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More Fun Things to Do in Key West + Where to Eat, Stop

 

Fury Water Adventures’ Ultimate Adventure H2.0

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 fun things to do in Key West along with my eating picks and a great stop on the way. Coming up next week, Havana Cabana Key West hotel.

Key West’s 8,200-square-foot Hemingway Rum Co. Distillery at 201 Simonton St. plans to soon open a 2,400-square-foot center for hosting events. The distillery also offers private “Papa’s Cocktail Classes” with a tour, tasting, mixology class and cocktail glass for a maximum of 10 participants on Tuesdays through Sundays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Formerly a tobacco warehouse, the venue houses the Papa’s Pilar Rum production facility, an experience center, tasting room and trading post. Reservations are required for the experience. Visit papaspilar.com or call 305-414-8754.

Hemingway Rum Co Distillery

Florida Keys–based Florida Yachts Charters, a boutique company specializing in bareboat and crewed chartershas a new partnership with the Moorings, offering the Keys as its newest charter destination. The Moorings is Florida’s globally recognized charter company based in Clearwater. New Keys yacht vacations are launched from Oceans Edge Resort & Marina and Stock Island Marina Village on monohulls, sailing catamarans and power yachts. Trips — a minimum of five days — can be captained and crewed or self-chartered and include itineraries to Dry Tortugas National Park and to Marathon and beyond. Private American Sailing Association certification courses can be included. Rates range from $5,400 weekly for a minimum of two people, with total number of guests based on yacht capacity. Visit floridayachtscharters.com or call 800-650-6940.

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.

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

Up the Keys Eco Tours’ half-day Nature Tour, offered daily at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., now 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. Visit upthekeys.com or call 305-928-8961.

Fury Water Adventures Key West has a new Ultimate Adventure H2.0, with a 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. The six-hour adventure is priced from $184.95 for those 11 and older and from $134.95 for children ages 4 to 10. Breakfast, lunch and unlimited beverages are included. Visit furykeywest.com or call 800-683-7371.

 In the Lower Keys, Mote Marine Laboratory’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration (IC2R3), based on Summerland Key, and Captain Hook’s Dive Center on Big Pine Key have unveiled the reef experience “Mote on the Boat” with leading coral science experts. On Tuesdays, a Mote scientist comes aboard a Captain Hook’s Looe Key Snorkel and Dive trip to discuss coral restoration and conservation efforts. Looe Key, located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, is one of “Seven Iconic Reefs” — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s coral restoration project, billed as the world’s largest such effort. Virtual public tours of Mote’s facility are scheduled 10 a.m. on Tuesdays with reservations, and private on-site group tours can be arranged. Visit mote.org or call 305-745-2729. For “Mote on the Boat” trips, contact Captain Hook’s at 305-872-9863.

For more information, visit fla-keys.com.

A Novel Memento of Your Keys’ Visit!

Seeking a unique souvenir or gift as a remembrance of your Key West trip? Preorder a new Key West Monopoly game, conceptualized by local resident Casey Arnold, owner of companies Key West Team Building LLC and the Southernmost Scavenger Hunt. Monopoly tokens include a conch shell, lobster boat, Kino sandal, Key lime pie with pie-maker Kermit, manatee and rooster. 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. Visit keywestmonopoly.com or call 305-292-9994.

 

Places to Eat:

My pick for seafood, Seven Fish

Seven Fish — An attractive spot downtown for sure to be fresh seafood, from Key West pink shrimp 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.

Super delicious salad from The Cafe with curried chicken salad with avocado, cherry tomatoes, toasted almonds, grapes, and frisee.

 

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.

The Cafe

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.

Prime Steakhouse

 

Want to stop for a delicious coffee or glass of wine when walking around downtown? Check out the Funky Rooster. 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 and get this, key lime pie on a stick.

Baby’s Coffee, a favorite local spot for their own roasted blends of coffee

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.

Redland Market Village, about 40 minutes from downtown Miami, a great spot for produce especially out of season

 

 

Karen Escalera

Karen Escalera

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