Description: It's kind of hard to classify this entry, but seeing as how it is actually a shop I've decided to class it as such. But I'm not recommending a stop in at the Bass Pro Shop just for those who have come to the keys to fish. It was my first taste of the Florida Keys, and one that I am very happy I indulged in.
The friend of mine who was driving wanted to stop off in Key Islamorada at a little pier-side restaurant for what he assured me was "world class dolphin" (by which, of course, he meant mahi-mahi and not bottle-nosed dolphin). Unfortunately, as if often the case, my friend and I found ourselves a little short on cash and decided to wait until we hit an Arby's or McDonald's up the road.
But we had some time to kill, and the walk around the docks was the first real taste of the Florida keys we had. The first breath of salty-sea air filled our lungs, and told us we had indeed made it to Hemingway's Paradise. The parking lot outside of Bass Pro Shop is a sandy area and a pier, with some beautiful spots for taking photographs. Very "paradise" setting, with palm trees set against deep-blue skies and sparkling waters, and seagulls landing on the surrounding boats.
While our friends ate dolphin, we wandered into the Bass Pro Shop—mostly to get out of the sun. (My friend was still newly arrived from Scotland, and not yet accustomed to all this "sun nonsense." )
The room was cool and we wandered around looking at the merchandise, thinking about making a bit of a fishing trip while we were there, when suddenly in the middle of the room, we walked into a huge surprise. Smack dab in the middle of the Bass Pro Shop is a full replica of Ernest Hemingway's fishing boat, The Pilar. For no charge you can walk into it, and have a look around what Hemingway would have spent so much of is time on in Cuba and the Keys. We snapped a few shots, sat for a minute near the typewriter, and walked out to meet our friends and travel on to Key Marathon.
It's a rare and special treat when you stumble onto something you wanted to see in a place that you didn't know was there, but that was our experience in Islamorada. It is well worth your time to drop-in and pay Hemingway's spirit a warm hello on your way into the Keys.
And if you happened to have the money... you might wan to try the mahi-mahi.
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