Key West:
After spending a fun-filled day in the Miami area, it was time to keep the caravan moving south towards Key West. Since we left late from Miami, we decided to spend the night at Florida City which is the gateway to the Keys. There are a lot of good chain hotels here with good pricing. I recommend Quality Inn from friendly staff and a great breakfast.
Before hitting the road on US-1 and driving around 130 miles to Key West, we decided to checkout a place recommended by the hotel staff called Robert Is Here. RIH is located just a couple of miles away from US-1 and when we got here we were instantly glad that we did. The first thing we got was a couple of amazing milkshakes made with fresh key limes, strawberries, dragon fruit, and mangoes. The portion size was huge and one milkshake was enough to split with 2 people. We also got some of their spicy boiled peanuts to munch on the road. Although a little expensive, the selection of fruit, jams, and honey was really good to make up for the high price.
The drive to Key West on US-1 is long but one that you will remember for a lifetime. You get to see the Gulf on the right side and the Atlantic on the left while driving on miles long bridges that go over turquoise blue waters. Along the way, you pass many small towns, restaurants, and bars. We decided to make a quick stop at Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in Key Largo. This place is known for its Key Lime Pie and rightly so. The custard was smooth and perfectly tart and the graham cracker crust was as buttery as it gets.
Further down US-1, we saw a large sign for Robbie’s of Islamorada so we decided to stop for a little break. The main draw of this place is the tarpon feeding. You get a bucket of bait fish for $3 and head to the dock in the back. Then you lay down on your belly and hold the bait a few inches off the water where a school of almost 100 tarpon await. Pretty soon, a tarpon would jump and snatch the bait right out of your hand. Tarpon don’t have any sharp teeth so there wasn’t anything to be afraid of. Watch out for the pesky Pelicans though as they are mean and will bite you if you don’t pay attention. There was also a restaurant overlooking the Gulf and also little shops selling plenty of knickknacks.
We finally reached our destination for the night to see the sunset at Mallory Square in Key West. The square was buzzing with hundreds of people and all kinds of street performers and vendors. There was a guy breathing fire, a duo juggling knives, and a guy playing some really good Jamaican music. The whole vibe of the place was very laid back and chill. There were hundreds of boats and even a cruise ship enjoying a whole different view of the square and the wonderful sunset. If you get lucky, you may come across a little food cart called Holy Guacamole. These guys serve avocado peels filled with mounds of guacamole with a side of chips. It is very refreshing and a delicious treat.
Since the craziness of Mallory Square died down pretty quickly after the sunset, we decided to follow the hoards of people walking towards the buzzing Duval St. The main drag of this street stretches for about a mile and has every kind of bar, restaurant, and specialty shop that you can imagine. It was entertaining to watch people enjoying themselves inside the overflowing Sloppy Joe’s Bar. The sidewalk was packed with people just walking around from one bar to the other.
Since we had another full day planned on the Keys the next day, we decided to call it a night and head to our hotel.
