So I originally wrote this post while on vacay the second week of June. It was eight gloriously, wonderful days with my hubby's undivided attention. To say that I am his biggest fan is an understatement. He's hilarious and I admit I love driving him up a wall with all my quirky antics. Obviously things went crazy in our country while we were on vacation and I felt that posting it would be somehow wrong. Yet at the same time, I wanted to share the community that we found ourselves in and the beauty that is those spaces. So here I am, merging two blog posts into one and talking about the beauty and unique vibe you get when you visit a special place, in this case, it is the Florida Keys. Usually, we skip everything between Miami and drive straight to Key West. I do have a few fav shops that we stop at on the way back but man, when we head down it is a straight shot with windows down and sunroof open taking in all that the Keys give. I love the drive. The heat, the salt, the stench (yep it smells bad in spots), the wildlife and the energy, oh my gosh the energy she puts off. Your skin tingles with it and your soul just builds to bursting. It is a heady, crazy rush that I get every time. It is a space the brings my soul back to life and helps me to get out of my own head allowing my soul to take the lead and my mind to take a backseat. I find the energy to be something unlike other spaces and it always overwhelms me, like a shock to the system. This is an area that is in constant flux and gives me copious amounts of emotions on the first day from raging against the changes to laughing at how uninhibited people are here. It is a culture shock every damn time. My husband laughs every time because the first day is always me pining for the way it was and then I give myself a good talking to, have a few drinks, and adjust to the way it is. We always have fun, always. This time around we popped down to Key West for a few days and then back up to Key Largo. We'll talk about Key west first because it holds a special place in my heart. Key West, FL Let me preface with this, Duval street is NOT for kids! I see too many parents out with their kids and the embarrassment and shock on their faces over behavior, clothing, and bars makes me wonder if they did any research before they showed up. Duval Street is like Bourbon Street in New Orleans only tamer (no blatant nudist bars and even the strip club is modest on the exterior). I'm not saying Key West is not kid-friendly, just that people should do a tad bit of research before going there with young ones. We come for the snorkeling, kayaking, drinking, and chilling. We always park the car and rent scooters or a golf cart (electric as we prefer as much eco friendly as we can get) then tool about hitting the shops, restaurants, and bars with a day at the resort laying beachside. The first trip we splurged and stayed at Casa Marina, a Waldorf Astoria property (if you only want to chill and drink, book here and forget the rest). If you can, do it. Just do it. The food, the guest services, and the staff are superb! They are all friendly, treat you like you are family, and make sure that you get to do whatever you came to do. The other perk is their private beach with cabana chairs and waitstaff that bring you drinks & cigars. You want food, they get it, you need a towel they are there. A girl could get used to that, I'm just saying. Our current space was The Reach, a curio property by Hilton. It is modern and has some really fun amenities like the giant chess set, giant Jenga, and a pool next to the bar. It is in my opinion one step down from Casa Marina yet cost the same. There is a $25.00 a night parking fee that I heard a few people complain about but, that should be expected given that space in Key West is at a premium. We did get a room with a view of the ocean and the pool only to realize that it was at the sake of privacy as our neighbor's patio looks directly into our room (we kept the curtain closed). Based on cost, available services, and an onsite bar, if you are going to spend the money, stay at Casa Marina.
Below are a few of our favorite haunts when we go. Fav Restaurants - Cuban Coffee Queen - Don't ask, just go! There are two locations (the one by the wharf has a great photo op) and we go every day of every trip. My favorite is the Sunrise Special which consists of half a key west sandwich and a Café con Leche. I always buy bags of coffee to take home (even though I can order online and have it shipped) because it is just that good. The flavor is something that I cannot find anywhere even though I live around Miami. Two Friends Patio - great staff, great atmosphere, a great spot to people watch and listen to live music and the best price on oysters in town! A&B Lobster house - sits on the water, great views, you get to watch all the ships coming and going and the food is top-notch.
Martini's - Upscale, gorgeous, secluded, and a wonderful selection of cognac and scotches (the food is fantastic too). Things to do - Hemingway House - it is a great place to tour. You get to step back in time and see not only how he lived but what life in Key West was like back then. There are also all the cats. They are continuing the legacy (because he loved his cats) and they breed them, maintain the genetic diversity and baby them like they are royals. The cats are beautiful, have homes that make one envious and have free reign on the property (they have special fencing up to keep these cats in and all other animals out). Eco-Tours Co. - we have been out with this company twice on a catamaran kayaking and snorkeling. It is fabulous! They keep the groups small and tell you the history along with current conservation issues and remediation plans in progress. You walk away with a wealth of knowledge, feeling special because the groups are so small that you get personal attention, and if you brought a camera or two, some really amazing photos. Sunset cruise - get on a schooner and sail out to watch the sunset. Many people go to Mallory Square but it can get really congested and you will miss the sunset for the crowds. Now when life is in full bloom there is a lot going on in Mallory Square to entertain people but, beware of the chickens. They are usually beginning to roost and will take you out in the process (in case you didn't know, they roost in the trees). Rent a scooter or scoot coupe or golf cart - parking for these vehicles is free and it is much easier to maneuver them through the streets than a regular vehicle. You'll also feel like a kid who stole their parent's car driving around. There is just something about it that brings out that childish joy and you can't stop smiling (at least I can't). Shops - Key West Aloe (you will need the sunsorb and aloecaine, trust me on this). I recommend getting the travel set unless you live in Florida, then buy the full size. It is the best thing for your skin with our climate. Coco's Key West. Best place to get UV shirts and swimsuits for on or in the water. They also have a good selection of cute clothes, just saying. Bars/Breweries/Alcohol - Sloppy Joe's - this is a given due to the connection with Hemmingway, the atmosphere in the bar is everything you could hope for in an island bar (unfortunately, not open yet. Maybe phase two?). First Flight Island Restaurant and Microbrewery - I'm not a huge beer person but, on a really hot and muggy afternoon this place does not disappoint. It is off the main path, spacious and they know how to pour one. The food is spot on. I recommend the fish bites. They will transport you to the U.K. with that very first bite. I also love the open courtyard and bar. It is a beautiful space to relax, connect, and take in all that you have experienced.
Pilar Rum Distillery - It's in the heart of the tourist area near the marina. You can buy their rum in every bar and liquor store in town but, I think there is something special about tasting at the distillery (sadly, no tours this trip.) Baker's Cay, a curio property by Hilton We found a new spot (new to us anyway) on our trip back up. I hesitate to share because I want to keep it to myself but.. that's just not me. It is Baker's Cay Resort. It is a Hilton property, part of the curio collection, and the best one I have been to yet. Let's start with the obvious. It is secluded and right on the ocean. It is on the smaller side so more space, less people. It is lush, like falling into a jungle on a deserted island. You feel like you have been taken into the Garden of Eden. I'm a plant nerd so for me I could not stop taking pictures and gawking at how magnificent the vegetation was. You really do feel like you are on a magical journey into the unknown. It is dog (we saw a corgi on a paddleboard) and kid-friendly but be mindful they do have a few cats on the property (doesn't everyone?). Thankfully there are two wings that a separated by the main building so parents with kids can get away from the adults-only guests and vice versa. They really thought this through as one wing has an open space for kids to run around and a giant movie screen for winding down in the evening. We stayed on the other wing where it was parking on one side and ocean on the other. Our view was of the main beach, tiki bar, and ocean. It was a beautiful spot to watch the sunset. We watched the sunset from our room two nights and from the restaurant upstairs once. I honestly don't think there is a bad spot to watch it from. Baker's cay has all the amenities you could want, free paddleboards, free kayaks, aqua bikes, docks for fishing, or you can sign up for a variety of watersports like parasailing and eco-tours (cost extra but worth it). We came for the beach and the snorkeling. Did I mention they are eco friendly? All the "plastic" cups are made from corn and 100% compostable and the straws are made from avocado pits. It makes for guilt-free drinking on the beach. It's also clean, so clean and the rooms are the right size so you can chill without driving anyone crazy (not a bad spot to quarantine in) Now, let's talk about the bars. One is obviously attached to the restaurant on the third floor while the main one, Dry Rocks is a tequila centric bar right next to the beach. It's beautiful, open-air and the staff are on point all the time. If you follow me on Instagram you know I found the best bartender the first day and he hooked this girl up with a whiskey cocktail that converted me right back into the cocktail camp. It is made with agave syrup, lemon juice, St. Germain, and Glenfiddich 14. It does not suppress any of the whiskey. It brings it to life in a way I have not had before. It is balanced. It marries that tart and the sweet in a way that is pure pleasure. J.J. is hands down the best because he made sure that at any point the staff knew what I drank and how to make it. At one point he even came from the tiki bar ( a bit of a trek) back to the main bar to craft it for me because the waiter wasn't sure how to enter it into the computer. I told him he needed to name it the J.J. special. All the staff are like that. They go that extra mile to make sure that you have what you want when you want it. Tiffany is another employee I have to give a shout out to. She was our waitress/bartender at Calusa (main restaurant) for both, breakfast and dinner. She was fun, vivacious and made the entire experience that much better, especially because we talked wine and why I selected the Penfold's. She also pulled a second bottle for us to take home. I admit I was sad to come home after being here. It was such a getaway that really transported me out of the current time and showed how people harmonize when they enjoy the topics. Tiffany and J.J. were a huge part of that because they are personable people who talk to you and really connect. I watched as many of the staff were on a first-name basis with returning guests and asked about family, catching up on each other's happenings. The other beautiful thing that brought this back to me is that at no point did I see any guests or staff act haughty or treat anyone as different than themselves. That reminded me that there is hope and there are still good people out there who say "thank you" and really mean it. It gave me what I needed most in this time of uncertainty, hope. Baker's Cay Resort - Key Largo
Photos from Baker's Cay -
Random Key West Photos from our trips -
The Reach - Key West -
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