|
|
| Key West | Naples |
| Siesta Key | St. Augustine |
| Sanibel/Captiva | |
To return to The Jimmy Buffett Listserv List Travel Page index
Key West Reviewers
Cindy Kekevian
Bill Lack
Carolyn Meizis
Jeannine Happ
Southie
Cindy Kekevian's Key West Review
When Visited: Fall, 2000
Most helpful website: http://cafemojo/conch.html - print this one and bring I with you. Travel to the Keys: This was my second trip to KW but both trips were this year, so I am combining the info into this one review. (I believe that means I am hooked!) My points of origin were Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale, respectively. I highly suggest you only drive from Orlando if you have no other choice. Lauderdale is a bit far, but not too bad. If you are a SouthWest airline person, the new terminal in Orlando is awesome (opened 10/00). Clean, beautiful tile & art, and great little bars all over the place that serve good food, and not a bad cocktail either! Next time I am flying directly to KW, want to give that a try too. Regarding car rentals·well, it doesn't hurt to ask them for a ragtop when you get to the agency, they always seem to have a lot of them, and you might get one cheap. I drove out in a cherry red Mitsubishi Spider for $129/wk. Stylin', & a deal! BTW-all of the places I mention below are on Rt 1 unless otherwise mentioned until you get to KW. Also, these towns seemed convenient to stop in if heading directly to KW. Take a look at Capt'n Ron's page listed above for stops off the beaten path. Driving to the Keys: I wasn't really impressed with the Last Chance Saloon at Mile Marker 110 (MM110), other than the fact that you can buy booze in the store and they have cups and ice and stuff to make drinks to go. Hmmm·different, not an option that was exercised by me, but an interesting concept. However, don't miss Alabama Jacks on Card Sound Road for anything! Very cool place that will put you in an island frame of mind right away. Expect a shack on the side of a canal, because that is what it is, but you might bump into a manatee off the back of the shack - which would be pretty cool. Very good fish & plenty of cold beer, live music and a place where locals seem to hang. All of which are always a good sign. Onto Key Largo·. Largo: The Ramada on the bay was home for a night. It was really nice, great staff, really good cold buffet breakfast, extremely fresh fruit & fresh squeezed OJ & good muffins etc. $$$ though. There seemed to be a bunch of really cute "kitzchy" type of motels down the road that when priced were much more reasonable than the Ramada. (Mom & Pop type places that have funky playground animal statues all over- actually very cute, if you like that sort of thing or have kids with you) Dennys Grocery & Liquor store is a must in Key Largo.(MM100) This is one of the coolest store in the Upper Keys, IMHO. Take a look around, they have more neat liquor bottles than most any other package store I have ever been in. Lots of collectible type bottles. Buy your vacation liquor supplies here, it's the cheapest on the Islands that I found anyway. Don't forget to stop by their breakfast place next door and get Cuban coffee & toast to go, or to stay. This will bring you to another level of "island-mindedness". (Remember, we are only 30 miles from Habana when we hit MM0 !) Tavernier: The FL Wild Bird Sanctuary at MM93.6 is a place not to be missed. Staffed by unbelievably compassionate people, the center operates as a sort of hospital/rehab/retirement home for the wounded wildbird population in the area. Within the compound you will find an amazing group of birds that most of us could never get near in another setting, the birds just wouldn't let us. Pelicans wander around the grounds like waddling little sailors, and I had a great encounter with a White Ibis who planted himself in the middle of a walkway and wouldn't budge for about 5 minutes. He was sunnin'. Really neat. The heartwrenching part of the visit is seeing all the birds that are permanently disabled from fishing line, general marine debris or human stupidity etc. Thankfully they are in this wonderful place and are being taken care of forever. Check out the Redtailed Hawk if you like raptors, he is so regal! Don't forget to leave as generous a donation as you can·..every penny goes to the birds. Windley Key: "The Big Conch" Restaurant, formerly the Hawk's Channel Bar & Grill is situated under the Snake Creek Bridge at MM85.5 directly in the middle of Windley Key. (When going south, very sharp turn to the left without much for a sign.) Awesome channel location, the famous "Mermaid Statue" sits in the middle of their outlet across the channel, excellent photo opp. if you want a photo with a mermaid over your shoulder, this is the place. Excellent dolphin, also fabulous crabcake sandwich. Keep your eyes peeled for very cool schools of fish that seem to "play tag" around the canal. Very peaceful. Marathon: The Fishmonger Restaurant located at MM50.5, has fed me lunch on two occasions. The best blackened Mahi I have ever eaten was there, both times. It was cooked perfectly, and I think cost about 6$ with fries etc. It's a funky little place that has a sort of tacky nautical theme with a full wall mural of Rt 1 all the way to KW. Staff was super friendly and efficient too. Don't miss the 5-6ft nylon mermaid in the giant fishtank, she is a beauty! Kew West: I'm going to just point out the places I wouldn't miss and why, there is no organization to this list, just rambling through memories·. Hogs Breath Saloon-live music all the time. Home of Scott Kirby, and now for me home of Hugo Duarte & some of the best music I have ever heard! Great ambiance, perfect location and some room to spill into the parking lot when it gets too hot. It really is better to have Hogs Breath, than no breath at all. You might even get to see some chickens wander through if it's not to crowded! **My new favorite bar in KW, sorry Captn. Tony! Captn. Tony's - Another must while in KW. Tiny, really scruffy and basically filthy, it's got all the right mix to make you feel like a pirate. Conch Republic Seafood Co.-Great venue for music, both indoor and out. They have permanent stages that never seemed to be empty to me, and the featured bands were of the Fingers Taylor quality, awesome!!! Food was good too, but I wouldn't knock myself out to get there to eat, the great tunes and company were the real attraction to me! Schooners Wharf-Another great bar, but this one is open air and on the water. More of a tiki bar setting than the Conch, and home of Michael McCloud who plays here all the time. Great place to spend a hot afternoon with a cold beer. Kelly's Caribbean Grill- Now if you want great food·.this is your place. Unreal coconut shrimp, crabcakes from heaven, and the tastiest stone crab claws on the island. ( I'm pretty sure I tried everywhere!) You know that lunch that we all wish could last forever? This is the place to have that once in a lifetime experience. Kelly's courtyard must be the most romantic place in Key West since the beach in the moonlight·.never mind, just go to Kelly's looking for magic. B.O.s Fish Wagon-The best fish sandwich on the island in a little shack. Very cool atmosphere, sort of third worldish & tacky, I loved it. Pepe's CafŽ-As sung about by Scott Kirby, this is a great place to eat! I've heard tell that the steak smothered in pork chops is to die for, I went with my stand by fish sandwich, and it was great. Check out the fence around the courtyard. Casa Marina-Host hotel of MOTM 2000&01, I would stay there any time, and will be back for MOTM 2001 for sure! Beautiful place, great service and very nice beach. Try to catch the Southern Cross some moonlit night on the beach, it's awesome. The Casa is not easily walkable to Duval though, so if that is what you are into, I wouldn't stay here. If what you want is absolute luxury, I would call the Casa, excellent overall experience. The Palms on White Street Hotel- This is a little bit of a walk to Duval, but it's a very cool place. Old house type Inn that has a turret room that was really interesting. The octagonal room is 2 stories tall, with the downstairs room acting as the living area, a small bath off this room, and a killer ladder type staircase up to the bedroom. The bedroom is just a big old round room paneled in a deep brown floor, walls and ceiling. They serve a really good breakfast buffet at the pool too, and the pool itself is small but nice to come home to after a hot day and before a cool night. Nice place. Hemingway House-Home of Papa and where he did a large portion of his writing. Get to know some of the descendants of his original cats, there are a ton on the property, and they are all lovable. Don't pick them up though, we are only allowed to pet them. (cat police out in force!) The house itself is beautiful, and the tour guides do a great job of explaining features. It's almost a spiritual feeling walking up the stairs to Papa's studio. Even if you aren't a fan of his work, I highly recommend this to everyone. I think that about covers what I have to offer for now on KW, it's a start any way. Enjoy your trip! Blue Skies·White Sand·Palm Trees·
When Visited: June, 2000
Key West Travelogue First Day: Flight was on time, got into Miami even a couple minutes early. Steve got there to pick us up moments later. They had champagne and a card for our anniversary in the car, very nice. Stopped in Key Largo for lunch,good Mexican food, good service, nice meal can't remember the name of the restaurant. Drove down, got into KW about 3:30. Found Cypress House. Initially a little underwhelmed with room, but it's ok. Rest of amentites at CH seem nice (nice pool, people friendly, free happy hour). We've got a nice private deck outside our room, which should come in handy. Went over for Sunset. Went to Captain Tony's on the way. Much different (all of KW is soooo different). KW now reminds me of Bourbon Street in New Orleans with traffic on the street. Had a beer at Captain Tony's (which is at least 2X bigger than it was 10 years ago as they've taken down the walls and expanded it), then went over to Mallory Square. Sunset is different too. Seemed too be a lot more people selling things and a lot less entertainment. Steve was enthralled with "Silver Man" (guy that paints himself Silver and poses). (Where did he come up with this idea?) There is a Hilton (I think) right next to Mallory Square that also has entertainment. Also, they allow you to walk around in KW now with alcohol as long as it's in a plastic cup, also like New Orleans. Alcohol now allowed on Mallory Square also. Bought drinks at Hilton on the water. Beers $4, Steve got a double scotch, $12. Unbelievable. Walked around some more after dark, stopped and ate at "Billies". Good meal. Linda and I split some shrimp, Steve had scallops, Mary had Mahi-Mahi, everyone liked what they had. Stopped at Hog's Breath for a couple drinks after dinner. Got back to CH a little after midnight. Day 2: Got up around 8:00, continental breakfast at CH was great. Fresh baked muffins, fruits, cereal, bagels, juices, coffee, etc. Took a walk around cashed travelers checks, bought a ball cap (white, all I brought were dark hats), and had a couple of beers at Schooner's Wharf (great bar, have to go back and get a t shirt later in the week). Went to the grocery and bought "provisions" (water, beer, snacks). Had lunch at "2 Friends" (had good Mahi Mahi sandwich, Key West Lemonade was pretty nasty). Went back to CH took swim, and hung out. Nap will probably be in the "Plan of the Day". Went down to Mallory Square so Steve could see "Silver Man", he was much funnier than yesterday. Didn't stay long, not much of a sunset, too many clouds. Dinner at Kelly's. Owned by actress, little pricey (dinner for 4, $120 with drinks) but was great. Steve raved about his fish. Ate late (9:00) and was cool and breezy, wonderful. Neat place, great service. Highly recommended. Walked back to the house, Steve and Mary stayed inÉLinda and I walked down the Schooner's Wharf for a late night beer. Service was terrible, lots of drunk locals and bartenders that didn't care if we were there or not. Hell with that. Came back, turned in before midnight, getting old. Day 3: Got up, had a "warmup eat" at the CH. Went to breakfast at "2 Friends" and had the special (crab eggs benedict, it was wonderful). Cruise ship in today, downtown packed, but we did the Duval Street shopping crawl. found some neat pictures for our living room and had them shipped home. Will ship via UPS and they'll wait to ship on Monday. Had a beer in Sloppy Joes, it's "ok". Had a drink later in some little Irish bar on Duval (can't remember name, but it's down near LaConcha), people were very friendly and it seemed nice. Bought some prints at the Guild Hall Gallery (614 Duval). Good prices neat stuff, all local artists. They're shipping them home for us. Skipped lunch today, still full from breakfast. Dinner may be Italian tonight. we've been eating a lot. Skipping sunset tonight, Mallory Square just is too crowded. We realized today that we've been here 3 days (2 1/2) and haven't done anything yet (sunset cruise, ghost tour, etc) that we'd planned on doing. I guess we should get on that. Went and had dinner at Pepe's. Was another great meal. Linda and I went to Schooner's Wharf on the way home, had some blues band playing that was led by a kid that looked to be not much older than Corey. Came back, took a dip in the pool, went to bed. Day 4: Got up, back was bothering me, took a walk. found bookstore, also found a Hot sauce store called "Peppers of Key West" (they have a tasting bar) Hiked down for breakfast at the "Blue Heaven". Way off beaten track (don't go after dark walking). Good breakfast (Shrimp omelet). Stopped at the gallery and bought two more prints for Corey's bathroom to have shipped home. Walked around some in the morning, went to Pepper's and bought some hot sauce. Walked down and had a drink at "Turtle Kraals". Took a long nap in the PM. Had dinner at Mulcahy's on Duval. nothing to write home about, but did it because it was convenient and we were doing the ghost tour at 8:00. Did the ghost tour that leaves from La Concha. Runs about 1 1/2 hours, kind fun. Little pricey ($15) but everything down here is. It was kinda of fun and different. After wards, stopped for a beer in Irish Kevin's (had some terrible rude musician) and somewhere else. Steve and Mary went back, Linda and I went down to the Green Parrot, checked it out. Locals bar, ok, nothing great. Day 5: Went back to that Gallery and bought some more prints for Corey's bathroom. Stopped at the Bull-very nice waitress, she even called out to "Stick and Stein" to see if they were going to have on the PPV fight for us. Sat in the window at The Bull, had a beer and watched the traffic move by. Had lunch at Half Shell, Linda and I had shrimp, Mary and Steve had shrimp then PoBoy sandwiches. Had dinner at La Trattoria-great dinner, Steve and Mary bought dinner for our anniversary. Cabbed out to "Stick and Stein" for the PPV. Got into the cab and almost got a contact buzz from what the driver had been smoking. "Stick and Stein" definitely local flavor. Great deal, $15 to get in (but you got $5 in Steinbucks to spend on anything in the bar)Émust have been 100 tvs in there, lots of great seats, great fight (Mosley over De La Hoya) Day 6: Had breakfast at some place that was part of the PierHouse (across from Two Friends). very, very average. Walked around some-took the tour of the Truman's "Little White House", interesting, if you're a historical person like I am. Hung out at the CH most of the day on the deck, drinkin', talkin'. Dinner went to A&B Lobster House, had a great meal and a phenomenal waiter named "Timmy" expensive, but very good. Stopped at Hogs Breath and The Bull for a drink on the way back.got in about 11:30. Day 7: Last morning.got up, Linda packed us.we got on the road about 10:00ish, wish we could have gotten to Miami 1/2 hour early, might have gotten on an earlier flight, as it is, we waited two hours to get on our flight (with a 2 hour layover in Charlotte). Also I hate the friggin' Miami airport. (announcements in Spanish before English, none of the security people speak English). For more information, contact Bill Lack
Carolyn Meizis' Key West Review
When Visited: January 10 - 13th, 2000
This is my second trip to Key West. The first one was back in 1995. It
was also during Spring Break. This time, I took the trip with two of my
family members, and Key West has changed a lot.
The weather cooperated wonderfully. 82 degrees and sunny every day.
From what I am told, the normal temps are highs in the lower 70's.
I'll give all the positives first. Smather's Beach is beautiful, as is
the stretch along A1A, or South Roosevelt Ave. Nothing but clean beaches,
and blue water. There is another beach very close to the southernmost point
monument, called Higgs Beach. Small, very unoccupied, and very clean. There
is a cement pier near the beach that stretches out quite far into the ocean.
The AIDS memorial is there, done in black granite, very touching. Also, if
you walk out onto the pier, you can view the big compass painted on the
cement that tells you just how far away from the real world you really are.
The bars. There are plenty of them. The best we found was The Green
Parrot, on the 600 block of Whitehead. This is a locals bar, not many
tourists were there, which was a welcome break from all the other bars. Good
music, cheap beer, worked for me.
Must hit bars for picture opportunities include, Captain Tony's, Sloppy
Joes, Margaritaville, and The Bull's upstairs balcony. Have a drink there,
and enjoy the touristy atmosphere.
We took a haunted Key West tour. Its a walking tour that took about two
hours, covers less than a mile, and was really great. The woman that led the
tour was very informative, and quite funny. Don't be surprised though to be
heckled by locals, (though the tour leader encourages heckling.) Some great
stories were told including "The Blue Lady" of Captain Tony's, and Dr.
Porter's never ending parties at a local bed and breakfast on Duval. Take
this tour, well worth it.
Another very fun thing we did was take a schooner sailing trip. We rode
on the Liberty Schooner, but there are several there. There were only about
10 people on the boat, and the crew was great. The tour lasted about 2
hours, and the sailing was smooth. Drinks were available, as was a nice,
large, head, or bathroom, which was a pleasant surprise. These trips go
during the day, at sunset, and at night. A very good time.
Lastly, you must check out the Sunset Festival at Mallory Square; well,
actually on the docks. Street performers abound; definitely something for
everyone. Tightrope walkers, fireeaters, and other performers help say
good-bye to the sun as it sets over the water. Get there early to take some
absolutely beautiful pictures.
Restaurants to try; Kelly's on Whitehead and Caroline? I believe. Good
food, decent prices, and sit outside if possible. This is the restaurant
owned by actress Kelly McGilllis. Another winner was the Tipsy Flamingo on
Charles St, a half block off of Duval. Empty, friendly servers, and the
seafood was fresh. Reasonably priced for the amount of food we received.
Now, if you like the island empty, go for Monday and Tuesday. Nobody was
on the streets those two days, and even Sloppy Joes was relatively empty.
And don't forget, even though you are on vacation, be careful. We
noticed a large population of kids just wandering around panhandling.
Lastly, if you can, drive from Miami to Key West. The scenery is
beautiful, plenty of great little water and dockside restaurants to try, (I
recommend Porky's in Marathon,) and it will help set you into a tropical kind
of mood.
For more information, contact Carolyn "Skushi" Meizis
Jeannine Happ's Key West Review
When Visited: November 1993, November 1994, April 1996
Jeannine has made the long haul to the Conch Republic 3 times. She's flown to Orlando and driven to Key West (flight time-5 hours, drive time-6 hours). Then she flew to Miami (5 hours) and drove to Key West (3 hours). On her last trip, she flew all the way to Key West (flight time, 6.5 hours). She says the view of the keys from the air is nice, but recommends those prone to airsickness take caution as only smaller aircraft can land at the airport there. She reports that it's rained on all of her visits there but that doesn't interfere with her enjoyment of Key West. Temperatures remain in the 80's with water temps correspondingly warm. She's stayed with relatives and likes the idea of staying in a rental home because you get a better idea of local life this way. Jeannine's main activity in Key West is Scuba Diving. She's found that using a dive operator that doesn't do snorkeling or fishing the best bet, "We've found that these operations spread themselves too thin to make Scuba enjoyable, ...they usually take snorkelers with the divers...this results in very shallow dives..." She recommends that divers take in a wreck dive while there. Jeannine subscribes to the idea that getting there is half the fun; she enjoyed the trip down the Keys. She says, "I would highly recommend (driving) if you've never been to the Keys. You should drive them during the day, to see every breathtaking bit." Once there, she recommends The Conch Train as the best way to get an overall view of town. She further suggests, "If you are a Buffett fan, pick up a tourist map from Margaritaville, and see all of the Buffett related sights. I would consider the Blue Heaven a must see in KW, and the Hemingway House. If you have the time and want to really see a local hangout, get to the No Name Bar on No Name Key. You'll have to ask a local for directions, and it's kind of a drive from KW, but well worth it. It's more of a Pizza/Family bar, and always packed for dinner. The walls are covered with $1 bills that have been written on by former patrons. Just reading the walls can be quite an experience. Of course you wouldn't get a true experience of KW without sunset at Mallory Square. Every night there is a sunset celebration with acts and vendors. A must see at least once, if not every night you're there." She rates the T-shirt shops at the end of Duval, near Mallory Square, as "first-class Tourist Traps." Blue Heaven was the restaurant of choice on her last trip. Jeannine is a vegetarian and it to be very Vegian friendly. She said her friend recommended the Jerk Chicken. She also says, try B.O.'s Fish Wagon for a quick bite, or a beer. As for night life, she says she'd recommend smaller clubs like Grunts to hear some classic blues, or the Whistle on Duval to watch the crowds. She reminds us, "Key West has a large Gay population, and if you are squeamish in this atmosphere, steer around it. If not, all the bars are really fun!" Having a car is unnecessary unless you plan to travel up and down the Keys. Otherwise, you can get around town better on foot or by bike or scooter. Jeannine sums up Key West by saying, "The pace of life is very Caribbean, while remaining in the US....Another World!" For more information, contact Jeannine Happ.
When Visited: November 1992, June 1995, December 1995
Our friend Southie has visited Key West a few times, twice driving from Naples, Florida and once, flying in from Miami. She reports the drive took about 4 hours while the flight was less than an hour. She chose Key West as a Diving destination. She claims to have seen the climatic extremes of "The Last Resort". She was there on the record hottest day, 105f, and the coldest, 42f. Normally she's found it warm, around 80f, and humid. Southie has stayed at a variety of Key West lodgings that include La Concha, a highrise situated right on Duval St.; El Patio; and The Ocean Key House. Sightseeing opportunities are everywhere in Key West. Some of her recommendations are the Key West Lighthouse, The Hemingway House, and Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum. A must see in the Mallory Docks Sunset Celebration. She also highly recommends seeing Michael McCloud. Low on her list of things to do is ride the Conch Train. Diving and Snorkeling are two recreational activities that should be on any Key West visitor's list. One of Southie's favorite restaurant's is Pepe's on Caroline St.; it has great food. She says, "Margaritaville is fun but the food isn't that great, and it's expensive." She recommends The Bull or Hog's Breath as nightspots to visit. She laments the demise of Sloppy Joe's; "It's a shame since it was so great at one time. The performers aren't that good." Since you're still in the USA (technically, if not mentally) changing currency is unnecessary as is renting a car. You can walk just about everywhere. Southie says she would absolutely go back; "It is just more fun than you can imagine...a Parrothead's Paradise, if you go to the right places." She adds, "...don't feel like you have to spend the whole time on the beach, there is so much more to Key West than water." Southie maintains a Key West homepage that can be found at: http://www.mcs.net/~south/home.html For more information, contact Southie.
Naples Reviewers
When Visited: Numerous Visits
Southie has a house in Naples and has been there about 20 times at every month of the year. Extreme high temperatures can hit 100f in the summer andget down in the 40's in the winter, and an afternoon shower is more common than not. Travel time from Chicago is about 4 hours by air. Relaxation seems to be the main activity in Naples. You can hunt shells, jet ski, or swim and boat rentals are available. Southie describes it as a "...kinda golf, old people community, not too historical." She does recommend walking along the beach to Gordon Pass. Getting there involves asking a local, so who knows what goes on there! Tin City is also high on his list of "Must Do's". While not big on nightlife, Naples has some nice restaurants. Southie recommends Meriman's Wharf as a "nice place to go for a nicer dinner." She also suggests The Riverwalk and The Dock. Since things in Naples are spread out, a car is necessary. She recommends Naples because it is warm and sunny and relaxing. For more information, contact Southie.
Siesta Key Reviewers
When Visited: Various times, last visit June 1996
Bill and his family made the drive from Cincinnati to Siesta Key, located near Sarasota, in about 16 hours. They've visited there previously and found the beaches to be wonderful and the accommodations reasonably priced. Weather in the summertime has daytime highs in the 90s and 80s overnight with the obligatory brief afternoon shower. They've stayed at a couple of different Condos. Bill reports that for 3 years they stayed at Casa Mar. He says, "The condos are fine, but he management is the pits...they rule like Nazi's. Last year we went to Jamaica Royale,...condo furnishings might not be quite as nice (though they had all the amenities such as dishwasher and microwave, and our condo even had it's own washer and dryer (which is great if you have kids) but you have to bring your own blender), but the management will do anything for you." There aren't a lot of sightseeing opportunities in Siesta Key, but Tampa/St. Pete and Clearwater are close by. The beach itself seems to be the main attraction. "Best beach in Florida" in Bill's opinion. He adds, "Lots of reasonably priced good golf courses in the area." Checked out the scuba diving a couple of years ago and said that, short of a 3 hour boat ride (each way), it's not worth the effort as there isn't much in the way of fish life or anything interesting to see. Bill recommends Philippi Creek, Captain Kurt's or Shells as places to catch a good meal. Bill says Siesta Key is a..."good family location...had everything we looked for in a vacation...sun, beach, golf, decent restaurants...and didn't break the bank." For more information, contact Bill.
St. Augustine Reviewers
Linae Boehme's St. Augustine Review
When Visited: January 1996
As a lifelong resident of Florida Linae lists St. Augustine as one of her favorite spots in the Sunshine State. It's best known as the oldest city in the US, founded in 1565. The city is located between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach on the east coast of the state. Linae reports that the drive down A1A from Jacksonville takes 45 minutes to an hour. Temperatures can go as high as the 90s in the summer and down into the 60s in the winter months. With its location on the ocean, windy conditions are always present. In Linae's opinion, the best feature of St. Augustine is it's laid back atmosphere. She says, "The main reason I love the area is because it reminds me of the Key West that Buffett idolizes in his songs, a Key West that is gone forever. There are lots of interesting people, and places to keep you busy. It's laid back but not boring. Plus, it's location is beautiful." It sounds like walking is an integral part of any visit to St. Augustine. She says, "there is a lot of history to see free of charge." There is a Spanish Fort, old school houses, and other historical sites. The Flagler Museum and Flagler College is also located here. One thing Linae says you could skip in St. Augustine is the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. (This is probably good advice in any locale.) A car is a necessity in St. Augustine as the beaches, shopping, and sightseeing are not all within walking distance of one another. Linae recommends Scarlett O'Haras for night life, "They usually have a good live band on the weekends and their food is decent but not too expensive." She adds that there are quite a few other bars in town and people frequently drive down from Jacksonville for some night clubbing. She adds that AAA has some wonderful guidebooks for Florida. As a native Floridian she reminds us that it's always advisable to wear sunscreen and sunglasses down there and to take it easy in the Florida heat. For more information, contact Linae Boehme
Sanibel/Captiva Reviewers
Cindy Kekevian's Sanibel Review
When Visited: November, 2000
Intro- This trip was made to recover from MOTM in 11/2000, and was well worth the effort. I traveled from KW across Alligator Alley, it took about 6 hours. The trip back to Lauderdale to get home was only about 3 hours, so that wasn't too bad. (Plus Fingers Taylor didn't leave the CD player so if it took 30 hours that would have been ok) Lodging was found at a place called the 'Tween Waters Inn on Captiva. This place is deceiving, it looks small and quaint, but it is huge! The room was ok, but the view was just to die for! Ask for an ocean view 3rd floor room, you will be blown away, the sunsets from this balcony were incredible. They also provide a great buffet breakfast with your room fee in a really pretty restaurant that seats inside and outside. The pool is gorgeous, if you can tear yourself away from the beach, that is! 'Tween Waters is situated between the gulf and the mainland, so the property actually spans the island, very nice effect. The beach·now we're talking main event. This place is known for its shells, literally millions of beautiful shells that come splashing in by the tons, only to sound like little "tinkling" bells as they crash on each other. I've never heard anything like it, and I have also never seen a beach like this one on Captiva. I walked for miles and never ran out of beach! If you have ever read Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gifts From The Sea" you need to come here at least once in your life. She wrote that book here, and I know now why it has meant so much to me for all these years. When you sit on the beach, all alone with the waves breaking on your toes and lapping at the sand, it's a whole new level of commune with our Mother, Mother Ocean. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs peace and tranquility, or just a fabulous beach experience. Getting around- The easy part about getting around San/Cap is that there is really only a couple of roads, Periwinkle Way, and the San/Cap Road·so I'm not giving big details on where these places are, you will eventually find them no matter what. Cool places- Here's my cool places list: (all restaurants, I was pretty much a beach pig this time around) The Bubble Room-Captiva. Extremely cute place, decked out in 30s/40s memorabilia & tons of bubble lights! Bubbles painted in pastels all over the outside fences, very cute. The food was great too, a bit pricey, but I would definitely do it at least once. Don't forget to save room for dessert, the pastries are their specialty! BTW, locals seem to hang here, met a bunch at the bar while waiting for a table, lots of fun & very friendly group. Lazy Flamingo-Sanibel. This is a great place, casual fun and the best staff around. (They work as a team, so you end up with 4-5 servers, and it seems to work well here) I could be mean and tell you all to try the Dead Parrot Wings·.I did, and I came close to being a dead parrothead in the process!! These puppies could peel paint if left in a closed room! I was told only one person ever ate a whole order, and most hearty souls can only do 3. I managed 4 & suffered the consequences·eek!! But the rest of their food was great, try their garlic bread/marinara sauce, very good. And their broiled dolphin was great too. Cheeburger, Cheeburger-Sanibel. Don't ask for a hamburger, although they might give you a cheeseburger without the cheese·again, very cute place with a diner flair. They make a one pound burger, like anyone could ever eat it·but that is the big deal here. Actually the best burger I've had in a long time and worth a stop for lunch. (they do a 1/3 pounder too, couldn't even eat that!) If you are in the mood for a great shake, this is the place to have it. Be careful where you park, they seem to be in a parking war with their neighbor tenants & tow fast if you park in the wrong lot. (sort of uptight for this area, which seems pretty laid back) The Green Flash-Captiva. Very nice place, best crab claws since Kelly's in KW. And they stock Heradurra tequila·.bonus. This would be the romantic, elegant evening spot IMHO. Also, they did a steak thing that was unreal, sort of a Madeira wine thing, can't really describe it, but it was awesome. Try their Mango Tango, a sweet mango margarita with a splash of chambord·yummy! The Island House-Sanibel. OK, this was the parrothead winner. I walked in to hear muzak playing My African Friend. Apparently the Mgr. is a fan, and 1 out of 3 tunes played were by Mr. Buffett, and no SYPTD·.didn't hear one all night. (yes, they pay licensing fees, I actually asked) The food was good too. Oysters Rockefeller, conch chowder & crab cakes were killer. **Not a restaurant!, but the best place other than the beach on the islands: Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge- If you have never seen a roseate spoonbill colony, rush here as fast as you can. (or just send a donation, they are fast becoming that rare bird that we worry about so much. In Ding Darling there are only about 100 birds that call it home, and that is not enough!) The best part about this refuge is that they have staff roaming the refuge identifying the best viewing spots, and they set up long distance scopes wherever they feel like it. On top of the roseate spoonbills, I saw a couple of the biggest gators I had ever seen, and you really have to see the mullet jump around the ponds. What a sight, fish just hopping all over the place. The beaches-no way to comment other than this is the most beautiful beach I have ever been on, and it runs for miles and miles. If you have ever wanted a beach experience, this is the beach to go to. November was especially empty, but the weather was great! Hope you make it down there sometime·I'll be back!