Key West is the southernmost tip of Florida, but feels like the Caribbean with a laid back style all its own. There are so many activities here for families and couples. It’s also an easy days drive from a cruise port making it a perfect add-on to your cruise vacation. If you’re not doing a cruise; Miami is the closest major airport and rental cars abound.
You’ll have your choice of places to sleep here. Whether you prefer to to be lulled to sleep on your boat hotel, take drinks poolside at a resort, you prefer the ease of an Airbnb, or you’re parking your RV; there are endless options in Key West. Since we’re a military family I booked a townhome at a local Navy base that was mere minutes from downtown.
The first thing we did was take an old town trolley tour to get a lay of the land. These are always a wonderful way to get a high level overview of each town along with information on places you’d like to explore further. Since it’s a hop in/ off tour you can go explore then pick up right where you left off.
One of the things the kids wanted to stop for was one of the world famous dessert… key lime pie. This was a frozen chocolate covered slice on a stick.
There are many places to find this treat within Key West, but for the best mile high merengue topped slice head over to Blue Heaven.
While you’re on the trolley make time to see Flagler’s Casa Marina hotel or the Harry S Truman Little White House. One of our favorite museums is the Mel Fisher maritime heritage museum. Here you can feel the weight of a bar of gold in your hands and explore the riches that were found in a shipwreck. While you’re here head outside to take a photo with a massive Banyan tree!
While you’re taking photos go a few blocks further to the cruise port and recreate the famous sailor kissing statue with your special someone.
Mallory square after dark is a must. The carnival like atmosphere in comfortable temperatures is fun for kids and adults alike.
Here you can snap a photo with your kids favorite characters, take part in a juggling show, or do some souvenir shopping.
A don’t miss tourist spot is the Southernmost point buoy. Get there early, it’s always warm and there’s always a line. While waiting in line you may spy roadside vendors hawking coconut drinks. It’s a fun treat on a warm day and so unique for kids to try.
After a good nights sleep Mathers beach was calling our name. The name may not come to mind, but the famous crooked palm tree on the beach is famous.
After a few hours of sun soaked fun we showered up and went for an awesome seafood dinner followed by some Tarpon feeding.
For our last morning of the trip we spent the day trying something new to us. We rented stand up paddle boards and beach chairs and made a day of it at the base marina.
The kids loved splashing in the water, strolling the beach and a break for burgers at lunch. Many applications of sunscreen later we headed home to grill a few steaks and get some sleep.
Since we live in Florida we simply opted to drive the length of Florida to get back home. There are several tourist attractions along the way including History of Diving Museum and the large key lobster.
One last meal at Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill in Key Largo was burgers for the kids and tuna nachos for me and the hubby.
All in all we had so much fun making family memories. Key West is a major tourist draw and best if planned well in advanced especially for the most popular times of the year including spring break, Christmas holidays and lobster season; August through March.
I took a leap of faith. I quit my full time job to pursue traveling. I love what I do as a medical imaging professional and I feel that caring for others is a path I’ve had a calling to do, but I love travel. From the time I was a child my military father would move us around the country and my mother would take me as her travel buddy exploring each new city as well as far flung places. The seed was planted and staying in any one place too long just didn’t sit right. I always thought the only traveling professionals were nurses until 8 years ago when I met another allied health traveler. The timing wasn’t right, but it allowed me to dream of a future where I could combine my career of choice and my passion for travel. Being paid to intensively explore a new area of America every 3 months with as much time as I wanted to take off between assignments was a dream. And thus, I accepted a contract position in southern Oregon. Just about as far as one can get from Florida. I opted to take a weeklong solo road trip across America to get there.
Starting at home we took some time to play to tourist in St. Augustine, Fl. We camped at Anastasia state park, walked the beach, enjoyed some donuts, visited the Alligator Farm, Ripley’s believe it or not, the oldest school house, the old jail and the oldest store, and a few other things. I’ll save that for another blog post.
Early Sunday morning I did the last minute packing and set out for St. Louis. A nearly 13 hour drive along a route I had done many times before. I saw deer grazing along the interstate, watched the sun rise over a Coca Cola factory in Tifton and stopped at a Buc-ees in Macon.
I arrived to my friends house in time for a lovely walk around her neighborhood and then we set of for dinner at a 1920s era restored soda fountain aptly named Fountain on Locust. We’ve been here for dessert before, but I’d never tried their food. I ordered the two cups of soup and side salad special. That nights soup of the day was an amazing curry mulligatawny and my other choice was a white chicken chili with the Stutz special salad. Everything here is made in house and I don’t think you could be disappointed by any of it.
The atmosphere here feels indulgent. Old varnished wooden booths, richly colored walls, ornate lighting and era style music piped in just add to the experience.
Unquestionably, you need to order dessert here. Whether that dessert is alcoholic in the form of a multi-page choice of cocktails or ice cream you can’t go wrong. They are, however, famous for their late night delight. A fantastical sundae meant for sharing. A house made slice of pineapple upside down cake topped with butter pecan, coconut and butter pecan ice creams, drizzled with a bourbon sauce, whipped cream and brûléed bananas.
If you just can’t decide… well, I don’t blame you, but you can order the gambler. They make sure there isn’t anything you’ll either hate or be allergic to and the bartender whips you up a surprise sundae.
I was exhausted and passed out despite the sugar rush. Luckily for me, my friends are also early risers and we set off across town to The Shake for a few laughs over the menu, a chance to scribble on the walls and eat some gut bustlingly, filling breakfast choices.
I had “Ma, the meatloaf “ a bacon wrapped chunk of meatloaf atop crispy hash browns topped with two sunny side up eggs and gravy. It was spicy, savory and a delight. My friends ordered the “make your own dang quesadilla” (a breakfast version they do, in fact, make for you), as well as “why the French hate us”; a sausage hot dog placed in a croissant and topped with scrambled eggs, cheese and sausage gravy. We split the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Belgian waffle.
Fully satisfied I hugged my friends goodbye and drove to my next destination to see another friend. My goal was an easy 7 hour drive to Lincoln, Nebraska home of the Cornhuskers. Since I didn’t want to arrive before they finished work I built in a pit stop in Kansas City, Mo.
Here, I was able to take in the WWI memorial and the money museum. The museum is located at the federal reserve. It requires reservations, but it is free and includes parking. It’s a short walk from the memorial. It was a cute little space that had displays of old coins and cash and gives you the chance to watch employees of the reserve count and pack thousands of dollars in cash at a time. You even get to walk out with a bag of (shredded) money for free.
As it was lunch time I followed a few great reviews and drove to Joe’s Kansas City BBQ for a meal. You can’t stop in a city at lunch and not grab a bite of an iconic cuisine.
I wasn’t altogether hungry so I ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of mac ‘n cheese. Everything was delicious! I waited in line for nearly an hour on a weekday at noon, but I’d do it again. The bread for the sandwich was very fresh, the sauce was tasty and the smell of smoked meats filled the air. While the Mac ‘n cheese side was expensive it was one of the best, creamiest Mac ‘n cheese dishes I’ve ever had. If I ever stop by again I would prioritize this dish. If you come here get yourself some.
As I was leaving I saw the local farmers market arena and stopped to take a photo of the murals.
On the road once again, I had a few hours until my next destination. It went relatively quickly listening to podcasts. I arrived late in the afternoon and caught up with my friends. They took me to the old rail yard area that has been converted to bars, restaurants and shops all centrally located near the college football stadium. I’d begged my friends to take me for a steak dinner which they obliged, but first took me on a lovely tour showing off their great city.
While I’m sure my experience was not typical, I was extremely disappointed by the service and quality of our steak dinner. I feel terrible my friends had to experience such a poor meal when we’d all had such high hopes. Once I’d finally gotten the steak properly cooked, and had a steak knife brought out it was ok. I don’t think I’d go back unless it was for whisky. They have a stellar selection.
After dinner we drove to the campus for dessert at the Dairy Store. An ice cream parlor run by college students. He showed off the building he went to school and they pointed out where they’d taken their daughter for a photo shoot as an infant. By the way, the tractor test toffee was pretty darn tasty. If I ever went back earlier in the day, they also sell coffee and they’re missing a chance to sell affogato, but I’m sure they’d be willing to make one if requested.
Early the next morning, I took a walk in the neighborhood full of charming homes with beautiful lawns. When everyone was up and ready to go we headed to breakfast.
Good Evans is adorable. It’s an insta-worthy breakfast and lunch place for sure. The decision was a tough one, but I was in need of something erring in the side of healthy so I went for the steel cut oats and sourdough bread.
Once again I was packed into my car and on the road with miles of corn fields and rolling hills between me and my next destination. This time I was planning to spend two nights with my brother in Estes Park, Co. my parents drove down to see me as well. We cooked dinner at home and my mom made cannolis for desert. You couldn’t beat the view!
Waking in the morning we savored a cup of coffee on the back porch wrapped up in sweats. 44 degrees in the summer is pretty chilly for me.
Once the sun came out I changed to shorts and we went into town to enjoy a canoe ride on Lake Estes.
My niece works at the Marina so she was able to join me on the canoe. My parents opted to go shopping for that nights dinner instead.
We had a make your own fajita bar and I went for a bowl. My sister in law is from Texas so when she does Mexican food she does all the fixings and some adult lemonade to savor right along with it.
I hugged out my goodbyes and took off down the road just after sunrise. I had a long day ahead but wanted to drive with the sun as there are so many animals that an accident is much likelier in the dark. In fact, big horn sheep were grazing on the side of the road as I made my way down.
Driving west across Wyoming I came across various snow fences and it made me remember my high school years in North Dakota. I realized how removed I am from a way of life where I worry about blowing winds closing the interstate with drifts of snow.
I drove past buttes at the Flaming River gorge as I made my way into Utah.
The scenery began to change from white and green plains to red rocks as I crawled ever closer to the border.
About an hour and half west of Salt Lake City lie the Bonneville Salt Flats. Here you can surround yourself with miles and miles of salt caked to the ground. Not only does the dazzling white crust feel like another planet, the mountains in the background add to the atmosphere. It’s wild driving on a pure white salt road for miles. Arriving a day before the annual speedway races, there were quite a few racers already setting up camp, yet I was able to find a place all to myself.
In photographs the mountains seem so minute. There really is no way to give scale to this much salt. My car was crusted, my feet were caked and the black carpets of my car were all covered in salt. It was 104 degrees in the desert even with rain clouds starting to move in. I’d definitely need a car wash now.
My final destination for the evening was Elko, NV. You could see the silhouette of mountains looming but the smoke from forest fires hundreds of miles away kept them from being defined shapes. I checked into my room and walked down the street to Wingers and ordered a half Cobb salad and ate about half of that. This thing was loaded to the brim with goodies! A quarter of an avocado, half a grilled chicken breast, a whole egg, loads of bacon bits and cheese. It was amazing. I was more tired than hungry and didn’t manage a photo. I gulped a bunch of water and headed to bed.
My original plan had me waking early as usual with a several hour pit stop in Lassen Volcanic national park, but the park was closed due to the Dixie wildfire so I relaxed in bed for a bit longer. Breakfast was included at my hotel so I ate a decent enough meal to ensure I wouldn’t have a need to stop for lunch if that became iffy. Who knows what is closed when wildfires abound.
I started seeing sides of the road all the way up the nearby hills with charred trees and scorched grasses. These were old, but the smell of fires clung to the air.
Further up near the top of the hill passing through the Lassen national forest the smoke got intense blotting out the sun and firefighters had roads roped off.
It felt truly eerie. I said a silent prayer for all those affected by the fires and the people fighting them. I can’t imagine what they’re feeling. As I came off of the mountain the sky had regained some of its blue color and the sun started to shine again. Dropping into Redding, Ca the smoke is still around, but it’s comparatively less intense. I happened to drive right past a wonderful $10 car wash with attendants that use brushes to hand scrub your car before sending it through the wash and finish by hand drying it with a chamois. I didn’t even have to wait in line, although, there was one when I finished. I unloaded my things at the hotel and stopped at Trader Joe’s for some frozen Indian food I could microwave back at the room. If you haven’t tried it, the channa masala is wonderful with their fresh naan. One thing did catch my eye and I had to grab it.
A very tangy, sweet crunch of popcorn. I’m a sucker for key lime and this version is so good.
Redwood national park
After spending the evening stretching out in my hotel room I fell asleep early and woke up to the last leg of my trip. A drive through Northern California up I-5 through Ashford, Oregon; a town known for their Shakespearean festival, and Medford on my way to the coast. My final destination was a small coastal town a few miles from the California border. I took in as many sites of this gorgeous coastline as time allowed, but I had to meet my landlord and take care of a few items to be ready to start my new contract here in southern Oregon.
I’ll have plenty of time to explore the beaches and river in my new “home”. I hope you’ll join me on some more adventures in the PNW.
The weather around the country is iffy in the spring. Too cold up north, too hot down south. We decided to head directly west. We knew we could fairly reasonably rely on the weather to be a safe bet. Jacksonville, FL to San Antonio, Tx is a pleasant enough two-day drive with a kindergartener. We rented a fabulous 2 bedroom, 2 bath duplex located half a mile from the Pearl on Air B&B. I had seen reviews that the neighborhood is iffy, and while I wouldn’t run here in the dark, the area was safe and quiet and supremely well located. Our rental looked brand spanking new and ultra-modern plus it had a washer and dryer as well as full kitchen. In a heartbeat, I would recommend it again. On our drive, we found Shipley’s donuts. These did not disappoint, and even in the afternoon, they tasted fresh.
Shipley’s
Ramen at the Pearl
Macarons
Bakery Lorraine
Brie & apricot jam grilled cheese from Bakery Lorraine
Day One
I should give a little background that I am a relatively avid recreational runner, and I find nothing more appealing that an early morning run in a new place. Waking early in the morning, I drove the half a mile and parked in the Pearl where it’s free, well lit and a safe spot to run along the Riverwalk. Day one included an easy 10K run along the River taking everything in, including popping up into downtown to see the Alamo without tourists, ogle the buildings and structures and watch a city wake up.
All that running worked up an appetite, and it was a quick shower and time to wake the crew for breakfast. This was number one eats on our list, and I had been drooling over the images online for weeks. Lulu’s bakery and cafe for their chicken fried steak and 3-pound cinnamon roll. Yes, you read that right THREE pounds! I worried it might be dry, but nope. Fresh, delicious and managed to feed us for several more days thanks to the servers wrapping it in plastic for us to take it to go. This plate of chicken fried steak is the smallest on the menu. They do have a massive challenge type one, and I cannot fathom having room for all that, but if it’s your thing or you have a large family to feed this should be stop #1. Bear in mind even on a weekday after rush hour traffic this place was busy. You can seat yourself, and a waitress may or may not get to you. They work hard, but it’s busy. If you hate waiting, though, they are open 24 hours a day, and I’d bet it’s not as crazy in the middle of the night.
Lulu’s Cafe
Full bellies helped us take on the rest of our day. First, stop… the Alamo (open 9a-7p Memorial Day through Labor day) A free attraction unless you want to take a guided tour. We opted for the free walkthrough. My daughter isn’t much for standing in line or tours. There isn’t a line to wander. If it were just adults, I’d have waited. You learn so much from experts. The courtyard is beautiful and covered in trees. They have a live history display with people happy and willing to answer questions about the Alamo. My take away from this visit is how minimal the space would’ve been during all those days in the standoff.
Alamo courtyard
Playground
We only wanted to park once since we arrived early on a workday, so we opted to walk everywhere. The weather was perfect. A light jacket with a T-shirt was all that was necessary to stay comfortable. Since everything is within a few miles, our task was simple. Next stop a playground. At her age, she needs a break to keep chugging along on our schedule. Hemisfair Park fit the bill perfectly. Slides, climbing ropes, swings, you name it, including chickens. After we released the wiggles, our adventure took us to Tower of the Americas. A 750-foot tall observation deck. Your admission fee is $14 and includes unlimited 4D movies as well as all-day admission. We took advantage and went up both during the day and returned at sunset to take in the changing cityscapes. It is open most days from 10a-10p. The grounds are a delight to walk around as well with various ponds and waterfalls.
750 ft
We made new friends
For dinner that evening we took a local’s advice and hit up Rosario’s for tacos. I think if I could live on one savory food for the rest of my life, I’d choose tacos. It was a little further up the road and out of the way from the main tourist destinations. Not enough to be a hindrance, but just enough to find parking easily.
Rosario’s tacos
Wind blown hair at the Tower
Day Two
Ideal weather for a zoo day, we woke early, ate some cinnamon roll leftovers, and headed to the San Antonio zoo. In the spring they open at 10am, so we weren’t in any particular rush. I wouldn’t hesitate to come early though, as parking fills rather quickly. Even before the opening time, we had a hike to the entrance and as we headed to our car latecomers were circling for spots like vultures. The price isn’t overly high for a full days activities. There are loads of things to see and do, and if you like avian exhibits, this zoo was exceptional. We visited the petting zoo, debated the train (ultimately didn’t choose the extra fun), fed giraffes, and took photos with the animal sculptures located throughout the park. Right next door is the Japanese gardens. A free attraction and, in my opinion, one not to be skipped. Waterfalls, koi fish, short hiking trails, & flowers. This larger than expected garden had it all.
We love each other
Day Three
The Witte museum Oh we had some fun here! Free parking, easy walk, and both indoor and outdoor sights. This museum is open 10-5 most nights of the week with a monthly free Tuesday as well. Skeletons, art, history, treehouses to climb, human anatomy play areas, and flowers. We spent hours looking around, climbing, and playing. My daughter’s favorite was the wind chimes. We had worked up quite the appetite and just down the road is a BBQ place serving a smoked brisket grilled cheese sandwiches called Smoke Shack. Oh, Texas!
My daughter’s favorite spot was the Pearl. The outdoor beer garden that gathers groups of families thanks to the grassy play space and water fountains ideal for children to play and parents to relax while enjoying a wonderful meal or a drink. Because this was a family-oriented trip, we spent most evenings relaxing here.
Day Four
Breakfast out today. We started the day with Apple Pfannenkuchen at Magnolia Pancake Haus. It’s a fair bit away from where we were staying but on the way to our next destination; the Natural Bridge Caverns. It was a weekday, and we didn’t wait long to be seated, but I’ll tell you it took a while to decide. I had dessert for breakfast while my husband ordered eggs and bacon with Elvis pancakes. Naturally, I stole some while he went to the restroom. Peanut butter, banana, and bacon in a pancake. I regret nothing. Fueled up for an adventure we drove 45 min north to the caverns and found an up-close parking spot.
We were lucky, indeed. This place was popular. It was found in the 1960s by four college students and stays a regular 70 degrees and very humid. It’s not a bad hike, and one person in our group brought a stroller and a baby in a carrier, though I wouldn’t suggest it. While we waited for our tour time, there was plenty to occupy our time. The first stop was the maze. There is an observation deck if you don’t feel like getting lost, but you should. You’re given a card which you punch when you find each station in your challenge and then finally make your way out. You are timed, and you can do this as a group or compete to see who completes the task first. The next stop was mining for gems. The gift shop sells bags of dirt guaranteed to have at least a certain number of gemstones. Located just outside along the railings are sieves and flowing water. My daughter found at least 20 gems, and we were able to clean and catalog them using the chart included with the purchased zip-lock bag.
There is also a zip line and a ropes course available for more fun. We had a few more minutes until they called our group and despite having a lovely shaded table to wait at we wandered around taking pictures of the blooming Texas bluebonnets. Finally, it was time. Our guide led us down through the doors and into the darkness. The vastness of caverns always amazes me. It’s so quiet, and one can hear the drips of water forming structures. Each room had a different feel, and while we took the short tour, we were told how this cave system goes on and on some not yet explored. We chose not to do the Animal safari located next door and instead, headed back to town.
Of course, we were starving yet again, and I had a plan. More tacos. Yes! Henry’s puffy tacos were delicious. The staff was friendly and answered my questions about the process and gave me advice on selecting the tastiest options. Tonight’s adventure was the DoSeum. A hands-on children’s museum open roughly 9a-6p. We made wax molds, created earthquakes, and played with musical instruments, but our favorite was the spy exhibit. There are two stories and an outdoor play area. They also have one free night each month.
Wax molds
I see you
Puffy tacos
One would think exhaustion would be full on at this point, but nope, we had some trails to explore nearby before heading to Dough Pizzeria for dinner.
We just couldn’t end the day without another visit to the Riverwalk. This time by boat. We parked about half a mile to the boat launches and used the tickets we had previously purchased at Rosario’s along with dinner. When we arrived, we were quickly boarded, and away we went with our knowledgeable guide. We made our way down the various paths created by the river from the colorful umbrella lined restaurant areas, to the lock bridge, to the different architecture and sculptures. An easy and entertaining way to see more of the city. Before turning in for the night, it was necessary to try one last treat. Lick Ice cream! Tequila lime pie for me. My baby girl chose a lemon poppy seed, and we shared it. Hubby chose Goat cheese, honey, and thyme. Each delicious in their own way.
Day Five
Our final day in San Antonio and we had a special surprise in store for our daughter. While we live in Florida and we go to the various theme parks a lot, we just knew she would love a day at Sea World. We arrived early, and it wasn’t crowded, so we went straight to breakfast in the park. We had purchased the meal plan, and it includes unlimited drinks and a meal every hour. You read that right, every hour. I can’t imagine why you’d eat that often, but the drink package and three meals made this a no brainer. Even though it wasn’t overly hot, we still drank a bunch of bottled waters. From the Steel Eel ride to the shows, this park is noticeably smaller than the one in Orlando, but we were able to spend a good long day taking it all in any way.
Day Six
Heading home. We sadly locked the door behind us and left our home for the last several days. We had two last stops recommended by my sister in law who was raised in San Antonio… Buc-ee’s truck stop and Rudy’s BBQ. Yes, this place is a chain, yes, you need to go anyway. Drive-thru smoked meat breakfast burritos that I wish we hadn’t saved for the last day so I could’ve made this a repeat. We bought the brisket, sausage link (think smoked not breakfast sausage) and the potato which also had egg. It was a toss-up, but I think the potato was the winner and that’s coming from a couple of meat lovers. Buc-ee’s is a massive truck stop with several locations in Texas and along I-10. It makes for a great place to grab a quick bite to eat, fuel up, and stretch your legs. Make sure to bring plenty of souvenirs home when you stop. My husband wishes he’d bought more of the pepper jelly.
Day 7
We intentionally split our travel days with an overnight in the French Quarter New Orleans. We arrived late and woke early to drive home, so this was a quick pit stop. Dinner was just down the road and of course, I had to have the muffuletta. The next morning was another touristy 6 miles running along the mostly quiet streets. If you’ve never been to the French Quarter you may not realize, the smells aren’t the most pleasant even in daylight. This notwithstanding, Jackson Square and the waterfront at sunrise are a sight. Instead of breakfast at Cafe Du Monde for the infamous beignets, we stayed closer to our hotel at the 2 Chicks Cafe and had a delicious french toast rolled in corn flakes. The added crunch cranked up the wow factor, and the chicory coffee was a much-needed jolt to start the day.
Eating Around 