last901

Anyone ever been to Key West? Just wondering what's the best time of year to go, fishing opportunities, flight suggestions, etc.

I figured we've got the Alaska Cruise figured out so was just wondering if this might be an alternative. A warmer alternative.

Kmcoldcars

We went to Florida last February. We flew into Ft Lauderdale as it was quite a bit cheaper than Miami. The Keys are OK but we do not do fishing or scuba diving. We did enjoy the Everglades much more.

SmileyOr

Closest I've been is Fort Myers/Sanibel Island for a week. The summers will be very hot and humid compared to the PNW. Maybe a weather check for the cooler times of the year with the least chance of a hurricane passing through

You'd think that being surrounded by all that water you'd have cool onshore breezes, but that didn't happen on Sanibel Island.

RPA1948

My wife's family gets together every other year at a vacation spot.
About 4 years ago it was Key West. Not our style and way crowded> It was OK for a day or two but then it became repetitive. The family did do the Glass Bottom boat tour, kind of interesting.
Seemed to us as more of a College Party town vibe. We were there in March and the temps were in the low 60's. Great for running or being at an outdoor bar downtown but not much for the beach. It's warmer here in Brookings today than we had in Key West. The weather can't be predicted at all.
We won't go back..

Last year was a week at a Rental house in Avon/Beaver Creek Colorado. in July. A good week and the house was able to accommodate 20 people. Lots to do.

For a few years we rented a high end 50+ ft. houseboat on Lake Powell, water levels are too low now. Lake Shasta north of Redding. Ca. has that houseboat rental option.
Just my thoughts
Richard

duckvett

My wife lived in south Florida during her teen years (and still has family who we visit occasionally) suggests that Sept/Oct might be the best months to visit. Still humid, but not quite as hot, and before "snowbird" season of Nov. - April.

Key West is a quaint little drinking village with a tourist problem. Wander down to Mallory Square for the Sundown Celebration.
Eat lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise (Jimmy Buffet's).
Buy a drink & t-shirt at Sloppy Joe's.
Buy another drink at Hog's Breath Inn.
Walk Duval Street.
Eat a Cuban Sandwich. Cuban cuisine is prominent and darn good, IMO.
Have fun if you go.

olympic

My wife and I vacationed in Key West four years ago and great memories remain. We flew to Miami in early December (post hurricane/rainy season and before holiday crowds--placed are booked Xmas/New Years) and rented a convertible (Camaro, no Vette available) for the glorious drive south and west over long bridges and causeways. Walking the length of Duval Street never got tiring. Great night life and street fun. Much better than the raunchy t-shirts and titty shops found in the French Quarter.
Coincidence: the owner of our favorite KW bar (Conch Republic Seafood Company) bought a home on our lane here in PT, WA. We showed him his coasters and he was speechless. He loves my C7.

86C4Z51

Go when it's not too balmy outside. Sit on the beach. Take a sailboat out. Get your pic by the "southernmost point in the US" (Cuba 90 miles). [Signs say watch out for camera thieves.]

I loved the blue water under me while driving over interminably long bridges.

VIK TOY

Hawaii is the only place to go!! We lived Maui for 10yrs and then "had" to move here. The Big Island is the best. It has everything!! You can drive from desert to snow in a few hours. Lots of forest and rain forest. We never felt that it got too hot because there is usually cool trade winds. The scuba diving is wonderful. Lots of nice winding roads. I don't know if they rent any Vettes there. And, the people are very friendly if you don't act like a vacationing AH!!

86C4Z51

My personal favorite: Fiji.

Sans palm trees: Nice, France. Or Monaco if you're well-heeled (I'm not, but it's a great place for a day trip).

last901

Good suggestion, but I've been to Hawaii a couple of times and run out of things to do and get Island Bound within a couple of days. I like to fish for big pelagic fish, but my understanding is that anything one catches on a charter belongs to the crew. Marlin and hat sort of thing are strictly catch and release so far as I'm concerned. Have had modest success in Mexico (Cabo), but been there, done that too. Good suggestion though, I've never been to the big island.

I prefer Mexico, but at least in Hawaii you don;t need to be so concerned about what and where you eat and drink.

BTW, is it true that there are two-tiers of pricing in Hawaii? One for tourists and one for locals in terms of supermarkets and that sort of thing?

fperra

You are retired. Aren't you always on vacation?

last901

Yes, Fred, I am. It's my lovely first wife that seems to be the problem. She wants to go to someplace warm with water sports or snorkeling and yet she does't swim. Then she thinks she might want to go to Cabo - in July. What, temperatures in the low 90's?

One time, I took her to central Oregon and took her white water rafting. In a thunderstorm. She still hasn't forgiven me for that.

Then I took her on the Extraterrestrial hwy in Nevada to Area 51 (we have photos) and she didn't like the bartender - or the beer -at the Little Alei-Inn.

I even took her to "Gatorland" in Kissimmee Florida, just in time for the daily "Chicken Jumparoo" (I'll leave that one up to your imagination) Man those gators can really launch themselves out of the water like a 1200 lb Marlin when there's chickens up there on a wire to be had.

So, you see, I've tried everything, Last year we went on a road trip to try and find every casino in Oregon, Idaho and Washington. Hell, I could have put down a healthy deposit on the "Trip to Mars" that's being promoted for what we spent on that caper. But she told me she doesn't like those suits and helmets she'd have to wear. They don't match her suede boots and she thinks Mars might be o cold and without a Nordstrom's Rack.

Okay, gotta run... I hear her downstairs cooking and need to make sure she isn;t putting inapproriate ingedients in my Wheat Chex.