Stock Island Marina Village (Resort): Stock Island Marina Village is very "resorty". I love the tropical feel of the new (2nd) pool! My photo does not do it justice, but look how the landscapers leaned the palm trees out over the pool and lounge areas.
There are 3 eateries on-site -- a little pricey, but the food is good, and the location is convenient. 😊 One of the restaurants has live music on the weekends. A shuttle runs hourly to downtown Key West. There are small and large dog parks, a doggie spa, and both regular and chair hammock "gardens".
Key West Distilling (on-site, Stock Island Marina Village): We enjoyed a distillery tour with 2 other Great Harbour couples -- Semper Fi and Journey. The owner, Jeffrey Louchheim, was interesting. I forgot to get a group photo -- again! But Ray took pictures of orchids in the marina's orchid greenhouse nextdoor.
Key West (Stock Island) Sunsets: We've seen a few good sunsets. This one was taken from the 2nd floor captain's lounge.
Our Great Harbour friends on Semper Fi drove us to enjoy a sunset on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, Ingham (retired in 1988). This was a relaxing, peaceful evening, away from the hustle-bustle of downtown, listening to old swing tunes.
From this location, we had a great view of sunset, .... and all of the "sunset sail" boats.
Sunset Pier - "Good Tunes & Good Times Are On The Horizon": We enjoyed dinner on Sunset Pier, where Nick Norman and the Chictactoes were playing.
Look at Ocean Key Resort and Spa (the yellow building behind the stage). If I didn't live on a boat, I would want to stay here. 😉 (Top floor, corner unit.)
As the sun set, we were entertained by this skilled Water Jet Packer with his dog (I presume) in a backpack.
A beautiful sunset was "on the horizon".
Memorable Key West Restaurants (aside from Sunset Pier - already mentioned):
Caroline's - We remembered Caroline's from our previous "car vacation trip" in Key West: great people watching - right on Duval Street; awesome shrimp lettuce wraps.
Garbo's Grill - Great Korean BBQ tacos from the food truck, enjoyed on a cozy outdoor patio with great music by Rob Benson & his son Sheldon (hosted by Hank's Hair of the Dog Saloon).
Old Town Tavern & Beer Garden - Most extensive craft beer selection, good happy hour, key lime brulee! We ate in the courtyard that leads to the pool of the Casablanca Hotel. (If I didn't live on a boat, I would want to stay here.)
The Breakfast Club Too - funky sea scupltures/decor, great brunch items. (Notice the fresh palm leaves & pink flowers scattered around the bartops.)
Pier House Beach Bar: Tucked past the lush garden and fountain, the small patio is a little pricey, but has delicious lobster BLT sliders, and usually good live music -- not to mention the gulf ocean view. Fun fact: This resort is also home to the Chart Room -- the bar where Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley started their careers. Ref: https://www.pierhouse.com/history
Rooftop Cafe - We are always drawn here - mostly for atmosphere (a tree through the upstairs seating area?), but great food too (just a little pricey - sensing a theme here?).
Harborwalk - Any restaurant on the bustling waterfront is fun.
Favorite Stock Island Restaurants (aside from happy hour burger here at our marina, at Salty Oyster - dockside):
I almost lost Ray lush garden patio at Roostica - warm pub/restaurant, great pizza. 😉
And we "always" (all 2 trips) have to come to Hogfish. You will see alot of directional signs around here, but I wouldn't rely on them. 🙂
Key West Sightseeing:
A couple of well-know Key West landmarks: Mile Zero (the beginning of US 1) and Southernmost Point (90 miles to Cuba).
A few not-so-well-known Key West landmarks...
Sailing schooner When and If, commissioned by General Patton in 1939, is berthed in our marina, Stock Island Marina Village. General Patton said, "When the war is over, and If I live through it, Bea and I are going to sailer her around the world."
One afternoon while enjoying a dockside burger, Ray commented that he liked the old designs, where there were no hard corners.
That night, as I was getting caught up on season 3 of The Marvelour Mrs. Maisel, the characters Midge and Shy Baldwin went sailing on a classic-looking yacht. I thought, hmmm.....that looks alot like the sailing charter across our harbor. Another Google search confirmed my hunch! When and If was "on location" for the show, and also some Tommy Bahama ads.
When and If under sail...I apologize, my photo does not do it justice.
Presidential Gates: Installed in 1906 as the ceremonial entrance into the Navy base -- and only opened for visiting dignitaries. Even after a residential community, called Truman Annex, was built on the old base, the Gates maintain the tradition of opening only for dignitaries.
African Cemetery At Higgs Beach: A memorial to 294 African men, women, and children buried in unmarked graves nearby - where West Martello Tower now stands. They died in 1860, after having been rescued, along with 1,138 others, by the U.S. Navy, from American-owned ships engaged in illegal slave trade.
Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden: 36 bronze busts of the men and women who had the greatest impact on Key West.
Harry Truman is honored here. His frequent visits and celebrity contributed to the beginning of tourism here.
Seward Johnson's painted bronze statues: Ray enjoyed playing with several of these statues around the Custom House. They change and move around frequently.
Incidentally, Johnson is the grandson to to the founder of Johnson & Johnson.
West Martello Tower, now home of the Key West Garden Club’s Botanical Garden: Built in 1862 during the Civil War, this fort was never involved in a battle, but it was often used for target practice by the United States Navy. Ref: https://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/west-martello-fort
The gardens are enjoyed by young and old....
Just one of the interesting plants in the garden - brain cactus:
A few Key West churches...
St. Paul's Episcopal Church: The first Episcopal Church in South Florida was established here with a Christmas Day service in 1832. A sign posted invites everyone in, if the doors are open.
Key West United (formerly Old Stone) Methodist Church: This structure was built of two-foot thick limestone quarried in the Keys during the 1870s and is the oldest standing religious building on the island. It was difficult to photographt the building behind this gigantic tree.
Speaking of gigantic trees....Below are some of the trees we spotted around town.
According to the sign, a Kapok tree (below) "was sacred to the Mayan people who believed that souls of the dead climbed a mythical kapok whose branches reached into heaven."
This banyan -- at The Banyan Resort -- spans 2 front yards!
It's too spectacular for photos!
Regular Life & Projects: Ray managed to find time to complete (or continue) a few boat projects. One popular definition of cruising is "fixing your boat in exotic locations."
There is a "pay-card" laundry on-site. (It was conveniently located right at our dock.)
I was able to refill prescriptions at the downtown pharmacy, just a few blocks from where the resort shuttle dropped us off. And we were able to purchase a few basic grocery items at the pharmacy.
We made two trips to Publix on the shuttle, which dropped us off before taking other guests downtown, and then stopped to pick us up (about 35 minutes later) on the way back to the resort.
Exercise: On our 1st full day, Ray & I bicycled (partly electric ride) 4 miles to the auto parts store, then stopped at Publix for groceries on the way home.
At least 4 days a week, we either walked a couple of miles on the track or did yoga or exercises on the fitness court at a very well-maintained nearby park.
Then we made a protein shake on the boat and either sat in a swing or hammock at the resort, or under the sun shade on the bow of the boat.
Girls Lunch! Several Great Harbour boats were in Key West, so the Admirals (ladies) got together for lunch at Blue Heaven (another great restaurant), shopping, and rum-tasting (that lasted 8 hours!). What a fun day!
Visitors: Our son Carson was unable to visit (busy with new endeavors at work). 😥 Maybe the next "exotic" location. 🤞
I was happy Daddy got to visit us in Key West just before we had to leave. (In fact, we kicked him out a day earlier than he planned because of a weather window that opened up for us to start heading north. Sorry!
I enjoyed taking him sightseeing and to some of our favorite restaurants & sunset viewing spots. He really got a sunset "money shot"!
We were lucky enough to hear drums and music as we walked past the Little Room Jazz Club early afternoon, and got to listen to great blues music as Bill Blue (and his band) were practicing for an album release party later that evening (at The Green Parrot).
Fun fact: When Ray & I went to "Sound Check" at The Green Parrot earlier in our stay (declared as not-to-be-missed byour Great Harbour friends on Tanuki), we had to text and our Raleigh friends (who love Key West and vacation here often). They found us live on one of the many webcams and I snapped a photo.
Daddy also had some (OK, just a little) down-time watching our favorite movie, Captain Ron, and sitting by the pool getting some sun on his legs. He also got to see (and hear) the navy fighter jets practicing over and near the marina. This rooftop is on the 1-story laundry building. You can see the landing gear!
Wow! We really enjoyed our month in Key West!
Now it's time to decide which direction to cruise. Stay tuned!
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