Guidebook for Key West

Mike
Guidebook for Key West

Parks & Nature

Best beach in the Keys
141 locals recommend
Bahia Honda State Park
36850 Overseas Hwy
141 locals recommend
Best beach in the Keys
Info on wildlife and natural areas
US Fish & Wildlife Department Services
Key Deer Boulevard
Info on wildlife and natural areas
Tranquil setting, clean and deep swimming water, convenient location
20 locals recommend
Fort Zachary Taylor
20 locals recommend
Tranquil setting, clean and deep swimming water, convenient location
Not a great swimming beach but it is quiet and pleasant and convenient to the houseboat.
Boca Chica Beach
Not a great swimming beach but it is quiet and pleasant and convenient to the houseboat.
Remote group of small islands part of a wildlife and bird refuge accessible by ferry and catamaran companies. Also has an immense civil war fort that materializes in the middle of the ocean.
8 locals recommend
Dry Tortugas National Park
8 locals recommend
Remote group of small islands part of a wildlife and bird refuge accessible by ferry and catamaran companies. Also has an immense civil war fort that materializes in the middle of the ocean.
If you drive around the island of Big Pine Key you will find the adorable and tame miniature Key Deer roaming freely. Please do not feed!
National Key Deer Refuge
If you drive around the island of Big Pine Key you will find the adorable and tame miniature Key Deer roaming freely. Please do not feed!

Sightseeing

Boardwalk, harbor, marina, boats, shops, restaurants
9 locals recommend
Key West Historic Seaport
201 William St
9 locals recommend
Boardwalk, harbor, marina, boats, shops, restaurants
Nightly sunset view and celebration, street performers, arts and crafts, food stalls, people watching
100 locals recommend
Mallory Square
400 Wall St
100 locals recommend
Nightly sunset view and celebration, street performers, arts and crafts, food stalls, people watching
Similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, lots of shops, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, bars, clubs and nightlife
62 locals recommend
Duval Street
Duval Street
62 locals recommend
Similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, lots of shops, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, bars, clubs and nightlife
Coral reef snorkeling trips to the nearby best reef patch. This outfitter is inexpensive, very knowledgeable, and uses small catamarans rather than large cattle boats.
33 locals recommend
Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center
27340 Overseas Hwy
33 locals recommend
Coral reef snorkeling trips to the nearby best reef patch. This outfitter is inexpensive, very knowledgeable, and uses small catamarans rather than large cattle boats.

Food Scene

My favorite breakfast and lunch spot (American diner style with Carribbean treats like the Cuban sandwich) coz it has a local/community feel, the owners and staff are super-friendly, and people actually socialize with each other. The cafe con leche is the best in Florida.
9 locals recommend
Harpoon Harry's
832 Caroline St
9 locals recommend
My favorite breakfast and lunch spot (American diner style with Carribbean treats like the Cuban sandwich) coz it has a local/community feel, the owners and staff are super-friendly, and people actually socialize with each other. The cafe con leche is the best in Florida.
Closest restaurant to the houseboat (southern-style food and also local seafood dishes)
6 locals recommend
Bobalu's Southern Café
301 US-1
6 locals recommend
Closest restaurant to the houseboat (southern-style food and also local seafood dishes)
Another nearby restaurant to the houseboat, it is outdoor tiki-hut style with tables on a patio that overlooks a mangrove bay. Every Sunday they offer a plated country-style BBQ special cooked on an outdoor grill.
19 locals recommend
Geiger Key Marina
5 Geiger Rd
19 locals recommend
Another nearby restaurant to the houseboat, it is outdoor tiki-hut style with tables on a patio that overlooks a mangrove bay. Every Sunday they offer a plated country-style BBQ special cooked on an outdoor grill.
My favorite Mexican restaurant that is also conveniently located (in less than ten minutes by car) from Big Coppitt
10 locals recommend
Chico's Cantina
5230 US-1
10 locals recommend
My favorite Mexican restaurant that is also conveniently located (in less than ten minutes by car) from Big Coppitt
Also conveniently located (in Stock Island) if you don't want to navigate the traffic and parking in Key West. Lovely dockside tables overlooking a boat harbor. The snapper and other seafood dishes are fresh and excellent.
87 locals recommend
Hogfish Bar & Grill
6810 Front St
87 locals recommend
Also conveniently located (in Stock Island) if you don't want to navigate the traffic and parking in Key West. Lovely dockside tables overlooking a boat harbor. The snapper and other seafood dishes are fresh and excellent.
One of my favorite restaurants, also has a great upper outdoor patio with tables overlooking the Key West Bight harbor and marina. The food and sushi is authentic and fresh, and the servers are awesome.
9 locals recommend
Thai Island Restaurant
711 Eisenhower Dr
9 locals recommend
One of my favorite restaurants, also has a great upper outdoor patio with tables overlooking the Key West Bight harbor and marina. The food and sushi is authentic and fresh, and the servers are awesome.
Another favorite of mine, it is the best vegetarian restaurant in the entire Florida Keys.
9 locals recommend
The Cafe
509 Southard St
9 locals recommend
Another favorite of mine, it is the best vegetarian restaurant in the entire Florida Keys.
Neat place in a garden setting under tree canopies and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Classy and pricey, but worth it.
30 locals recommend
Louie's Backyard
700 Waddell Ave
30 locals recommend
Neat place in a garden setting under tree canopies and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Classy and pricey, but worth it.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Key West. Recommended items are the ossobucco, any of the tortellini's, and either snapper dish. The lobster and the filet mignon are great too. Oh yeah, the alfredo pasta too.
10 locals recommend
La Trattoria Restaurant
524 Duval St
10 locals recommend
One of the best Italian restaurants in Key West. Recommended items are the ossobucco, any of the tortellini's, and either snapper dish. The lobster and the filet mignon are great too. Oh yeah, the alfredo pasta too.
My favorite pizza joint that has the best pizza, in my opinion. Since it is semi-self-service, you can sit and relax or watch TV without servers under pressure to turn the table over.
Big John's Pizzeria
1103 Key Plaza
My favorite pizza joint that has the best pizza, in my opinion. Since it is semi-self-service, you can sit and relax or watch TV without servers under pressure to turn the table over.

Essentials

The nearest decent supermarket to the houseboat
19 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Searstown Shopping Center
3316 N Roosevelt Blvd
19 locals recommend
The nearest decent supermarket to the houseboat
Nearest Emergency Room
Lower Keys Medical Center
Nearest Emergency Room
One of two nearby convenience stores and gas stations
Circle K
1109 Overseas Hwy
One of two nearby convenience stores and gas stations
One of two nearby convenience stores and gas stations
Dion's Quik Mart
451 Overseas Highway
One of two nearby convenience stores and gas stations

Shopping

Cheapest Ice in town, one dollar for 10 lbs. Also a supermarket, K-mart and Office Max next door.
Dollar Tree
1120 Key Plaza
Cheapest Ice in town, one dollar for 10 lbs. Also a supermarket, K-mart and Office Max next door.

Getting Around

This is only one stop of many by the public bus service. The stop closest to the houseboat is at Bobalus Restaurant on Big Coppitt Key (mile marker 10). For schedule and stop info, search online for Key West Transit or Lower Keys Shuttle.
Bus Pickup
This is only one stop of many by the public bus service. The stop closest to the houseboat is at Bobalus Restaurant on Big Coppitt Key (mile marker 10). For schedule and stop info, search online for Key West Transit or Lower Keys Shuttle.