Talk to me about the Florida Keys...

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 06:45 PM

Anyone know an interesting cheap place to stay in the keys? On a beach would be great.

**iskibc** · 03-29-2007, 06:53 PM

Key West is overpriced.

edit: Phish has some good reccs.

Rent a canoe or kayak and paddle the lesser known keys and do some camping.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 03-29-2007, 06:54 PM

Hmmmm....I have been going down there for my whole life. My family owns a house on Big Pine Key, so I can't really help you out with any lodging questions.

All I can say is stay away from Key West and The Upper Keys.

Central Keys is where it is at for a mellow, cheap, scenic, and un-touristy experience.

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by MOHSHSIHd

Hmmmm....I have been going down there for my whole life. My family owns a house on Big Pine Key, so I can't really help you out with any lodging questions.

All I can say is stay away from Key West and The Upper Keys.

Central Keys is where it is at for a mellow, cheap, scenic, and un-touristy experience.

Marathon Area?

**Rockband** · 03-29-2007, 06:59 PM

If you want near a beach check out Marathon Key for something a little cheaper than Key West. Not many beaches there other than on the actual island of Key West.

If you want to be in the mix of the whole crazy scene down there try to find a place on Key West, likely much more expensive.

And if you get a chance try to hit up the no name key bar, some of the best pizza on any of the islands, they brew their own sick beer and It's cheap. Werd

Up until a few years ago I spent a few weeks a year hangin out down there, hit me up if you have any more questions.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 03-29-2007, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by H-man

Marathon Area?

Anywhere between Ramrod and Islamorada is the "real keys" IMO....so yeah, Marathon is cool.

**DaveTV** · 03-29-2007, 07:00 PM

Man, you get more vacation than a state employee..

**MOHSHSIHd** · 03-29-2007, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Rockband

If you want near a beach check out Marathon Key for something a little cheaper than Key West. Not many beaches there other than on the actual island of Key West.

If you want to be in the mix of the whole crazy scene down there try to find a place on Key West, likely much more expensive.

And if you get a chance try to hit up the no name key bar, some of the best pizza on any of the islands, they brew their own sick beer and It's cheap. Werd

Hell yeah! No Name Pub is the shit....

their motto: "Nice place, if you can find it"

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by DaveTV

Man, you get more vacation than a state employee..

I wish... Thinking long weekend here.

How ya been Dave?

**KoKopeLLi** · 03-29-2007, 07:07 PM

Yea my folks had a condo in Marathon, it's pretty chilled for being a big Key and all...plus not a bad drive to Key West. Go to the Hogs breath Saloon or that Irish guy's place, anybody remember the name?

Or if you have some $ to blow, GO FISH

**MOHSHSIHd** · 03-29-2007, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by KoKopeLLi

Yea my folks had a condo in Marathon, it's pretty chilled for being a big Key and all...plus not a bad drive to Key West. Go to the Hogs breath Saloon or that Irish guy's place, anybody remember the name?

Or if you have some $ to blow, GO FISH

Yeah, I mean you gotta go to key west for at least a day. But you won't want to stay there all weekend.

Also go to Capt' Tony's (the original Hemingway bar) which is just a few stumble steps from Hogs Breath.

and probably the best food in town with the best view of the ocean.

http://www.louiesbackyard.com/

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 07:14 PM

I've done Key West once before. I camped on Stock Island and had a great time. Visited Bahia Honda which was very cool. I'd love to find a quaint little place, very quiet on one of the more remote keys. Really a place to decompress for a weekend.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 03-29-2007, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by H-man

I've done Key West once before. I camped on Stock Island and had a great time. Visited Bahia Honda which was very cool. I'd love to find a quaint little place, very quiet on one of the more remote keys. Really a place to decompress for a weekend.

Hmmm, search for something on little, middle, or big torch keys. Those are some of the least populated and reach the farthest into the Gulf.

sorry, I can't be of better help.

If you were gonna do a week Im sure you could find a rental. Pretty much any of the canal developments are pretty damn quiet and relaxing year round...

**MassLiberal** · 03-29-2007, 07:28 PM

The keys are more of a mangrove swamp than a beach area. Bahia Honda is one of the few areas with a beach. I did see A strip Joint that doubled as a Pizza place around Marathon though. Now that's a place to eat some pie!! (pizza that is)

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by MOHSHSIHd

Hmmm, search for something on little, middle, or big torch keys. Those are some of the least populated and reach the farthest into the Gulf.

That is a pretty good lead Phish, thanks.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 03-29-2007, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

The keys are more of a mangrove swamp than a beach area. Bahia Honda is one of the few areas with a beach. I did see A strip Joint that doubled as a Pizza place around Marathon though. Now that's a place to eat some pie!! (pizza that is)

Yeah, he has a point. You really need a boat to do the keys right, and get out to the massive sunken beaches (sand bars of pure white sand hundreds of yards long in 1-3 feet of 80 degree water, better than sitting on a beach really)

shit, this thread is making me want to get back down there, its been too long

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 07:36 PM

That sounds like just what the doctor ordered.

**Blurred** · 03-29-2007, 07:37 PM

Lots of dudes who wear pink and like rainbows there.

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by BlurredElevens

Lots of dudes who wear pink and like rainbows there.

Perfect. I just got a new pink TGR shirt from the Hot Tate sale.

**Rockband** · 03-29-2007, 07:42 PM

Also check out Sugarloaf Key, we stayed there when my grandmothers place got Blitzed by one of the hurricanes.
Close to Key west but far enough away that you can still get lost in all the mangroves. There's also campground there if you'r looking for dirt cheap.

**BeanDip4All** · 03-29-2007, 07:48 PM

What a timely thread! I literally just booked my fishing trip to the keys today.

Hman, when are you going? Will be down the last week of May.

My mouth is already watering at the prospect of a fresh grouper sandwich in my future!

edited to put a link to the guy we are fishing with:

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by BeanDip4All

What a timely thread! I literally just booked my fishing trip to the keys today.

Hman, when are you going? Will be down the last week of May.

My mouth is already watering at the prospect of a fresh grouper sandwich in my future!

No real plans. Just sometime soon I hope for a weekend. I think the last time I went someplace warm for a vacation was in 1989. Skied a lot since then however.

**BeanDip4All** · 03-29-2007, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by H-man

No real plans. Just sometime soon I hope for a weekend. I think the last time I went someplace warm for a vacation was in 1989. Skied a lot since then however.

nice. when i booked the fishing today they gave me a list of good, cheap hotels in the area. i found a nice place off of it with a balcony, pool, breakfast etc for pretty reasonable a night. I'll pm it to ya.

Oh, and other mags- I am a foodie, what are the best local spots? Obviously key lime pie, but any street carts with conch fritters, outback fish shack type places i should know about... stuff like that?

Thanks!

**H-man** · 03-29-2007, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by BeanDip4All

nice. when i booked the fishing today they gave me a list of good, cheap hotels in the area. i found a nice place off of it with a balcony, pool, breakfast etc for pretty reasonable a night. I'll pm it to ya.

Most excellent. Thanks BD4A!

**BeanDip4All** · 03-29-2007, 08:14 PM

Okay I found something kind of exciting and am on the way to answering my own "where to eat" question.

This place sounds kinda like Cibao on the LES (where you can get an awesome $4 chicken sandwich)... and check out the "house special"... YUM

The grandest dish in the house is paella Valenciana for two (call ahead; it takes an hour to prepare), a vast fisherman’s stew served with rice, black beans, and plenty of Cuban bread for mopping juices.