• Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • PNW
    • Kayak/Travel Blog
    • Maps
  • Reviews
EVERYONE'S TRAVEL CLUB
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • PNW
    • Kayak/Travel Blog
    • Maps
  • Reviews

From the archives: Kayaking Adventure in Key West - Part 6 of 6

3/10/2011

0 Comments

 
A banyan tree in Miami, Florida
3/15/10 
Hello folks!  I am proud to announce that Everyone's Travel Club has followers!  Sweet!
Here we are at the close of our posts from Key West.  We spent a total of 6 days in South Florida on this trip.  It was my second trip down there, my wife grew up there.  We had our Innova inflatable kayaks packed in our checked airline bags (each bag weighed 49 1/2 lbs after the kayaks, paddles (4-part aluminum), pump, and waterproof bags).  Our trip was in February, the weather was a little cooler than normal, but still pretty nice coming from Seattle.  Important: if you attempt this trip in the summer your hotel may be cheaper but it will be really, really, hot.
As our final post about the trip, we're leaving you with links to where we stayed, ate, and paddled.  

Lodging

Inside our room at the Merlin Guesthouse in Key West, Florida
1) The Merlin Guesthouse, Key West
Great atmosphere and location (a couple blocks off of the main drag - close but not too close), we actually found parking pretty easily (but didn't drive that much).  Our only complaint was that the walls are a little thin - baby next door the first night, lots of TV the second.  They have a few room choices so this could be eliminated with a little planning (and $).


Views of the Gardens Hotel in Key West
2) The Gardens Hotel, Key West
We'd didn't stay here but I'd like to try it next time...A sweet layout and tropical gardens surrounding the place.  The rooms look equally nice from their website...a good 50% more expensive than the Merlin Guesthouse however...


RESTAURANTS we dined at:

Outside Croissants de France in Key West
Coffee & Pastries: Croissants de France
A Key West classic...get a "con leche"...mmm so good - espresso, hot milk, and sugar to taste.  I drink my coffee black in Seattle but fully loaded in South Florida! 


Origami Japanese restaurant in Key West
Sushi: Origami Japanese 
Amber's basically a local so we avoid Margaritaville:) Nice secluded-off the main drag with outdoor seating (like almost everywhere in the Keys). Good sushi, parrot next door.



The best Italian in the Keys - La Trattoria
Italian:  La Trattoria
So good.  How does a nice looking Italian restaurant with great service and delicious food sound?  Imagine that with a lot cheaper price tag than you'd expect.  Make a reservation by phone the day you plan to dine.


Eating sandwiches at the Waterfront Market
Sandwich Shop: Waterfront Market
The best sandwiches in the world! Just mark down what you want on your sandwich and they make it fresh...it seems like the more you add the cheaper it gets (a.k.a. don't chose the pre-planned sandwiches, take the time to chose your own ingredients). 



OTHERS:
Mexican: Salsa Loca
Pony up to the bar for some tacos and cervezas...Hey, the Times liked it.

Breakfast: Pepe's Cafe
A legend that's been in Key West for 100 years.  Tasty.

Dessert: Better-Than-Sex - A Dessert Restaurant
This place looked awesome, we were too full...we'll hit it up next time.


KAYAKING SPOTS we visited on the trip:

Kayak launch near old town Key West
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: Key Largo $8/vehicle

Bahia Honda State Park $8/vehicle

Key Biscayne: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park $8/vehicle


Kayaking book for the Keys: 
Florida Keys Paddling Guide: From Key Largo to Key West

Well, that's about it everyone.  Go to the Keys - it's the best spot in Florida for sure!  Check back to the blog soon - the posts return to the Northwest for a little while...

~Paul  E.T.C.

Cuban restaurant in South Florida
Coconuts with straws in Miami
An egret hunting in the shallow water in the Florida Keys
Lizard on the patio in Key West Florida
A natural coconut hat
Planes leaving the Key West airport
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Follow us on Twitter and receive updates when we post (click the birdie).
    Picture


    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011


    Categories

    All
    Alki Beach
    Arboretum
    Attractions
    Bahamas
    Ballard
    Boat Shows
    Carkeek
    Cascades
    Dungeness Spit
    Edmonds
    Everett
    Florida
    Golden Gardens
    Hiking
    Hood Canal
    Kayak
    Kingston Wa
    Kiteboarding
    La Conner
    Lake Chelan
    Lakes
    Lake Sammamish
    Lake Union
    Lake Washington
    Lemurs
    Leschi
    Less Aquatic Travels
    Lighthouses
    Live Aboard
    Mercer Island
    Nisqually
    North Carolina
    Oregon
    Outside The PNW
    Parks
    Pike Place Market
    Port Ludlow
    Port Townsend
    Poulsbo Wa
    Puget Sound
    Quilcene Bay
    Richmond Beach
    Rivers
    Road Trip Month
    Sail
    Samish Island
    Sand Point
    San Juans
    Sea Serpent
    Seattle
    Shilshole
    Ship Canal
    Skagit
    State Parks
    Sunken Ship
    The Pacific Coast
    Up & Over
    Virgin Islands
    Volcano
    Whales
    Wildlife



    Videos on Vimeo

    We hope you've enjoyed the time you've spent on our site. All images, text and designs are copyright Everyone's Travel Club and may not be used without written permission from ETC.
Picture

Connect:

Contact:

everyonestravelclub@gmail.com

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • PNW
    • Kayak/Travel Blog
    • Maps
  • Reviews