The Beaches of Key West

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach

If Gilligan and the Skipper's boat had gone down off the coastline of Key West, odds are that they wouldn't have wound up on a beach.

OK, so the title of this blog is, "The Beaches of Key West".  And the photo to the right, it's a photo of the largest beach on Key West.  That's right, the largest beach on the island.

Isn't Key West a tropical island?  If so, why is this the largest beach?

Key West is part of the third-longest barrier reef in the world and the only living coral reef in the United States.  Looking at Key West on the map, you would expect the waves to come roaring onto the beaches, however, the barrier reef off the coast of Key West does not allow that.  It breaks the large waves before they come to the island.  You will not see Key West advertised as a beach or surfers destination.  If you do, beware!  Key West is basically a large rock and not a sandy destination like the rest of Florida .

The beach in the photo is Fort Zachary Taylor Beach and is located within a state park on the island.  Access to the beach is inexpensive.  There are other small beaches that you will see on your trip from the airport but they are not as impressive as Fort Zachary Taylor Beach.

If you are a first-time visitor to Key West, you need to know what to expect so as not to be disappointed.  Do not let the lack of beaches keep you away.  There are plenty of great pools and much to do   In fact, take advantage of the coral reefs and go snorkeling in the clear water while you are there.  There are excursions right off the coastline and glass bottom boats that help you to be an active part of the coral reef.

The following is a link to a blog, Best Florida Keys Beaches, that describes what they believe to be best beaches on the Florida Keys, including Key West.  Keep in mind that a drive to a beach away from Key West involves renting a car and driving on a two-lane road at 45-55 MPH.  

Have fun! 

A Nice Little Surprise: Cuban Coffee Queen

               Cuban Coffee Queen, 284 Margaret Street, Key West, FL

It definitely doesn't stand out.  Hidden on the northern side of the island in a small building from another time is the Cuban Coffee Queen.

I never really searched out the Cuban Coffee Queen (CCQ).  It just kind of happened.  As I searched through a couple of apps for restaurants where I had never been, I continued to stumble upon the CCQ as a great place for coffee and sandwiches.  After reading several rave reviews, we decided we'd give it a try.

One evening after sunset, my wife and I walked in the direction of the CCQ and initially failed to find it.  We were looking for a much bigger and more prominent location than what the CCQ actually is.  In the darkness, we finally spotted the tiny rustic building, lights out.  Disappointed, we walked to the window and read the operating hours.  The simplicity and rawness of the building along with the reviews that we had read had us intrigued.  We declared that we would be back.

A couple of mornings later, as we began our morning walk around the island, we made our first stop at the CCQ.  Standing in a short line, we checked out the menu.  I got the hot Cafe con leche while my wife got the iced coffee.  The ice was an espresso ice, a nice touch.

As we strolled the island, we sipped on our coffees and took in the beauty that is Key West.  I am not  a coffee connoisseur but I do know that my coffee was very good.  I also purchased a breakfast sandwich called, the Key Wester.  It is two eggs, American cheese and a choice of ham, bacon, sausage or pork on pressed Cuban bread, and it is very good! I purchased the Key Wester based upon some good reviews from Yelp.  It did not disappoint.

I only have one major regret.  They had a great t-shirt that I wish I had purchased, but I suppose the last thing that I need is another t-shirt.

I would highly recommend a visit to the Cuban Coffee Queen.   You won't be disappointed.

UPDATE:  There is now another location for Cuban Coffee Queen.  The new location is in downtown Key West off of Duval Street near the corner of  Southard.  It is in Key Lime Square, 5 Key Lime Square to be exact.  It is open from 7am to 9pm and there is seating for dine-in.  They also have pick-up and delivery.  For a delivery, call 305-294-7787.

While this original blog was concerning the location pictured above, the Key Lime Square location is the one that I frequented most on my last visit to Key West and is more central to the island just off of Duval.

I don't lie when I tell you something is good.  So good that now the Cuban Coffee Queen has five locations in Key West.  See the following link for all locations: 

https://cubancoffeequeen.com/locations/key-west-florida/


The original Cuban Coffee Queen is located at: 284 Margaret Street, Key West, FL

A Key West Treat: Chocolate Covered Key Lime Pie On a Stick

Sometimes, over and over, you walk by opportunity and don't even know it's there.

On our first trip to Key West, my wife and I, almost daily walked past Kermit's Key Lime Shoppe on Elizabeth Street on the northern side of the island near the marina and the Hyatt Key West.  The only reason I mention Kermit's is because of their chocolate-dipped key lime pie.  As we walked past Kermit's every day on our morning walk, we mentioned to one another that we thought the chocolate-dipped delight would either be really good or the ruin of a good slice of key lime pie.

Sure, among our wanderings of  Key West, we had made it by the Kermit's on Duval Street and took advantage of sampling some of the cookies and a variety of key lime salsas.  So as not to be total leaches, we even purchased a bottle of  Kermit's Key Lime Juice and a box of Kermit's Key Lime Cooler Cookies which are absolutely delicious (buy one more box than you need!).

But, let me get back to the chocolate-dipped key lime pie on a stick.  On the last day of our trip, we decided to try one just to see what it tasted like.  After one bite, we knew we had made a terrible mistake not coming by before.  First off, key lime pie at Key West always seems better than key lime pie anywhere else, and second, can you think of anything that doesn't taste good dipped in chocolate?  The pie is made, sliced, a stick inserted and dipped in chocolate, and then frozen.  Sound good yet?

According to a sign in the store, Alton Brown of the Food Network picked Kermit's chocolate-dipped key lime pie as one of the Top 10 desserts in America. I won't argue with him.

The whole purpose of this blog is to try and advise you not to make the same mistake that my wife and I made.  Definitely, don't wait until the final hours of the last day to go by and try this award-winning treat.  You will probably find yourself back again for another before your trip is over.

There are other chocolate-covered key lime pies on a stick around Key West and I imagine that they are delicious as well.  One is Key West Key Lime Pie Company, whose website makes me very hungry.   No matter where you buy, just make sure you don't go back to the mainland without trying this chocolaty covered tart dessert on a stick.

Why Key West?

Here I am in Mississippi, just over 200 miles from numerous beautiful Gulf Coast beaches.  Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, and Destin all come to mind.  And yet each year, I keep on going back to Key West, FL.  So some people ask me, why Key West?

Maybe Key West just came along at the right time.  My wife and I waved goodbye to our daughter and new son-in-law as they drove from their wedding reception.  They were on their way to their honeymoon in Cancun.  After we got home from the reception, my wife looked at me and said, "Shouldn't we be the ones taking a trip?"

As some of you may know, being a  parent of the bride can take a lot out of you, financially and emotionally and I was ready for an escape.  Within the next week, my wife had put together a trip to Key West.  A flight on Delta Airlines to the small Key West Airport and accommodations at the Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa.  It sounded good to me.

Our flight touched down at just past noon in Key West and a short cab ride later, we arrived at the Hyatt.  Five days and four nights later, fully refreshed, I had fallen in love with Key West!

In the following blogs, I will in more detail explain what I love about Key West, things that my wife and I have discovered and things that will make your trip easier and more enjoyable.  Should you have a Key West question, I can answer it from a tourist perspective instead of a "Chamber of Commerce" or Merchant's perspective.  I will be honest and helpful.  Feel free to email me at nationsricky@gmail.com.  Please make sure that you place the words, "KEY WEST" in the subject line.

I wish you safe and fun travel.


**I am an avid tourist of Key West, FL. The purpose of my blog, Southernmost Point, is to give an honest observation from a tourist perspective, not a "Chamber of Commerce" or merchant's perspective. I will give honest and helpful information.

The Key West Sandal

The many colors of Kino sandals

In Key West, the primary footwear is sandals.  While on a trip to Key West, my wife placed a post on Facebook telling the world how much we were enjoying our trip.  Within hours, two of her friends, one who grew up in KW and the other who visits there often told her that she "had to go to Kino's".  Up until this point, we didn't even know that there was such a thing as a Kino sandal. Immediately, it became of utmost importance that we visit Kino's which just happened to be within blocks of our hotel (WARNING:  If you are staying at either the Hyatt or Margaritaville, Kino's is within very easy walking distance).

So, off we go down a few blocks on Front Street which runs parallel to Mallory Square, headed toward Kino's.  One block south of Duval Street is the intersection of Front Street and Fitzpatrick Street.  Turn left and within twenty or so yards is a building with a small plaza and a very small sign, "Kino's Sandals".

Kino's Plaza

If you are looking for upscale retail, then don't go to Kino's.  When you enter the small plaza, you will find Kino's in the left corner of the stucco building.  When you first enter, you will notice a long "L" shaped counter filled with two or three styles of a very simple sandal.  There will be a large selection of colors and the colors may change from day to day.  Behind the counter are big cardboard boxes of different-sized sandals.  You wait your turn and hope to be waited on.  Once waited on, they will gather the sandals that you request and you can then either continue to shop or pay for your new footwear.

Behind the counter in full view is the "sandal factory" where the sandals are made.  It is very interesting to be in the same location where the sandals are being handmade.  The whole Kino's experience has a bit of a Central American feel to it.

Main counter inside Kino's.

The sandals are made with natural leather uppers and natural rubber soles and seem to last forever.  I have talked with two different female customers who came in to buy more Kino's although they were wearing perfectly good Kino sandals.  One woman took the pair she was wearing off and told me, "Look at these.  They are five years old and I wear them all of the time."  Besides the Kino's name being worn off from the inside of the sandal, the sandals looked as good as new. Perhaps being handmade by craftsmen instead of by a machine helps them to last longer.

Now here is the best part:  The sandals cost somewhere between $14-$18.  Most of the women's sandals cost $14-$15.  My wife loves hers and wears them all of the time.  On our last trip to Key West, my daughter, son, and son-in-law, all asked that we get them another pair of Kino's

There are a few negatives when shopping at Kino's.  First, you are in a tropical climate and the store will be warm.  It will be even warmer if the store is busy.  Second, the store may be very busy especially if a large cruise ship is in town.  Third, the people working behind the counter are doing their best but may seem to overlook you.  If you get that feeling, in a nice way, let them know that you are there and what you need.  They will help you.

If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind Key West experience and an inexpensive sandal that lasts for years and molds to your foot, then a trip to Kino's is in store for you.

*Kino's is located at 107 Fitzpatrick St, Key West, FL

**I am an avid tourist of Key West, FL. The purpose of my blog, Southernmost Point, is to give an honest observation from a tourist perspective, not a "Chamber of Commerce" or merchant's perspective. I will give honest and helpful information.

"Don't You Want'a Get A Pedicure?"

On our last trip to Key West, my wife informed me that she had set an appointment for she and I to have a pedicure at Nailtini on Duval Street.  While not of the Duck Dynasty mold, as a southern male, I looked at her as if she were crazy.  She replied, "Don't you want'a get a pedicure?  Come on, you'll like it."  Having my reservations, I agreed and knew that part of my Key West vacation would be spent getting "sissy-ed up".

The morning of our appointment came and we walked from our hotel down Duval Street to Nailtini Nail Bar and Day Spa.  With no problems, we found the small quaint frame building that Nailtini calls home.  As we entered, we were given a professional yet friendly greeting.   Our reservation was confirmed and we were seated in the brand new chairs that had just been installed the day before.  We were literally the first two pedicures given in the new chairs of the newly remodeled Nailtini.

A pedicure novice at age 54, I sat in the chair and waited for what was to come.  A complimentary martini was offered to both of us and Athena, a very friendly and delightful person, sat before me and began the pedicure.  Guys, to be honest with you, it felt good.  Really good!  Athena and I yakked it up and she told me about a new workout (Cross Fit?) that she had just begun the night before and how sore she was.  When the pedicure was complete, I kind of hated to go.  My feet felt so good and my toes looked great in my sandals.  The whole experience had been a lot of fun.

Thanks to Athena for a great first pedicure and good conversation!

I'll be back next year for another "pedi".  I'm kind of sold on it.  And I'll be back at Nailtini.  I'm kind of sold on them too.


**I am an avid tourist of Key West, FL. The purpose of my blog, Southernmost Point, is to give an honest observation from a tourist perspective, not a "Chamber of Commerce" or merchant's perspective. I will give honest and helpful information.

Key West: Should I Drive, Ferry or Fly?

It may seem like a stupid question, "What's the best way to get to Key West?"  But take my word for it, it's not!

There are basically three extremely different ways to get to this very isolated location.  One is to drive to Miami and head south on Highway 1.  I have taken this drive and while it seems like a short distance on the map, it is not.  You will see a number of signs around Key West that say, "Havana 90 miles, Miami 151 miles".  Key West is literally closer to Cuba than it is to Miami.

The drive would not be bad except for a couple of major reasons: two lane road/bridges and a very slow speed limit.  Don't fall into the trap of, "but the cost to fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale is so much less than flying into Key West".  Yep, you're right.  And then you stand in line and rent a car and hit the crowded Dade County roads headed south.  Baggage in the trunk, headed to Key West.  You are excited and can't wait to get there.  The only problem is that you're going to wait.  Patience while traveling the Florida Keys is a must.  The speed limit for the drive will range from a high of 55 MPH (if not behind slow and dense traffic), down to 45 and 35 MPH when going through the few towns along the way. 

I remember the first time I went to Key West for a day trip, I left Fort Lauderdale headed south.  Just over four long hours later, I arrived in Key West with the knowledge that I would have to turn around and make the same trip over again later that day.  It did not make for an enjoyable day trip.

I have heard more than a dozen or so people complain about the trip from the mainland and through the Keys.  So, as you can see, I'm not that excited and do not recommend traveling to Key West by car unless that is your only option.  If so, just be patient and know that at the end of Highway 1 at Mile Marker 0 is Key West.

I know I have been very disparaging about driving to Key West but somewhere around 2009,  Highway 1/the Overseas Highway was named an All-American Road.  I have found one link from tripadvisor.com that as of this writing has 1129 reviews that are all mostly positive.  It will be your call, but as I have stated before, my advice would be to travel to Key West another way.

The second mode of travel is the one that I am least familiar with.  It is the Key West Express, the ferry to Key West.  The ferry travels from Fort Myers Beach year-round and Marco Island seasonally.  They advertise that "Getting there is half the fun".  A video link on YouTube for Key West Express shows the ferry ride and gives good information.

The time of travel from port to port is approximately 3.5 hours in each direction if the weather and marine conditions are good.

Of course, the last way for the masses to travel to Key West is by air.  It is by far, my favorite.  The Key West International Airport (KWIA) looks like something you would see in a Central American country.  This two
story small airport with the words, "Welcome to the Conch Republic" emblazoned on the entryway from the plane to the airport puts you in the mood that you are somewhere different.

A short cab ride later ($16 plus $4 tip) puts you at your hotel in downtown Key West.  When you step foot from the cab into the downtown area of Key West, if you are a reasonably healthy person, then you will never need transportation again until it is time to go back to the airport. Almost everything that you will want to see or do is within walking/strolling distance.

A number of airlines fly into KWIA.  As of 2013, American Airlines, Cape Air, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, U.S. Airways, and Delta Airlines all provided service to Key West.  I have always flown Delta Airlines from Atlanta which travels down the western coastline of Florida.  If the weather is good and you have a window seat, you will see the bend from the panhandle to the peninsula as well as Tampa Bay.  At that point, you know you are not far away.

A couple of things to remember as you start to close in on Key West by air.  First, the KWIA runway is the shortest in the US at 4801 feet in length.  Your pilot will probably advise you of this and let you know that the plane will be coming down hard and stopping quickly.  As a passenger, I have never had any discomfort in this.  Also, when you arrive, you see the "quaintness" of the airport as you walk down the stairs from the plane onto the tarmac and make your way to the entry to the airport.

It is your choice as to how you get to Key West.  I simply recommend that you go.  It is a wonderful, beautiful, relaxing place.

UPDATE:  Although I am not a great fan of the "road trip" from Miami to Key West, the following December 2018, New York Times story makes it sound very interesting with the exception of traffic cops:  GREAT NEW YORK TIMES "ROAD TRIP" STORY (I still like to fly!)


**I am an avid tourist of Key West, FL. The purpose of my blog, Southernmost Point, is to give an honest observation from a tourist perspective, not a "Chamber of Commerce" or merchant's perspective. I will give honest and helpful information.

Margaritaville Resort and Marina: Your Access to Sunset Key

A while back, my wife and I discovered a wonderful, isolated tropical location right here in the United States: Key West, FL.  The island which is just over a mile wide is great for walking/strolling.  On many evenings, we would make our way down to Mallory Square, a large public plaza along the waterfront facing west.  It is here that much of the island will come to watch the sunset each evening.  Just off the coastline is a very small Key known as Sunset Key.  This small twenty-seven acre Key is aptly named as it is generally behind this Key where the sun sets.

Sunset Key, the area with beach is Margaritaville's Sunset Key Cottages.

On this small Key are a handful of very upscale, expensive homes.  On seven acres of the Key, the Margaritaville Resort and Marina has a small number of cottages, some overlooking the water and others overlooking the pool.

The pool is set in among the palm trees and cottages right along the edge of the Key and was one of the most wonderful, relaxing pools that I have ever experienced.  Guests of the cottages have instant access to this pool simply by being guests there.  But what about the guests of the Margaritaville Resort over on Key West?  Can they take advantage of this wonderful place in this beautiful setting?   As it turns out they can!

Each day, the Margaritaville Resort allows travel by boat from the Margaritaville Marina to Sunset Key.  But, here is the catch.  Not everyone can go.  Only the first twenty guests of the Margaritaville Resort who sign up with the resort each morning are given an access pass to Sunset Key.  This pass gives you a boat ride to and from the Key and access to the pool, restaurant and small beach.  The water is beautifully clear!

REMEMBER:  The Resort begins to take names at 8AM.  It is smart to be there a little early to make sure you get your name on the list.  Most people staying at the resort know nothing about the ability to go to Sunset Key, so that is very much in your favor.

I highly recommend that if you stay at the Margaritaville Resort (formerly the Westin Key West Resort), then most certainly try to go to Sunset Key.  And, if you just happen to be staying in a cottage at the Sunset Key Cottages, then good for you!

IMPORTANT 2017 UPDATE:  As stated above, the Westin Key West Resort has been purchased by Margaritaville.  As would be expected, Westin points are not accepted by Margaritaville.  The Westin Sunset Key Resort is now Sunset Key Cottages and they operate with Margaritaville.

One other bit of advice related to Margaritaville: At 500 Duval Street, you will find Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Restaurant.  What initially appeared to me as another "gimmick" restaurant actually has a very good cheeseburger.  Just like the song, "Cheeseburger in Paradise". 

**I am an avid tourist of Key West, FL. The purpose of my blog, Southernmost Point, is to give an honest observation from a tourist perspective, not a "Chamber of Commerce" or merchant's perspective. I will give honest and helpful information.