We work hard on our amateur photography when we go out—all for you! So make sure you check out some of the most recent additions to our Facebook albums!
2010 Art of Sand Event offical album: Be sure to check some photos of this event. You won't believe artist used sand to create these!
Check out pictures from our recent trip to the Florida Keys.
Coconut Mallory is a very peaceful, laid back resort located in Key West. It isn’t too far off the highway, and because the island isn’t that big, not too far away from anything else. When we first arrived the gardens near the entry attracted my eye, with lots of shrubbery and fountains. The staff was nice, and I immediately got a relaxed vibe from the place. That relaxed way of doing thing somehow found its way into the check-in computer when the staff fulfilled our accommodations. We had booked a one bedroom first-floor studio with a DVD player. We ended up with a two bedroom top floor flat with no DVD player. It had an amazing view, and the staff provided a DVD player with no hesitation. They didn’t seem to mind that they’d given us a major upgrade for no apparent reason—so how could we complain?
The rooms themselves are spacious, clean, and in good condition. The bathroom and kitchen appeared to be recently remodeled, but the decor in the remainder of the space was old and in need of a fashionable update. But with such a relaxing atmosphere it’s easy to look over the pastel-flowered bed quilts and slightly tacky faux seashell headboards. The things I loved the most was the tranquility and the amazing view since the property is waterside. It was super relaxing. Also because the resort has a private Mariana, you can go enjoy your morning coffee while you watch the sunrise over that gorgeous water of the Keys.
The resort knows that it is catering to families and those without children. So there are two pools on different parts of the property—one of which is for adults only. Even though I saw plenty of families, and heard an occasional youthful yell from the “all swim” pool located near our room—the noise never reaching annoying levels. This calm led to sunrise breakfast on our outdoor patio, and moments hanging over the rail just taking in the view.
Even though this property rents like a hotel, it’s more like a timeshare. This means that it’s a great value because the property puts a lot of emphasis on providing for the needs of the long term guests and families. Our room had a kitchen and all the utensils needed, and we saved lots of money by eating most meals in—allowing us to afford more upscale dinner experiences.
But there was a downfall to this emphasis on being more like a timeshare than a hotel. They do not offer standard room cleaning. You can request it, but you’ll be charged for each request. If you are staying for more than a few days you might end up cleaning up your own rooms during your stay.
Pool towels were only provided if you were staying 3 nights. Since we were only staying for a romantic weekend, I guess they thought we should just air dry. Also, while cooking can save money if you are staying long term, washing dishes over my short weekend was not fun.
Considering the price, and the reason we went to the Keys—romance and some alone time—Coconut Mallory did its job. The property was beautiful, the environment serene, and just a short distance from some wonderful experiences that the Keys had to offer. Overall I truly enjoyed my stay at the restful, friendly, Coconut Mallory in Key West. If I were looking to just get lost for a few days and return home refreshed, this is definitely an option I’d consider.
More information on Coconut Mallory:
Offical Website or see other people's experiences at Trip Advisor.Review: Seven Fish Resturant
The Seven Fish is a small seafood restaurant located in Key West Florida; we found it using Zagat.com. At the time the Seven Fish was rated as the second highest seafood restaurant in Key West, with only a 2 points difference between the food quality of it and the #1 restaurant—but about a $25 difference per person in price. Other Zagat readers said that the place was physically small, and very popular, so reservations were suggested. We made our reservation about 4 hours before were arrived, and it was the last opening they had for the night.
When we arrived the first thing I noted was that the reviewers were right—the place is small. Cramped, it could probably sit about 45 guests. Our table was not ready for us when we arrived. The place was so tiny we couldn’t wait inside. However the bartender came from behind the bar and showed us to a bench outside, and offered to serve us drinks while we waited. He also provided us with a menu which was printed nicely on paper—which is a good sign that indicated the menu changes frequently. He also stayed and talked with us about the local flare of Key West, and the current menu. He indicated that not everything on the menu was locally caught—like the crawfish in the seafood pasta dish. He suggested we go with the house specialty of fresh, locally caught fish. We weren’t going to argue with that since we’d pick the restaurant specifically to eat some good local catch. He got our taste buds set for the snapper which on this day was offered in two preparations—one with a mango chutney and one with a creamy curry sauce.
After a few minutes the bartender gave us seats for some other guests whose table was ready, but who hadn’t arrived yet. Our waitress approached us quickly, and with a welcoming smile went over the same specials which sounded just as good the second time. Both Jay and I knew what we wanted. However when we went to order I mentioned my allergy to seeds and nuts which sent the waitress into a spin. She ran into the kitchen to see if my mango chutney had sesame seeds in it, and returned to tell me that it was already toasted in sesame seed oil. So I ordered the curry sauced snapper, and she ran back into the kitchen again and came out to tell me that it was made with coconut milk. She suggested that I just have the broiled snapper. Since I did not hunt through some many other culinary options to end up eating “just broiled fish”, I ordered the 3rd, and last, local fish option on the menu that night. Now I had never heard of this fish, but she compared it to Mahi-Mahi. It was a simple preparation—grilled with light butter and black pepper. Since I’m not at all a fan of steak-like fish, I smiled tight-lipped and disappointed that my mouth was geared up for one thing and I was now settling on another. However I was intent to try freshly caught local fish, and this was the last option on the very small menu that would fulfill that.
A few minutes after placing our order the waitress came back out and told me that the garlic roasted potatoes that my fish was served over had seed oil in it too. I was given the choice of having plain mashed potatoes, white rice, or plain boiled pasta served with my fish instead. In the end, my husband had the curried snapper and I had the steak-like fish that was extremely lightly flavored, served with veggies was were just boiled in hot water, all served over sauceless boiled pasta. I will say that the fish was definitely fresh, but it was the most flavorless thing I’ve ever had at a restaurant. I was completely disappointed. My husband, however, said his food was amazing, but he couldn’t enjoy it while I sat across the table pushing my food around on the plate. Even though the waitress came up and could plainly see something was wrong, no move was made to correct or try to enhance my experience.
This restaurant probably is great. How could so many people, including my husband, seem to drool over their plates, and it be anything but delicious? However, their menu was completely inflexible, and didn’t account for people’s dietary restrictions and preferences. I never plan on returning.
More information about 7 Fish: http://www.7fish.com/
Review: Keys Fisheries, Market and Marina
We found this little gem by watching local television news during a visit to Key West. It definitely paid off. This restaurant/fish market is tucked away in Marathon Keys, and it is not visible from the main road. Without a point in the right direction we never would have found it—and we’re super fortunate that we did! It’s located right on the water, making for a picturesque backdrop. When we arrived we knew we’d found something special. There was a long line of locals, a huge menu, and a wonderful smell in the air!
On the news show where we’d heard about the place, there was rants and raves about the restaurant’s specialty—Lobster Reuben. It’s almost like a traditional Reuben sandwich made with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, on Deli Rye bread. The twist? Instead of corned beef or pastrami, this Reuben is made with heaps of fresh lobster that has never been frozen! I saw the generous chunks of mouth-watering lobster in this wonderful looking sandwich myself. In person, it’s to die for!
Jay and I, however, wanted to crack some shells. Up until this time our culinary seafood experiences in the Keys had been a bust. So we strolled up to the window and placed an order for Garlic Golden Crab ($15.95) and Sautéed Lobster Tails ($17.95). The lady behind the window asked for our favorite movie star to identify us by. Of course Jay was pleased as punch to be called Will Smith. While we waited for “Mr. Smith’s order” we took a look around. We were literally on the Mariana—some of the customers were arriving by boat! The water was beautiful, and with no exaggeration you could literally look down and see 20 to 30 wild fish swimming less than 2 feet away from where you were sitting. Some of the fish were easily longer than 2 feet. Add to the amazing surrounds the pelicans and sea gulls, and the setting for a seafood spot couldn’t get any better.
Since the location is both a restaurant and fish store—and they catch a lot of the fish on their own boat which is tied up 20 feet away, you might wonder about the hygiene of the place. This was the cleanest fish market/seafood restaurant I’ve ever been too. Even the bathrooms are pristine. When they finally called our order we couldn’t be prepared for what we received. We were served with large portions of freshly caught, made to order crab and lobster. From the very first bite—heaven! There is no doubting the quality. This meal was worth every single cent. It cost less than it would at any restaurant in the Keys, couldn’t get any fresher, or have a better view. Add to the fact that they have two bars, a small gift shop that supports local artist, sushi, dessert, and are completely laid back—what else do you need to know?
The Keys Fisheries Market & Marina is a culinary find that is definitely a “must do” if you want real Florida Keys seafood experience!
Learn more about the Keys Fisheries on their
offical site. You can also check out our picture album to see more pictures from the Fisheries and our trip to the Keys.
For our first year anniversary Jay decided to take me on a surprise trip someplace we’ve both wanted to go—Key West! It was our first trip down, and there were some great experiences, and some things we’ll just never do again. Overall the Keys are gorgeous. It’s a Mecca for fishers, foodies, and those who loved to live in a completely laid back setting.
I was immediately struck by the most predominate feature of the area—the beautiful water that is deep blue and just the right temperature. There are slivers of beach just off the road, where one or two families have found a bit of solace for the day. The sapphire colored water is dotted with kayaks that are making their way to one of the many uninhabited islands. Take a second to look, and you’ll find that some of those kayaks made it, and the lucky kayakers have erected tents are swimming, making lunch, fishing, and who know what else, on a small island they have claimed all to themselves for the day.
Beyond the wildlife, the environment is quiet in most areas. The Conchs, as natives of the Keys are called, are overall pretty friendly. They seem to understand that their local economy is based on both fishing and tourism. The inhabitants of The Conch Republic, also known as the Keys, also seem to recognize the fragility of the gift that surrounds them—there are constant reminders to respect the ecosystem. The delicate balance in this aquatic-based environment is, after all, what makes the Keys so special.
Key West is also definitely a place foodies want to visit at least once. There are gourmet restaurants and street food vendors everywhere. It could definitely be a bit intimidating though—because all of the food offerings are not quality, and there is a lot of diversity. Picking the right place to have an exceptional “Keys culinary experience” might be daunting. To find a quality place to eat, I would definitely suggest using Zagat.com, “the local news”—a station full of information for visitors that is in association with tripsmarter.com, or talking to trusted locals. Of course, going for seafood is the best culinary choice. Talk about fresh! However, a word of caution: do ask if the seafood being served is local. We went to a highly rated restaurant suggested by Zagat, and all of the seafood on the menu was not locally caught. However the local catch on the menu was wonderful.
The lodging in Key West was also in tune with nature and the history of the location. Off the main roads there are plenty of Bed and Breakfasts and Inns that, at least from the outside, looked delightful. There were also larger chain hotels, and smaller independent ones. Most of these hotels were laid out in a way that took advantage of their location by providing guests with large windows and lots of outdoor space.
Not all the areas of Key West are quiet, though. The downtown/historic district of Key West is a bustling little area. There seems to be an effort to make the area “family friendly” with attractions like the Pirate Museum. At this particular museum external advertisements beckoning visitors inside using lively music, comedic voiceovers, and banners letting parents know that the pirates inside aren’t too scary by telling them to “think Disney”. The small mall also houses one of the most unique toy stores I’ve ever seen. I felt like I was walking into Peter Pan, or Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium. You have to walk through a mini rainforest to even enter the toy store. Once you do, you’ll see that someone’s imagination has run wild in there. The place is decorated in larger than life models of pirate ship, mermaids, and golden dipped statues.
There are also plenty of historic sites for families and history buff to explore, like Truman’s Little White House on Front Street. This house has a rich history, is linked to several US presidents, and is a piece of American History. The local tourism companies try to provide options for smaller children and older adults with offerings of glass bottom boats and trolley rides.
However, all in all, I’d steer clear of suggesting Key West for most families’ vacations and those who just want peace and quite. While the lodgings are nice, if you stay near the historic area there are very few pockets of space that afford quiet solace. The key word is “afford” because lodging in the Keys can get pricey if you’re looking for quality. The price of many on-the-water activities can also get to be a bit steep. For example the adult price of a glass bottom boat ride could easily be about $40, not including a tip. If you’re looking for quiet you can find it, but you’ll probably need to select a hotel away from the downtown area, which gratefully is what Jay did when he picked Coconut Mallory.
Also, because the island is so small, ALL kinds of businesses vying for tourist dollars are pushed into the limited space of the historic downtown area and the pier. So while you’re walking with the kids to see the museums you will pass explicate adult stores (the one near the pirate museum had a life-like dildo in the widow display), bars that will open when the sun goes down with drag queen headlining acts, lots of drinking spots, and probably some things I missed. But the kiddies might also get an eyeful during the day anyway. Besides the many places to drink alcohol just about all day, many of the tourist companies offer excursions that include “all you can drink” beer/ wine/ margaritas/ champagne. This can be great for certain visitors, but it also means you’ll probably see people acting “peculiar” just about all day after they get off their boats.
Now am I deterring people from going to Key West? No way! I had lots of fun! Wonderful snorkeling, fishing, sailing, food, drinks, art—are you kidding! However I’d advise parents to either visit without the kids first, or stay as a whole family some place a stone’s throw, but world away, from Key West, like Marathon Keys. Parents should at least know what they might expose their kids to, and make sure they’re OK with that. I would also suggest staying on another Key, like Isamadora, for those who basically just want some quiet downtime. You can save a little money by staying in one of the lesser known, but just as beautiful, Keys, if you’re not looking for the Key West nightlife.
Will Jay and I go back to Key West? Definitely! And I’ll make sure I remember my passport to visit the Conch Republic—it truly is out of this world.
See all our pictures from this trip at this facebook album.
