| Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Marco Island, FL
Posts: 398
|  Re: slip in the keys
In case you were wondering what to do in the Keys (on land), here is a list by mile marker:
MM 110ish - The Border of The Conch Republic:
Skeeter's Last Chance Saloon just south of Florida City at the end of I-95.
This is where it all starts, this is where we leave the mainland behind
and do what only americans can do.
We drive 100 miles out into the Caribbean Ocean!
...where else but the USA can ya drive to Paradise?
RULE # 1. Always, always enter the Keys via CARD SOUND ROAD and stop off at Alabama Jack's.
Right beside the Card Sound Bridge - It's a Key's tradition, and good mojo ...trust me!
It only adds 15 minutes to the drive. You'll either dig it or ya won't.
If ya don't, stop & turn around now, you'll be better off going directly to MickeyWorld@Orlando!
Stop #1 ALABAMA JACK'S, Card Sound Road by the bridge.
Located smack in the middle of "The Backdoor to The Keys", in some legendary tarpon
and bonefish waters, this is a real Caribbean honkytonk and a Key's tradition & legend.
Great food & live music right on the water. Two thirds of the visiters arrive by boat.
Pirates, Cowboys, & Outlaws welcome.
Upon leaving Alabama Jack's continue down Card Sound Road
into Key Largo, observing this last rare patch of undeveloped
mangrove tropics the way it used to be .
MM104 The Caribbean Club, Key Largo, this is the quintessential tropical bar. This is it!
Right on the water, killer sunset spot, open-air bar with flocks of wild parrots in the palm trees,
manatees, parrotfish and giant tarpon swimming right up beside your table.
Heck, you can even go swimming with them while ordering a cheeseburger!
MM104 Neptune's Hideaway Bungalos. A dive bum favorite for years, cheap & clean, cable & fridge.
Great stopover spot for divers & snorkers going to Pennecamp Marine Park and so close to the Caribbean Club ya can swim over for a beer!
MM 105 The Crack'd Conch, new location, 451-0732, Open Noon-10pm
100 Kinds Of Beer!, Conch, Caribe, Cajun & Native Specialties like Alligator.
MM103.5 The Hideout, breakfast & lunch,
on the water at the end of Transylvania Ave.
MM 102.5 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park & Key Largo Marine Sanctuary
Best snorkeling & diving site in the Upper Keys. Don't miss it! It's a Top Three Thing To Do!
See really cool exotic tropical fish & coral reefs while they still exist.
MM 100*Bayside DENNY'S LATIN DINER & LIQUOR STORE 7am-10pm 451-3665
Best cafe con leche & tequila selection in the Keys!
Great Cuban Breakfast Anytime and sweet plantains.
Cap'n Ron recommends Herradura Gold or EL Tesoro Anejo
100% pure Blue Agave Tequila . Try some REAL TEQUILA !
*SURVIVAL* There's also a great grocery store across the street for laying in provisions and essentials like water, limes, cocoa butter, Corona 12-pack, aloe vera gel, replacement salt shakers, mangos, cocktail sauce,
Cortizone 10 Anti-Itch Creme, Advil, a flashlight & candles, Mountain Dew, beef jerky and band-aids.
MM 99.4*B Mrs. Mac's Kitchen, 451-3722 Homestyle Keys Cookin' & Key Lime Pie.
7am-9:30pm Closed Sunday.
MM 95 Harriet's, good breakfast joint, a locals spot.
MM 91 Ramshackles Bar, Parrotheads welcome.
Casual cool, velvet Elvis paintings, good food & tasty beverages.
MM 93.6 FLORIDA KEYS WILD BIRD SANCTUARY , Tavernier.
A MUST SEE Stop! Free Admission. Great Photo/Video Spot!
See tropical birds: wild eagles, herons, egrets, flamingos and pelicans up close.
Great "Rainy day adventure!" Very Kid Friendy!
MM 91 Harry's Place, freindly & in-expensive.
6am Breakfasts, BAR open till 4am!!!
MM 90ish Tugboat's, ...on Seagate Blvd. oceanside.
Casual, cheap, CASH ONLY.
Just around the corner is The PILOT HOUSE. Marina Tiki Bar
with great view of the water and frequant boat accidents.
MM 87*B, The LAGOON SALOON in Plantation Key Yacht Harbor.
Great Sunset Beach Tiki Bar Hangout. Classic Tropical Dive!
Blues on weekends, burgers, shrimp, beer & boat rentals.
MM 86.5 ERIC's FLOATING RESTAURANT. Dinner 5-10pm $$$!
Steaks, Shrimp and lots of stuffed animal heads on the walls.
This is where the locals go to celebrate when they wanna feel upscale.
MM 85.5 HAWK"S CHANNEL BAR & GRILL, Hidden almost under the Snake Creek Bridge.
Waterfront 11am-Midnight. 664-0020. Great Food, Drinks & Cold AC!
The "Best Rainy Day View in the Keys". Great Manatee watching spot!
See the Famous Mermaid Statue. This is a true locals joint! and a great one!
"First names only now pal, you're in the Keys." - "Gentleman" Wally Quinn
MM 84 The one, the only HOLIDAY ISLE RESORT where it's always Margaritaville 24-7!
Everything you want, everything ya need, with room service!
High on the "jet ski factor".
MM 83.5*B ZIGGIE'S CONCH, Dinner Only 5:30pm-10pm, Reservations 664-4590
Closed Thursday. A Key's Landmark- 50's Ambience, Legendary Menu!
MM 82*B LOR-E-LEI Restaurant & Cabana Bar Islamorada, 664-4656
A great lil' cafe, bayside right on the water, a tropical sanctuary with irie vibes,
Seafood, Steaks, Tasty Libations & Great Sunsets! Desdemona's Favorite!
MM 81.6 MANNY & ISA'S 664-5019 Closed Tuesday, Cuban Specials, Lunch & dinner.
A real local's joint with great Key Lime Pie from a Key Lime orchard out back.
MM 81.5 Green Turtle Inn 664-9031 Closed Monday. A Key's Tradition since 1947.
Excellent food, highly recommended!
MM 81.5 The Cheeca Lodge, 664-4651, If you've got the money honey, we've got the time!
MM 80.9 The beloved former FISHERMAN'S KETTLE is now called Uncle's Cafe, 664-4402
MM 80 WILLY'S BBQ of Islamorada! The Tiki Bar out back overlooking Alligator Reef Lighthouse
is one of the best kept secrets in the Keys. Some tasty 'cue. 664-0855
MM The Coral Grill, Islamorada, Pricey but good, great buffet.
MM 79.7*B PAPA JOE'S UPSTAIRS OUTDOOR TIKI BAR , A Cap'n Ron favorite!
Over-looking both the ocean & bay, it has THE BEST View in The Keys!
Great photo spot. Perfect for sunrises & sunsets plus great conch fritters!
The channel by the dock is often visited by manatee.
Bayside by the Tea Table Channel Bridge. 664-8109
MM 79.7*B Papa Joe's Marina home of some of the best fishing & guides in the Key's!
Visit the famous "Great Wall Of Jigs" and get the Inside Tip On Key's Fishing!
This marina was built just after the Great Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
by legendary Key's fishing guide Everett Fowler, and the surrounding area offers
some of the hottest SilverKing angling water in the Key's!
Papa Joe's Boat Rental 1-800-539-8329 can outfit you for fishing or pleasure boating.
These guys are the pro's, this is where you come to learn from the real masters.
They'll teach you how to stay out of trouble so ya don't wind up shark bait.
MM 78 WOODY'S, Islamorada, a bar that couldn't exist anywhere else. Beer, Food, Music, AC.
Open till 4am! 664-4335. Legendary Key's band Big Dick & The Extenders play weekends.
MM 77.5*B THE HUNGRY TARPON CAFE Lower Matacumbre Key, 305-664-0535
"Five Star gourmet on paper plates!" Open 6:30am - Great Fisherman's Breakfast!
Durango Eggs, Huervos Rancheros, Blackened Shrimp Caesar, and perhaps "THE"
Best CONCH CHOWDER in the Key's! They use only conch imported from the
Turk Islands instead of Bahama conch. Turk Island conch is bright pink and very sweet.
***Out back at the dock behind the cafe is one of the true natual wonders of the Florida Keys.
MM 77.5*B ROBBIE"S BOAT RENTAL'S - Come Feed The Live Pet Tarpon!
Recently voted by the Miami Herald as one of the top three best things about South Florida!
Come see & feed the schools of Giant SilverKing Tarpon that hang out under Robbie's Dock!
For $2 you can get a bucket of bait fish & can literally feed these monster tarpon by hand.
Careful though, they got teeth! Great video & photo spot! Cap'n Ron says DON'T MISS IT!
Here are some Robbie's Coupons for some free stuff! Tell'em Cap'n Ron sent ya!
Robbie's is also a great place to rent a skiff which is really the best way to see the Key's,
and is a great spot to launch a visit & nature tour of nearby Lignum Vitae Island and Indian Key.
This is also a great area for fishing and snorkeling or just cruising over to the dock at Papa Joe's Tiki Bar and Marina.
Be careful around the shallow "flats" areas though, pole it only & don't cut across the sea grass beds!
The penalties for running over sea grass beds are extremely harsh.
MM 73 ANNE EATON BEACH PARK, Near Channel #2 Tire Swing.
Beach, crab stalking, lizard watching and a seaside nature trail. Stop a chill a spell.
MM Valhalla Motel.
MM 58.5 Grassy Key Dairy Bar, Best Food for miles! 305-743-3816
Breakfast, Lunch, Diner. Closed Sunday & Monday.
MM 58 Rainbow Bent Resort 1-800-929-1805 Complimentary Motorboat with every room!
MM 57.5 SEASHELL BEACH RESORT , Grassy Key, Oceanside, free dingy with every room.
Row out to the coral reef that just off the dock here. Bungalow 8 here is a great stayover spot.
MM 59 Dolphin Research Center , Grassy Key.
Former home of the original Flipper. Great for kids of all ages.
MM 53 Don Pedro's Cuban Cantina only cuban in Marathon 305-743-5247
MM 50.5 HERBIE'S. Best Conch Fritters! Casual Old-Time Cool.
A real Conch Joint. This is it, this is what ya came for!
11am-10pm, Closed Sundays. Inexpensive, the real deal!
MM 50 THE CRACKED CONCH, Fresh Conch any way you want it!
A Keys Landmark. Conch Burgers, Conch Fritters, Jerked Conch Steaks, Conch Salad, Conch Du Jour!
8am-Midnight, casual, inexpensive and always good!
MM 48.5 Sunset Cafe at Buccaneer Resort. Good Sunset.
MM 48 Castillo's Cuban, Marathon, Breakfast Hangout.
MM 48 Castaway Shimp, down 15th St. Evenings 5pm-10pm.
Beer & Shrimp. Very Casual.
MM SHUCKER'S BAR & GRILL, Marathon, great sunset spot on the water.
Cold Corona & Stone Crab Claws, Best Grouper Sandwich in Marathon!
MM 47.6 Bacchus Tiki Bar, down 11th St. north of 7 Mile Bridge. Good food & sunsets
and you can walk a portion of the original 7 Mile Bridge. One of Marathon's better views.
MM 47.5*B PORKY'S BAYSIDE BBQ & TIKI BAR, 289-2065
Home of the FREE NIGHTLY SUNSET PARTY CRUISE!
Leaves everynight 1/2 hour prior to sunset! Lasts aprox. 1 Hour.
Great Sunset Photos & Cold beer!
Great food & live music by Rocketman back at the bar!
Another Cap'n Ron Top Ten. See the Parrotfish under the dock.
MM 47 Old 7 Mile Grille, Open-air local joint, Closed Wed & Thur.
MM 31 CEDAR INN, a great cafe & pub, locals, live music Thur-Sat.
*The NO NAME PUB* North Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key.
Best Pizza in the Keys! A great hangout with mega cold AC.
DRIVE REALLY SLOW!, NEIGHBORHOOD SPEED TRAP!!!!
Turn @ light on Big Pine Key, take left fork for 1.5 miles, then turn
right onto N.Watson for another 1.5 miles, it's on the left just before
the bridge to No Name Key on the back side of Big Pine Key.
It's also where the endangered Tiny Key Deer live. Be Careful!.
Really! Stupid tourista idiots hit & kill dozens of Tiny Key Deer every year and fines & penalties are severe!
Slow down & mellow out!
Here's some more Key Deer stuff you should know: Key Deer and People .
MM 31.3 Island Reef Cuban Grill, New owner, homemade cuban & spanish specials
Closed Sunday 872-2170
MM 31 The Island Reef, casual, 6am-9:30pm, Closed Tuesdays.
MM 30.2 Montego Bay, Big Pine Key 305-872-3009 Island Fare & Big Boat Drinks.
MM 30 BIG PINE COFFEE SHOP, open 6am-9pm.
MM 28.5 Little Palm Island, Small luxury resort on private island 872-9989.
If you have to ask, ...you can't afford it.
MM 27ish Looe Key Reef Resorts, close to DIVE shops that go
out to Looe Key Reef for the most primo diving/snorkeling
in the lower Keys, WAY better than ANY diving in Key West!
Snorkel trips are on $20! Cap'n Ron says Don't Miss It!
MM 27.5 Boondock's, Ramrod Key 305-872-0020
MM 24.5 MONTE'S Restaurant & Seafood Market, casual, great Fried Grouper Sandwich
and the best Fish Dip in the Keys!
( Gator Dave and Mayday Jim swear by Monte's legendary Fish Dip! )
MM BAHIA HONDA PARK. The Best Beach in the Lower Keys!
Boat Rentals & Snorkel Trips to Looe Key Dive Park.
Great place to hang, swim, BBQ grill some goodies outdoors.
MM 21.5 The Old Road Cafe, Cudjoe Key - 745-2528, Blueplate Specials, casual.
MM 20 MANGROVE MAMA'S, oh yez, now this, this is really what ya came for! Let the rum, shrimp, & Coppertone flow baby! You are in the fabulous Florida Keys!
MM 10 BOBALU'S SOUTHERN CAFE, Big Coppitt Key 305-296-1664
MM The RUSTY ANCHOR, Stock Island, Blue-Collar Conch.
A local working man's establishment. On the water across
from the old Dog Track.
WARNING! - - MARGARITAVILLE DEAD AHEAD!!!!!!!!
Go directly to DUVAL STREET !
Slowly cruise west towards Mallory Pier,
just follow the sun stupid!
Note Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Sloppy Joe's,
the legendary BULL & WHISTLE pub,
and the real deal: CAPT. TONY'S SALOON , ( the original Sloppy Joe's ).
Stop off at the ERNEST HEMINGWAY HOUSE and see the famous SIX-TOED CATS of Key West!
Nautical legend has it six-toed cats were good luck on a ship, and all of Key West's present six-toes are
said to be decended from the original Polydactyl furkats that Hemingway brought down from New England.
Ol' Papa often said he preferred them to most people he knew.
Have dinner at BLUE HEAVEN, or THE HALF SHELL RAW BAR!
or maybe PEPE'S, The ISLE OF BONES, or The PIER HOUSE.
Sunset @ Mallory Pier. Margaritas, Boatdrinks, Rum Tundra Blowouts!
Then, after ya got all the tourista crap outta yer system and
ya wanna really get down and do "The Key West Boogie" the way the locals do,
Take it to the END OF THE LINE!
THE LAST BAR ON EARTH!
THE SOUTHERNMOST DIVE IN THE USA!!!! 90 MILES NORTH OF CUBA!
I'm talkin' about the one & only, the myth, the legend,
... The Green Parrot Bar
on Whitehead Street just off Duval.
Click here and tell'em Cap'n Ron sent ya and
they'll have a Free Beer waiting for ya when ya get there!
And hey buckaroo, it don't get no better than that muchacho unless
BILL BLUE & The Nervous Guys or The Roach Thompson Blues Band are playing that night!
Cold Beer, Hot Music, Cool Vibes! Yeah, man!
This is one of the real last of the old school Key West Boogie Palaces.
The Green Parrot is the last ( & first ) bar on U.S. 1, a sunny place for shady people!
and THE BEST DAMN BAR IN KEY WEST!
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