Ten Things You Must Do If You Want To Vacation In Key West

Ten Things You Must Do If You Want To Vacation InFLATS FISHING - This is the ultimate challenge to a
Key Westfisherman because you are in waters that are rarely
By Robert (Bob) Cohendeeper than 2 to 3 feet and you are using either 15 lb.
Planning a vacation in Key West can sometimes be atest line on a spinning rod, or fly fishing. These boats
daunting task as there are so many things to do inare specifically designed for high speeds in very
Key West. The Key West Welcome Center can beshallow waters. Here you can hook into Tarpon,
your focal point for planning your vacation becausePermit, Bone Fish, African Pompano, and sometimes
they are in the service of assisting visitors with theireven sharks. Imaging the thrill of catching a 90 lb.
vacation planning.Tarpon on 15 lb. test line. It will be an exercise to see
The Welcome Center can make all of yourwho tires first; you or the Tarpon (in many cases it will
reservations for you so you do not have to stressbe you). These boats can only take a maximum of 2
over what to do, who to call or what to plan.passengers. Charters for 1/2 day start at $350; full day
1. HOTELS, MOTELS, BED & BREAKFAST,start at $550.
VACATION RENTALS3. SNORKEL, SNUBA AND SCUBA DIVING
Key West is a small island that is 1.5 by 4 miles in sizeOver 80% of the visitors to Key West and the Florida
with only 4,000 total hotel, motel, bed & breakfast andKeys want to go either snorkeling or scuba diving. This
condominium rooms on the entire island. During specialis due to the abundant and colorful sea life one would
events and holiday weekends, there is usually a 3-nitesee while on either a snorkeling or scuba diving
minimum stay at the bed & breakfasts as well asexperience. To Scuba Dive, one must be a certified
some of the 4-star hotel resorts on the island anddiver (PADI, NAUI, etc) as they have anywhere from
condominium resorts.Open Water Certification to Master Diver.
If you are coming in for just one night during the week,If you have never done scuba diving before, there is
then you probably will not need advanced reservationssomething called SNUBA which gives you an
for a hotel or motel room. Sometimes, we can get youexperience similar to Scuba, but instead of having a
into a nice bed & breakfast for just one night due totank strapped to your back, the regulator in your
last minute cancellations. But, if you plan on staying formouth is attached to a 20-foot long air hose attached
a few nights or longer, advanced reservations areto a compressor on the surface. This way you get the
definitely in order.experience of being underwater without having to get
Working as a Concierge for a number of years, youcertified.
see just when and where rooms are available forIf you want to see what it is like to Scuba Dive, you
nightly rental. If you are looking for private homes forcan take a Resort Course which gives you enough
your vacation rental, then expect places that are onlytraining to go out with an instructor on what is called a
available for a minimum of one week. Some places2-tank dive in up to 45 feet of water.
are only available on a monthly basis.Snorkel trips start at $35 per person, Snuba starts at
On another note, if you are like me and have animal$95 per person, Scuba starts at $90 per person and
companions, they are a part of your family and do notresort courses start at $155 per person.
like the idea of leaving them home when you are out4. FT. JEFFERSON AT THE DRY TORTUGAS
having fun. Most accommodations, including theDay trips to the Dry Tortugas has to be the most
vacation rentals, are not pet friendly. The ones thatpopular excursion in Key West as you get to the Dry
have more pet friendly rooms are the bed &Tortugas by either a high speed catamaran or by
breakfasts. Contact the Key West Welcome Centerseaplane.
to find out what is available that is pet friendly and theyThe Catamarans take a little over two hours to go
will make the reservations for you.about 70 miles west of Key West and they give you
In the off-season (June 1 to December 15),about 4.5 hours at the Dry Tortugas. The Seaplane
accommodation rates start at about $89 for a basictakes about 35 minutes to get there and they give you
room up to a 4-star resort starting at $200 a night.about 2.5 hours on the island.
During high season (December 16 to May 31), ratesFt. Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas is 16 acres in size
can start at $169 per night.and it is the largest coastal fort in the United States. It
2. FISHING THE KEYSjust draws you into its history when the historian tells
If you are an avid fisherman, coming to Key West isyou about the place. This is a trip you do not want to
something you will never forget. There is no bettermiss.
fishing in the State of Florida than there is in Key West.Boat prices to the Dry Tortugas start at $110 to $129
Try your hand at game fish such as Sailfish, Bluedepending on the boat, and the seaplane costs start at
Marlin, Tarpon, Permit, Cobia, Wahoo or even Shark.$189 per adult.
More records have been broken here than anywhere5. GLASS BOTTOM BOAT EXCURSIONS
else in the State of Florida.The Glass bottom boats give you the experience of
There are three basic types of fishing:seeing the sea life at the Living Coral Reef. We call it a
1. Off-Shore"Dry Snorkel" trip as it is like snorkeling without getting
2. Back Country Light Tacklewet.
3. FlatsLarge tropical fish, colorful coral await you at the reef.
OFF SHORE - Off-shore fishing is where you go forPrices start at $35 per person.
the big stuff such as Grouper, Sail Fish, Marlin,6. FINE DINING IN KEY WEST
Mahi-Mahi, King Mackerel, etc. The boats are usually aKey West is privileged to have so many fine
six-pack (maximum six passenger) and you take turnsrestaurants that it would be difficult to chose which
in the hot seat. The method of hooking the fish is byones to eat at.
trolling. You can reserve by the seat (1/2 day $135; fullWe have everything from the fast food chains, all the
day $185), or private charters (1/2 day starting at $600;way to 4 diamond quality restaurants. Other than a
full day starting at $800).few minor exceptions, you do not have to make a
BACK COUNTRY LIGHT TACKLE - This type ofreservation and you never ever have to dress up for
fishing is using a spinning rod on boats that are neverdinner.
bigger than 28-feet with a maximum capacity of 4Key West has what we call, "Key West Casual"
passengers. This is usually sight casting and can usewhich means shirt, shorts and sandals and this is the
either lures or live bait. You will catch things such ascode of dress for every place in Key West.
Mahi-Mahi, Sailfish, Tarpon, Cobia, Permit, Bone Fish, etc.You can have something as simple as a good
These are strictly private charter with 1/2 days startinghamburger or Conch Fritters, to something as
at $450; full days starting at $650extravagant as Lobster Mango Tango (lobster saut