February 20th, 2012
Me? A Tourist? In Key West, an Overview of the City with Old Town Trolley Tours, Sightseeing, Key West, Florida
When I was younger you would not catch me in a trolley tour or bus tour through any city. Not, me. I would probably have preferred to remain ignorant, or be lost. Not anymore.
I only had 2 nights and almost 3 days in Key West. So, while the only sunny day showed its face and the rest of my party decided to chill on a hammock under the palm trees, I took off from the Casa Marina on the Old Town Trolley.
At first I wanted to tour on the Conch Train, but then I found out through my Concierge, Stephanie, at Casa Marina, that the Old Town Trolley stopped right at Casa Marina. No brainer, right?
I hopped into the trolley. Comfortable seats and a driver full of anecdotes (too many) about Key West. Actually, Casa Marina was one of the points of interest if you are taking any Key West tours. It was the vision of Mr. Flagler who did not even live to see the construction started and finished in 1921. If you want to see my post on Casa Marina just click on the month of January 2012 and scroll down to the 11th.
The prettiest side of Casa Marina is the back towards the water.
Old Town Trolley Tours of Key West offer a 90 minute tour narrated by an expert guide; not a recorder. Get off at any of their stops and then reboard one of the trolleys to continue with the tour. You can do that for 2 days. Basically, you can tour at your own pace. Tel. 305-296-6688. Website? www.trolleytours.com. Special rates for Military and Seniors. Kids 12 and under ride free.
Going through the Sourthernmost point I found over 50 people lined up to have a picture taken on that famous buoy which stands at the furthest south tip of Key West. A plaque with names of the brave Cubans who have drown trying to get to America is on one side.
On that Southernmost point everything is Southernmost; hotels, inns, eateries.
From the tour trolley we went by The Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House. It was built in 1891. It has been a post office, a court house and a government center when wrecking made Key West the richest city, per capita, in the U.S. By the 1930s, Key West was bankrupt. After a $9 million restoration, it has been brought back to its former glory. More info? check http://www.kwahs.com/customhouse.htm.
I wish I had been able to go inside some of these places, including the Key West Lighthouse. It was built in 1847 and it is one of Florida’s finest historical sites. The tower was at one point 46 feet high, but was then extended to 86 feet in 1894. You can climb to the observation decks if you feel like climbing 88 iron steps.
This particular light station was built after the 1846 hurricane, which destroyed the original 1825 tower on the coast. It is the 15th oldest surviving lighthouse in the country.
Since 1998 it has been on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark; same category as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. More info? Visit http://www.kwahs.com/lighthouse.htm.
Down by the Conch Marina we found the Schooner Western Union. This was the last tall ship assembled in Key West. It is a last surviving example of a traditional American coasting schooner. At present, it is a museum but it also takes off for sunset cruises. If you would like to read more about it or see what they are offering, please visit http://www.schoonerwesternunion.org/key-west/boat-history.htm.
The schooner was made out of mahogany and yellow pine. For 35 years, it served as a cable vessel for the Western Union Telegraph Co., repairing and maintaining undersea telegraph cable throughout Key West, Cuba and the Caribbean.
It is 130 feet long and considered by historians to be the world’s only surviving sailing cable ship.
The birthplace of Pan Am was Key West. In the 1950s it would have cost $9 to go to Cuba.
Throughout Key West you will find the touristic shops; we have them too, here in Rehoboth Beach, along with tee-shirts shops, as well.
The above was just a sample; did not even have time to take a picture of the Hemingway House. There was a line to get in.
I recommend the tour greatly, it showed the highlights with the ability to get on or off, if so desired.
Note: Info. for this post was taken from the driver and websites.
Have a good one!!
Tags: Casa Marina, Custom House Museum, Florida, Key West, Light House in Key West, Old Town Trolley Tours, Pan Am in Key West, seeing Key West, Sightseeing in Key West, South Florida, Southern Most Point, The Keys, Things to do at the beach, Touring Key West, Trolley Tours in Key West, Western Union Schooner, What to do at the beaches
