zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Will be headed down to Key West this Saturday for a week. Trying to decide what camera gear to take. Driving down from West Palm Beach so space isn't and issue. Should I take the Sigma 150-500 or just the Sigma 18-250 lenses with the Canon T3i? Also plan to take the Tokina Ultra wide 11-16 lens. Other than the CP filter will I need the ND filter as well?

zuzanne

Ol' Frank Loc: Orlando,

We were just there and found it to be hot and crowded.. I took only my Sigma 18-250 and my D90 and left everything else back at the hotel. Just too crowded to be able to use anything else. The 18-250 is a great walk around lens and does everything I wanted. Have fun! Take lots of money.

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Thank you for your help. Its greatly appreciated.

zuzanne

wsa111 Loc: Goose Creek, South Carolina

I would just take the 18-250 & a polarizer.
You can get some great sunset shots from Mallory square.

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

Take a small P&S and lots of $$$$. Key West is so expensive many businesses have a hard time keeping employees since the workers can't afford to live in Key West.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I'd say the 18-250mm would be more than enough.
While you're there don't miss the Green Parrot Bar on Whitehead Street. They have some nice live jazz in the afternoons. Also the Schooner Wharf Bar on William Street is a nice place.

dusty3d Loc: South Florida

We go down to Key West at least once a year and I find my 18-200 lens is enough. Polarizer for sure.

abstractist

What ever you do, you have to go to Mallory Square around sunset, there are many performers there, from trained cats to a bagpiper, and even a man that lays on glass and has people walk on top of him.

If you like you can visit a shop that sells all the trinkets that the street vendors sell, but for way less.

You can visit Hemingway's home, and go to the 2 Sloppy Joes in Key West, the old one is down the street and around the corner from the one that is on Duval Street.

And if you think you could how your alcoholic beverage as well as any sailor, you could attempt to do the "DUVAL CRAWL" that is to have 1 drink in each and every bar on Duval Street. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE.

The U S Navy has a base that use to be President Truman's Winter Home.
Truman annex, and that s where the true Southernmost point in the Continental U.S. is, but you cannot get there if you are a civilian, look it up on Google MAPS
https://www.google.com/maps/place//@24.5442051,-81.8038318,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88d1b6dc4e0eb3eb:0xda5dd3859cd94bdd

Everything you see will say Southern Most, restaurant, cigar shop, T shirt shop, sandal shop, museum. A great museum is the one showing artifacts from various wrecks that have been discovered nearby.

You can go snorkeling for a 4 hour trip, the sail boat will take you to the edge of the reef, and in some places 4 miles from land, you can stand up and it will not be over your head, then 10 feet away, the end of the world is what you see, a bottomless dark hole.
There are many nighttime cruises for your enjoyment. You should be able to find a glass bottom boat cruise if that is something you like.

One thing you will find, the residents of Key West really invented the LAID BACK lifestyle.

I was in an open bar, having a cigar and a drink, around 9:00 p.m., when down the alley came an ambulance, it stopped at the bar, the guy ordered a 6 pack of corona, said he was going to a real bad accident.

That same night walking back to the Navy base, I saw a night watchman doing his rounds, drinking a Corona.

On one end of Mallory Square there is a restaurant, and a pier, that you can eat on the pier, it is covered with a tarp, and while you are on the pier, you get the feeling of being very slowly rocked, because it is a floating pier. While at the pier, a motor boat came along side, and blasted his horn, the waitress, went there to see what was up, he motioned to her, she lowered a bucket, and he put in it his request and some bills. She went to the bar tender, got his request 2 six packs of Corona, lowered it down to him with his change.

You can fish from shore if that is your thing. I believe you will need a license, but remember almost anything you catch from shore should not be eaten, because of reef poisoning.

You can visit Turtle Crawl, and they have a fantastic RAW bar. There is a large gay population, and a lot of artist as well all over the island. And you can visit Margarita Ville, so all in all who will have time for taking pictures?

abstractist

I forgot one thing, if you are retired Military, you can stay at Truman Annex for so little money, it is embarrassing to say, but if you retired from the military, you paid for it in your years of service.

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Thanks for the heads up. Our hotel is right close to Mallory Square and that is on our to do list.

zuzanne

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Fortunately we will have a full kitchen in the condo so we plan to take snacks and booze from home to help offset some of the costs.

zuzanne

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

We like jazz so I will look for the Green Parrot. Thank you for your help.

zuzanne

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

Thanks Dusty for you advice. I'm definitely taking the 18-250 lens.

zuzanne

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

WOW, that's a lot of things to see and do. Minus the Duval Crawl. My alcohol limit would never let me do that. LOL Not that it wouldn't be fun to try. Mallory Square at sunset is on our list. So are most of the other places you suggested. Thank you so much for your help. So far we plan to leave the car parked at the hotel and walk to everything. Or take the Conch Train.

zuzanne

Mike W. Loc: Cullman Al.

We went Key West about 3 weeks ago. Great food and even nicer people. Try the Cuban food during your stay (Wow !!!). I just posted some snorkling pictures from Dry Tortugas. Hope you have a great time. Mike