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BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON December 28, 2015

Florida Keys & Key West Winter Getaway

Florida Keys

As you gaze into your 2016 crystal travel ball, imagine a getaway to one of North America’s friendliest, most fun-loving destinations. Head to the southernmost site of the U.S. – the Florida Keys & Key West – for your great winter (or anytime) escape. Enjoy blue, sunny skies, soft, sub-tropical breezes and emerald waters as you kick back, feed the fishes and sip a mojito, or two.

The Florida Keys

Book a flight directly into Key West or into Miami International Airport (MIA) to catch a shuttle or rent a car to the Florida Keys, a string of upper, middle and lower islands stretching from Key Largo to Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key and finally, Key West, covering 125 miles. Highway 1 connects the Florida Keys to the mainland and the shuttle drive from MIA takes an estimated 3.5 to 4 hours (with drop-offs) at the highway’s highest speed limit of 55 mph.

Key West Historic 7-Mile Bridge

Florida Keys Historic 7-Mile Bridge

For your ultimate stay and play vacation, here are a few fun activities to add to your playdate in paradise.

Voyage on the African Queen.

In Key Largo, hop aboard history with a 1.5 – 2 hour day or dinner cruise on the one and only recently-restored (2011) African Queen from the same-named classic film starring Humphrey Bogart and Kathryn Hepburn. Channel your inner Bogart and Hepburn with a turn at the helm and blow of the steamboat whistle.

Go Deep-Sea Fishing.

Captain Skip Bradeen

Continue your fun getaway with someone widely-respected as one of Florida’s national treasures, Long Island-bred Captain Skip Bradeen, who has been plying the waters of the Florida Keys for over 50 years.

Captain Skip’s musical medley on board sets an easy-living tone on his charter boat, Blue Chip Too. Apart from his mellifluous New York accent, we’re welcomed with throwback tunes like Mack the Knife, Cathy’s Clown, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, and Kissing and a Hugging with Fred. 

Catch of the Day

Our afternoon mission, should we choose to accept it – and of course, we do – is to land red or yellow-tailed snapper, marlin, grouper, sailfish or possibly “shock”for our evening dinner. “What kind of fish is that, Captain Skip?” “Shock! Shock!” For a minute, we’re confused. Then we get it. “Ahh – shark!” Though the sharks elude us, by the end of our afternoon adventure, we manage to capture enough of the others to “cook our catch”  later that evening at Lazy Days Restaurant in Islamorada.

Kayak through Mangroves.

While adventure enthusiasts can follow the Florida Keys’ paddling trail from Key Largo to Key West, we opt for a shorter, alternate route through the quiet, backcountry No Name mangrove. What is a mangrove exactly? Just ask Captain Bill Keogh of Big Pine Kayak Adventures who together with his trusted canine companion leads our group of kayakers through a lush, mysterious waterway, a forested marine ecosystem for sea- and birdlife.

As we navigate through the shallow waters, paddling where possible or pulling ourselves forward on the branches dangling overhead, Captain Bill points out the abundance of wildlife all around us. It’s hard to imagine a more satisfying, peaceful way to spend an afternoon while learning about the colorful creatures who live here.

Explore Key West.

Sloppy Joe's

For an overview of popular sites and tourist attractions in Key West, we take the “hop on-hop off” Old Town Trolley sightseeing tour with thirteen stops along the way. Our ride includes a cruise down Duval Street, famous for its festivals and parades, shopping and bars like Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Hard Rock Cafe, Sloppy Joe’s and the Bull & Whistle.

Hemingway Studio

Of course no stay in Key West would be complete for Hemingway aficionados without a visit to his home, now a museum. From the estate’s luxurious grounds with built-in swimming pool, to the purring six-toed cats that grace the premises, to a guided tour through the Spanish colonial-style home and writer’s studio, the site offers a fascinating peek into Hemingway’s life during his years in Key West. The author’s legend lives on in the fun Papa Look-Alike contest held annually during Hemingway Days in July.

Key West Butterfly

Visitors can walk through a bird and butterfly wonderland at The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, another popular Key West attraction on the tour. Vibrant. Magical. Calming. Soft background music adds to nature’s sounds of cascading water and birdsong as we stroll among the tropical flora and fauna in the glass-enclosed surroundings. Exotic species of birds and butterflies fly freely around us. Occasionally a butterfly lights on one lucky visitor, while the rest of us gaze at the magnificent colors up close and personal.

Mallory Square

You have to love a town where locals and tourists gather nightly to view and celebrate sunset as a community event. Jugglers, musicians, artisans, and psychics all contribute to the festive atmosphere that takes over Mallory Square each evening starting two hours before sunset.

Key West Sunset Cruise

Or how about a quieter celebration with a sunset cruise? So many choices, each equally fun and memorable.

Eat, Drink and Make Merry.

Hogfish Bar & Grill

Hogfish Bar & Grill

Enjoy oceanfront and open-air dining at several restaurants throughout the Florida Keys and Key West. Whether having breakfast at the Morada Bay Beach Cafe or lunch at The Hungry Tarpon where you can feed silver kings from your bucket of baitfish in Islamorada; whether starting your day with huge cinnamon and sticky buns at Bob’s Bunz or having lunch at Hogfish Bar and Grill where the specialty is – you guessed it – fresh, flavorful hogfish; whether you “cook your catch” for dinner at Lazy Days Restaurant in Islamorada, check in for dinner at El Meson de Pepe, a Cuban restaurant, or Half Shell Raw Bar in Key West; whether you meet for breakfast at Blue Heaven in Key West’s Bahama Village Neighborhood (also the site of Friday-night boxing matches once refereed by Hemingway himself) or Mangrove Mama’s in Summerland Key – you can count on having fresh seafood, key lime pie and mojitos on the menu.

Key Lime Pie from El Meson de Pepe

Key Lime Pie from El Meson de Pepe

And remember – it’s never too early in the day for key lime pie. You be the judge about the mojitos.

For more information, visit The Florida Keys & Key West.

Many thanks to The Florida Keys & Key West for the chance to experience “Prime Time in Paradise.” Some, though not all, of my expenses were covered by my hosts.

Wander on!

Nancy

What about you, wanderboomers? What are your favorite recommended experiences when visiting The Florida Keys & Key West? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, Florida, Food & Dining, Travel Experiences Tagged With: 7-Mile Bridge, African Queen, butterfly, fishing, Florida, Hemingway, kayaking, key lime pie, Key West, sunset, The Florida Keys

BY Nancy Mueller 2 Comments ON May 17, 2013

Whidbey Island Sunset

WhidbeyIslandSunset

For this week’s Photo Friday, here’s a sunset scene from Whidbey Island, WA to carry you into the weekend. Ahh . . .

You can find more fun photos at Delicious Baby.

Wander on!

Nancy

What’s your favorite sunset memory, Wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Pacific Northwest, Travel Experiences, WA, Washington State, Whidbey Island Tagged With: Delicious Baby, Photo Friday, sunset, Whidbey Island

BY Nancy Mueller 7 Comments ON April 24, 2013

U is for Uluru

Ulura. The aboriginal name for Ayers Rock, Australia . . .

I recall when Oprah was planning her Australian adventure extravaganza a few years back. She hadn’t considered visiting Ayers Rock until her pal Paul Simon told her she needed to go. After her visit, she said he was right.

Ulurujemasmithflickr (450 x 300)

Photo courtesy of jema smith – flickr

What is it about this sandstone monolith located in the middle of nowhere Australia that calls to 400,000 to 500,000 visitors a year? Is it the changing colors of the rock and sky at sunrise and sunset? Or something more profound . . .

Ulurucharlesbukowskyflickr (450 x 338)

Photo courtesy of charles bukowsky – flickr

For aboriginal Australians, Uluru is considered a sacred site, home to ancient paintings in the caves at the base of the massive monument that were created during their mythical Dreamtime. Though requested by the aborigines not to climb the rock because of its spiritual nature, visitors are still allowed to do so – for now. Today the government is considering a ban on climbing for safety, environmental and cultural reasons, making it only a matter of time before visitors find the path closed.

UluruTheCreativePennflickr (450 x 300)

Photo courtesy of The Creative Penn – flickr

Have you visited Ayers Rock, wanderboomers? What was your experience?

Filed Under: Activities, Australia, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Travel Experiences Tagged With: aborigines, Australia, Ayers Rock, Dreamtime, Oprah, Paul Simon, sacred site, sunrise, sunset, Uluru

BY Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment ON September 14, 2012

A Treat to Eat at Taylor Shellfish Farms

Start at the scenic seashore of Samish Bay,WA. Place a few sunflower-topped picnic tables and a BBQ nearby. Add a popular oyster shell lighthouse, friendly welcoming party and a hands-on shellfish cooking demonstration. Flavor with a few of your favorite new friends and a stunning sunset.

Presto! You have all the makings for a memorable meal at Taylor Shellfish Farms, thanks to Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.

Recognized as the largest shellfish company in North America, Taylor Shellfish farms is a fifth generation family-owned operation with headquarters in Shelton, WA. Here in Samish Bay, just south of Bellingham, the local operation sits on 1,700 acres of tideflats where they produce Manila clams, oysters and geoduck (pronounced “gooey” duck).

The Northwest geoduck is a marvel all its own. Native to Washington State and British Columbia, this saltwater clam is the largest burrowing clam in the world. More than a few jokes have been made about the length of its siphon that can extend several feet beyond its shell. Let’s just say that my introduction to the geoduck came from a roommate who had strategically placed one in our otherwise empty dorm refrigerator. Predictably, when I opened the door,  I screamed.

First impressions aside, on this evening at Taylor Shellfish Farms, we soon discover that geoduck is one tasty morsel, thanks to the demonstration by our hosts Nicole Hopper and Jon Rowley. After carefully slicing the muscle away from the clam shell, the geoduck is placed in boiling water for about 20 seconds, just long enough to allow us to remove the skin. Afterwards, we slice the siphon into quarter-inch pieces which we then dip in a little soy sauce and wasabi for a raw crunchy snack before our main meal. Mmm . . .

Meanwhile, Nicole has cut up the soft belly of the geoduck, covering it with a lime juice marinade before mixing in 2 cups of tomatoes, 2 onions, 1 cucumber, radishes, 2 cloves of garlic and a jalapeno pepper for the ceviche.

Jon continues the cooking demonstration by showing us how to crack a crab. First, we carefully pull the head off from the back.

Now for the messy part . . . We remove the insides before breaking the crab in two,

then snap off the crab legs one by one. Jon presents each of us with a homemade stainless steel tool for gently cracking open the legs. “Gently” is the key word of advice here which in my haste I failed to follow, inadvertently smashing my crab legs into smithereens. Oops. Easy does it.

Still ahead is a lesson in how to shuck oysters and remove the beard of a mussel. But for now, we’re ready to clean up, pour a glass of  Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio and enjoy the evening sunset.

Do you have a favorite memorable meal to share with us, Wanderboomers?

Filed Under: Activities, Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Food & Dining, WA, Washington State Tagged With: BBQ. barbecue, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Board, British Columbia, ceviche, crab, cracked crab, geoduck, Jon Rowley, Nicole Hopper, North America, Oyster Shell Lighthouse, Pinot Grigio, Samish Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, shellfish, Shelton, soy sauce, sunflower, sunflowers, sunset, Taylor Shellfish Farms, tideflats, WA, Washington, wine

Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
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