Key West Weekend

Key West is a laid-back town where you can enjoy good food, drinks, and music.

Duval St. is the famous stretch of road that features numerous bars/pubs (Sloppy Joe's, Irish Kevin's, Hog's Breath, etc.) which people flock to. This is the place to be when you are in Key West! In addition to the many bars and restaurants, there are numerous souvenir/gift shops, jewelry stores, and clothing boutiques for people who love to shop.

My boyfriend and I visited for a 3 day weekend, and had a great time. Friends of ours got married at sunset on a large sailboat called the Liberty Clipper. (Along side our boat, was a boat full people dressed up as pirates. I guess it was "pirate" weekend or something, because we saw people dressed up all over the place.) The marina is a beautiful place to hang out as well. There are great restaurants (the A&B Lobster House is my favorite), more bars (Schooner's Wharf Bar), and some great shops (Tommy Bahama). Jimmy Buffett docks his boat here whenever he's in town.

Key West is definitely a place to visit if you're looking for a relaxing vacation. The town is laid-back and the people are mellow. We had a great time... even if it was for only three days.

Quick Tips:

Bring comfortable shoes, because everything is within walking distance.

There are cabs available for people who can't walk well, or choose not to walk, but cab fare can get pretty expensive after a while.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walking.

When looking for a place to stay in Key West, friends of ours recommended the "Heron House" hotel on Simonton St.
As soon as our cab pulled up, there was someone there to greet us and take our bags into the lobby. Upon checking in, we learned that we were upgraded from a regular poolside room, to a junior suite! Apparently, when there are vacancies in the larger rooms, management will automatically upgrade you at no charge.

Our room was fabulous! (We stayed in 9C.) We entered through double French doors to a spacious bedroom featuring high ceilings, a king size bed and a love seat and coffee table. There was also a bar area surrounded by mirrored walls that made the room look even bigger. The bathroom was average size, and there wasn't as much counter space as I would've liked, but it was pretty and kept very clean. The basic amenities were provided, such as iron/board, hair dryer, mini refrigerator, shampoos, lotions, and color television. They also provide two plush, white bathrobes for you to wear during your stay. That was a nice touch!

The grounds of the hotel are beautiful. From the tropical plants and outdoor fish tank, to the rich woods and stained glass, this 23-room hotel has a "bed-and-breakfast" feel. Another great feature is the complimentary breakfast each morning from 8-10am. Downstairs on the outdoor patio, a buffet is set up consisting of bagels/cream cheese, muffins/croissants, fresh fruit, danish, cereals, yogurt, coffee/tea/juice, etc. Then at 5pm, they have a "happy hour" featuring assorted wines and cheeses (at no charge).

There is also a pool here, but it is on the smaller side (perfect size for this hotel, however). The pool features a heron-inspired mosaic on the bottom. There are also several small tables and lounge chairs to relax in, but not many people take advantage of the pool area. In fact, in the 3 days I was there, I only saw 2 people using the pool. (I think most people are out walking on Duval St. during the day.) Still yet, this area is quite beautiful.

The Heron House is within walking distance to just about anywhere! It is a 5 minute walk to Duval St., and 10 minutes to Mallory Square.

The staff at this hotel are very friendly and accommodating. While you're checking in, they offer you a complimentary glass of wine. You definitely notice the personal attention at this hotel.

Keep in mind that this is not a large "resort" hotel (i.e. Hyatt, Westin, etc.). This a much smaller, relaxed hotel with a personal feel. I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone looking to have a relaxing stay in Key West!

"Irish Kevin's" is a fun bar... a loud bar... but a fun bar.

Located right in the center of Duval St., this is a rowdy Irish bar that is known for it's live music and audience participation.

There is always a band, or sometimes just a guy and his guitar... but either way, they always get the crowd going. Even if you are standing on the sidewalk in front of the bar, the singer will almost always yell to you to come in and have a drink. Most of the people that come into this bar, leave staggering. It's safe to say that this is a place where people come to get drunk!

The music is great, but it's pretty loud. I lost my voice from yelling to my friends, who were only standing 3 inches away from me. You have to yell even if you're just passing by the front of the bar!

However, most people that are in this bar don't care how loud the music is, because most of them are pretty loaded. That being said, I would recommend Irish Kevin's for it's hard partying atmosphere. I just wish they would turn down the volume a bit.

Sloppy Joe's (on Duval St.) is probably the most famous bar/restaurant in Key West. You definitely want to stop here on your vacation.

During the day, the restaurant is usually packed with people having lunch, or sitting at the bar having a drink. Sometimes, they'll have live entertainment in the afternoon (it's usually one guy playing his guitar and singing a few tunes). The food is good too. Not the healthiest, but really good! We had "Sloppy Wings" and "Sloppy Fries." The sloppy fries were served with seasoned ground beef and a ton of melted cheeses on top.

At night this place gets really crowded. You can go for dinner, but after 9pm or so, they start moving most of the tables off the floor, so people can dance in front of the stage. There is always a great live band, and a great party vibe.

Two thumbs up! Go here!

"Island Dog's Bar" is fairly new from what I understand. And it's one of my new favorite bars in Key West!

Located on Front St. (across from "Two Friend's"), this is a laid back, casual bar/restaurant that serves drinks and a light menu. The feel of this bar is very "islandy," which is why I like it so much. The bar itself is made of a rich dark wood and natural stone, and the chairs and barstools have a beige/black stripe pattern that looks really cool throughout the whole place. There is also a great mix of music that is constantly playing (think Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, etc.).

There are several small patio tables out front, which are perfect for having a drink and people watching. My boyfriend and I sat here for 2 hours one afternoon, just hanging out and having some Coronas. We also had a couple appetizers while we were there. We had french fries and chicken fingers (they chicken came with 2 sauces... honey mustard and barbecue). The service was great as well.
Definitely one of my favorites!

As the sign says: "Island Dog's Bar... Come As You Are"