Well, long time, no see friends. How times have changed since my last post. It's been a few weeks since I returned from my very first trip to Key West and I can't wait to share every detail with you. Hopefully this will give you a peek of sunshine during these somewhat cloudy times.
I took my trip with my parents about a week before things got REALLY crazy and I'm so glad we were able to spend the time together. This was my first trip to Key West and probably the fifth trip for my parents. I had no idea there was so much history, charm and amazing food packed into this tiny island!
Our first full day was Monday, where we took a trip up the Keys on the Overseas Highway. Before we headed out, we made a stop at the Southernmost Point monument for the obligatory photo! There are always lines of people waiting to have their photo taken, so if you want a quick photo of just the monument, act quick!
We drove up the Keys to the island city of Islamorada. If you're a fan of the Netflix show, Bloodline, you'll remember that the show was filmed in the Moorings Village. We tried twice to have lunch in the Moorings Village, but they were mysteriously closed. The drive up the Keys is something I think everyone should do at least once in their life. The water color is the prettiest color you'll ever see!
The following day, my mom had arranged a food tour for us and it was by far my favorite thing of the entire trip! I am still dreaming of the lobster mac & cheese from Bagatelle and I'm searching high and low for a copycat recipe! I'll link the restaurants and what we ate below this post! And of course it ended with Key Lime Pie!
One more stop on the food tour worth mentioning is Kino Sandals. These sandals are favorites of locals and visitors alike. The shop has been in Key West since the 1960s and offers a variety of handmade, leather sandals at only $20!
The next two days were both water activities. The first day we took a boat about four miles from Key West to a reef for snorkeling and kayaking. I had goosebumps on just the boat ride, so my time in the water was short-lived! The great thing about these tours is how much you learn about Key West! A large part of why the water in the Keys is so beautiful is because of the sea sponges constantly filtering the water. Who knew?!
Our second boat activity was a shark tour and I'll be honest, I didn't think we would actually see any sharks, but the guys running the tour had it down! They would travel to the same spot each day, the sharks knew the sound of the boat engines and would just gather for food. We saw about ten sharks!
After our shark tour on Thursday, my mom and I went to visit the Hemingway House. I loved the arched windows and the tropical plants covering the property. The famous six-toed cats are scattered about the property and are super friendly! Most of them hid their famous paws from me...
Friday was my final day in Key West and it started with Bloody Marys at Blue Heaven. We had been trying to get a table in here all week since it's a Key West must! The hostess told us our wait, "would take about one Bloody Mary," and she was right!
While I was sad to leave Key West and my parents, I was glad to get back to Dallas, my home, and my puppies. Would I go back to Key West? In a heartbeat! It's about a two-hour flight from Dallas and it's one of the prettiest places I've ever been!
There are so many great places to eat and shop in Key West! Below were some of my favorites, including what we were able to try on our food tour!
Places to Eat in Key West
*Try the Cayo Fish Taco! Another one I'm trying to re-create at home!
*We didn't try any food here, but the Cuban Sangria was top notch!
*Just do yourself a favor and order the Lobster Mac & Cheese. I've had dreams about this since I got home!
*Home of some of the best Key West Pink Shrimp!
*No trip to Key West is complete without Key Lime Pie and this place is said to have the best! Their crust is actually made from gingersnaps and not the traditional graham cracker!
*Try the Cafe Con Leche. The ice cubes are actually made from coffee so when they melt in the hot Florida sun, you drink isn't watered down! They also offer a coffee subscription if you wanted to bring a taste of Key West coffee home!
*Rooftop restaurant with a great view of the Key West Harbour. I'd suggest making a reservation to catch that famous Key West sunset!
*This is a must on any visit to Key West! They're known for their breakfast and sky-high key lime pies!
*The cutest cafe near the Hemingway House. Another great spot for mahi mahi tacos and lavender lattes! And lavender lemonade!
Places to Shop in Key West
*This is actually located in Islamorado, but worth the stop! There's a cute coffee bar and shops featuring handmade, artisan treasures!
*Another Key West to-do! They do ship from Key West! I can't say enough great things about these sandals. I think they're Key West's best kept secret!
*Every item is this boutique is made by the owner and his wife. If you're looking for a super special Key West treat this is your place!
*It might seem odd to put a museum gift shop on this list, but this one is special. It's very tiny, but they have a great collection of Hemingway's works that all have a special stamp nothing they are from the Hemingway Home! Kind of regretting not buying a copy of, Old Man and the Sea...
There you have it! I can't wait for the next trip once the world calms down! We could all use some time at the beach!
XO,
Amanda
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