From the Publisher
On the cover this month is 9-year-old Grayson with his first tarpon. Intrigued by watching them “roll” from his Cape Coral dock for months, he finally caught one. My first Tarpon was caught the same way when I was about his age, but in Key Largo. Fishing is only surpassed by his Jiu Jitsu training, which is already coming in handy. Jiu Jitsu teaches kids patience, focus, problem-solving and persistence — skills that can carry over to fishing, where success often comes from staying calm, paying attention and not giving up. Just after the Tarpon release, he was introduced to a new baby sister. So between school, training, and Tarpon fishing, his calendar is starting to get pretty booked…
I’ve had a bucket-list item that’s getting checked off this month. I’m riding my bike from Key Largo to Key West. My wife will be poolside waiting for me at the Opal Resort in Key West where I’ll spend a day recovering, then a day with Capt. Mike Bartlett (one of our contributing writers) fishing. He told me to bring my snorkel gear so we could also jump in and get a couple lobster. We’re showing up the day FantasyFest ends so KW rates drop from $1,200 to about $400/night. And they say price gauging is illegal.
We’ve been going to Key West a couple times a year for a while. I don’t think I could live there, and I’ve never done the “Duval Crawl,”but I do enjoy the restaurants, the views, and the thought of being 100+ miles from land, so to speak. You don’t have to be a “tourist” to enjoy Key West, I’ve never even been to the Hemingway House.
Coffee at the Cuban Coffee Queen is a must, and the downtown area is loaded with unique breakfast restaurants. Another every-time stop is Garbo’s Grill, known for creative tacos and burritos, particularly combinations that mix Caribbean and Korean flavors. It’s a casual food-truck-style operation at Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon near Duval on Caroline.
Key West is one of the most bar-dense destinations in America, with roughly two dozen bars for every square mile of land. On Duval Street alone, more than 40 bars pack into a little over a mile, yet my wife and I don’t get caught up in that part. Key West may be famous for its bars and nightlife, but island visitors are also drawn to its history, nature, art, food and laid back island life. Many visitors get so caught up in the “party” that they miss out on other reasons to be there. Yet I also enjoy sitting on the sidewalk at the Bull people watching. Then there’s the roof…
The Opal Resort has Florida resident discounts and a covered parking garage where the car sits the whole time we’re there. I’m an early riser so around 4am I bike the island, which gets a bit ghostly in certain neighborhoods, especially around the cemetery.
Another stop I always make is the Key West Treasure Chest. The owner, Sherry, arrived in Key West in the 70’s and quickly became part of what the island is all about. She has photos of Jimmy Buffett on her couch with her dog, and she was part of the crew that discovered the Atocha. Stop in and meet her if you find yourself southbound in need of a tropical breath of fresh air. Her shop is where Front Street meets the water, across from the Galleon Resort.
While 120 miles from the mainland I also like to make an appearance at the fence-line dividing Fort Zachary Taylor Park from the Navy base. Show up there and put your toes in the water with your heel in the sand, and you’ve now stepped on the southernmost point of land (outside of Hawaii) that Non-Navy personnel can access by car. That point of land is public access in a state park and about 400-feet south of the famous “Southernmost Buoy” at the end of Whitehead Street. The fort there is also worth seeing, and the gate fee at the park is only $6 per car. Lots of parking, beautiful beach, tour the fort, gift shop, bathrooms & showers.
The secret premier steak house is unknown to most, it’s not even on GoogleMaps. Find Dantes in the Key West Bight Harbor. The top floor is Prime 951 Steakhouse. Well worth it!
And for a less expensive yet filling dinner with a great variety and view, the Boat House, also in the Key West Bight Harbor about 50 yards from Prime 951, offers their entire full-page “Small Plates” menu at 50% off during 4-6:30 happy hour. Conch fritters, Lobster tail tempura, Peel-and-eat Key West pink shrimp, Coconut shrimp, Buffalo shrimp, Filet-mignon and mushroom kabobs, Lamb chops, and even Baby-back ribs. They also have half-price draft beer, house wine and selected drinks. Feed scraps to the fishes right there at the table. They do this for the bar crowd, but if you go there just for dinner, two people can eat like Kings and have enough left over for a tip, which is unique for an early dinner in Key West.
Whether it’s Key West or just a quick weekend across the state, in maybe Vero Beach, consider getting away more often. It’s where you can think, recharge, and appreciate what Florida has to offer.
It’s still hot out so please stay hydrated!
Jim Griffiths
Publisher, Nautical Mile
