Key West Express!
- laurenlcoon
- Jan 4, 2017
- 4 min read
Happy New Year! Can't believe it is already 2017! We went down to Naples again this year for Christmas and for New Years decided to take the Key West Express to the Keys!
There are 2 options to take our of SW Florida... Marco Island or Fort Myers. Marco is closer to Naples and has free parking so it seemed like the best option for us. Fort Myers is a bit further and charges $13 a day for parking. There also had been reports of car break ins in the area prior to our trip so we actually moved our reservation from Fort Myers to Marco. (this is a $25 fee per ticket)
The boat we were taking is fairly large and designed to cut through waves so there should be smooth sailing.
We actually had pretty windy and cold weather for that time of year so our way there was pretty choppy. We took way too much dramamine and slept most of the way.
Once we arrived to Key West we had a bit of a predicament... our hotel was 2 miles away and we couldn't check in until 4 and we had about 4-5 hours to kill before then. Dragging our luggage around didn't seem like the best option so we took a taxi to the hotel, changed and had them hold our luggage.
This must be a common problem because there is a company (supposed to be very reliable) that charges $11 a bag to deliver your stuff to your hotel within a couple hours so you can explore the downtown area.
We got changed and then rented a scooter to help us get around the island quicker than a taxi and cheaper than a car. Parking is limited in Key West so scooters and golf carts are highly recommended.
We used Island Scooters and our little scooter was pretty beat up. After realizing it had some issues, they swapped out the scooter for one that worked better but there are a lot of companies on the island to pick from. I'd recommend booking ahead as day of rates are double the price.
We immediately sought out some food and found Roostica, an authentic Italian place that serves D.O.C. and gluten free pizza! YUM! What says island time more than pizza?!
Our first night was primarily wandering around the shops, watching the sunset and driving our scooter around. The temps were in the 60's and it was very windy so we actually stopped to get some warmer clothes. Who would have thought?
We ate at SHOR the first night and the food was very good. It had been recommended to us by the concierge and the ambiance was great. We sat on the wrap around porch by the water and each table had some binoculars so you could see boats coming in.
The next morning we got up early and went on an excursion with Clearly Unique Charters. They have clear kayaks and you ride to the Great White Heron National Refuge which is about 5 miles from Key West. The kayaks don't look clear until they are in the water and then you could see crabs and sea turtles right underneath you. After kayaking you snorkel over coral reefs. However, we had high winds and low temps for the Keys so we didn't see much and stayed in the water a short time.
Our next stop after showering and warming up was to hit all the touristy places we could find. This included the Southernmost Point, Harry S. Truman's 'White House', some cute shops and Mallory Square for the last sunset of the year!
That evening we had plans to have a nice dinner and watch one of the many 'Ball Drops' at midnight! There is a Conch Shell, a Drag Queen in a high heel, a Wench lowering and a Cigar! We decided to go with the Wench as it was on the water and supposed to be one of the more tame and less crowded events in Key West that night!
We had dinner at Southermost Beach Cafe and it was wonderful. The restaurant is just a small house near the water with dim lights and friendly service. After dinner we hit up a few restaurants before watching the Wench Drop. Shortly after we called it a night but Key West did not slow down until much later in the morning! :)
The following morning was our last day so we scooted down to a breakfast spot recommended by a local called Azur!
We had Eggs Benedict and coffee and enjoyed the ambiance. A rainstorm came through so we hung out for a bit before heading back to the boat to get home.
All in all, we felt the Key West Express was a great way to get to and from the island but someday plan to drive so we can see all of the islands along the way!
THiNGS TO KNOW:
Stay in Old Town if possible... much closer to everything
There is little to no beach for laying out
Plan to drink when you're here... it's all anyone does!
Scooters or Golf Carts are the best bet for local travel!
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