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