Keys to Paradise

Phyllis May

Description

Visitors planning a trip to Key West and the Florida Keys will find this comprehensive book invaluable as they plan and even while on vacation. For those driving from the mainland, suggestions and other information are given in MileMarker order.
Once the visitors are in Key West, the main part of the book, there are easy to find suggestions for restaurants, transportation, tours, etc. as well as interesting historical information about the Conch Republic. Many who have been visiting for years have found things they didn't know.
Recommendations are not paid advertisements as are found in many local publications. It is all personal opinion and no businesses knew they were being included....all done to make sure visitors have the best possible experience to the Florida Keys.

Sujets

• South Atlantic
• Travel
• United States
• US

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 21 mars 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781456632908
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 14 Mo

Extrait

Your Keys to Paradise…
a fun guide to Key West
and
the Florida Keys!
 
by
 
Phyllis (Momma) May
 
 
 
 
 
Published by
Wingspan Press
 
 
Copyright ® 2004 Keys to Paradise, Inc.
Second printing: 2005
Revised: 2019
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
 
Wingspan Publishing
1800 Atlantic Blvd.
Key West, FL 33040
305-295-7501
 
Book design/editing: Kerry Karshna
Cover graphics: [e-mail]
 
Originally printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval systems without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief notations. Making copies of any part of this book for any purpose other than your own personal use is a violation of United States copyright law. Entering any of the contents into a mailing list or database is strictly prohibited unless written authorization is obtained from Wingspan Publishing.
 
This book is sold as is, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, respecting the contents of this book, including but not limited to implied warranties for the book ’ s quality, performance, merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Neither the author, the publisher nor its dealers or distributors shall be liable to the purchaser or any other person or entity with respect to any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.
 
What does all this mean? It means:
  Don’t copy the book; buy it. I’m living on a fixed retirement income, Social Security, Uber driver, little weddings and substitute teaching….something I said I would NEVER do. I need help. I’m not responsible if you don’t like the restaurants I’ve recommended. I’m not responsible if you don’t like the businesses I suggested….I had very good intentions! Don’t make me mad. “When Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” You need to listen to Momma!


Photo credit: Peter Arnow
 
Contents
Introduction
Part I
Coming to Key West….Traveling Through the Florida Keys!
Chapter 1: Coming to Key West? Where is it and How Will You Get Here?
Driving?
Flying
Other Alternatives for Getting Here
Chapter 2: Let’s Start on the Mainland and Work our Way Through the Keys to……KEY WEST!
Chapter 3: What do You Know About Your Destination in Paradise?
Chapter 4: What on Earth is the Conch Republic?
Quiz ?
Part II
Welcome to the Island…Now What?
Chapter 5: Welcome to Paradise!*
Chapter 6: First Time in Key West?
Chapter 7: Let’s Get Started!
Sightseeing:
Sunset Celebrations:
Quiz ?
Chapter 8: My Personal, Very Special Suggestions
QUIZ ?
Chapter 9: Finally, Let’s Eat!
Quiz ?
Chapter 10: Special Consideration ‘Restaurants’ and….
Cuban Coffee
Chapter 11: (not bankruptcy yet) What About the Other 300+ Restaurants?
Not Quite so Elegant but recommended!
Chapter 12: Bars, Pubs and More
Most Famous Bars
Other Favorites
Chapter 13: What Else is There to do?
Beaches and Other Things Close to the Beaches
Quiz ?
Chapter 14: Fishing
Boat Rental
Split Charter
Deep Sea Fishing and Light Tackle
Flats and Backcountry
Chapter 15: Other “On the Water/in the Water Activities”
Diving/Dive Shops (SCUBA)
Inclusive Water Sport Packages
Dolphins
Dry Tortugas National Park/Ft. Jefferson
Glassbottom Boats
Jet Ski/Waverunner/Island Tour
Kayak/Paddleboard Trips
Parasail
Snorkel
SNUBA
COMBINATION TRIPS
SUNSET CRUISES
Chapter 16: Homes of Famous People
Audubon House
Fogarty House
Captain George Carey House/Robert Frost Cottage
Hemingway House
John Dewey House/Southernmost Motel
Oldest House Museum/Old Island Restoration Foundation
Southernmost House
Privately Owned Homes
Calvin Klein House
Jerry Herman’s Houses
Judy Blume’s House
Meg Cabot’s House
Philip Burton House
Shel Silverstein House
Tennessee Williams House
Thelma Strabel House (the REAL Southernmost House)
Seward Johnson House
Laurent de Brunhoff/Phyllis Rose
Chapter 17: Museums, Monuments and Other Historic Buildings
Key West Aquarium
Veterans Memorial Garden
Beatles’ Hotel Room; Hyatt Windward Pointe
Captain Tony’s Saloon
Casa Marina Hotel
Cigar City
Curry Mansion
Tennessee Williams Museum
Flagler Station
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
Key West Cemetery
LaConcha Hotel
LaTeDa
Lighthouse Museum / Keepers” Quarters
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
San Carlos Institute
Shipwreck Museum
Sloppy Joe’s Bar
The Little White House
Truman Annex
Chapter 18: Artists and Galleries (and Sidewalks)
7 Artists and Friends
Alan Maltz Gallery
Cocco and Salem Imagine Art
Frangipani Gallery
Gallery on Greene
Gingerbread Square Gallery
Guild Hall Gallery
Harrison Gallery
Island Style
Stone Soup Gallery and Frame Shop
The Custom House/KW Art and Historical Society
The Studios of Key West
Wyland Galleries
Sculpture Garden
Art in Public Places
Sidewalk Artwork
Chapter 19: Entertainment
Restaurants and Bars
Cabaret
Theatres
Outside venues
Comedy
Chapter 20: Tours and Group Activities
Sightseeing Tours
Bike Tours
Harbor Tour
Food and Drink Tours
Pub Tours
Ghost Hunts and Ghost Tours
Walking Tour
Scavenger Hunt
Escape Rooms
Cruisin’ Tiki Bars
Helicopter Tour
Chapter 21: Weddings/Vow Renewals
Chapter 22: Gay Key West
BARS
Guesthouses
Drag/Gay Bingo
Organization
Part III
Time to Leave
Chapter 23: Gifts to Take Back and Shops You Might Miss
T-Shirts, Clothing, Sandals and more….
Food and Beverage
Music
Books
Cosmetics
Miscellaneous
Baskets
Chapter 24: Have a Safe Trip!
About Momma
Reader’s Quotes
 
Acknowledgements
While I am proficient at writing Letters to the Editor, articles and have a chapter in a boring anthology about teamwork, I ’ ve never ever considered writing a book. But, this just happened; a little project that grew like Topsy!
No effort at thank you would be appropriate if I didn ’ t start with my parents, Jimmy and Hazel, who instilled in me my obsession to live in Florida. My daddy would love knowing that his granddaughter was born in Florida (and now his great-grandchildren). They, especially he, made their goal of eventually moving from Columbus, Indiana, to Florida the main objective in life. That never happened as daddy died very unexpectedly at age 47 from Melanoma. Hence, the references to ‘ don ’ t forget the sunscreen ’… .. even as Key West had banned certain types. I ’ m not backing off!
As we stood on the hillside at his burial in Brown County, Indiana, I heard a friend of his say, “ Jimmy did everything in life he ever wanted … except move to Florida. ” It was then that I decided that: I was going to live in Florida…sooner rather than later I was not going to go through life talking about things I’d like to do; I would do them!
My husband and I did move to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1972. For 25 years, I lived there and enjoyed it. At least Florida was on my address! But, I never felt like I was in ‘ real ’ Florida.
After retiring and divorcing (not in that order), I finally decided to move to Key West. As a child, we used to fly out of this very same Key West airport, on Q Airways, to go to Havana. Of course, that was B.C., (before Castro). We stayed at the Southernmost Motel … .a place I drive by nearly every day.
No acknowledgement would be complete without recognizing my daughter, Liane … the light of my life. She humors me and she ’ s my motivation.
Thanks to friends who have given input and encouragement along the way … .Vicki Grant and Cristina Linley. To David Sloan who, for such a young whippersnapper, really has his act together … ..at least when it comes to publishing books and being entrepreneurial.
Thanks to all the guests at both Courtyards by Marriott in Key West...especially Pat Johnson and Noah Van Oosterhout. (There is only one now; the other one is now Havana Cabana .)
Thanks to our guests at Lightbourn Inn and Scott, Kelly, Garry, Valentina and Kansas for putting up with me. (That is now Azur, on Truman.)
Finally, to my friends at Florida Speakers Association, this never would have happened without your inspiration and knowledge. Many of you are such wonderful examples that anyone who truly wants to do things can see that it can be done.
It would be thoughtless to only mention FSA collectively without mentioning the person who keeps me moving toward goals. I value his opinions and his advice. He has believed in me from the beginning. Thank you, Jim Barber.
(And a little shameless, self-promotion. Since writing this book originally, I have now written “Refired not Retired….reignite your zest for life ”. Available on Amazon as a paperback and ebook and in Key West at Books and Books on the corner of Eaton and Simonton.)
Introduction
Because Key West is so unique, it is often the subject of books and articles. Yet, having worked at a bed and breakfast and as a concierge at a major hotel chain, I was often asked for quick information. There is so much to tell and I finally realized that I wanted to share what I knew, without constraints.
I retired and moved to Key West in 1998. Because I was a new resident and only knew I liked the place very much, I set out to find out and become familiar with as much as possible about this quirky little town. (When you moved to a tourist destination, you discover more out-of-town friends than you ever knew you had!)
After21 years, this is clearly my home and I couldn ’ t be happier. As a retiree who doesn ’ t need a 9-5 job, I have had the luxury of doing things I ’ ve never done. My first job was a concierge at a major hotel chain. I was in my element and felt like I was born to be a concierge! (Translate: someone who likes to tell people where to go. Merriam-Webster: Main Entry: con