Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

No value to poster but because of your post moving this photo trip up on my Bucket List. Why I am glad I found UHH... learn so much, so giving by all. Will capture this thread when completed and will have so much information. Thanks.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

One of the best times of my life was a week's vacation in Key West. We stayed at this hotel. True luxury, but it ain't cheap. Right on the blue water, and walking distance to town.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34345-d209391-Reviews-Casa_Marina_Key_West_A_Waldorf_Astoria_Resort-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

For photos, you have all the water and beach stuff as well as the crazy scene downtown at night, with lots of colored lights and the antics of the alcohol-infused party people. I highly recommend a snorkeling trip (provided the seas are calm). There are several providers based in the harbor. Super-fun even wihout a camera, but if you can take along a cheap waterproof point-and-shoot, you will have amazing subject material with the exotic tropical fish and the beautiful coral. At the risk of stating the obvious, don't miss the key lime pie. Many restaurants make their own, so it's a little different every place you get it. Always a real treat.

In that regard, a two-part shocker:
1. There is still a Howard Johnson's restaurant and hotel there. The hotel is cheap, but is described in reviews as "disgusting."
2. The key lime pie in the HJ restaurant was as good as any other we tried. Who knew?

Have fun! >Alan

etcraig Loc: Chandler, Az

Make a point of looking for the Key Deer on Marathon. That's a real treat

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

The Key Deer are on Big Pine Key. They survived the hurricane, with a lot of help from locals.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

You did!... The wife and I took a sunset cruise on that ship a few years ago. As it happened, that cruise was to be their last of the "season" in Key West and they were sailing back up to Cape Cod for the Summer. They were planing to hit Charleston, Norfolk and other "tourist ports" on the way up and again on the way back down.
Got some great shots on that trip and one of them made the cover of Nikon Magazine. For your general fund of info, there is a Luxurey Catamaran (holds 8-10 couples) that sails out of the (I think) Hyatt Centric Key West 601 Front St, Key West, FL 33040. We were going to do one of the sunset cruises that you get at the dock at Mallory Square and all they had were the Cats that took 40-50 people on.... looked like a mess...and the guy selling tickets said, well we have this one that sails out of the Hyatt for sunsets. (dont remember the cost but was nearly the same or barely more) and it (in our case) only had 5 couples. They served drinks (both hard and soft including beer and mixed) had orderves, shrimp cocktails, snacks and full run of a Cat that would sleep 12. We left the Hyatt about 5 in a horrindous wind and made it to the other side (west) of the island and sailed (along with the ships with the masses) back and forth watching the sunset. Then we docked at the main docks in Mallory after dark. I really think that the Cat trip was the highlight of our trips to Key West. If you go back, you might check with the "little ticket" sales guy... I think he had the first or second booth on the dock across for Kermits. (this is where I saw Kermit in his baking costume out accosting the tourists... lol