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Biking Mile 0: A guide on how to spend a day enjoying the life of Key West not just the sights.
Home to the Southern Most Point, the Ernest Hemingway House, and the Truman Annex Key West is a great place to take in a bit of history while strolling quaint tree-lined streets. With so many things to see and do sometimes people for get to take a day to just enjoy the island. Here’s The times are rough depending on where you want to spend your time so I’ve included my own abbreviation to denote the time: “IT,” meaning island time.
9:00 am: Rise and Shine
To start off the day, there are many choices of breakfast places, but one that I truly recommend is Croissants de France on Duval Street between Olivia and Petronia. This spot offers the best of both breakfast worlds: on the porch guests are able to purchase their own breakfast pastry and leisurely read the paper and in the garden diners can feast at waited tables on breakfast basics with a French flair.
ROUTE: Head west on Olivia Street; at Whitehead Street take a left. Biking along Whitehead Street you will see the Lighthouse and Hemingway House. At Truman Avenue take a right.
10:00 I.T.: I’m just wild about Harry!
After a couple of blocks Truman Avenue will come to a large gate – The Truman Annex. As you bike down the main road in the Truman Annex you will come across The Little White House. This was once the Winter White House from 1946 to 1952. From then it continued to be used by Presidents, but now houses a museum with tours available on a daily bases. For those looking for adventure or those who are curious bike around the Annex, which is now full of luxury vacation homes, and you may come across the dock that is now used by the Coast Guard and Eco Discovery Key West.
ROUTE: Go out the way you came into the Annex and take a right on Whitehead Street. Along the way down you will pass by the Southern Most Point. At Duval take a right.
11:30 it: Made in the Shade
Ready for a break? The South Beach at the end of Duval is a lovely little cove with a great restaurant, superb beach service, and sugar sand. For just five bucks you can rent a chair for the entire day or pop into their restaurant to lounge in the shade. Either way, it’s a great place to relax. Remember the sun is high in the sky now, and probably hot – be safe and lounge in the shade for a bit.
ROUTE: Head north on Duval – well at this point there really is only one way to go so if you’re in water you’ve gone the wrong way … Take your time going up Duval. Check out the mojitos at Willie T’s, the seafood at DJs Clam Shack, and all of the quirky shops. Remember at Greene Street to take a right.
Happy Hour pm: Dockside Dalliance
Now it’s time to dismount at the A & B Marina here you will find numerous restaurants and water activities. Take time here to plan tomorrow’s activity or tonight’s dinner. But enough with all of the planning! For a true taste of Key West head to Schooner Warf where the locals hang out and time just seems to drift away. Their round-the-clock live music is just nice to listen to and have fun if you want.
ROUTE: Head west on Greene St. – again there’s only one way to go. Isn’t island living great?! At the end of Greene Street take a right and then your first left.
Sunset: Time to celebrate!
Each night Key West celebrates the sunset. Street performers and artists from all over congregate at Mallory Square to herald in the night. I suggest getting there about a half hour to an hour before the sunset to take it all in. It’s a lot of fun and you never know what you’re going to see.
Post & photos by Martha Datlen, from a 2011 spring break weekend in Key West
