Hi there! It’s TootsieRoo here! This year, me and the other Roo’s visited the Florida Keys. Today I’m going to tell you where to go and where to steer clear from. Let’s get to it!
~Location~
Since we have an R.V., we stayed at Fiesta Key R.V. Resort. 
If you don’t have a R.V., that’s great too. There are many pretty hotels in the area, but they’re quite expensive for what they are worth. What I love about having a campsite near the beach is the breeze. It perfectly evens out the intense heat; although, it might take some adjusting to, if you are used to colder temperatures. The average temperature is around 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit which is reeeeeeeeally hot, especially considering that I’ve lived in South Florida, trucking through temperatures like 80 degrees Fahrenheit! In fact, I’ve never ever had a day with snow in my 11 years that I’ve lived in Florida! It’s insane! 
~Breakfast~
Anyway…food! You can’t forget about food. Let’s start in order: Breakfast. Number one breakfast place in the Keys: Midway Cafe! OMG!!!! 
The food is soooooo good! I highly recommend the Holy Cow beef sandwich. It’s actually in the lunch menu, but, it’s still a delicious breakfast meal! The kids plate is very good too, if your a kid, or even an adult. It includes one buttermilk pancake (one of the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten),one small cup of fresh fruit, a few slices of bacon, and one warm scrambled egg. They also have delicious waffles! They come with cream, strawberries, and syrup. They also have coffee, hot or cold, tea, also hot or cold, smoothies, and other refreshing beverages. Here is their menu.
~Lunch~
For lunch, chill out with the native chickens at Bo’s Fish Wagon (DON’T MESS WITH THE CHICKENS!) A great lunch place to go if you’re in the area. I’ve never been a fan of flounder but WOW, they season it so well. I was very impressed. They also have incredible conch (pronounced konk) fritters (they have a good amount of spice so they might be too spicy for young kids; I’m 11 and I was surprised but undeterred.) Note for responsible adults 21 years of age or older: They do not sell alcohol. They have multiple brands of soda, bottled water, and more. The staff kindly informed us about a bar nearby and we picked up drinks appropriate for each Roo’s age there. Overall we were very happy. We highly recommend Bo’s Fish Wagon.
~Dinner~
For dinner, we picked up some subs from The Trading Post that were fabled to be the best subs in the Keys, even better than Publix subs (Publix subs are the best subs me and the other Roo’s have ever eaten)! We were a bit disappointed. Here are the reasons why we wouldn’t buy them again. They might not apply, depending on your personal preferences:
- The subs were very dry; hardly any mayonnaise, vinegar, or oil.
- Almost no greens; no spinach, lettuce, or kale.
- Nearly no tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, or any veggies.
- They did not have multi-grain bread; unlike Publix. (We settled for whole wheat.)
However, the shop itself was very welcoming and friendly. Along with the subs, there was also The Key Lime Pie Lady pies on sale! Also, like the subs, these pies were the best pies ever, according to outside reviews. Actually, this time, they weren’t half bad. Probably not the best key lime pies I’ll ever eat but overall great! Really sweet though, according to MamaRoo. The Key Lime Pie Lady also sells Key Lime Pie ice cream pops! Sooooooo goooood! I believe the pops are about $7. Overall good experience with The Trading Post, we might go back again if we have time next trip.
~Don’t Waste $ On These Things~
Ok now for the DON’T DO IT’S! 
- DON’T waste money on Dog Bar: Key West’s Key Lime Pie! The top was squished as if it had been in a box from the store. It also tasted stale and old. The Key Lime Pie Lady was better.
2. Just DON’T buy little knick knacks at random thrift stores. For example: the SuperheRoo really wanted a little cheap pirate treasure box with a plastic coin, and MamaRoo said yes, but, she conducted a month long experiment and it had been over a month and the SuperheRoo completely forgotten about the box. This shows that just because you want something in the moment, it doesn’t mean you shoud have it right away. Plus if you do it a lot, the money really adds up.
3. DON’T buy lobster mac & cheese! Unless you want to take a BIG risk, just don’t. Almost 100% of the time they are waaaay to creamy and rich. Chances are, you’ll just have a few bites before it becomes too flavorful to bear. Unless you’re really lucky, it’ll always be too rich. But, all to their own!
~Must Visit Landmarks~
- The Southernmost Point: Take a pic at the southernmost place in the United States. Note: On an average summer day, wait time is about 20 minutes. No fees.
- Duval Street: Shop, dine, and enjoy all the things that this famous street has to offer. No fees, unless you’re going to buy something.
- Fort Zachary Taylor: This park is the southernmost state park in the continental United States. It boasts the largest collection of Civil War military equipment in the world.
Fees for Fort Zachary Taylor:
- $7 per vehicle (up to eight people).
- $4.50 single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle.
- $2.50 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
- Mallory Square: Relax and watch the sunset at the edge of the Keys. No fees.
- Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden: Take a 3D history lesson while you gaze at these memorable historic figures. No fees.
~Final Words~
Thanks so much for reading this article, it means a lot! You’ll be hearing more from me soon about the Key West Overseas Highway and its history. Note: Don’t be self-conscious about looking like a tourist. Don’t be afraid to use Siri to get around or be embarrassed about taking the tour trains. Trust me, nearly all the people in the Keys are tourists; you’re not alone.
Our next stop is for you to guess! Here’s a clue: This state is the home of the third largest aquarium in the world! If you know the answer, type it in the comments below.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this article or pretty much anything else about the Keys & more, contact us @themomwonderer on Instagram. Don’t forget to like and follow! 🙂
Thank you again and TootsieRoo out! ✌️