Duval Street and Southernmost Point

[clemsoncruiser]

How far it is from duval street to the southern most point. I know that we are going to want to go to Margaritaville, etc., but I also read on here about the butterfly conservatory at southernmost point. We will be in port from noon-6. Do we have enough time for both? Thanks ahead of time!

[cudjoekey]

The Southernmost Point is approximately two miles from the pier where you will dock. It is located at the end of Whitehead Street which is one block from Duval (Duval runs the full two miles, from the pier to the south side of the island).

I have to admit that I have never heard of the Butterfly Conservatory. Is it new?

My advice: take a ride on the Conch Tour Train and walk down Duval (stopping in a few places for a cold one and a slice of key lime pie). The Conch Tour Train will take you by the Southernmost Point and will stop momentarily to allow for pictures.

If you want to go to the Southernmost Point yourself, you can either walk the two miles, take a pedi-cab or rent bikes or scooters (scooters are probably your best bet and would allow you to go around the whole island if you do not take the Conch Tour Train)

[clemsoncruiser]

Cudjoekey: To tell you the truth, I read about the butterfly conservatory on the board. This will be my first trip to Key West. About the conch tour train, where do you get on, how much is it per person and how long is the ride (we will only be there from noon to 6)? Should we take the train to the Southernmost Point and walk back down Duvall or take the train to the Southernmost Point and back and then walk down Duvall. Is Margaritaville, etc. closer to the ship or to the Southernmost Point?

[jstducky]

the butterfly conservatory is a few blocks away from southernmost point on duval street. i was just in key west a couple of weeks ago on a cruise. i walked to southernmost point via whitehead and stopped at the key west lighthouse on the way. went to southernmost point and then returned to the ship via duval street. i saw the butterfly conservatory. its a white 2 story old fashioned house looking building. i didn't go inside though, so i can't tell you what there is inside. margaritaville is a lot closer to the ship than it is to southernmost point.

it would probably be best to somehow catch a ride to southernmost point and then walk back to the ship once you're done.

remember it is hot hot hot down there. and not just hot but humid. for us walking to southernmost point didn't seem that bad and it certainly didn't feel like 2 miles. but once we got to southernmost point it was hot and there was a line of about 75 people waiting their turn to take pictures. the walk back to the ship however, seemed to take forever! i think walking both ways is too much and too hot unless there are places you want to stop in both directions!

noon to 6 is more than enough time unless you spend a lot of time at each stop. we were in port from 8-3 and i was able to do an excursion from 9-12. each lunch on the ship and walk to the lighthouse, southernmost point, and back via duval street and stop to do some shopping and be back on the boat by 2:30.

hope that helps

[cudjoekey]

Clemson,

The Conch Tour Train costs approximately $20 pp and leaves from the depot that is located right off of Mallory Square (right near the pier). The total trip runs around 1.5 - 2 hours. I have been vacationing in KW for more than 12 years and lived in the Keys for 6 months (I actually lived on Cudjoekey...hence my screen name), and, in my opinion, the Conch Tour Train is a must-do -- the best way to get and overview of the island and learn about the history.

Visiting the Southernmost Point really is not as big of a deal as it looks. You get your picture taken, contemplate how close you are to Cuba and then leave. Unless you really want to go to the Butterfly Conservatory (which, as I mentioned, I do not know anything about) I would just "visit" the Southermost Point by seeing it from the train.

An alternative is to take the Old Town Trolley. It provides the same island overview as the Conch Tour Train, but it allows you to get on and off as you wish.

Margaritaville is located fairly close to the pier. The two mile length of Duval really can be divided into two sections. The first half (closer to the pier, on the Gulf side) is where most of the recommended shops and bars are and the other half (toward the Southermost Point, on the ocean side) is a little less desirable (although there is an excellent ice cream store called Flamingo Crossing). The "barrier" that divides Duval into the two halves is U.S.1.

Other possible activities: the Hemingway house, Mel Fisher's Treasure Musuem (not recommended by me) and a leisurely stroll through old town to look at the beautiful conch houses.

Overall, I would recommend that you go on the Conch Tour Train, return to the depot at Mallory Square and then walk down Duval Street until you get to U.S.1, shopping and having an occasional drink or two. If you like interesting, eclectic art, be sure to stop in Island Arts or the Guild Hall Gallery and check out the paper smashe animal sculptures by the local artist known as "Egg." My wife and I pick a new one up every year and our collection is a great conversation piece!

Let me know if you have any other questions about the Island! I love Key West and love talking about it.

[cudjoekey]

Whoops, I forgot about the aquarium which is located essentially at Mallory Square. It is very small and possibly a little overpriced (almost everything is in KW) but my wife and I really like it.

[clemsoncruiser]

jstducky-

your post helped alot. sounds like we will just get a ride from the pier to the southernmost point and the get them to take us to margaritaville depending on the weather. if its not too hot then maybe we can just walk from the southernmost point back down duvall. thanks!!!!

[clemsoncruiser]

cudjoekey-

thanks for all of your advice. i think that we will do exactly what you suggested. the tour to the point and back and then duvall with a couple of drinks and shopping on our own!!! i think that will make the perfect afternoon! thanks again!

[gotmilk]

We have visited the Butterfly Conservatory several times. It's very nice but very hot and they had alot more butterflies on our 2nd visit. The Southern Most Point is just around the corner from the Conservatory. When you step out of the Conservatory turn to your right and go to the 1st street and hang another right and it is at the end of the (very short) block. It will take you all of 3 minutes to walk.

[clemsoncruiser]

gotmilk - thanks! how have you gotten to the conservatory in the past? do you take a taxi there and then catch one back after visiting the southernmost point?

[gotmilk]

clemsoncruiser...The first time we went we were on a cruise and we did get a taxi and then had a taxi pick us up later and take us back to the duval shopping area.The conservatory will take you about 45 min. to 1 hour. They have a nice gift shop to browse through after the stroll in the butterfly area. The second time (last month) we drove down to KW so we had our own vehicle. We are just getting ready to leave on a cruise today and will be in KW tomorrow but doubt we will go to conservatory this time because of the short time we have in KW. Plus we were just there last month. It is a very nice place to visit and I will go back again some day.

[clemsoncruiser]

got milk - thanks again! all the information that i have received will be very helpful - it will probably just come down to a decision of whether we want to do the conservatory or not once we get there. we are only there from noon to 6 and we dont want to feel rushed. im sure that we will either take a taxi to the conservatory, walk to southernmost point from there and get a taxi to duvall or skip the conservatory and do the conch train tour. thanks everybody!!!!

[reklawr]

Hey Guys Great info here on Key West. We're signed up for the Conch Train. After that we'll have to hit a few of the Bars and we absolutely need to get a Buffett T-Shirt.

Thanks for the info!


Roy

[bambam]

FYI, right next to Margaritaville is a little gift shop with all the t-shirts, hats and whatnots you could ever hope for, regarding Jimmy B...etc... walking south (away from Mallory Square), Margaritaville is on the right...several blocks down.. :D

[jerzzgirl]

cudjoekey-

thanks for all of your advice. i think that we will do exactly what you suggested. the tour to the point and back and then duvall with a couple of drinks and shopping on our own!!! i think that will make the perfect afternoon! thanks again!
My DH and I were only going to stop at Margarittavilles (he's a parrot head) and basically just wander around after that. I hadn't considered the Conch tour but I think I'm going to do that then walk on over to Margarittaville - glad i read this post!

[mnsawyer]

We're doing the old town trolley tour...are there any of the stops that you recommend we get off the trolley? I know the next trolley doesn't arrive for 30 minutes?? I know some of the places like the Hemingway Museum would be a good stop but also there would be a charge for admission, correct? What other stops charge admission on the trolley tour?

Great idea about trolley tour and then back to Duval Street and walk up to as far as route 1. How many blocks?

Thanks!

[davidaperryman]

There is Sloppy Joe's (Hemmingways hang out), Hoggs Breath (Hoggs Breath is better than no breath) and Billy's (good restaurant) along Duval street. Get a tempory tatoo and a fake pierced earing.

[Trainacomin]

Can you rent scooters at the pier? And if so how much for a double?

[kaykels]

why is the Conch tour a must do? How does it differ from teh Trolley? Or are we better off renting electric cars? I'm traveling with a 3 yr.old, 8 & 11. Also, my brother's family is joining us and they also have a 3 yr.old. Will they be bored on the conch train? We want to have lunch at Margaritaville too and then finding some excellent Key Lime pie is a must. How about a beach somewhere for the kiddies? Are there any hotels with a nice beach? A local suggested Ft Zackery Taylor beach off of Whitehead Street. What are your thoughts?

[mnsawyer]

Conch and Trolley are overview of the entire city of Key West...includes information about history, points of interest,e tc. Conch Train does not let passengers off, Old Town Trolley does. Not sure if your young children would be interested. There aren't great beaches in Key West...many are man-made and rocky.

[seabum]

My DH and I were only going to stop at Margarittavilles (he's a parrot head) and basically just wander around after that. I hadn't considered the Conch tour but I think I'm going to do that then walk on over to Margarittaville - glad i read this post!


FYI - any true Parrothead knows - its Margaritaville. (one T) and Hog's Breath (not Hoggs) etc etc.

If you want a true taste of the old Key West - before cruise ships and Buffett, head over to the Schooner Wharf - great food, drinks music and atmosphere. (dirt floor etc - located on the old fishing docks.) lots of locals and "local color" Hopefully Mike McCloud will be playing.

BTW - the dogs are friendly.

Also - when you walk over from Duval to Schooner Wharf, you will walk right by Buffett's famous Shrimpboat Sound Recording Studio. Its not marked in any fashion - but a simple square building right on the water with a tiny tiny little sign on the door. I believe most his recent album was recorded there.

Last time I was there I bumped into several of his band members eating lunch on the steps outside of the studio.

Have fun,

[kal]

The studio (http://img170.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img170&image=jbstudio77vb.jpg)!

[Tashaf]

Gotmilk do you remember how much the taxi was to and from the butterfly conservatory? Are the taxis just hanging around the butterfly place or the southernmost point? I've been to Key West once and really don't fancy walking two miles in that moist heat. Also are the taxis per person or just a flat rate to a certain place? Thanks.

[homeofthedogs]

Thanks for the great info on Key West!!!! I'm going in Sept. and can't wait. Thanks again.
LuAnn

[swom]

My advice: take a ride on the Conch Tour Train and walk down Duval (stopping in a few places for a cold one and a slice of key lime pie). The Conch Tour Train will take you by the Southernmost Point and will stop momentarily to allow for pictures.

Do you know how much the Conch Tour Train is? I hate to overpay by going through the cruise lines and it is $26.00 via our cruise line.
Thanks in advance!

[swom]

How far is Kino's Sandal Factory from the pier? We will be doing the couch train tour, Margaritaville and I have to stop at Kino's for a couple................ten pair of sandals. LOL
Thanks Cudjoekey, your thread was very helpful!!!!

[Coolcruise02]

I think it is very close to the pier. They are on Fitzpatrick Street. :)

[JerseyGirl23]

How far is Kino's Sandal Factory from the pier? We will be doing the couch train tour, Margaritaville and I have to stop at Kino's for a couple................ten pair of sandals. LOL
Thanks Cudjoekey, your thread was very helpful!!!!

http://www.kinosandalfactory.com/