tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post7867177611664848935..comments2024-03-18T20:48:54.829-04:00Comments on Reflections Around the Campfire: Biscayne National Park & the Florida Keys - The End of the RoadUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-83034536008570117882020-09-09T20:23:55.839-04:002020-09-09T20:23:55.839-04:00Thanks for stopping by, Priscilla, and for taking ...Thanks for stopping by, Priscilla, and for taking the time to comment! I think I might have enjoyed the Key West you loved "back in the day;" last year, there was just a little too much hustle and bustle going on for my taste. So, you swapped coasts and ended up with a lovely, temperate climate, a gorgeous coastline - and no hurricanes. Good for you!MARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717399651012721086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-83596892376605290702020-09-09T16:34:59.570-04:002020-09-09T16:34:59.570-04:00Those areas that you've mentioned used to be o...Those areas that you've mentioned used to be our stomping grounds! Life was SO much fun back in the late 70's to early 80's. Eating and just hanging around the keys was such a wonderful time. I know it's all changed & I'm so glad we got to experience the best of the Keys/Key West in the "old days"!! We lived in Miami for 13 yrs. and left just as Hurricane Andrew hit. Not good for our old n'hood. Now we're in San Diego & enjoying all it has to offer and all the way up the coast. priscillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10941241519252090787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-72281201956323368782020-09-06T20:52:38.662-04:002020-09-06T20:52:38.662-04:00Yikes! If the Sunset Parties involve "hundre...Yikes! If the Sunset Parties involve "hundreds of your closest friends," then I don't think I'd even be up for that - pandemic or not. Maybe Key West is one of those places where real life clashes with the romanticized ideal. Despite my complaints, I really am happy we had the opportunity to visit but, I must admit, your description of the Big Island of Hawaii is much more to my liking.MARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717399651012721086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-24272842111656797752020-09-06T18:46:45.275-04:002020-09-06T18:46:45.275-04:00My husband and I visited Key West when we traveled...My husband and I visited Key West when we traveled to Florida on our way to Cuba. We had a similar reaction to yours but I'm glad we went. We enjoyed the Hemingway museum (especially since we then got to visit Hemingway's house in Cuba) and the gorgeous sunset we saw off Mallory Square (along with hundreds of our closest friends). Also, with regards to the "southernmost" claims... of course, that's just for the continental U.S. Later that very same year (2015), we had the pleasure of visiting the actual southernmost part of the U.S. which is found on Hawaii's Big Island. Many, many fewer people and way more beautiful :). Janis @ RetirementallyChallengedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13337674760088612530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-79948584316091394142020-09-06T11:10:32.209-04:002020-09-06T11:10:32.209-04:00Joan, you know Alan and I love to explore but, rea...Joan, you know Alan and I love to explore but, really, the best parts of this trip were the week we spent with the kids at Disney, our could-have-been-so-much-longer visit with you and Tom, and our get-togethers with our grade school, high school and church friends along the way. The Big Switcheroo was a great combination of family, friends and new to us destinations. I've heard of the Sunset Party in Key West and it sounds like a magical celebration; the New Year's Eve shindig, not so much. You know me too well!MARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717399651012721086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-75997150031576398432020-09-06T10:32:18.175-04:002020-09-06T10:32:18.175-04:00Hi Mary...Loved your Big Switcheroo trip series, a...Hi Mary...Loved your Big Switcheroo trip series, and we were so glad to have been part of it - at our "Campground!" I can see you have found some little gems on your trip here, that we have missed - time to take a ride again perhaps. Meanwhile, I agree with Bob regarding Key West...love to visit, but some areas I want to leave behind. The back streets are more fun to see, the Winter White House was very interesting, and some of the back street restaurants, shops, and art galleries are my favorites. There is also a cool little aquarium that is worth seeing. Once, we stayed at a campground out there...that resembled a sardine can, but our bikes took us everywhere, and we put A LOT of miles on, just wandering around. Other than the homeless camps down in the mangroves, (so sad) the sights were beautiful. When we take cruises, I am always happy if there is a stop in Key West...although they leave too early for the nightly Sunset Party...a favorite of mine. We once stayed at a B & B as well - they are wonderful down there! AND, we once went for New Year's Eve - I'm sure you can imagine how crazy that was! (The crowds would have freaked you out - it did me...but I did still enjoy!) It truly is a unique place. Looking forward to more travel stories! Best wishes from the Sunshine State! Joanyzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07318659345218628695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-4088371757469030182020-09-06T06:33:29.115-04:002020-09-06T06:33:29.115-04:00I remember your canned chili post! I'm just n...I remember your canned chili post! I'm just not sure what that says about it. I guess I shouldn't tell you that I'm pretty sure there's still some Daytona Beach sand on the floor of the truck from that trip last year, huh? None in the travel trailer though - I promise. You and Sandy would have enjoyed Harriette's - small local place, lots of character, great food - it was right up your alley.MARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717399651012721086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-36395152247916827952020-09-06T00:46:31.078-04:002020-09-06T00:46:31.078-04:00Well, that was a well-crafted series that no one w...Well, that was a well-crafted series that no one would have guessed was an alternative to your original plans. You wouldn't even have had to mention it. Our impression of Key West was similar to yours. I wanted to check it off the list, but my overall feeling was, well, "meh..." But then, we are not beach people; we don't even like the thought of grains of sand falling onto the steps leading into Phannie's cockpit. Oh yes, the toilet paper thing...can't wait for that. It will probably rank right up there with perhaps my most ignominious post--a taste test of canned chili. No, I take that back; toilet paper will surely trump canned chili!Mike Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03053039844141113175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-80129902501283127452020-09-05T20:57:24.297-04:002020-09-05T20:57:24.297-04:00Your comments, Bob, speak to the essence of why we...Your comments, Bob, speak to the essence of why we love to travel. First, there's the experience of exploration which, for us, is always a thrill; then there are the memories that we take home with us. Some are quickly forgotten, some are remembered by one of us but not the other, and then there are some (the best kind) that we bring out again and again to savor in conversation, and maybe even incorporate into our family stories. Whether or not we actually like a particular destination is incidental to the journey. It's really the joy of travel and discovery that we relish. Thanks for sharing your perspective. The experience you and Betty enjoyed in Key West has obviously remained with you.MARYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717399651012721086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556831972810821789.post-42373897106130955592020-09-05T17:59:23.947-04:002020-09-05T17:59:23.947-04:00While I had several of the same reactions that you...While I had several of the same reactions that you did to Key West, I still love visiting the end of the road. The main drag is all T-shirt shops and bars. But, a few blocks away are hidden gems like the Blue Heaven Cafe, with roosters roaming the grounds. Jimmy Buffett has a song about it that is quite accurate. The Hemingway House was not all that interesting; I am not a cat person so the famous six-toed cats were no big deal. <br /><br />I did like visiting the Truman Winter White House, and we did some diving around the reefs at Pennekamp State Park. The back streets are definitely "Old Florida" and many of the residents are characters. We stayed in a beautiful B & B within walking distance of beaches and fascinating neighborhoods. <br /><br />Oh, Miami? No thanks.Bob Lowryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843991725692979189noreply@blogger.com