| Ten Things You Must Do If You Want To | | | | most popular excursion in Key West as you get |
| Vacation In Key West | | | | to the Dry Tortugas by either a high speed |
| | | | catamaran or by seaplane. |
| By Robert (Bob) Cohen | | | | |
| | | | The Catamarans take a little over two hours |
| Planning a vacation in Key West can sometimes | | | | to go about 70 miles west of Key West and |
| be a daunting task as there are so many | | | | they give you about 4.5 hours at the Dry |
| things to do in Key West. The Key West | | | | Tortugas. The Seaplane takes about 35 minutes |
| Welcome Center can be your focal point for | | | | to get there and they give you about 2.5 |
| planning your vacation because they are in | | | | hours on the island. |
| the service of assisting visitors with their | | | | |
| vacation planning. | | | | Ft. Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas is 16 acres |
| | | | in size and it is the largest coastal fort in |
| The Welcome Center can make all of your | | | | the United States. It just draws you into its |
| reservations for you so you do not have to | | | | history when the historian tells you about |
| stress over what to do, who to call or what | | | | the place. This is a trip you do not want to |
| to plan. | | | | miss. |
| | | | |
| 1. HOTELS, MOTELS, BED & BREAKFAST, VACATION | | | | Boat prices to the Dry Tortugas start at $110 |
| RENTALS | | | | to $129 depending on the boat, and the |
| | | | seaplane costs start at $189 per adult. |
| Key West is a small island that is 1.5 by 4 | | | | |
| miles in size with only 4,000 total hotel, | | | | 1. GLASS BOTTOM BOAT EXCURSIONS |
| motel, bed & breakfast and condominium rooms | | | | |
| on the entire island. During special events | | | | The Glass bottom boats give you the |
| and holiday weekends, there is usually a | | | | experience of seeing the sea life at the |
| 3-nite minimum stay at the bed & breakfasts | | | | Living Coral Reef. We call it a "Dry Snorkel" |
| as well as some of the 4-star hotel resorts | | | | trip as it is like snorkeling without getting |
| on the island and condominium resorts. | | | | wet. |
| | | | |
| If you are coming in for just one night | | | | Large tropical fish, colorful coral await you |
| during the week, then you probably will not | | | | at the reef. Prices start at $35 per person. |
| need advanced reservations for a hotel or | | | | |
| motel room. Sometimes, we can get you into a | | | | 6. FINE DINING IN KEY WEST |
| nice bed & breakfast for just one night due | | | | |
| to last minute cancellations. But, if you | | | | Key West is privileged to have so many fine |
| plan on staying for a few nights or longer, | | | | restaurants that it would be difficult to |
| advanced reservations are definitely in | | | | chose which ones to eat at. |
| order. | | | | |
| | | | We have everything from the fast food chains, |
| Working as a Concierge for a number of years, | | | | all the way to 4 diamond quality restaurants. |
| you see just when and where rooms are | | | | Other than a few minor exceptions, you do not |
| available for nightly rental. If you are | | | | have to make a reservation and you never ever |
| looking for private homes for your vacation | | | | have to dress up for dinner. |
| rental, then expect places that are only | | | | |
| available for a minimum of one week. Some | | | | Key West has what we call, "Key West Casual" |
| places are only available on a monthly basis. | | | | which means shirt, shorts and sandals and |
| | | | this is the code of dress for every place in |
| On another note, if you are like me and have | | | | Key West. |
| animal companions, they are a part of your | | | | |
| family and do not like the idea of leaving | | | | You can have something as simple as a good |
| them home when you are out having fun. Most | | | | hamburger or Conch Fritters, to something as |
| accommodations, including the vacation | | | | extravagant as Lobster Mango Tango (lobster |
| rentals, are not pet friendly. The ones that | | | | sautéed in Brandy and covered with a Mango |
| have more pet friendly rooms are the bed & | | | | Salsa). The choice is yours in Key West. |
| breakfasts. Contact the Key West Welcome | | | | |
| Center to find out what is available that is | | | | 1. DINNER CRUISES |
| pet friendly and they will make the | | | | |
| reservations for you. | | | | Many people come to the Keys for its fabulous |
| | | | sunsets. Why not have your sunset and a |
| In the off-season (June 1 to December 15), | | | | 3-course gourmet dinner along with it. A |
| accommodation rates start at about $89 for a | | | | sunset dinner cruise is the way to go. |
| basic room up to a 4-star resort starting at | | | | |
| $200 a night. During high season (December | | | | On one of the dinner cruise boats, the chef |
| 16 to May 31), rates can start at $169 per | | | | will prepare your food while the captain of |
| night. | | | | the dinner cruise takes you on a wonderful |
| | | | journey around the Key West Harbor and once |
| 1. FISHING THE KEYS | | | | you sample this wonderful cuisine on this |
| | | | dinner cruise, you will wonder how he does it |
| If you are an avid fisherman, coming to Key | | | | for such a low price. |
| West is something you will never forget. | | | | |
| There is no better fishing in the State of | | | | Formerly a chef at a 4 diamond restaurant, he |
| Florida than there is in Key West. Try your | | | | will present you with mouth-watering options |
| hand at game fish such as Sailfish, Blue | | | | for your meals and it includes domestic and |
| Marlin, Tarpon, Permit, Cobia, Wahoo or even | | | | imported beers, wines and champagne. |
| Shark. More records have been broken here | | | | |
| than anywhere else in the State of Florida. | | | | Dinner cruise prices are from $65 to $75 per |
| | | | person not including tax and gratuity. |
| There are three basic types of fishing: | | | | Private Charters for the dinner cruise are |
| | | | available for special functions and weddings. |
| 1. Off-Shore | | | | The one we prefer for your dinner cruise has |
| | | | a maximum seating of 20 so this is ideal for |
| 2. Back Country Light Tackle | | | | a nice sunset wedding and dinner cruise. |
| | | | |
| 3. Flats | | | | 1. AERIAL TOURS |
| | | | |
| OFF SHORE - Off-shore fishing is where you go | | | | Want to see Key West from the air? |
| for the big stuff such as Grouper, Sail Fish, | | | | |
| Marlin, Mahi-Mahi, King Mackerel, etc. The | | | | Take a aerial tour in either a biplane or a |
| boats are usually a six-pack (maximum six | | | | helicopter to see Key West from the air. |
| passenger) and you take turns in the hot | | | | Aerial tour trip times vary depending on what |
| seat. The method of hooking the fish is by | | | | you want to see. Biplane rides start at $120 |
| trolling. You can reserve by the seat (1/2 | | | | for two people and helicopter rides start at |
| day $135; full day $185), or private charters | | | | $99 for 3 people to see the coral reef from |
| (1/2 day starting at $600; full day starting | | | | the air. |
| at $800). | | | | |
| | | | 1. KAYAK TOURS AND RENTALS |
| BACK COUNTRY LIGHT TACKLE - This type of | | | | |
| fishing is using a spinning rod on boats that | | | | If you want to really see the coastline of |
| are never bigger than 28-feet with a maximum | | | | the lower Keys and Key West, there is no |
| capacity of 4 passengers. This is usually | | | | better way to see it than on one of our |
| sight casting and can use either lures or | | | | wonderful Kayak Tours. |
| live bait. You will catch things such as | | | | |
| Mahi-Mahi, Sailfish, Tarpon, Cobia, Permit, | | | | Take a trip with an environmental scientist |
| Bone Fish, etc. These are strictly private | | | | or someone that was born and raised here and |
| charter with 1/2 days starting at $450; full | | | | knows the mangroves like the back of their |
| days starting at $650 | | | | hand. |
| | | | |
| FLATS FISHING - This is the ultimate | | | | Visit some of the Marine and Bird Sanctuaries |
| challenge to a fisherman because you are in | | | | and see some of the life forms that you would |
| waters that are rarely deeper than 2 to 3 | | | | never see otherwise. |
| feet and you are using either 15 lb. test | | | | |
| line on a spinning rod, or fly fishing. These | | | | Prices start at $40 per person for a tour. |
| boats are specifically designed for high | | | | |
| speeds in very shallow waters. Here you can | | | | 1. SUNSET SAIL |
| hook into Tarpon, Permit, Bone Fish, African | | | | |
| Pompano, and sometimes even sharks. Imaging | | | | One of the more popular things to do in Key |
| the thrill of catching a 90 lb. Tarpon on 15 | | | | West is to see the sunset from the water. |
| lb. test line. It will be an exercise to see | | | | |
| who tires first; you or the Tarpon (in many | | | | Take a sunset sail on either a sailing |
| cases it will be you). These boats can only | | | | catamaran or a schooner. |
| take a maximum of 2 passengers. Charters for | | | | |
| 1/2 day start at $350; full day start at | | | | Many of the younger crowd like the sunset |
| $550. | | | | sail on the sailing Catamarans because they |
| | | | can have a great party while on the sunset |
| 3. SNORKEL, SNUBA AND SCUBA DIVING | | | | sail. This is very popular with the Spring |
| | | | Breakers during that time of year as it |
| Over 80% of the visitors to Key West and the | | | | includes as much beer and wine one can |
| Florida Keys want to go either snorkeling or | | | | consume in a 2 hour time frame. |
| scuba diving. This is due to the abundant and | | | | |
| colorful sea life one would see while on | | | | A sunset sail on a schooner, however, is a |
| either a snorkeling or scuba diving | | | | lot more romantic as you can see the sails |
| experience. To Scuba Dive, one must be a | | | | glistening when the colors of the sky change |
| certified diver (PADI, NAUI, etc) as they | | | | and you know that you helped to raise the |
| have anywhere from Open Water Certification | | | | sails on this sunset sail excursion. |
| to Master Diver. | | | | |
| | | | During the months of November thru April, you |
| If you have never done scuba diving before, | | | | can have your sunset sail and a buffet dinner |
| there is something called SNUBA which gives | | | | all in one on one of the clipper ships that |
| you an experience similar to Scuba, but | | | | come in from Boston for these months. |
| instead of having a tank strapped to your | | | | |
| back, the regulator in your mouth is attached | | | | Sunset sail pricing starts at $30 and goes up |
| to a 20-foot long air hose attached to a | | | | to $75 if you want the dinner cruise on the |
| compressor on the surface. This way you get | | | | clipper ship. |
| the experience of being underwater without | | | | |
| having to get certified. | | | | In conclusion, by using the expert services |
| | | | of the Key West Welcome Center, you will save |
| If you want to see what it is like to Scuba | | | | money, save time and be absolutely sure that |
| Dive, you can take a Resort Course which | | | | you getting exactly what you want and not |
| gives you enough training to go out with an | | | | what someone else wants. |
| instructor on what is called a 2-tank dive in | | | | |
| up to 45 feet of water. | | | | The Key West Welcome Center has been in |
| | | | business under the current ownership for over |
| Snorkel trips start at $35 per person, Snuba | | | | 10 years. The current manager of the Welcome |
| starts at $95 per person, Scuba starts at $90 | | | | Center has lived in the Keys for almost 16 |
| per person and resort courses start at $155 | | | | years and knows the place like he has lived |
| per person. | | | | here all his life. If there is something you |
| | | | need to know about Key West, he is the person |
| 1. FT. JEFFERSON AT THE DRY TORTUGAS | | | | to ask. |
| | | | |
| Day trips to the Dry Tortugas has to be the | | | | Robert R. |