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What To Bring

Well…first off… think less and loose. Key West IS a tropical destination and heavier fabrics will usually be discarded in favor of breezy cotton pants and shorts. Island patterns, whether brought or bought go with everything you wear down here. Key West is extremely laid back regarding attire. “ Island Formal” demands nothing more than tropical print shirt and cotton pants for men, and a colorful shift or sundress for women. Daytime attire ranges from bathing suit cover-ups to tee shirts and cut-offs. Sandals or thongs are “required” wear, but don’t forget your boat shoes as they are required on our boats. Boat shoes are described as any that do not leave marks on the deck.

The following list may help you with packing but don’t forget to put it all in a crushable bag that can be stowed away on board
Cloths, swim suit, boat shoes, hat, snorkel gear, sun screen, camera, fishing gear, headache remedy if you intend to crawl Duval, etc.
Don’t forget, Key West is a popular tourist destination and stocks most anything you can’t live without.

Local Information
Of course, the most important information is that Key West never gets cold like the rest of the country. In fact, it’s a frost-free zone even in the winter. Our idea of chilly happens when we throw a pair of pants over our swim suit instead of shorts. Mean average temperatures range from 69 degrees to 82 degrees. If you come in the winter, throw in a light jacket or sweater, just in case……in the summer, perhaps more sunscreen and a big brim hat

Shopping here could be better than where you live. We have three large grocery stores for provisioning (Publix, Albertson’s and Winn-Dixie) and don’t forget Florida has beer and wine in most grocery stores. National chains for banking, pharmacies, and miscellaneous shopping abound, but check out Duvall Street for all island wear and souvenirs.

Water temperature ranges from the low 70’s in the winter to a 95 degree “ bathtub” in the summer. The diving and the jet ski’s are still great fun in the winter…just bring or rent an exposure suit.

Fishing for specific fish, and Lobstering are done in season and require licenses. Frankly, it’s cheap for tourists and broadens the horizons of what you can do. A fishing pole is happily provided (with security deposit) if you fancy catching the nights dinner. You supply your own tackle and bait.

Getting around the island is easy. Taxi’s abound and there’s an excellent local bus system. Of course, the airport has the usually complement of rental car agencies. Most tourists rent scooters or bicycles, at least for a day, to take in the local flavor. For those of you driving here, free parking is provided at the marina where we keep our boats.