Visiting KW for 4 Days . . .

[shirleygr]

and I have a few questions.
I have booked the Andrews Inn for 3 nights. Please tell me it is as nice as it looks on the web!
I also booked Echo II for a sunset champagne sail our last evening. Any opinions on that?
We want to do the day trip to Fort Jefferson. Any recommendations for which company to use? Sunny Days or Yankee Freedom?
Any opinions on the Ghost Tour? I would like to do that too.
Thanks for the help!

[Clay Clayton]

I dont know the Andrews Inn (I have been gone from KW almost two years so iit is probably another place that has changed names. Also dont know anything about the sunset sail you have chosen, we always went out with Sebago but all of them will be fun!

Fort Jefferson is a great day trip. I went with Sunny Days and while it was a good trip, it appeared to me that the Yankee Freedom had more room which given how long it takes to get there and get back, would have made it a better trip. I forget the exact numbers but both boats are only allowed a certain number per day, and SD's boat was built to accomodate that number while YF was built to hold more than they can now legally take....or at least that is the way it was when I went. As I recall, the YF is a little slower so you leave KW earlier in the morning (30 minutes?) and you get back a little after SD but for me I would have enjoyed the more room.

Never did the ghost tour but heard it could be fun. I still try to keep my restaurant suggestion list up to date. If you would like a copy, email me at
BigNCBear@aol.com and I will forward you a copy.

Have a great time in Key West!
Clay
a (former) Key West local

[shirleygr]

Hey, Clay.
Nice to see you are still around and helping us with our KW questions. I hadn't realized you moved from KW, though. Do you miss it? How do you like Raleigh? I would think it must be hard to leave a beautiful place like KW behind.
Andrews Inn is on Whalton Lane, right by the Hemingway estate. I don't know of any other names it may have gone by.
Thanks so much for the information on Yankee Freedom. I see that both boats accommodate 100 people, but YF was built for about twice that many. I think I will go with that one based on your experience.
I will send you an email for your restaurant list.
Thanks for all your help!

[Gangway Style]

Hubby and my son did the Ghost Tour that leaves from Crowne Plaza Hotel on Duval. They really enjoyed it. It does involve some walking and a lot of standing while the guide tells the story about each haunted stop. You can take pictures. Thye said they wouldn't do it again but were really glad they did it once. They did the 8:00PM tour.

[shirleygr]

Thanks for the information on the ghost tour, heavysurf. I've done these in Plymouth and Salem, MA and thought it was a hoot. Sounds like this will be fun too. :)

[keywesst]

The YF is licensed for 200 but carries 100 per park request. She has 3 restrooms as opposed to one one the SD, as well as a rooftop open deck with seats....everyone's inside on the the SD.

The Echo is a smaller boat, which may mean a rougher ride and less people to chat with. I really enjoy the Liberty, a 125 foot schooner sunset sail. Antique beautiful schooner, they'll let you steer it, friendly crew, they raise the sails (you help if you want) and it's MUCH more of an island sail experience than a plastic catamaran.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/838/schoonerliberty4mj6.jpg


www.libertyfleet.com

[peter_krynicki]

I had never been oput on the Echo and so asked someone here to post a review when they got back from thier trip. Seems very nice...

"OK, I promised a review, but after I got home from the cruise life got in the way and it's a few weeks late. We ended up taking the tour and we booked directly with the Echo II at their website and we really liked it. We went out in the morning with a few other people (we were the only ones from the cruise) and the catamaran was only half full (which is by design, they don't overbook it) and it was like having a private charter. Along for the ride was the crew of 3 (the two Jen's and a friend) alond with a mother/daughter and 2 couples with our family of four which is myself, DH, and two DD ages 20 and 10. The boat is very clean and very comfortable with a bathroom and lots of shade and a sun deck for those who want it. They let a few passengers in the front while we sailed. We stopped at the shipwreck to snorkel and I can say that it's not what you might expect. The water isn't clear like Grand Cayman but it's so nice and warm and really great to get into. The shipwreck itself is an old fishing boat and you can make out the mast and some of the ribs from the hull. However there really isn't much else to see, not a lot of fish etc. As far as snorkeling goes I'd give it a 3-4 out of 10. But the water was delightful and the catamarn sailing was worth the price itself. We also went out to see the dolphins and it was really wonderful to see them in the wild a play. They set out a nice tray of fresh fruit, snacks, beer, wine and softdrinks. There was plenty for all. Also, the crew, the two Jens (in matching swimsuits - very cute) were really knowledgeable about the dolphins and the water and very friendly. If you really just want to spend a wonderful morning sailing around on a catamarn with a little swimming, some nice refereshments and good company then this is the laid back Keys kind of day. It seemed like we had gone out on a catamaran with a group of friends for the day. The memory brings a smile to my face and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

The water quality that they mention will vary from day-to-day and I've heard that "the two Jens" have moved on.

Pjk

[exgrill]

Hi Shirley

What room are you staying in at Andrews Inn? We are staying in the Malaga in September for 6 nights. Would like a mini review when you return.

Thanks

[shirleygr]

Hi Shirley

What room are you staying in at Andrews Inn? We are staying in the Malaga in September for 6 nights. Would like a mini review when you return.

Thanks
LOL That's the room we have. We are staying 4 nights April 14 - 18. Will post when we get back!
keywesst and peter, thanks for your input. We will definitely stick with the YF. I'm going to go check out Liberty's website. :)

[LOWTYD]

The Ghost tour was excellent (YOU"RE DOOMED!) We alo took a l walk around the cemetary which is quite interesting. A lot of quirky things to see. We did the Western Union ship which was fun but it wasn't a sunset sail. 4 days is just about right for Keyt West. We are going again in November.