After our last very cold trip to Key West just several months ago in January, I was getting excited for our April trip. April tends to be the perfect time to go to Key West. We usually have beautiful weather that is warm but not terribly hot and humid. Plus the rains tend to not be an issue. A few days before our trip I looked at the forecast. It looked perfect. A little windy yes, but otherwise sunny and in the upper 70s were in the forecast.

This trip officially made it our 35th time returning to Key West. I still can’t believe that we have been going back to Key West so often and I still get that excited feeling as the trip nears. It was also the same week as the Conch Republic Celebration Days in Key West and the NFL Draft. 

Saturday, April 19th – Arrival Day

Our flight was scheduled for 9:15am out of Newark Liberty Airport so I reserved for our car service to pick us up at 6am. All of our alarms were set and I had no issues waking up that morning. The driver was on time and made it to Newark Airport just past 7:00am. We were flying out of Terminal A so going through TSA was a breeze. Since we had some time, we made a stop at the United Club lounge. We ordered a couple of screwdrivers and toasted to another return trip to Key West.

The usual suspects, our friends Brent and Julie and also Lynn and Al were also joining us in Key West. Of course we were all staying at the Gardens Hotel as usual. This also contributed to the excitement we both had. After a couple of cocktails it was time to walk down to our gate.

Luckily there was no issues with the flight, so we took off on time. Not before long I could start to see the beautiful colors of the ocean and gulf from the airplane window.

I was thinking to myself how is the new terminal going to look in Key West? I saw on social media that just a few days prior to our arrival, the long anticipated (and over due) new Key West terminal had opened and that we would most likely be deplaning through the new terminal and not walking out on to the tarmac. 

Once we landed, our plane parked up to the gate. We gathered our carry-on luggage and walked out into the new terminal.

It felt so strange to see the new airport. There was so much more space and seating for all the flights that come into and out of Key West. I noticed there was a Chili’s restaurant in the terminal but it didn’t look open just yet. There was however, a another place where you could buy snacks and grab a drink if need be.

We were walked out of the new terminal and actually were directed down the stairs where you used to go to depart for your flight. Soon we were in the baggage claim area and made a quick move out the doors to grab a taxi. The air was warm and the sun was shining. It felt so good to feel the warm air. No one was waiting for a taxi and immediately we were told to go in the first taxi waiting in line. 

We put our luggage in the back of the taxi and hopped in. It was the typical short drive onto to Simonton and then down to Angela St. As soon as I saw that yellow wall I new we were close. When the taxi pulled up to the Gardens and stopped, I notice that the Gardens Hotel had the Easter Prosecco Hunt banner that I recently designed for them hanging up. A felt humbled when I saw it.

Luckily no one else was at the reception desk when we walked in. Rhoda was behind the desk and welcomed us back. I felt like we just saw here, well technically it was 3 months prior but it felt like we were just there. 

Our room wasn’t ready yet, but we weren’t planning on really doing anything on our arrival day. The only couple of things I had on the schedule for that day was dinner at the Red Shoe Bistro and then afterwards, hopefully stop by the Backyard Bar after dinner to see the Marshall Morlock Band at the Backyard Bar.

Rhoda told us she would give me a call on my phone when our room was ready, but we told her she could just find us at the bar. We walked back out to the pool area and saw Phil behind the bar. 

He welcomed us back and had a couple of cold Heinenkens waiting for us. Not before long we saw our friends Brent and Julie. They were already staying at the Gardens for several days before we arrived. They pulled up a couple of chairs and we talked for a few. Then not before long we heard two familiar voices. Lynn and Al arrived. They flew out of LaGuardia and were supposed to land before us, but there were some sort of technical issues with their arrival flight. I think they mentioned something about the door of the plane.

Of course Lynn had bags filled with her delicious popcorn from her store and cute gifts to give all of us that she usually does. Rhoda then came out and gave us our room keys. I didn’t want to tear away from the bar, but my husband and I thought it would be the best move to unpack our things before we got too comfortable. Lynn and Al went to unpack their things in their room as well.

After we unpacked our things we walked back to the pool bar. Brent and Julie went back to their room to freshen up for dinner while we talked to Lynn and Al for a bit as we settled in. It felt so good to be back “home” in Key West at the Gardens Hotel. 

The afternoon flew by quickly and soon it was time to freshen up for dinner. When we were set to go, we reconvened at the pool bar with Brent and Julie. The reservations were for 6pm so we didn’t have too much time for another beverage before walking down to the Red Shoe Bistro.

We settled up our tab and walked out onto to Duval down to Petronia. 

As we neared the Red Shoe Bistro I noticed people were already standing outside waiting to go in. It kind of reminded me of going to Lola’s. Red Shoe has become quite popular most likely due to the wonderful reviews it receives. I can understand why because we had never had a bad meal there. The food and service are always equally spot on.

Once the doors were opened, we had to wait a couple of minutes for our turn to be seated. Soon it was time to give my name to the hostess who then walked us to our perfect table in the corner. Then our server came over to take our drink order and tell us the fish of the day special – which was black grouper. 

I wound up ordering a bottle of red wine for the table since we were all in the mood for a glass. To start I ordered the caesar salad followed by the yellowtail snapper. My husband ordered the lobster roll profiteroles followed by the beef stroganoff which he normally does. Julie and Brent shared the capresse salad and they both opted for the black grouper special.

After we placed our order, we were presented with an amuse bouche of a cracker topped with boursin cheese. 

It paired nicely with the red wine. Next our appetizers arrived and everyone enjoyed what they ordered, followed by our main courses. 

Just like previous visits, the food was served hot and delicious. When we were done with our dinner we still had some time to spare before checking out the Marshall Morlock Band at the Backyard Bar.

You can read my full review here:

Red Shoe Bistro – No wonder it is rated #1 on TripAdvisor

We have been dining at Red Shoe for several years now and never have a bad meal. Recently we dined at Red Shoe and enjoyed everything from their grilled caesar salad or their signature dish – Beef Stroganoff. I find that the service is always on point despite being completely full during one of their two seatings. As soon as we were seated, our service came over right away to take our drink order. The Red Shoe offers a nice selection of wine to choose from. Our first course (amuse bouche) consisted of boursin cheese on top of a crispy cracker that paired well with the wine. For appetizers, my husband ordered the lobster roll profiteroles and I went with the caesar salad which is presented as hearts of grilled romaine lettuce. Both plates were empty when our server came back to retrieve them. Our main meals consisted of the beef stroganoff for my husband and I opted for the yellowtail snapper serverd over their lovely risotto and grilled asparagus. Sometimes we will share their key lime pie to finish off the meal, but we were both at full capacity after we, again, cleared both of our plates. If you get a chance to visit Key West, be sure to make a reservation at the Red Shoe Bistro. You will realize while it is consistently rated #1 on TripAdvisor.

We headed back out onto Duval and started walking down towards Willie T’s. As we neared Willie T’s we heard a familiar voice behind the guitar. It was John LaMere. I saw a couple of tables that were available and suggested that we would stop in for a few. Everyone was onboard so we walked in and grabbed an empty table by the street. (I always love those tables because you can watch people walk by and also listen to the live music without being in the way.)  

When we sat down John immediately recognized all of us. Of course I had to request a Pearl Jam song. He obliged and played Elderly Woman.

We hadn’t seen John LaMere play at Willie T’s for a while and it was fun that we stopped by on a whim like that.

Once his set was over, we made the short walk to the Backyard Bar. The Marshall Worlock Band was already playing when we walked in. There were several tables along the side that were empty so we grabbed a couple of seats. 

Eventually the long travel day started to set in and I was definitely feeling it. We all made it back to the Gardens to enjoy our first night of sleep.

Sunday, April 20th – Easter Sunday

Julie had made reservations for Easter Brunch at Latitude’s several months earlier, knowing we had to be at the ferry dock by 9:45am. We planned on taking an Uber so that we wouldn’t get too hot walking over.

We woke up to a beautiful sunny morning. There was a breeze, but it felt refreshing and not too cold. My husband and I took turns getting ready and when we walked outside of our room there was a little surprise. An adult Easter basket for the both of us. We later figured out that it was the bartender Phil from the Gardens that had pulled it together. It was such a nice surprise.

We then made short walk on over to cuban coffee queen for a much needed cup of coffee.

Maybe since it was Easter, the line was fairly short. My husband placed our order of two cuban americans with cream and no sugar. Within a few minutes his name was called and we took our coffee back to the Gardens to meet up with Brent and Julie. 

On the walk back, I wanted to take a picture of me standing next to the Easter Processo Hunt event that I designed for the Gardens Hotel. I remember seeing it hanging on the yellow wall when our taxi driver dropped us off the day before. 

Lynn and Al were finishing up breakfast that the Gardens offers each and every morning. We chatted for a couple of minutes before meeting up with Brent and Julie. Once we were in front of the Gardens on Angela St., Julie put in the Uber request. Within minutes our Uber appeared.

It was a quick drive since it is a pretty short walk, but again we didn’t want to get all sweaty and whatnot for Latitudes. After the Uber driver dropped us off, we walked down to catch the water taxi over to Latitudes. You could see other people waiting dressed in their finest Easter wear. What a difference a few months make I thought to myself. Just about 3 months ago when we were there in January, it was so cold. It was actually a bit uncomfortable eating outside with the cold winds, even though they had some outdoor space heaters surrounding the dining area. This time, the weather was picture perfect.

Soon you could see the water taxi making its way around the large cruise ship that was docked. We waited for the Sunset Key guests to exit the water taxi before we could go on. It seemed like there were more people leaving Sunset Key then going to Sunset Key. Then again, Hot Tin Roof is the go to spot for a Sunday Brunch and especially that it was Easter.

We sat in our usual spot facing the dock. Once everyone was loaded on, we made our way over to Latitude’s.

The water looked so pretty – hues of turquoise that were so vibrant.

We exit the water taxi after we docked and followed the hostess to the restaurant. Then we were lead to a nice table outside. To start, we ordered a few breakfast cocktails – Tito’s and orange juice. I ordered the classic breakfast with a couple of eggs and breakfast sausage. 

While we waited for our orders to arrive, we talked about what we had planned for the day. We did all want to check out the Easter Prosecco Hunt event at the Gardens later on that day. No one was planning on participating, but we wanted to watch it.

Soon our breakfast arrived and it was a nice way to start the day and celebrate Easter. Everyone enjoyed their meals. In fact we decided to order another round which I usually tend to stick with one drink in the morning, but it was a holiday.

When we were ready to go, we walked back down to the dock to catch the water taxi back. We timed it right so that we didn’t have to wait too long. The ride back was a bit more crowded then the trip there. When we arrived back, there were a lot more people waiting to go to Latitude’s. I was glad that we had the earlier reservation.

It felt good to stretch our legs and walk through Mallory Square. 

 My husband and I wanted to walk on over to the Sunset Tiki Bar at the Galleon. Brent and Julie also wanted to check it out, so we walked down Front St. to the tiki bar. 

Ramsey was behind the bar which I had a feeling because she usually works on Sundays. I gave her a hug hello and she welcomed us back. Similar to last time in January we selected 4 chairs on the corner. This time, however, the tarps weren’t down blocking the wind nor was Ramsey putting together hot cider.

We ordered a couple of drinks and chatted for a bit. Then Brent and Julie wanted to head back to the Gardens to relax for a bit before the festivities began there. We decided to stay for one more. Then the owner Phil came and talked to us for a few. 

There was still a good part of the day yet, so we asked for the tab and made our way back onto the streets of Key West. 

As we were walking down Duval, I saw the sign for the Bali Bar. (The Bali Bar is part of the Key West Hotel which is fairly new. We discovered it, on accident during our last visit to Key West.)

Wanting to check it out again, we walked down the alley to the bar covered with the huge palapa. It always looks so inviting. No one was there so we had a choice of seating. We sat down and ordered a couple of drinks.

While we were talking to the bartender, my husband and I both received a text from Julie. She told us that the Gardens was packed with people for the Easter Event. I am glad she gave us the heads up, because after we finished our drinks we walked back to the Gardens. And couldn’t believe how packed it was. 

I forgot that the Gardens hotel was also doing the best Easter Bonnet contest. People were wearing elaborate hats and they were all dressed up for Easter – including Lynn!

We wound up getting a couple of drinks at the pool bar and finding a place where we could watch the festivities and not be in the way. Both Phil and Portia were behind the bar serving up drinks for everyone.

Then I spotted Jim the general manager at the Gardens.  Hi Jim!

The afternoon went by quickly and before we knew it, it was time for jazz. As soon as the Easter event was over, the Gardens staff came back out and rearranged the tables. We wound up staying to listen for a few since we were already there. 

Lynn and Al mentioned that they were going to go dancing at La Te Da for a little bit and asked us if we wanted to come along. I know Julie made dinner reservations for all of us later that evening at La Trattorria but we still had time. So my husband and I joined them. 

We shared an Uber down to La Te Da. When we arrived it was busy as well with people congregating by the bar and dancing in the back part of the restaurant. What a different scene it was verses the usually morning breakfast crowd.

While Lynn, Al and my husband danced to a few songs, I found a seat at the bar. I starting talking to another elderly guest who I believe was staying at La De Ta. At this point I was starting to feel the day, the sun, the drinks, etc.

When my husband came back over to check on me, he suggested that we should get something to eat. I reminded him about the dinner at La Trattoria, but we both knew I probably wouldn’t have made it much longer without eating anything. 

So we left La Te Da and made a quick stop at the Gardens to freshen up. My husband reached out to Julie on her phone and let her know our new plans. We walked back out onto Angela and decided on Kaya Island Eats since the location is so convenient to the Gardens hotel.

We walked in and the place was empty – most likely since it was Easter Sunday. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started looking over the menu. The first think I wanted to order was the buffalo cauliflower bites. So when the bartender came over I told him that was my choice for an appetizer, followed by the fried grouper sandwich. My husband ordered the tuna poke nachos for us to share and the rasta pasta with chicken.

Our courses were served promptly. It was just what I needed. While we were eating, we saw Brent, Julie, Al and Lynn walking down towards La Trattoria. I felt bad, but there was no way I would have made it and/or enjoy myself.

When we were done with our meals it was the perfect evening to walk back to the Gardens. We found a couple of chairs in the gazebo and waited for our friends to return from dinner. When they returned we talked about the meals we had for dinner. I didn’t last much longer after that so I called it a night and headed to our room.

Monday, April 21st – La Te Da, Hog’s Breath, Milagro

It wasn’t the best night of sleep, but after my husband showered, I pulled myself out of bed and did the same. The shower did give me some life back and all I needed was a fresh hot cup of coffee. So of course, once we were ready to start our day we walked back to cuban coffee queen. 

Again there wasn’t much of a line so we had our coffee in hand within minutes. It was another beautiful day with a gentle breeze and low humidity. We walked back to the Gardens to meet up again with Brent and Julie.

We tend to have breakfast at La Te Da for our first morning in Key West, but that had to wait with our Easter brunch at Latitudes the day before.

It wasn’t too hot yet so we decided to make the walk down Simonton and cross over to Duval when we got closer to our destination.

When we arrived at La Te Da, it looked more like what I am accustomed to. It was quiet and our two tables behind the hostess stand were unoccupied. 

We sat down and made ourselves comfortable. The bartender came over and handed us a few menus. My husband and I ordered a couple of screwdrivers (only have one I thought to myself). Julie ordered a bellini and Brent opted for a cappucino.

For breakfast I went with the omelete of the day while my husband ordered the La Te Da blackstone benedict.

Brent and Julie both went with the classic breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. After our drinks arrived, we sat back and watched the world go by on Duval. It appeared that people had left from the weekend.

When my ordered arrived, I was surprised as to how wonderful the omelet looked. I usually don’t order the omelet of the day, but I was so happy I did. It definitely fueled me up for the day. Everyone else said their meals were very good. 

After our breakfast, we walked back towards the Gardens. I did want to stop at one of the shops along the way that sells Chubbie shirts. We walked in the shop during our last visit, and I regretted not getting one for my husband. They have these nice shirts for dinner but with that dri-fit sort of material that doesn’t wrinkle. 

So before making it back to the Gardens, we stopped in the store I believe it was called Shadow and Fish?  We walked in and I towards the Chubbie shirts. Both Brent and my husband made their picks. After trying them on, purchases were made. I was looking for something for myself but nothing struck me.

With our shirts in tow, we walked back to the Gardens to drop off our bags. 

Brent and Julie decided to stay behind while we ventured out for the day. I told Julie that we were planning on stopping at the Hog’s Breath later on to catch part of Zack Seemiller’s show. We agreed that we would meet up later at Hog’s Breath.

My husband and I then made the walk back onto Duval. Our first stop landed us back at our go to place, the Sunset Tiki Bar at the Galleon. 

We walked in and this time it was a different face (the bartender). I remember her from a few times back, but I couldn’t remember her name. Regardless she was friendly and we ordered a couple of drinks. There were more people at the bar this time then the day before. Probably the start of the timeshare people coming in for the week that were staying at the Galleon.

Some were already sunning themselves by the edge of the boardwalk. We enjoyed a couple of drinks before making it down to the Hog’s Breath. I was hoping that it wasn’t going to be so crowded like last time. 

However last time, due to the cold weather, no one was out on the water. This time with the weather being next to nearly perfect to go out in the water, Hog’s Breath wasn’t too bad. We were able to get a couple of seats at the bar near where Zack was playing.

We waved hello and ordered a couple of beers from Stephanie at the bar. While we were enjoying the music, we heard back from Julie saying that they were going to stay at the Gardens. We told them that we would head back in a few. After listening for a bit, we decided to make our move towards the Gardens. We had dinner reservations later that evening at Milagro and I was not going to miss it.  As we waved good bye to Zack we walked back down to Duval. 

The streets weren’t too busy so it was an easy walk down the street. The sun felt great as the light winds continued. As we neared the entrance to the Bali Bar we thought about going in. Well we did. We walked in and selected a couple of seats at the bar. 

We talked to the bartender for a bit who was originally from New Jersey. The mojito I ordered was the perfect drink after having a couple of Miller Lites at Hog’s Breath. Still needing some time to freshen up before dinner, we paid our tab and walked back to the Gardens.

It was a nice afternoon to relax before dinner. Once we both freshened up we met back up with Brent and Julie at the pool bar. Milagro is a bit of a walk especially if it is hot out. So we decided to get an Uber to take us. 

Once we arrived at Milagro we walked in to be seated.

The place was fairly empty so I don’t think reservations were actually needed, but we wound up getting a nice table nevertheless.

I still love the atmosphere with all the water cascading against the glass. Then at night the place lights up in different colors.

To start I selected the prickly pear margarita. It just sounded good to me. My husband and Brent ordered an old fashion and Julie selected a mango margarita for her drink of choice. 

There was a small piece of paper on the table with the evening’s specials listed. I was so excited when I saw that they had ceviche as an appetizer special and it was with black grouper. For my main course I choose the roasted mushroom fettucini. I have seen it a few times on the menu and always wanted to give it a try so I thought tonight was the night. My husband ordered his usual two choices, first the fried calamari, followed by the prime rib.

When my margarita was served, it almost looked too pretty to drink. 

I gave it a try and the taste was simply perfect. It wasn’t too sweet and yet not too sour. The balance worked. Soon our appetizers arrived and I was eager to try the ceviche since I haven’t had it in a while. (I used to love the ceviche at the old Deuce’s Off the Hook and Turtle Kraal.) The first bite was tasty and delicious. 

 I did enjoy it. And I also had a few samples of my husband’s order. The fried calamari was just as good as it looked.

Then it was time for the main event – our dinner course. When the fettucini arrived it was plated nicely but I thought the portion appeared to be smaller then what I was expecting.

My husband’s prime rib on the other hand was picture perfect.

I took a bite of the pasta and the flavors were spot on. It was so good that I finished the entire plate and was thinking to myself, thank goodness that was the portion because it wound up being the perfect amount. Brent and Julie also enjoyed their meals. To end the meal my husband and I each ordered an espresso.

You can read my full review here:

Milagro – Wonderful Ambience and Food in One Place

My husband and I haven’t been to Milagro since the prior year and wanted to go back. I love the atmosphere at the place with the cascading waterfalls along the glass surrounding the tables. We were seated at a table right next to one of the waterfalls. The entire place is very open with full glass windows, but at night the lights come on creating a colorful spectacle. To start off our meal, I ordered the prickly pear margarita while my husband enjoyed an old fashion. The margarita had a perfect balance between flavorful without being too sweet. The specials were printed out on a card that was placed on our table. When I reviewed the specials I saw that they had grouper ceviche for an appetizer. I was so excited since I had not had ceviche for quite some time. My husband ordered the fried calamari for his appetizer. Next I decided to go with the roasted mushroom fettuccini and my husband selected the prime rib which he has had before. Our appetizers arrived and they did not disappoint. Followed by our main dishes as well. My husband’s prime rib was cooked perfectly while my fettuccini was full of flavor. Even though it is located inside the Santa Maria Suites you wouldn’t realize it. The restaurant may be a little out of the way, but it is a wonderful place to experience a beautiful setting and terrific food. 

When we were done with our meal and completely stuffed, everyone wanted to walk back to the Gardens. It was a nice evening and also we wanted to walk off some of the calories everyone had ingested. By the time we made it back to the Gardens, Lynn and Al were there. 

My husband grabbed a couple of waters for us and we gathered in the gazebo for a little bit.  Then of course a food coma was settling in so it was time to get some sleep.

Tuesday, April 22nd – The Saint, Sunset Tiki Bar, Blue Heaven

It was another sunny warm morning to wake up to. My husband and I freshened up and made our walk down to Cuban Coffee Queen. We didn’t have any plans that day so we weren’t rushing to get anywhere. 

When we walked back to the Gardens we talked to Lynn and Al again who were finishing up their breakfast at the Gardens. We sat near the pool bar as we waited for Brent and Julie. When they met up with us we talked about where to go for breakfast. I suggested Breakfast Club Too, but it was nearing 10am and it would most likely be crowded at that point in the morning.

Then Brent suggested the Saint. We had a nice breakfast there back in January (at the Burgundy Bar) so it was an easy sell for me. I just hoped that we could get that nice 4 top table we sat at the last time would be available.

We made the walk down Duval to onto Eaton St. When we walked into the Burgundy Bar we saw that there were no occupied tables inside. The bartender was behind the bar and we motioned to the empty table on the side. He said to seat ourselves and he would be right over. Then I noticed him walking outside with a couple of drinks. There were people dining there, but they were sitting outside. 

It was a beautiful morning so I could see why. I had to make a quick stop to the restroom before we ordered and as I walked by the people dining outside, I thought that maybe we should have sat outside.

When I walked back in, we all placed our orders. I wound ordering one of their omelets and my husband ordered a couple of eggs. I think that Brent ordered an omelet as well and I know Julie ordered the grits. Again we were in no rush since we didn’t have any plans. Good thing, because the Saint isn’t exactly speedy when it comes to bringing out your breakfast. It was all good as we enjoyed each other’s company and conversation. 

Eventually our breakfast arrived and I couldn’t believe the grits that Julie ordered. They looked amazing with melted cheese, bits of bacon and scallions all scattered on top. I should have ordered that I thought. My omelet was delicious and hot. I tend to get worried when meals take a while (especially breakfast) that the eggs will be served cold. Who wants cold eggs? Unless it is egg salad or deviled eggs.

Breakfast was enjoyed by all and once we paid the tab we walked back onto Eaton. The sun felt good because the air conditioning was on full blast inside the Burgundy Bar. As I started to warm back up, we walked down Duval towards to Front St. And yes, we made our way back to the Sunset Tiki Bar at the Galleon.

This time Candice was behind the bar. It was good to see her again. We missed her last time since she was on maternity leave. She gave us hugs as we grabbed a couple of seats at the bar. 

We talked for a bit and we were going to leave, but then Lynn and Al showed up. 

Brent and Julie were already on their way out, but we decided to stay for one more. Lynn and Al never had been to the tiki bar before and they were quite impressed with the view. We told them how it is one of our favorite places to hang out at while we’re in Key West, since it is sort of out of the way and usually on the quieter side. 

Eventually we made it back to the Gardens to relax by the pool for the afternoon, but first I had to get another picture of my next banner I also designed, for the Kentucky Derby event that is held annually at the Gardens called “Talk Derby To Me”.

 I had made reservations at Blue Heaven that evening for all of us. It had been several trips since we have dined there, and I wanted to go back. Breakfast is just too busy and I never feel like waiting for a table, so making a reservation for dinner is a win win for me. You still experience the vibe, but yet you don’t have to wait and / or stand around for a table. Plus I find their dinner menu much more enjoyable then their breakfast – but who doesn’t like a good lobster eggs benedict now and again?

I made the reservations for 7pm thinking that maybe we could swing by Hugh’s View on the top of the Studios of Key West for a pre-dinner cocktail. I thought that they opened at 5pm on Tuesdays, but when I checked again right before we left for Key West, the website said 6pm. I didn’t want to change our dinner plans, so I figured maybe another time. 

After a nice afternoon at the Gardens we quickly freshened up for dinner. Everyone met at the pool bar for a beverage before walking down to Blue Heaven. The weather was perfect to dine outside that evening. When everyone was ready, we made the walk down to Blue Heaven. 

There were a handful of people waiting to be seated, but nothing too crazy. I walked up to the hostess and gave her my name. 

Within minutes, we were escorted to a great table right in the middle. As we were settling in, I noticed that the entertainment was Claire Finley and another guitarist. Wow we haven’t seen Claire play in quite some time. 

Our server came over and took our drink order and while we were waiting for our beverages, I debated as to what to get for dinner. I loved their portobello mushroom entree, but also have tried their macro bowl in the past. I know it seems a bit unexciting to order a vegeterian dish at Blue Heaven while they have other options, but I have enjoyed both. I also enjoy jamaican jerk chicken, but I prefer it prepared with a wet marinade vs. a dry rub like Blue Heaven does.

When our server came back with our drinks, I made the decision what I wanted to order. I first choose the miso eggplant as my appetizer and then for my entree I went with the macro bowl. My husband decided to go with the yellowtail snapper for his main course. It was a nice evening enjoying everyone’s company. 

Our appetizers soon arrived and I could not wait to dig into the miso eggplant appetizer. It has become one of my favorite things on the menu. I took the first bite and it was as delicious as I remembered. It seems strange, miso glazed eggplant, but it works wonderfully. 

Then our main meals came out and my miso bowl was so colorful. I took one bite and wow the flavor. You wouldn’t think that much flavor from all veggies and whatnot, but you don’t miss any meat or seafood at all. While everyone was enjoying their meals we noticed a very, very large gray chicken. One member of the staff said it is probably someone’s pet. 

You can read my full review here:

Blue Heaven – A Key West Experience

For years my husband and I would wait to be seated at Blue Heaven for breakfast and was never blown away by the meals. However, I find that dining here for dinner is an entirely different experience. You do have to make reservations if you want to ensure a table at the time you prefer. To start, I ordered the miso eggplant salad which has become a favorite of mine. My husband opted for the caesar salad. For my main course I wanted to stay meatless and choose the macro bowl which comes filled with tasty goodness that you would never miss any meat. My husband decided on the yellowtail snapper who is not a fish fanatic. He raved about how much he enjoyed the dish and especially the sauce that accompanied it. If you want to give Blue Heaven a try, I would definitely recommend dinner. Afterall it is a Key West experience to dine at Blue Heaven.

After dinner we all walked back to the Gardens and gathered back at the gazebo. It was a nice way to end our day.

Wednesday, April 23rd – Bagatelle, Pool Day, The Salty Frog

We woke up and I saw the sun was shining once again. It was going to be another beautiful day. It was the point during our trip where a breakfast at Bagatelle was in order. After we came back from getting our coffee at Cuban Coffee Queen, we met up with Brent and Julie. 

Since the weather wasn’t too hot, we all agreed to walk down Duval to Bagatelle.

Unlike last time, the breeze was inviting and enjoyable. 

We walked up the stairs to be seated. They had several tables reserved, but the hostess was able to accommodate us and seated us on the first floor outside along the porch/balcony. Our server came over and we placed our orders. I decided to try their take on the smoked salmon bagel platter. While we were waiting for our order, there was a pesky chicken that kept poking around, waiting to get some remnants of our meal.

Once our order came out, I was pleased with the smoked salmon I ordered. I thought that how it was presented made it easier to eat. Just as we were finishing up our breakfast, that same chicken came up on our table and ran across it. Luckily it missed our plates except for poor Julie. Thankfully she was just about done, but after getting your meal trampled by a chicken, your dining experience is pretty much done. That’s Key West for you. We all got a laugh out of the ordeal.

When we were all set and ready to go, we walked back down to the Sunset Tiki Bar for a beverage. Ramsey was working again so we talked for a few while enjoying the views of the water. I checked my phone and saw that Zack Seemiller and Caffeine Carl were playing at the Salty Frog that evening. Ever since the Smokin’ Tuna closed, it has been a bit of a challenge trying to catch these guys play together. I suggested to everyone that we could go check them out that night. Everyone was on board and I also thought we would grab a bite there as well since they were scheduled to start around 6pm.

My husband and I decided to stay for another round while Brent and Julie headed back to the Gardens to relax for the rest of the day  by the pool. We told them that we would meet up with them in a few.  Once we were done with our next round, we said goodbye to Ramsey and walked back down towards Duval. 

Our initial plan was to go straight back to the Gardens, but when we walked by the entrance to the Bali Bar we figured we would just have one. We walked on in and it was quiet. There was another couple there but that was it. We ordered a couple of drinks and I went with their mango mojito. 

After chatting with the owner for a few (he told us that Cliff Cody was going to be playing there the next night), we headed back to the Gardens. When we returned, we saw Brent and Julie were relaxing by the pool. The weather was perfect to jump in the pool. We changed into our swim wear and grabbed a couple of towels. The pool was cool at first, but once I was in for a bit it was very comfortable. 

It felt so good to be able to swim in the pool again.

Eventually it was that time to freshen up for dinner. Since we didn’t have any reservations, we planned on grabbing something to eat at the Salty Frog since Carl and Zack were playing there. The food isn’t exactly gourmet, but I felt like a good fried fish sandwich and some french fries.

We were all feeling a little tired so we wound up getting an Uber to take us down to the Salty Frog. It was a quick trip and the driver dropped us off right near the entrance to the Mallory Square shops. 

We walked into the Salty Frog and found a table to sit down at. The server came over and took our drink order. While we were looking over the menu Zack came over to say hello. Then he told us that unfortunately Carl wasn’t feel well and that he wouldn’t be joining him that night. We were all disappointed but of course hoped that Carl felt better. 

Since we were already there we figured that we would stay and listen to some of Zack’s show and order something to eat. I wound up getting their fried grouper sandwich. My husband ordered a burger. Julie ordered the cheese curds for the table to start since we were being very healthy that evening.

When the cheese curds came out I was eager to try one. I have been to Minnesota a few times for work, but had never tried the cheese curds there. These on the other hand looked on the smaller side, but I did try one. To me it just reminded me of a mozzarella stick chopped up? Still tasty though.

Then our meals were served. The grouper sandwich was crispy and comparable to the one I tried at the Square Grouper. I guess if you have one fried fish grouper sandwich in Key West, they tend to taste similar. I do really enjoy the added toppings at Kaya Island Eats though. The one thing that stood out to me were the fries. Oh my the fries! They were perfectly crispy and hot. And they gave you a pile on the plate. I couldn’t finish all of them – let alone look like I put a dent in the pile.

Everyone thought the food was decent and enjoyable. When we were done we waved goodbye to Zack and headed out. I suggested that we should check out the sunset at Mallory Square since we were right there and it was just about that time

We made the short walk to Mallory Square and people were lined up getting ready to watch the sun set. 

My husband and I hadn’t been to see the sunset at Mallory Square for quite some time so it was nice to see it again. Unfortunately that time of year though, the sun sets behind Sunset Key.  

Then my husband suggested going to General Horseplay for an Old Fashion.

We left Mallory Square and walked right past the Alamo and of course the new location for the Smokin’ Tuna. 

It still didn’t look like much going on and how it is going to be an actual place with a stage, bar, tables, etc. I have no idea.

We made it to General Horseplay and walked in. The place was jamming and there was someone performing in the back. I didn’t recognize who it was so we grabbed a table inside.

My husband went to the bar to order a couple of Old Fashions for him and Brent and a couple of Murricanes for myself and Julie.

When he returned with our drinks, I tasted the Murricane and it was delicious. However, after a few more sips I realized I couldn’t or shouldn’t drink anymore. I was feeling the entire day and I was fading fast.

So once everyone done with their drinks we walked back to the Gardens and I headed straight to bed.

Thursday, April 24th – Seaside Cafe at the Southernmost Mansion, the NFL Draft, the Bali Bar

Even though I had a good night of sleep, I still woke up feeling a little sluggish. I really needed that coffee Cuban Coffee Queen. Since I slept in a bit, my husband went out and grabbed a couple cups of coffee for the both of us. When I was done with my shower and ready to start the day, there it was. It took several sips for me to start feeling like myself again. I wasn’t exactly starving that morning and neither was my husband. We wound up walking down to the pool area and talk to Lynn and Al again.

When Brent and Julie joined us we discusssed where to go for breakfast. It was just past 10am so my husband suggested waiting a little longer and we could walk down to the Seaside Cafe at the Southernmost Mansion. Everyone was onboard and the idea of sitting by the water made me smile and making me feel so much better.

Since we were not in a hurry, we walked down Simonton leisurely and then made the short cut onto to Duval. Being it was a Thursday, I started to notice the streets becoming more crowded then earlier in the week which is typical for Key West. Usually tourists come down towards the end of the week for a long weekend getaway.

We made it down to the Southernmost Mansion and it was just before 11:00am so we walked around to take a couple of pictures of the water. There was a lot of saragassum washed up on the beach but thankfully it didn’t have much of an odor.

We walked back to the Seaside Cafe and waited to be seated. 

When it was our turn, the hostess walked us to a table near the water. It was a little breezy but it felt good with the sun shining down on us. 

 To start Julie ordered the strawberry salad and then the gluten free version of the lobster pizza. I wanted to try something different and was in the mood for a tomato based sauce on the pizza.  I read on their menu that they had a four cheese and proscuitto pizza topped with arugula. My husband thought that it sounded good as well, so I ordered it for us to share. I was debating about ordering something to start, but I knew the pizza would be more then enough for me.

While we waited for our order, we talked about the up and coming NFL draft that was happening later that evening. We figured that we would go to Jack Flat’s to catch the draft and have dinner there. Soon Julie’s salad arrived along with our pizza. 

 I could not wait to dig in. The first bite tasted as good as it looked. I was so glad we came back and had an early lunch if you will instead of breakfast. We all enjoyed the pizza and headed back towards the Gardens.

You can read my full review here:

Seaside Cafe at the Southernmost Mansion – Tasty Pizza by the Water

My husband and I have only been here a couple of times, but it had been a couple of years so we wanted to check it out again. We have enjoyed their signature lobster pizza in the past, but this time I wanted to try the Four Cheese & Prosciutto pizza which consisted of a red sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, gorgonzola, fontina, prosciutto and arugula. The pizza arrived and it was delicious. I loved the little bit of charr on the crust. The tomato sauce was very flavorful without being to bitter or sweet. If you want a great pizza with a  few of the water, check out the Seaside Cafe.

We walked back down to Duval towards the Gardens. When we reached Angela St. Brent and Julie headed back to their room to relax for a bit. My husband and I decided to keep walking down Duval. As we walked by the Tree Bar, we saw Teri behind the bar. We hadn’t stopped in yet to see her, so we walked on over. There were only a handful of people there, so it was easy to find a couple of vacant seats.

We sat down and ordered a couple of titos and fresh squeezed orange juice. I always love the fresh squeezed orange juice there. It is so refreshing. 

We talked to Teri for a little bit before making our next move. First we wanted to check out the Smokin’ Tuna location again and as we walked by it appeared that they were actually working on the property.

Then we neared the Alamo and thought should we try it again? 

We walked in and the place was fairly empty. When we walked over to the bar, there was a guy playing on the stage. We ordered a couple of beers and looked around. It still looks like the Tuna, but obviously new signage up everywhere. I had to make a pit stop so I walked into the restrooms. They even redid the ladies room as well. Basically just repainted the stalls and whatnot. At least there is a soap dispenser and paper towel rack on the same side of the sink. 

I walked back out and we finished our beers. Unfortunately the guy on the stage wasn’t really playing our type of music, but I get that he was trying. We paid our tab and moved on to our next stop. As we walked back onto Duval, we neared Caroline St. I thought what about First Flight for one. 

I felt like another beer and I always enjoy the atmosphere there. So we walked on in to First Flight and there were a few gentlemen sittingat the bar. We grabbed a couple of seats and I ordered their amber ale. My husband opted for one of their IPA’s. 

The bartender served us our beer and it tasted so good. However, while we were trying to talk, the one guy at the bar could not stop coughing. It was a bit disturbing and we felt uncomfortable so we walked over to the railing where there were a couple of stools. Actually it wound up being a blessing in disguise because it was nice to sit down and watch the occasional trolley or conch train go by (and be silly and wave at the tourists). 

We finished our beer and figured that we should go back to the Gardens and hang out by the pool for a bit. As we walked down Duval we neared Willie T’s. I could hear Zack’s voice singing and suggested to my husband to stop in to catch a few songs. It was really crowded but he agreed and we walked in. Somehow we managed to find a couple of seats near the bar. 

Unfortunately it just wasn’t the most comfortable spot to sit. People standing in front of us waiting to order a drink and talking right next to us. Eventually my husband was able to order a couple of beers for us, but again it was packed. We finished our beers pretty quickly and wound up leaving after a few songs. All well, we tried.

Back at the Gardens, we met up with Brent and Julie. Lynn and Al were there as well. We pulled up a couple of chairs near the pool bar and relaxed for a bit. It was a beautiful afternoon. While we were talking we saw a familiar face show up. It was David who used to work at the Gardens! It was so nice to see him.

The afternoon seemed to fly by and soon it was time to freshen up before walking on over to Jack Flat’s to catch the NFL draft. The NY Giants were selecting 3rd in the draft and we were hoping that they would not take Sanders. Ironicaly Brent’s team the Titans, were picking 1st so we were all invested in watching the draft.

We walked in Jack Flat’s and it was already crowded which we expected. The hostess was however able to seat us in a booth that overlooked the tv screens so it was perfect. Our server came over and we ordered something to drink. I wound up getting a margarita. My husband also asked her for a box so we could hear one of the tvs.

It worked but it was a bit difficult to hear with all of the crowd noise. We decided to first order our appetizers. My husband ordered a caesar salad and so did Brent and Julie. I was going to pass and just stick with my order of, yes you guessed it, a fried grouper sandwich. That seemed to be my theme this trip. My husband ordered the meat loaf and Julie ordered the fish and chips. I think Brent ordered a burger if I remember correctly.

We sat for a bit before getting our appetizers. While we waited I walked on outside with Julie to check the streets. I knew the Conch Celebration Days were still in full force and the World’s Longest Parade was starting down Duval. We watched a few of the floats and people walk by before heading back in to our booth.

The appetizers were served and the draft was about to start. It wasn’t a big shock who the Titans took, but when the Giants were on the board and we waited. And then with a huge sigh of relief they took Abdul Carter. My husband and I were pretty excited. 

As we sat there we noticed that we still didn’t get our food and it was about 45 minutes or so. Julie and I headed back out to watch part of the parade again. As we were standing there we noticed to our side, our server was outside watching the parade!

Okay that would explain the delay in our food. When we walked back inside we told Brent and my husband. My husband then went up and found the manager and asked him about our order. The manager came over to our booth and apologized. Within minutes somehow our food arrived. He also gave us a free round of drinks which was nice. Everything was tasty even though it was served a lot later then what we hoped for.

After we finished our meals we headed back out onto Duval. I remembered that Cliff Cody was playing at the Bali Bar that night so we walked down to the bar.

When we walked in, it was quite busy compared to when we would stop in during the day. The place was packed with people but somehow we found a table on the other side of the bar. I noticed there was a line of people waiting to use the restroom already. Note to self, there is only one restroom at the Bali Bar, so ideally use a restroom before going if they have someone playing that night. Luckily we were all fine in that department.

My husband went to the bar and ordered us a round. At that point I could only drink water, so I asked my husband to get me a glass of water. We listened to Cliff Cody for a bit and then his girlfriend Elizabeth came over to say hello to Julie. When Cliff’s set was done, we were all getting tired so we left and walked back to the Gardens.

We met back up with Lynn and Al at the gazebo and talked about our day before turning in.

Friday, April 25th – Trying to Get the Most Out of Our Last Full Day

We wound up sleeping in a little extra that morning. I think the trip was starting to catch up to me. Well it was officially our last full day in Key West. Like every other trip, it goes by too fast. We freshened up as usual and made the quick walk to Cuban Coffee Queen. When we got back to the Gardens we heard from Julie. They decided that they were going to grab some breakfast at the Gardens that morning.

Then my husband suggested Mac’s Place. I had mentioned it earlier in the week, but we never made it over. It is located in New Town, so a walk would be quite far. It is doable, but neither of us were in the mood for a long walk. So I plugged in the coordinates for an Uber. Within minutes the vehicle was parked outside of the Gardens Hotel on Angela St. We hopped and soon we were on our way to Mac’s Place. 

When our Uber dropped us off, I saw an older couple walking in. They were the only other patrons at the place. We walked in through the bar and the guy behind bar told us we can sit where ever we wanted to. 

Like the couple before us, we chose a couple of seats outside. It was pretty cool how it was located right along the dock. You could see all the tiki hut boats parked along it. And then to one side you were right near the highway. We didn’t mind though because you could still hear the seagulls and feel the sea breeze.

Our server came out and took our drink order as we looked over the menu. They had huervos rancheros which I almost ordered but I chickened out. We both wound up ordering the classic egg breakfast. I had a side of sausage while my husband had a side of bacon. 

While we waited for our breakfast, a few more people walked in. The place was smaller then I thought it would be, but it was cute. You could see where they would have live music on the one end of the place. I am sure it does get pretty packed during the night time.

Our breakfast arrived and I was quite hungry at that point. I noticed they had a couple of local hot sauces on the table called “Bones Guy”. I tried a couple of them and they were really good. (I actually wound up ordering a bunch online when I got home.) The eggs were cooked perfectly and served nice and hot. 

We finished our meals and asked for the check. We could have stayed for another beverage but thought that we should head back to the Gardens. Again I plugged in the coordinates for an Uber to pick us up. This time it was a little longer waiting for one, but not too bad.

Soon the Uber showed up and we made it back to the Gardens. When we got back to the Gardens we both felt like did that just happen? It was just so quick. I would definitely go back there for breakfast. Next time I would like to have Brent and Julie join us.

When we returned to the Gardens, Brent and Julie were relaxing by the pool. They said that they were going to take it easy that day. Knowing it was our last full day in Key West, my husband and I wanted to check out a few more places. We told them we would meet up with them later. 

This time we walked down Simonton towards Front St. Our first stop of the day was of course the Sunset Tiki Bar at the Galleon.

Our motto for the day was to have one drink and then move on to the next place.

So after our one drink at the Tiki Bar, we headed back out towards the Bight. We wound up walking through the old White Tarpon / Walhburger’s location and saw that they built a beautiful new bar for part of the Alonzo’s Patio Bar.

Then we made it past the Conch Farm. I ran in quickly to check out their gift shop, but didn’t see anything that caught my eye.

Next we made it towards Shrimp Boat Records Recording Studio Building. I could believe how many more stickers are now on Jimmy Buffett’s old recording studio. Ever since we watched the AppleTV series Bad Monkey with Vince Vaughn, I wanted to go back to the Half Shell Raw Bar.

We had not been there in a while and we were close by, so we walked down past Schooner’s Wharf and the Boat House. 

We walked in and it was quite busy. Maybe the show made the place more popular. Unfortunatelly our favorite seats at the end of the bar were occupied, so we had to find a couple of seats on the side. 

We sat down and ordered a couple of beers. While my husband looked over the menu I took a peak at the merchandise displayed right behind me. Most of the shirts were the same designs that we already have, but then I saw a couple of new ones. I wound up buying a tank top for myself and a dri-fit red short-sleeved shirt for my husband.

When I got back to my seat, my husband told me he ordered a half dozen of oysters. I was still digesting my breakfast from earlier so I couldn’t even think about eating them. I do enjoy oysters, but I have to be in the mood to eat them.

The bartender brought out the oysters and boy they did look good. It didn’t take my husband long to finish the plate. He did ask me several times if I wanted one but I just couldn’t do it.

Our next stop on our one and move on to the next motto, was the Surley Siren Saloon. (The old Roof Top Cafe location). We walked up the stairs and I could hear live music.

When we entered the place, there were several people at the bar. I went ahead and ordered one of their margaritas that was on the menu. It had some sort of spice to it. Tasty but I couldn’t have more then one. Talk about heartburn. The live music was quite good. I wish I knew the name of the guy playing guitar.

I was starting to feel the margarita, so when we finished our drinks and we headed back to the Gardens where we met back up with the group, Brent, Julie, Lynn and Al. Lynn and Al were also leaving the next day like us. Brent and Julie weren’t leaving until the day after. 

We had no idea where to go for dinner that night. Lynn and Al already had dinner reservations. Then I suggested Kaya Island Eats. It was an easy sell and Brent and Julie were on board. My husband and I went back to our room to pack up our things so we didn’t have to do it, in the morning. We had a couple bags of laundry that arrived the day before so it made packing up our things easier.

Feeling like we accomplished something, we walked back out onto our porch. Brent and Julie were also out and about. 

While we were talking, we noticed that there were people down below in the gardens. Looking closer we realized it was a wedding. I had never seen a wedding at the Gardens before. It was so pretty to see and watch.

I tried to get a picture from our balcony but it didn’t really come out.

Everyone was getting hungry so we headed back out towards Duval. Kaya is so close to the Gardens that you are there within minutes. We walked on in and grabbed a few seats at the bar. To keep the same trend going, again I ordered the fried grouper sandwich. My husband was going to go with the rasta pasta again, but this time he got a burger. To start we shared the buffalo cauliflower. When we ordered the tuna poke last time, it was just too much food. 

First our buffalo cauliflower was served. It amazes me how good they are and it is just cauliflower.

Then my fried grouper sandwhich arrived. I think out of all the fish sandwiches I had, I like Kaya’s the best, but the french fries at the Salty Frog are even better – so crispy.

Since we were traveling the next day, we figured the best thing to do after dinner would be to go back to the Gardens. In the past we used to stay out late at the Smokin’ Tuna, but now with that in flux, it forced us to be good and get back early enough for a decent night sleep.

Saturday, April 26th – Heading Home

Our flight wasn’t until 2:00pm that day so there was no need to get up early. We slept in a little and eventually freshend up and packed the rest of our things. Check out wasn’t until 11am so we left our luggage in our room. We met up with Brent and Julie and thought about where to eat. I was feeling a little off and needed coffee, so my husband and I walked to the Cuban Coffee Queen. When we got there, the line was a line. It was so long and I almost told my husband forget it, but we decided to wait it out. On the line, we noticed that there were a number of people wearing their military uniforms. It looked like they just got in and were from South Carolina. I always find it so cool to see people in uniform.

It seemed like eternity but finally we were next in line. My husband ordered the two cuban americans. Since we didn’t have any food to accompany our order, we didn’t wait long for the coffee.  I took a sip and it was just what I needed. When we got back to the Gardens we decided to eat there that morning. 

It was perfect because they had pancakes or eggs to order. My husband and Julie ordered the pancakes, while Brent and I ordered a scrambled eggs.

Our order didn’t take long and it was perfect. I always forget that we have that option for breakfast. I normally like to go out for breakfast so we don’t take advantage of the free breakfast included. We should though – save some money.

After our last meal, we went back to our room to grab our things. Brent and Julie waited with us before it was time to go. Lynn and Al also were on their way out but their flight was a little bit earlier then ours, so they headed out before us.

When it was time for us to go, we said our goodbyes, but knew we would be seeing Brent and Julie again in Nashville in less then two weeks. I plugged in the coordinates for the Uber that showed up within minutes. We made it to the airport quickly.

Once we walked inside the airport, it still looked the same where you check bags and wait on the TSA line. Speaking of the TSA line, it was barely existent so we figured that we had time to have a drink at the Conch Flyer.

When we walked in we noticed all these piles of boxes behind the bar. The bartender told us that it was the last day. The Conch Flyer was closing down. 

Wow we were there for it’s last day. We felt kind of sad. She told us that the staff will be working now at the Chili’s in the new terminal. 

It was getting closer to our flight, so we paid our tab and went through TSA. The line was still short so we breezed right through. We were guided past where we would usually go down the escalators towards the gate(s). Then we walked through a few doors and into the new terminal. I saw the Chili’s restaurant but it wasn’t opening until the next day, figures. They did though have a make shift stand if you wanted to order something to eat and a drink.

We were walking towards our gate, but then saw Lynn and Al waiting for their flight. We sat down with them for a few. We still couldn’t get over the new terminal. There was finally room and places to sit. It made the departure experience so much more enjoyable. There was no outdoor area unfortunately though.

It was nearing our departure time, so we said goodbye to Lynn and Al and walked down to our gate. Of course it was the last one down the terminal because we were flying United.

Luckily it was before all the chaos at Newark airport, so our flight left on time. The flight was uneventful and soon we were back home with our kitty Kobe waiting for us.

Once again, we had an amazing time in Key West. We still miss the Smokin’ Tuna—it just isn’t the same without it—but we’re hopeful it’ll be back soon, bringing together all our favorite musicians once more. Still, what truly brings us back year after year are the friendships we’ve made along the way. Seeing those familiar faces and sharing memories is what makes Key West so special. It’s more than a destination—it’s my happy place.

Thank you again for taking the time to read my blog. I always truly appreciate it…

Until next time!