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Key West on foot?

Postman806

By Postman806,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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alabamaprincess

alabamaprincess

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We are going on a cruise to Key West/Nassau for our anniversary at the end of December. We are planning on getting tickets for the City View trolley. Love to see more of Key west. The last time we went we got over heated and only went to the Hemingway House. This time I hope to see most of old town and see several attractions and shop some. I want to go back to Hemingway's house, the Butterfly conservatory, Truman's Little White House and have a Key Lime pie on a stick.

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pauleydm

pauleydm

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We got off of the Freedom...headed down Duval street to the Southernmost Point and took a photo. Some of the shops were not open on our way. By the time we headed back, all of the shops were open. The only detour we took was to go to the Key West Cemetary.:)

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dljones

dljones

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We have done KW on foot twice. Hang out on Duval street for the most part as there are lots of shops and eats. The conch train and trolleys are full to over flowing and not worth the crowd or wait IMHO. It is just a mass of people. Get a map and explore on your on. Everything is close to the ship....:D

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yonder

yonder

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Get off the ship.....walk down greene street past capt. tony's......to sloppy joe's....turn right.......walk down duvall.......turn right at truman.......turn right on whitehead........pass hem's house........pass the the little sign that proclaims where hem took a pee break........walk back to greene street....turn right.......walk to the water.....follow the water to schooner wharf bar.........sit down and have a few beers....tip michael mcloud for the good music........and walk back down greene street past kermit's key lime pie shack to the ship.........repeat if necessary.............have fun..........:)

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treasure4two

treasure4two

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The trollys are great. You can get on and off at each stop or just stay on. They go all over the island and the driver doubles as your tour guide and points out all the sites. The hop on, hop off feature is great!

I think they charge like $25+ per person. I have done b oth ways. I would use the maps and walk around. Fun town!!

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TexasRon "Live from...." Rare

TexasRon

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On our recent trip to Marathon, we took a day to explore Key West (as we do every trip...). One family rented bikes and ours rented an electric car ($96 for three hours but you can probably find a better deal or a discount coupon; it was a last minute deal for us due to a kid on crutches).

 

We ALL had a great time!! The bikes are very easy to park around the island and the people, in general, are "bike friendly"... The electric car was fine but you still have to pay to park, etc. because it takes up a normal parking space. Scooters are a good option, too.

 

We have also walked the tourist area many times. It can be hot, of course, but there are LOTS of "watering holes" to help with that!!!

 

Whatever you decide to do...HAVE FUN!!!

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PAPERBKWRITER

PAPERBKWRITER

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Lots of folks gather to watch the sun set over the ocean. Awesome sight. The trolley is a good activity and as stated the place is small and easy walkable. One we visited on a Monday afternoon and you'd think it was Saturday night as the bars were all packed. Free roaming chickens and lots of "different" people there. Not everybody's cup of tea.

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bfkkbc

bfkkbc

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Key West is a great place to walk around to burn all those extra calories you may be taking in.

Check out Blue Heaven. Great eats. Cold beer, and chickens. Chickens everywhere.

 

Hahaha!! I forgot about the chickens!! Too funny!!:D:D

 

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tattoos

tattoos

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Depending on where the ship docks, you will either be at Mallory Square or the Navy pier. If you dock at the Navy pier, you can take a complimentary shuttle to the downtown area...at Mallory Square you can walk off the ship right into town.

 

I know for first time visitors, the goal is to have a drink at Captain Tony's, Margaritaville, Hogs Breath Saloon or Sloppy Joes and although they are tourist destinations by themselves, there is so much more to Key West (there's a bar called Crabby Dicks on Duval Street that has some nice drink specials).

 

The trolley or conch tour train will provide a quick overview of Key West but it's up to you where you want to spend some time. The best way to see Key West is on foot.

 

As others have suggested, obtain a map before you start out, there are information booths sprinkled around on Front Street.

 

The best beach in Key West (in our opinion) is the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park which is located near the dock...you can also visit the Fort while you are there. The entrance fee is minimal and the Park will provide a great experience. The beach is beautiful (wear water shoes, lots of shells to pick and bring home), they have a huge shaded area with lots of trees and picnic tables, you can rent lounge chairs or just bring a towel, the water is beautiful and clean and there is an outcropping of rocks you can swim to and snorkel, there is a very nice concession stand offering food and drinks, outdoor showers and clean restrooms, a lovely, tranquil place to spend a few hours.

 

Places children will love: Key West Aquarium (nice touch tank), Pirate Museum, Shipwreck Museum (has a 60' lookout tower you can climb).

 

Places adults will love: Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum (Whitehead and Front Street) where you can lift a real gold bar, Ernest Hemingway's Home (love those cats), Audubon House, Harry Truman's Little White House (located in the Truman Annex off Whitehead Street)...this is where President Truman spent vacations and Thomas Edison resided here during WWI. President Eisenhower recuperated from a heart attack here in 1961, great historic significance and inexpensive entrance fee.

 

Off the beaten path eateries are the Half Shell Raw Bar on Margaret Street and the Schooner Wharf Bar on William Street (lots of local color, happy hour was 8:00 a.m., ha!). Another great place we visited was Dante's on Caroline Street in the Conch Harbor Marina...delicious fish tacos, raw bar, and a huge pool for everyone's use in the middle of the restaurant, cool!!!

 

Lots of great things to see in Key West other than drinking holes, the architecture alone is so interesting and not anything you will see anywhere else.

 

Rose

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GAMOM4

GAMOM4

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Key West is our favorite port! We have been there two times before and are cruising back there in December...both times before we just walked the city...absolutely loved it! Even in December it was 85 degrees and it sure felt alot hotter than that! We walked to the Southernmost point both times...in December we may actually get on the trolley so we can see if there is anything we missed walking:)

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