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All-TigerNet [13038]
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The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:38 AM
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Next week. Have any Tnetters been there before?
We have never been down there.
Any suggestions on things to do?
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CU Guru [1769]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:41 AM
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Stop in Key Largo or Islamorada, Key West sucks. I live in Florida, and people who live here that go to the Keys, don't go to Key West.
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All-TigerNet [13038]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:43 AM
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We are actually staying in Key Largo. I’ve heard the same about Key West that you mentioned.
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CU Guru [1769]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:50 AM
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Key West is not the Key West of yesterday. Mostly tourist traps and a "rainbow" of weirdos!
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110%er [7119]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 9:30 AM
[ in reply to Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys ] |
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My wife and I go to Key West for birthdays every year. It’s a great place, you just have to stay away from Duval Street. Things to do:
Snorkel excursion Kayak in the mangroves Rent bikes an cruise to the piers Visit Fort Zackary Taylor state park. Watch sunset at Mallory Square Visit the Hemingway museum Check out the butterfly house. They have one of the better ones around. Have brunch at the Hot Tin Roof Take a cruise around the islands on the wooden schooner. It’s very cool. Rent jet skis and cruise around the islets
The list goes on. Don’t listen to people when they say Key West sucks. They don’t know what they’re talking about. It does suck if you just want go sit in a bar and drink with the freaks, but there’s tons to do for active people.
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Orange Blooded [2986]
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Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is close to southernmost point pic spot.
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Mar 27, 2024, 2:00 PM
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https://keywestbutterfly.com/
I would include a stop to the conservatory whenever you plan to take the tourist picture.
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CU Guru [1315]
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All-In [43524]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:41 AM
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Bar crawl on Duval Street. Sunset at the marina. Walk by Jimmy Buffett's old house. Captain Tony's bar Picture by the southern most point marker.
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All-TigerNet [13105]
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Wife and I have been a few times over the years...
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:52 AM
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Our favorite restaurant is Pepe's. First time we went, they sat us at the bar and the bartender says, "I can't serve you 'til you sing us a song." I broke into Bob Segar's "Turn the Page", and almost immediately he yells out, "Ok, Ok! That's enough! I'll serve you!" Oh yes, the fish is fresh caught daily.
Also, try lunch and a cold beverage at the Southernmost Beach Cafe. Nice views all around, and a long dock to walk on.
Hope this is helpful.
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All-TigerNet [13038]
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Re: Wife and I have been a few times over the years...
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:59 AM
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BengalBen, where is Pepe’s on the islands?
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All-TigerNet [13105]
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Here you go...
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Mar 27, 2024, 9:18 AM
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You'll probably need to zoom in.
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Legend [15926]
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Legend [16116]
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Islamorada! Key West is fun, w/ plenty of cool bars & places to see. The drive
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:53 AM
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through the Florida Keys is awesome and worth a trip. There are tons of things to see along the route. Key West can be a little freaky depending on the time of year, but to each his own. Blue Heaven, Captain Tony's, Hogsbreath, Irish Kevins are fun places to grab a beer.
Our family loves Islamorada...it's very chill with good restaurants and a couple of nice breweries.
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Hall of Famer [23614]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 8:59 AM
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It’s been a while since we’ve been there but we went a few times when we lived in Miami. The one absolutely don’t miss is to drive across the 7 mile bridge. The water views are fantastic. The entire drive from Key Largo to Key West has some great views along the way but it is a 2.5 hour drive and can get even longer if there is a lot of traffic or any accidents. If you are flying into Miami you will be doing this at least as far south as whatever key you are staying on. Just be sure to include the 7 mile bridge at some point. If you like snorkeling, there used to be day trips out of John Pennekamp state park on Key Largo. There also were a couple of good spots to get lunch and a beer right by the bridge over the inlet at Islamorada. Great water views here too. The sunset festival on Key West was a spectacle and pretty entertaining but it’s one of those things that once I had seen it once I didn’t need to go back and do it again. The sunset itself there can be fabulous. I don’t remember which key it was in, but one time when we went the cottage was on a small bay on the west side of the island and they had manatees there most of the time. If you have never seen one they are pretty interesting creatures. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions. We are local to Easley so we could even meet up and talk over a Mexican dinner if you want.
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All-TigerNet [13038]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 9:01 AM
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I work in Easley, so that would be great! Free for lunch all week!
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Hall of Famer [23614]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 2:18 PM
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Won’t be able to this week. Just realized your post said you are going next week. Shoot me a t-mail if you have other questions. Looks like lots of good ideas on here.
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110%er [6315]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 9:01 AM
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My daughter went to the Keys last year, enjoyed it.
She loves the beach and hot weather which made it an ideal place to visit.
Nothing to tell you other than from every account I am sure you will have a really nice time. Enjoy yourself and wear sunblock
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Orange Blooded [3222]
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We are going back in May
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Mar 27, 2024, 9:15 AM
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John C. Pennekamp Mrs. Mack's Kitchen...A must!!! Anne's Beach Bahai Honda State Park Sombrero Beach Robbie's Theater of the Sea. Sea Turtle Hospital Day trip to Key West, I enjoyed the treasure museum and the shipwreck museum. Malory Square for the sunset festival. But we tend to leave around dark.
Rent a pontoon, take your Florida Boater license online for ~$7.
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Orange Blooded [4085]
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Re: We are going back in May
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Mar 27, 2024, 9:19 AM
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I second Islamorada! Robbie’s is a fun experience. Also love Islamorada Fish Company!
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All-TigerNet [12127]
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Second Bahai Honda State Park...very peaceful and good for a beach day.***
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Mar 27, 2024, 11:43 AM
[ in reply to We are going back in May ] |
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CU Medallion [56266]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 9:48 AM
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I hear it's a great place to get eaten by a Gator, or swallowed by some huge Burmese pythons, enjoy!!!
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All-In [31105]
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Devaul is a much, much better version of Bourbon st.***
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Mar 27, 2024, 10:03 AM
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All-In [27672]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 10:10 AM
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Yes, many times as I own a vacation home there in Key Largo. Careful on those boat ramps, if you're pulling one down there. They can get crazy.
I would strongly recommend the John Pennekamp state park for starters.....great snorkling/diving there.
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All-In [27548]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 10:18 AM
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Go hang out on big pine key. It's a great place to meet some awesome locals. If you want to go fishing let me know. I know an amazing guide who is really fun!
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Orange Blooded [2236]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 10:21 AM
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We went down in the summer of '21. If you're driving make sure you stop in the Miami area and visit Wynwood Walls. It's an incredible area of street art that will blow your mind. The Keys as a whole is incredibly beautiful. Islamorada is great. Go to Robbie's and take the snorkel trip to Alligator Reef lighthouse. Key West is a long drive and it was ok. Unfortunately we did the whole Duval Street walk and didn't realize there are other nicer areas until it was time to go home. It was July and blazing hot. There are iguanas everywhere, literally. They just walk around like cats and dogs. Driving anywhere in the Keys takes longer than expected so give yourself plenty of time to get to where you're going. The biggest surprise for us was access to beaches. We'd never been so we were expecting what we know...IOP, MB, Folly, etc. where you're driving along and there's the beach. It's not like that in the Keys. The beaches aren't as large as you think but they are beautiful. Don't be surprised to visit a beach and there be folks in boats fishing just beyond the swim areas. That freaked me out a little.
The crystal clear water speaks for itself. Have a great time and be safe!
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Orange Blooded [2986]
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Dolphin Research Center, should be close to you.
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Mar 27, 2024, 10:39 AM
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Book one of the dolphin encounters or any others that you interact with the dolphins. Great experience for anyone old enough to participate.
https://dolphins.org/programs
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110%er [5400]
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Hemingway House with the polydactyl cats, climb the lighthouse....
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Mar 27, 2024, 10:58 AM
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Be aware of the feral chickens roaming around town, literally. We are at outdoor cafe and they just walk around clucking under tables, chairs, etc.
Have a great time.
Fight Tigers!!!
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Commissioner [968]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 11:07 AM
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No Name Pub, Big Pine Key
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Oculus Spirit [92112]
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Islamorado not much from road but tuck into a quaint
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Mar 27, 2024, 11:21 AM
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seafood restaurant/bar joint on the Gulf side snd be blown away with the water views, good food..
and once my date & I were at one that had handful of huge two-person hammocks with head pillows secured just feet from the soft blue-green waters where we were served a tropical rum drink while we sunned & chatted in bliss.
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Rock Defender [54]
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Two words: Polydactyl cats and Ernest Hemingway
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Mar 27, 2024, 11:38 AM
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That's five words but I fired my editor and am struggling.
Going to Hemingway's pad and visiting his old watering hole -- Capt. Tony's on Greene Street -- are fanboy experiences for people like me who still enjoy reading his stuff.
Have a great trip.
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110%er [5068]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 11:46 AM
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My son and his family went there and they loved it.
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Orange Blooded [2499]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 11:53 AM
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We vacation in the keys almost yearly. Will be there last week of May this year. As others said Key West is mostly a tourist trap but worth the trip once to visit and see the sunset and local artists at Mallory Square. Not much to do in the keys except fish, dive/snorkel, drink, and eat. It is why we trailer our boat down there, rent a house with a dock, and just live on island time. We like staying in Marathon due to the abundance of restaurants on the water. Take water shoes as the so called beaches are full of small rocks. Enjoy!!!
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Legend [16667]
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I've been once and have no plans to return...just wasn't for me
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Mar 27, 2024, 12:39 PM
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We stayed in Marathon and did everything we could find to do in a week between Islamorada and Key West. We had some good meals and saw some cool sights, but overall I thought it was overrated...maybe because I know many people who absolutely love it.
If I do go back again, I will rent or charter a boat for my entire stay...that is non-negotiable Also, if I return, I will go to Dry Tortugas...missing that was a regret
I think my expectations were too high, based on others' opinions. Biggest disappointment for me was the beaches. I expected white sand beaches everywhere I looked, and that just ain't the keys. What beaches there were, were covered in Sargassum. Again, boat is a must.
Our highlights were the Ernest Hemingway house, Bahia Honda State Park, the Sea Turtle Hospital, historical displays in Islamorada, the tour under the 7 mile bridge, and a meal at The Square Grouper. We did do a half day boat charter, and it was awesome...just not enough.
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All-TigerNet [13038]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 12:44 PM
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I did not expect the number of responses on this thread!
Thanks for all of the suggestions!!
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Orange Blooded [3511]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 12:51 PM
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Didn't see anyone mention the Truman Little White House. Thought it was worth the stop, but that was 14 years ago.
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CU Guru [1410]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 5:19 PM
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The turtle hospital in Marathon is a great little tour. It's amazing the work tbat goes into these creatures and the creative cure for some of their injury and illness. Lazy Days is our go to restaurant. It is in Islamorada. Fantastic food and an unbelievable view. I'm jealous! My Wife and I are going down for a long weekend this fall.
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Legend [16773]
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Re: The wife & I are vacationing in the Florida Keys
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Mar 27, 2024, 5:27 PM
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Stop at Robbie’s on the way down. I think around MM 79. Cool place to feed tarpon. And check out restaurant next door called Hungry Tarpon. Lots to do in the Keys.
https://www.robbies.com/
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Replies: 36
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