| Ten Things You Must Do If You Want To Vacation In | | | | $189 per adult. |
| Key West | | | | 5. GLASS BOTTOM BOAT EXCURSIONS |
| By Robert (Bob) Cohen | | | | The Glass bottom boats give you the experience of |
| Planning a vacation in Key West can sometimes be a | | | | seeing the sea life at the Living Coral Reef. We call it a |
| daunting task as there are so many things to do in | | | | "Dry Snorkel" trip as it is like snorkeling without getting |
| Key West. The Key West Welcome Center can be | | | | wet. |
| your focal point for planning your vacation because | | | | Large tropical fish, colorful coral await you at the reef. |
| they are in the service of assisting visitors with their | | | | Prices start at $35 per person. |
| vacation planning. | | | | 6. FINE DINING IN KEY WEST |
| The Welcome Center can make all of your | | | | Key West is privileged to have so many fine |
| reservations for you so you do not have to stress | | | | restaurants that it would be difficult to chose which |
| over what to do, who to call or what to plan. | | | | ones to eat at. |
| 1. HOTELS, MOTELS, BED & BREAKFAST, | | | | We have everything from the fast food chains, all the |
| VACATION RENTALS | | | | way to 4 diamond quality restaurants. Other than a |
| Key West is a small island that is 1.5 by 4 miles in size | | | | few minor exceptions, you do not have to make a |
| with only 4,000 total hotel, motel, bed & breakfast and | | | | reservation and you never ever have to dress up for |
| condominium rooms on the entire island. During special | | | | dinner. |
| events and holiday weekends, there is usually a 3-nite | | | | Key West has what we call, "Key West Casual" |
| minimum stay at the bed & breakfasts as well as | | | | which means shirt, shorts and sandals and this is the |
| some of the 4-star hotel resorts on the island and | | | | code of dress for every place in Key West. |
| condominium resorts. | | | | You can have something as simple as a good |
| If you are coming in for just one night during the week, | | | | hamburger or Conch Fritters, to something as |
| then you probably will not need advanced reservations | | | | extravagant as Lobster Mango Tango (lobster |
| for a hotel or motel room. Sometimes, we can get you | | | | sautéed in Brandy and covered with a Mango |
| into a nice bed & breakfast for just one night due to | | | | Salsa). The choice is yours in Key West. |
| last minute cancellations. But, if you plan on staying for | | | | 7. DINNER CRUISES |
| a few nights or longer, advanced reservations are | | | | Many people come to the Keys for its fabulous |
| definitely in order. | | | | sunsets. Why not have your sunset and a 3-course |
| Working as a Concierge for a number of years, you | | | | gourmet dinner along with it. A sunset dinner cruise is |
| see just when and where rooms are available for | | | | the way to go. |
| nightly rental. If you are looking for private homes for | | | | On one of the dinner cruise boats, the chef will |
| your vacation rental, then expect places that are only | | | | prepare your food while the captain of the dinner |
| available for a minimum of one week. Some places | | | | cruise takes you on a wonderful journey around the |
| are only available on a monthly basis. | | | | Key West Harbor and once you sample this |
| On another note, if you are like me and have animal | | | | wonderful cuisine on this dinner cruise, you will wonder |
| companions, they are a part of your family and do not | | | | how he does it for such a low price. |
| like the idea of leaving them home when you are out | | | | Formerly a chef at a 4 diamond restaurant, he will |
| having fun. Most accommodations, including the | | | | present you with mouth-watering options for your |
| vacation rentals, are not pet friendly. The ones that | | | | meals and it includes domestic and imported beers, |
| have more pet friendly rooms are the bed & | | | | wines and champagne. |
| breakfasts. Contact the Key West Welcome Center | | | | Dinner cruise prices are from $65 to $75 per person |
| to find out what is available that is pet friendly and they | | | | not including tax and gratuity. Private Charters for the |
| will make the reservations for you. | | | | dinner cruise are available for special functions and |
| In the off-season (June 1 to December 15), | | | | weddings. The one we prefer for your dinner cruise |
| accommodation rates start at about $89 for a basic | | | | has a maximum seating of 20 so this is ideal for a nice |
| room up to a 4-star resort starting at $200 a night. | | | | sunset wedding and dinner cruise. |
| During high season (December 16 to May 31), rates | | | | 8. AERIAL TOURS |
| can start at $169 per night. | | | | Want to see Key West from the air? |
| 2. FISHING THE KEYS | | | | Take a aerial tour in either a biplane or a helicopter to |
| If you are an avid fisherman, coming to Key West is | | | | see Key West from the air. Aerial tour trip times vary |
| something you will never forget. There is no better | | | | depending on what you want to see. Biplane rides |
| fishing in the State of Florida than there is in Key West. | | | | start at $120 for two people and helicopter rides start |
| Try your hand at game fish such as Sailfish, Blue | | | | at $99 for 3 people to see the coral reef from the air. |
| Marlin, Tarpon, Permit, Cobia, Wahoo or even Shark. | | | | 9. KAYAK TOURS AND RENTALS |
| More records have been broken here than anywhere | | | | If you want to really see the coastline of the lower |
| else in the State of Florida. | | | | Keys and Key West, there is no better way to see it |
| There are three basic types of fishing: | | | | than on one of our wonderful Kayak Tours. |
| 1. Off-Shore | | | | Take a trip with an environmental scientist or someone |
| 2. Back Country Light Tackle | | | | that was born and raised here and knows the |
| 3. Flats | | | | mangroves like the back of their hand. |
| OFF SHORE - Off-shore fishing is where you go for | | | | Visit some of the Marine and Bird Sanctuaries and see |
| the big stuff such as Grouper, Sail Fish, Marlin, | | | | some of the life forms that you would never see |
| Mahi-Mahi, King Mackerel, etc. The boats are usually a | | | | otherwise. |
| six-pack (maximum six passenger) and you take turns | | | | Prices start at $40 per person for a tour. |
| in the hot seat. The method of hooking the fish is by | | | | 10. SUNSET SAIL |
| trolling. You can reserve by the seat (1/2 day $135; full | | | | One of the more popular things to do in Key West is |
| day $185), or private charters (1/2 day starting at $600; | | | | to see the sunset from the water. |
| full day starting at $800). | | | | Take a sunset sail on either a sailing catamaran or a |
| BACK COUNTRY LIGHT TACKLE - This type of | | | | schooner. |
| fishing is using a spinning rod on boats that are never | | | | Many of the younger crowd like the sunset sail on the |
| bigger than 28-feet with a maximum capacity of 4 | | | | sailing Catamarans because they can have a great |
| passengers. This is usually sight casting and can use | | | | party while on the sunset sail. This is very popular with |
| either lures or live bait. You will catch things such as | | | | the Spring Breakers during that time of year as it |
| Mahi-Mahi, Sailfish, Tarpon, Cobia, Permit, Bone Fish, etc. | | | | includes as much beer and wine one can consume in |
| These are strictly private charter with 1/2 days starting | | | | a 2 hour time frame. |
| at $450; full days starting at $650 | | | | A sunset sail on a schooner, however, is a lot more |
| FLATS FISHING - This is the ultimate challenge to a | | | | romantic as you can see the sails glistening when the |
| fisherman because you are in waters that are rarely | | | | colors of the sky change and you know that you |
| deeper than 2 to 3 feet and you are using either 15 lb. | | | | helped to raise the sails on this sunset sail excursion. |
| test line on a spinning rod, or fly fishing. These boats | | | | During the months of November thru April, you can |
| are specifically designed for high speeds in very | | | | have your sunset sail and a buffet dinner all in one on |
| shallow waters. Here you can hook into Tarpon, | | | | one of the clipper ships that come in from Boston for |
| Permit, Bone Fish, African Pompano, and sometimes | | | | these months. |
| even sharks. Imaging the thrill of catching a 90 lb. | | | | Sunset sail pricing starts at $30 and goes up to $75 if |
| Tarpon on 15 lb. test line. It will be an exercise to see | | | | you want the dinner cruise on the clipper ship. |
| who tires first; you or the Tarpon (in many cases it will | | | | In conclusion, by using the expert services of the Key |
| be you). These boats can only take a maximum of 2 | | | | West Welcome Center, you will save money, save |
| passengers. Charters for 1/2 day start at $350; full day | | | | time and be absolutely sure that you getting exactly |
| start at $550. | | | | what you want and not what someone else wants. |
| 3. SNORKEL, SNUBA AND SCUBA DIVING | | | | The Key West Welcome Center has been in business |
| Over 80% of the visitors to Key West and the Florida | | | | under the current ownership for over 10 years. The |
| Keys want to go either snorkeling or scuba diving. This | | | | current manager of the Welcome Center has lived in |
| is due to the abundant and colorful sea life one would | | | | the Keys for almost 16 years and knows the place like |
| see while on either a snorkeling or scuba diving | | | | he has lived here all his life. If there is something you |
| experience. To Scuba Dive, one must be a certified | | | | need to know about Key West, he is the person to |
| diver (PADI, NAUI, etc) as they have anywhere from | | | | ask. |
| Open Water Certification to Master Diver. | | | | Robert R. Cohen |
| If you have never done scuba diving before, there is | | | | General Manager |
| something called SNUBA which gives you an | | | | Listed in Strathmore's Who's Who in America |
| experience similar to Scuba, but instead of having a | | | | I firmly believe that we have the best Reservations |
| tank strapped to your back, the regulator in your | | | | Service in the Key West area and we can make all |
| mouth is attached to a 20-foot long air hose attached | | | | your dreams come true. Use the Key West Welcome |
| to a compressor on the surface. This way you get the | | | | Center for all your reservations: |
| experience of being underwater without having to get | | | | Born and raised in New York City, and with a passion |
| certified. | | | | for photography, apprenticed with a master |
| If you want to see what it is like to Scuba Dive, you | | | | photographer in Manhattan during his junior and senior |
| can take a Resort Course which gives you enough | | | | year in high school. In November of 1967, he joined the |
| training to go out with an instructor on what is called a | | | | Navy to be a photographer and served with the Navy |
| 2-tank dive in up to 45 feet of water. | | | | Combat Camera Group based out of San Diego for |
| Snorkel trips start at $35 per person, Snuba starts at | | | | two years. He continued his military service and in 1983, |
| $95 per person, Scuba starts at $90 per person and | | | | while stationed in the Washington, DC area became |
| resort courses start at $155 per person. | | | | Navy Photographer of the Year for his production of a |
| 4. FT. JEFFERSON AT THE DRY TORTUGAS | | | | multimedia show about the Navy Recruiting Command. |
| Day trips to the Dry Tortugas has to be the most | | | | In 1984, he was discharged with a medical disability for |
| popular excursion in Key West as you get to the Dry | | | | his back and stayed in the DC area until 1987 when he |
| Tortugas by either a high speed catamaran or by | | | | and his wife (who was military) got transferred to |
| seaplane. | | | | NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium where they |
| The Catamarans take a little over two hours to go | | | | stayed for a little over 3 years. Robert worked as one |
| about 70 miles west of Key West and they give you | | | | of two Diplomatic Photographers for the U.S. Embassy |
| about 4.5 hours at the Dry Tortugas. The Seaplane | | | | in Brussels. |
| takes about 35 minutes to get there and they give you | | | | Returning to the states in 1990, he started his own |
| about 2.5 hours on the island. | | | | photography business as well as working as a |
| Ft. Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas is 16 acres in size | | | | computer technician for the hospitality industry in Key |
| and it is the largest coastal fort in the United States. It | | | | West. Here is where he learned who in Key West |
| just draws you into its history when the historian tells | | | | owned what as well as who could he rely on for |
| you about the place. This is a trip you do not want to | | | | services. |
| miss. | | | | In 2003, Robert started working as a concierge and |
| Boat prices to the Dry Tortugas start at $110 to $129 | | | | the following year became the manager of the Key |
| depending on the boat, and the seaplane costs start at | | | | West Welcome Center. |