Key Largo NightLife! An Evening Guide to the Florida Keys

 Key Largo NightLife! An Evening Guide to the Florida Keys

Key Largo is famous for everything you can do here during the day. You can sail, swim, snorkel, hike, eat, and visit historical sites. Simply taking in all the natural beauty will take time, and there’s always something else to do next. But the daytime playtime isn’t all we have to offer. There’s plenty more to do once the sun goes down.

The nightlife in Key Largo offers a whole new playground, with many places to dance and enjoy the ocean-side vibe. If you’re interested in going out after hours, here is a sample of the places to check out in Key Largo.

WHAT TO DO AT NIGHT IN KEY LARGO 

The fun in Key Largo is just getting started when the sun goes down. If you’re just getting going when other people are heading to bed, here are a few places to see.

RESTAURANTS YOU SHOULD TRY AT NIGHT IN KEY LARGO

The Fish House

The Fish House is a beloved local institution renowned for its fresh seafood and breathtaking waterfront views. Nestled amidst lush tropical foliage, this charming restaurant offers a casual yet upscale dining experience focusing on sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. From succulent grilled fish to delectable seafood platters, The Fish House consistently delivers mouthwatering dishes that capture the essence of the Florida Keys.

Lazy Lobster Seafood Restaurant

The Lazy Lobster Seafood Restaurant is a casual and family-friendly seafood restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and delicious fresh catches. Known for its friendly staff and affordable prices, Lazy the Lobster is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. Enjoy a variety of seafood dishes, including lobster, shrimp, and fish, all prepared with a simple yet flavorful approach that highlights the natural tastes of the ingredients.

C&C Wood Fire Eats

C&C Wood Fire Eats is a casual and inviting eatery specializing in delicious wood-fired cuisine. With a menu featuring juicy burgers, flavorful pizzas, and other grilled delights, C&C offers a satisfying and satisfying dining experience. The restaurant’s cozy atmosphere and friendly service make it a great spot to enjoy a meal with friends and family.

Hobo’s Cafe

Hobo’s Cafe is a charming and eclectic eatery known for its laid-back atmosphere and delicious breakfast and lunch options. With a menu featuring classic American dishes like pancakes, omelets, and burgers, Hobo’s Cafe offers a satisfying and affordable dining experience. The restaurant’s friendly staff and casual ambiance make it a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.

Blonde Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory

The Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory is a must-visit destination for those with a sweet tooth. This charming bakery specializes in delicious key lime pies made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From classic to creative variations, the Blonde Giraffe offers a variety of mouthwatering flavors that will satisfy any craving. In addition to their pies, the bakery also serves other sweet treats, such as cookies and cupcakes.

OTHER PLACES TO CHECK OUT AT NIGHT IN KEY LARGO

Aqua Bar and Nightclub

You can dance late into the night at this busy establishment. It has an informal vibe but high-energy fun. Aqua has a range of shows and parties to keep things fresh, including their popular drag shows. To keep you going through the night, you can choose from a great selection of food at the bar, even a poké bowl.

Take a Sunset Cruise

It’s not a bar, but a sunset cruise may be the perfect start to an evening of a lifetime. Some cruises include dinner, live music, and even dancing, all as the sun sinks low and the water glitters with sunset colors. You can make a sunset cruise your first stop on an evening of fun or your entire night’s plan, but it’s certainly an unforgettable way to experience the beauty of Key Largo.

COME VISIT KEY LARGO TODAY!

Key Largo has you covered whether you’re more interested in playing all day or partying all night. At Playa Largo Ocean Residences, we offer beautiful homes where you can relax as you prepare for your next activity. We love Key Largo, and we think you’ll love it too. Come see everything this remarkable region offers–even after the sun goes down!

Travel Options to Key West, FL: How To Get to Key West

Updated: August 30, 2024

What is the Best Way to Get to Key West, FL?

If you’re longing to leave ordinary life behind and bask in the warmth of a tropical vacation, then Key West is calling your name. This beautiful island is the perfect place to de-stress and reset. But what’s the best way to travel here? Don’t worry; although Key West feels like another world, getting here from where you are is not hard.

At Playa Largo Ocean Residences, we would love to welcome you to this tropical paradise. Let us start by telling you the best ways to travel here. 

Getting To Key West By Land

If you’re starting your journey in Florida and love a scenic drive, this is a great time to hit the open road. The drive from Miami is roughly three hours long, while you’ll spend about four hours behind the wheel if you’re coming from Fort Lauderdale. Along the way, you’ll pass some gorgeous scenery, including the coastal portion of the Everglades. You’ll also cross several long bridges that span cerulean expanses of water.

The Florida Turnpike and the Overseas Highway

The most direct route to the Keys starts on the Florida Turnpike. This is a toll road, but you won’t have to stop at a booth to pay tolls. They’ll be automatically charged using your license plate number. If you’re driving a rental car, check with the rental company about how they handle tolls. 

At the end of the Turnpike, you’ll take US 1 and the Overseas Highway. Follow the posted speed limits because local law enforcement keeps looking for speeders. Because Key West is the farthest island to the west, the trip will take you past the other islands, so enjoy all the gorgeous coastal scenery along the way. You know you’re there when you arrive at mile marker 0 and the beauty of Key West.

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Getting to Key West by Sea

If you’d rather arrive at the island by sea, you have several options. You can catch a high-speed passenger ferry from Fort Myers. The trip takes three and a half hours, and you will travel comfortably. You can spend that time in the air-conditioned interior or try out the sun deck to take in the scenery and breathe in the sea air. 

You can sail to Key West alone if you’re an experienced boater. You can approach from the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. Be sure to make a reservation at a local marina before you arrive. 

Getting To Key West By Air

It may feel like you’re leaving the world behind when you arrive at Key West, but don’t worry – you still have easy access to it all by plane. Several airlines offer nonstop flights to Key West International Airport. Check with your preferred carrier, but here are some convenient options for nonstop flights.

Airlines that Fly to Key West

  • Delta Airlines – Atlanta and New York La Guardia
  • United Airlines – Chicago and Newark
  • American Airlines – Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, and Washington DC
  • Silver Airways – Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Orlando

Once you land, several options get you where you’re going, including shuttles, taxis, ferry service, car rentals, bike rentals, and more. No matter what transportation you choose, the island isn’t very big, so it won’t take long to get there.

Interested in visiting Key West? Let Playa Largo Ocean Residences help you plan your vacation!

If you’re ready to come enjoy the play land of Key West, you owe it to yourself to look at our vacation rentals at Playa Largo Ocean Residences. We have beautiful residences to give you the feel of Old Florida with the comforts of home. Look at the packages we have available and book your vacation home today!

Image Credit: lunamarina / Shutterstock

Ernest Hemingway’s Home, Museum, & 6 Toed Cats in Key West

Updated: August 29, 2024

Looking for something unique to do during your Florida Keys vacation? Check out the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. It might seem strange, but you don’t need to be a fan of literature to appreciate the Hemingway House in Key West or, more to the point, the Hemingway House cats.

It’s one of several attractions within striking distance of our vacation rentals at Playa Largo Ocean Residences. Contact us to find out more or book one of our great rentals, which are ideal for larger families or groups.

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What is the Hemingway House?

Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his most famous books while living in Key West, so if you feel inspired while here, you are in the best company. Hemingway built a house here, and legend has it he chose a plot near the lighthouse so it would guide him home at night…after, you know, spending time in one of the local bars. His favorite was Sloppy Joe’s Bar, which is still open today, and you can eat there…or copy Hemingway…if you want.

When he died in 1961, the house was transformed into a museum. You can explore the beautiful grounds and then tour the house, where you will see the space where Hemingway worked. The home had an in-ground pool, a remarkable luxury at the time….although, before that, that site was a boxing ring where he took on local amateurs.

What’s with the Hemingway House Cats?

Most people don’t come here to see the house or even that swimming pool. In the 1930s, a passing sea captain gave Hemingway a surplus kitten, a cat he named Snow White.

What is a Polydactyl Cat? Hemingways’ Famous 6 Toed Cats

Snow White wasn’t an ordinary cat, though. She had six toes! This is a genetic mutation known as polydactyly. (In fact, polydactyl cats have been known to have as many as nine digits on a paw, but six is more normal). The trait bred to some of her kittens, and the Ernest Hemingway House is now home to 60 cats, about half of whom have the extra toes. (The other half are just as cute, though).

All of these Hemingway Cats are named after famous people. Some of them look rather as if they’re wearing mittens. Some of the cats are known to be descendants of Snow White, and most are likely related…Key West is not a big island.

The anomaly doesn’t cause any issues for the Hemingway cats with six toes (if it does, the extra digits may be removed). They may have an advantage in balancing, climbing, and catching prey. (Maybe they had a particular advantage on the moving deck of a ship, hence Snow White’s ship-bound relatives).

The cats have the run of the museum…and it’s best to remember it’s their home. Visitors are asked not to pick up the Key West author’s cats (remember they have extra claws), but you can pet them if they let you.

Things to Know about the Hemingway Museum

The museum is open for walk-ins from 9 am to 5 pm, with tours every 15 minutes, starting at 9:30 am. The 20 to 30-minute tour is included in your admission. Please don’t use flash photography at any time (it annoys the cats).

The museum is located at 907 Whitehead Street on Key West and is about a 2-hour drive from our vacation rentals…an amazing drive through the Keys. There are also bus tours available.

You can book the Hemingway Home Evening Writing Experience Monday through Thursday for the aspiring writer with money to spare. You and one guest get the tour and then access to the house, gardens, and Hemingway’s studio. Maybe you’ll be inspired to create your next masterpiece…if the Hemingway House cats will let you!

If you are interested in a trip to the Florida Keys, contact us today to learn more!

Our vacation homes have 3 or 4 bedrooms, perfect for families or groups. You can access the Ocean’s Edge Clubhouse with its pool, sun deck, and lounge. We also offer great packages, including a seaplane tour to Key West or a chef experience. Contact us to find out more.

Image Credit: Mathew Risley / Shutterstock

The Best Kinds of Fish to Eat Native to the Florida Keys?

Fresh seafood is one of the best things about being near the ocean. When your fish has been swimming past you just a few hours ago, the flavor is better than anything you’ll ever get inland. In the Florida Keys, we have a wealth of native fish to enjoy. Here’s a look at some of the delicious fish you can sample while you’re here.

WHAT FISH ARE NATIVE TO THE FLORIDA KEYS?

With the ocean all around, it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of seafood to indulge in. Florida is home to diverse wildlife, and the fish are no exception. Here are some of the fish that are native to the region.

Grouper

This category includes several varieties of grouper, including red, black, scamp, and gag. Grouper generally has firm flesh with large flakes and is delicately flavored.

Mahi Mahi

This tasty white fish is also known as Dorado or Dolphin fish (don’t worry, this isn’t the loveable ocean mammal). The flavor is mild and faintly sweet.

Wahoo

A lean, firm, flaky fish with excellent flavor.

Red Snapper

Kids often enjoy Snapper because it doesn’t have a “fishy” flavor. It has a delicate, almost nutty taste.

Hogfish

A beloved fish in Florida, hogfish isn’t well known elsewhere, but it’s simply delicious. The flavor is delicate and adaptable to many dishes. 

Triple Tail

It has a sweet, mild flavor and firm, flaky flesh. Some diners even prefer the taste of Triple Tail to the popular Grouper. 

WHAT FISH ARE THE TASTIEST?

Ultimately, the best seafood is the freshest, so it’s always a good idea to opt for a native fish (with one exception– we’ll get to that in a minute). 

You should choose the fish with the flavor profile you prefer. Do you like a mild, flaky fish? Stick with Mahi Mahi, Grouper, or Red Snapper. If you’re more adventurous, try Wahoo, Triple Tail, or Florida’s beloved Hogfish. 

One option that we recommend that isn’t native to Florida is Lionfish. It’s found in Florida waters, so you can still have it fresh from the sea. The flesh is flaky and somewhat firm, with a buttery flavor. Lionfish is an invasive species, so people are encouraged to dine on it as much as possible to help keep the population in check. It’s an opportunity to treat yourself to a delicious fish dinner and simultaneously help out beautiful Florida Keys. 

WHAT ARE SOME MEALS THAT ARE SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA KEYS?

The unique blend of cultures in the Florida Keys has produced cuisines that make the most of local fish. You can tuck into Mahi Mahi tacos, a mouth-watering take on the popular street food. Grilled, blackened, or battered fillets are tucked in a tortilla, along with your favorite salsa and toppings. 

Restaurants often serve pan-seared fillets with a wealth of flavorful additions, from bright citrus notes to earthy mushrooms. Fish also makes a delicious addition to chowders and fritters. 

At Playa Largo Ocean Residences, we have four restaurants on the resort property to help you enjoy the Florida bounty of seafood. Try Sol by the Sea for classic seafood meals or Las Olas Ceviche Bar to indulge in ceviche, tapas, and sushi. La Marea marries local flavors with Mediterranean cuisine. Try Sand Bar, which specializes in drinks and tempting small bites, for a lighter nibble. 

COME VISIT THE FLORIDA KEYS TODAY!

Treat yourself to a getaway that will delight the senses! The Florida Keys offers so much to explore, including the bountiful seafood. At Playa Largo Ocean Residences, we provide a home-away-from-home experience so you can relax and play. Come see us soon!

Image Credit: Tatjana Baibakova / Shutterstock

Scuba Diving at Christ of the Abyss! Key Scuba Diving

Are you looking for an unforgettable scuba diving experience in the Florida Keys? Look no further than the iconic Christ of the Abyss site! Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, the underwater adventure here promises to be breathtaking and memorable. Experience the thrill of discovering vibrant coral reefs, encountering exotic marine life, and swimming alongside the awe-inspiring Christ of the Abyss statue. Join us as we explore the depths of Key Largo and uncover the wonders that await beneath the waves.

Information on Scuba Diving

Scuba diving offers a unique way to explore underwater, providing an up-close look at marine life and submerged landmarks. The warm waters and excellent visibility make for ideal diving conditions year-round in the Florida Keys. Key Largo, in particular, is called the Dive Capital of the World and is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine ecosystems.

Key Largo offers plenty of beginner-friendly options for those new to scuba diving. Guided tours and lessons are readily available, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all skill levels. Certified instructors will guide you through the basics, from handling equipment to underwater navigation, making it easy for first-timers to get started.

More experienced divers can use advanced dive sites and unique underwater features. The Christ of the Abyss is a must-see for any diver visiting the Florida Keys, offering a serene and spiritual diving experience.

What is the Christ of the Abyss?

The Christ of the Abyss is a famous underwater statue in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Key Largo. This 8.5-foot-tall bronze statue of Jesus Christ stands in about 25 feet of water and is one of the most photographed underwater sites in the world. Also known as the “Christ of the Deep” or the “Underwater Jesus Statue,” this magnificent sculpture was placed underwater in 1965 and has since become an iconic dive site.

The statue is a replica of the original Christ of the Abyss located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy. It depicts Christ offering a benediction of peace, with his head and hands raised towards the surface.

Diving at the Christ of the Abyss is not just about seeing the statue itself; the surrounding area is teeming with colorful corals, tropical fish, and other marine creatures. Over the years, marine life has made its home around the statue, adding to the site’s allure and creating a beautiful, living reef around the sculpture. 

The site’s shallow depth makes it accessible to divers of all levels, and even snorkelers can enjoy the view from above, making it one of the most popular diving sites. 

Come experience Scuba Diving in the Flordia Keys

Scuba diving at Christ of the Abyss is more than just a dive; it’s an experience that combines natural beauty, historical significance, and underwater adventure. Whether you’re an experienced diver or a newcomer eager to explore, the Florida Keys offer an unparalleled diving destination. Join us at Playa Largo Ocean Residences, which offers the perfect base for local diving adventures in the Florida Keys.

You’ll find an unforgettable journey beneath the waves and discover why scuba diving in Florida is a must-try adventure. Our luxurious atmosphere provides a relaxing retreat after a day of exploring the underwater world. Located conveniently close to some of the best dive sites in Key Largo, including the Christ of the Abyss, our resort ensures easy access to unforgettable scuba diving experiences.

Image Credit: Travelbug84 / Shutterstock

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