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Originally Posted by paulandjean
Not for the faint of heart.
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If you've ever been to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, multiply that by 10 and you have FF. If you go the week before ff, you get to see all the awesome decorations going up but miss the crowds, many of whom are wearing little more than body paint. Don't take you grandkids to FF!
We rented a house in KW for six winters because my husband traveled so much, and I could work from home. There is a get-together every evening at White Street Pier for people and their dogs. Great views and not nearly as crowded as Mallory Square, but no entertainment. It's a locals thing. And the Casa Marina area around there has some gorgeous old homes Just walking the neighborhoods of KW is interesting. It doesn't have to be all Duval St and bars.
Having said that, I always liked shopping at Fastbuck Freddies department store and having lunch outdoors (but under cover) at Willie T's, both on Duval. Great pina coladas and a good blackened grouper caesar salad. St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 401 Duval gives free concerts every noon. Their 9 o'clock Sunday service is full-on high church, with awesome music and choir, sung congregational responses, incense. It's a beautiful church, worth even just stopping in to see.
Sarabeth's Simonton at Southard has very unique breakfasts.
Before we started renting there, we liked a little place at 1015 Fleming. Built in 1924, completely renovated, owned by one person since the '70s. Very Keysian.
Key West Hotels | Hotel in Old Town Key West | Eden House Hotel, Key West, Florida, 33040 Far enough away from the Duval crawl that it's quiet, and the buildings and grounds are awesome. One of the more moderate-priced places.
Don't forget the cemetery. Lots of above-ground burial sites, interesting statuary and epitaphs. the most famous, of course, is "I told you I was sick," but I like the one where someone's dog is buried: "Here lies ______ (forget). he was a challenge to love." the office has maps, and you can spend a couple of hours in there.
We also like the restaurant next to White St Pier, Salute! On the Beach. Indoor or outdoor covered dining on the beach.
I think Blue Heaven is overrated for anything other than breakfast. No reservations, long waits, and not very friendly service. The owner came over and chastised a friend of mine for touching a baby chick that had gotten separated from its mother. KW is overrun with chickens, and they're all over Blue Heaven, fighting you for your food. This is very KW, but beware. (The wait may be less now that it's off-season, but many Europeans love to come to the Keys in the summer, so it's not all that empty.)
I like the Commodore down on the water--very elegant surroundings, but pricey.
Look for a free magazine when down there that lists many restaurants and their menus, or go here
The Menu - A Dining Guide to Paradise - Key West, Florida
These posts are making me very nostalgic for KW. I smell a trip brewing!