The Florida Keys
Sugarloaf Key, FL - Sun Outdoors Sugarloaf RV Park
Regardless of when you visit, you can count on South Florida to be humid. Over the years, we’ve visited the Keys numerous times. It is ALWAYS humid. Well, the same can be said for all of Florida I suppose. Our first visit was on our honeymoon in 1992 following a Caribbean cruise. At that time, we were not impressed. We expected beaches. They aren’t many in the Keys. Candidly, we also were worn out from the cruise. Key West just seemed hot and muggy and we were ready to go home to much cooler and dryer climates (we lived in Los Alamos, NM then). We didn’t return until 2004 when we became Florida residents.
We returned to the Keys after moving to Tampa. Our appreciation of the Keys has grown over the years since. Among other things, we’ve learned that you can count on the Keys to take the edge off of with some breeze and plentiful libations. It’s also lovely seeing the turquoise waters along the roadside as you drive through the Keys to Key West. We also loved snorkeling as a family at John Pennekamp State Park off of Key Largo. And, of course, the weather is fabulous. It is so nice to arrive to 78 and sunny in mid-March.
Key West, FL
This time, our visit was brief. Key West is delightful during the day, but not so much at night. We enjoy visiting a lot of the little shops on and around Duval St and doing a little day drinking. But, when the sun goes down, maybe it’s our ages and we’re old “fuddy duddies”, but the bars are just too loud and tedious at night in Key West. We have the same reaction to New Orleans and the French Quarter. So, we’ll leave all that to the “youngsters” out there.
Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West, FL
One different experience we enjoyed this year was a visit to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. Each person’s level of exposure to Hemingway often depends greatly upon their high school English teacher. For me (Pat), my exposure was substantial. The Old Man and the Sea. For Whom the Bell Tolls. The Son Also Rises. Classics. Among the best of American literature. Like so many things, when in I was in high school, I didn’t appreciate the humanity and artistry of great writing. It has grown for me over the years. The complexities of human emotions and interactions that are lost on a teenage boy. It was a joy to tour the Hemingway home and learn about him. His works as well as his addictions to women, alcohol, and adventure.
Alas, we didn’t make more time for other stuff this visit. Next time. Maybe “snowbirding” next year??
