You’ve read about some of the lesser known things to do in Key West in Part 1 (click here in case you missed it). Now in Part 2 are more great things to do in Key West along with my eating picks and a great stop on the way back.

Kicking off the great things to do in Key West –Key West’s 8,200-square-foot Hemingway Distillery is home to the award winning-Papa’s Pilar Rum.  Formerly a tobacco warehouse, the venue houses the Papa’s Pilar Rum production facility, an experience center, tasting room and trading post/gift shop along with the newest addition to the facility a 1930’s Speakeasy called Hemingway Social Club that is open for guests to enjoy some craft cocktails the Social Club is also available for events.

The Distillery offers many guest experiences from a Distillery Tour and Tasting to a special experience that includes Filling Your Own Bottle from a barrel, to the famous Papa’s Pilar Cocktail Class a fun and interactive experience that has each guest learning and creating their very own Papa’s Pilar Signature Cocktails and the best part the guest gets to enjoy their creations! VOTED #1 Distillery Tour in the country, by USA’S Travel & Leisure – tours book up quickly and reservations are required. You can book online at papaspilar.com  OR call 305.414.87554.

Celebrating the 85th anniversary of its founding as “Keeper of the Trees,” the 15-acre Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is showcasing its fall “Scarecrows in the Forest” exhibition, running Sept. 15 through Nov. 30, with locally crafted scarecrows made from natural and recycled materials. Key West’s open-air “living museum” is acclaimed as the continental United States’ only frost-free subtropical natural conservation habitat and native plant botanical garden. Located at 5210 College Road, it shelters plant life native to South Florida, Cuba and the Caribbean including threatened and endangered species. Visit keywest.garden or call 305-296-1504.

Up the Keys Eco Tours’ half-day Nature Tour, offered daily at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.,  includes the Keys’ famed Seven Mile Bridge in addition to Bahia Honda State Park, Key deer and the Blue Hole. Dolphin Research Center and Tiki Bar Crawl tours also are offered. In Key West, private walking tour participants (up to 10) can learn the history and culture of the island on the 1.5-hour Welcome to Key West morning stroll in the heart of Old Town. A Haunted History walking tour takes participants by five haunted mansions and stops at two haunted bars. Complimentary digital photos are included. They also offer custom private tours from Key Largo and Miami to key west. Full day tours include various stops along the way such as Theatre of the Sea,  dolphin research center, Turtle Hospital, and many others. Other offerings are diving, Sunset cruises, Kayak tours, and snorkeling. and shuttle service from Miami to Key West.

Visit upthekeys.com or call 305-928-8961.

More great things to do in Key West –Fury Water Adventures Key West has an Ultimate Adventure H2.0, with a 3 1/2 hour catamaran trip to Florida’s only certified and largest ocean water park — over 3,500 square feet of inflatable waterpark — offering parasailing, reef snorkeling, jet skis and banana boats. Other offerings include snorkeling, eco tours, and private charters, Visit furykeywest.com or call 888-976-5985

Get on the Water!

There are few places on earth better than Key West to see Wild Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. The waters are shallow around the Florida Keys, due to their geologic history as an ancient coral reef. It’s hard to believe but the harbor is the deepest part of the surrounding waters for miles. These shallow waters and the channels that carve through them make it a wonderful environment for Bottlenose dolphins to live, hunt and play. It also makes it great for visitors to head out and enjoy witnessing the magic of the local dolphins. Check out Honest Eco for small group boat tours and dolphin watching experience. Honest Eco is home to the Original Key West Dolphin Watch that started in 1986. While the tour now takes place on a brand new custom designed boat named SQUID,  the welfare of the animals is always a priority which winds up making it a better experience for their guests! The tour also includes guided snorkeling by the biologist crew, and serves organic fresh fruit and organic veggies and hummus from the local cafe Date and Thyme. This is a not- to- be- missed experience!

 In the Lower Keys, Mote Marine Laboratory’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration (IC2R3), based on Summerland Key, offers public tours of Mote’s facility. Reservations can be made through mote.org/keystours,  and private on-site group tours can also be arranged through the same site.

For more information, visit www.fla-keys.com.

A Novel Momento of Your Keys’ Visit!

Seeking a unique souvenir or gift as a remembrance of your Key West trip? Order your MONOPOLY: Key West edition game conceptualized by local resident and entrepreneur Casey Arnold.  The iconic Hasbro Gaming product features Key West themed tokens including a Conch Shell(representing Key West High School), lobster boat, Kino sandal, Kermit from Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Pie Shoppe, Moolah the Manatee (representing First State Bank) and a Key West Rooster (representing Blue Heaven restaurant).

The color-coded board features well-known Key West houses, mansions, inns, resorts and hotels; family-named businesses, restaurants and attractions.

A percentage of sales is to be earmarked to local charities Reef Relief and the Florida Keys SPCA.

Each game purchased benefits Reef Relief, the Florida Keys SPCA and the Key West High School.

Visit keywestmonopoly.com, call 305-292-9994.or email info@keywestmoyonopoly.com for more information. Use code: “caseyarnold” and receive a discount on your purchase!

Places to Eat:

Seven Fish — An attractive spot downtown for sure to be fresh seafood, from the house smoked mahi mahi and crab cake to catches of the day. Fish not your thing? The banana chicken sounded wonderful with caramelized walnuts. And for dessert, their signature strawberry whipped cream pie with graham cracker crust.

The Cafe — Fun and funky decor and the place to go for breakfast, top notch salads, sandwiches, stir fry,  and fresh juices.Lots of vegetarian and vegan choices. I swear by the curried chicken salad with avocado, cherry tomatoes, toasted almonds, grapes, and frisee. Team it up with their blueberry lemonade or the combo of watermelon, lime juice and cucumber.

Prime Steakhouse — When you’ve had enough seafood, this is the place for a prime steak with a good selection of cuts. HIgh quality, good size portions, white tablecloths and friendly service.

Want to stop for a delicious coffee or glass of wine when walking around downtown? Check out the Funky Rooster Coffee House & Wine Bar. Stake out a spot on the porch and watch the people go by.

Don’t miss Baby’s Coffee, a serious local favorite, for your freshly brewed coffee that they roast themselves. They even have a Hemingway’s roast!

For more information, visit www.fla-keys.com.

On the Way Home:

Break up the drive and if you like fresh fruits and vegetables, make a stop at the Redland Market Village. You can imagine you’re at a market in Mexico with the exotic fruits and vegetables along with the staples we can all use. We stocked up at prices that are tough to beat, and quality to match, not easy to find out of agriculture season.