tops and a light sweater are great. If you are hotnatured like my hubby, Golf shirts and shorts with sandals or deck shoes are perfect. I am so ready to go myself

Not sure where the black came it. Throw in the colors!! It is the Keys!!

You're right about throwing in the colors Susan... it's just that I've never had much in the way of colors in my clothing although I did wear the few colorful clothes I had during the day. My comments re/black were not targeted at KW in specific but at clothign in general. I pooh-poohed it until I bought a few black items and started wearing them. I"m all for streamlining and simplifying thinigs in general including clothing - this has helped me to do that.

Sunblock suggestion is EXTREMELY important. I once got bad sunburn in KW in early February and was only in the sun for an hour or so. Anyonw with even moderately sensitive skin should bring iti, regardless of time of year.

Actually, according to the Style Section of the NY TIMES, tan is this year's black. And tan works much better in the Keys.

Do not wear black in hot areas. Nobody wears black in the Keys. Stay with light colors.