Key West Photoblog

Could You Live in Key West?

Caty — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:52:33 +0000

There are certain places in the United States that are commonly recommended as vacation destinations, but not often discussed as targets for homeowners. For example, North Carolina’s Outer Banks are known as fantastic locations for vacations and vacation homes, but very few people actually live there year round; similarly, we rarely consider what life is like for permanent residents of Hawaii, but instead think of the island only as a place for weddings and summer vacations. Unfortunately, thinking this way can limit your options as you consider new places to live – for example, if you have ever considered living in Key West, Florida, you may have begun to thought about it as only a vacation spot. Is this really the case, however? Yes and no.

One of the reasons that Key West is a popular destination to begin with is that it does have a rather tropical element that very few other places that can count themselves as part of the United States have. In fact, some even refer to Key West as the American branch of the Caribbean, and the distinction is not entirely inaccurate. Taking some time off at Key West can certainly feel more like an island getaway. However, because of this tropical atmosphere, as well as the fact that real estate and living costs on Key West tend to be exorbitantly expensive, most people never really consider this location for permanent living. In actuality, however, the people who do live there tend to manage just fine, and figure out ways to enjoy a vacation-like setting for the whole year, every year!

The simple fact about living in Key West is that its charms and conveniences allow you to make certain sacrifices with relative ease. For example, many residents of Key West trade the beautiful setting for a slightly smaller home than they may be able to afford elsewhere in the United States. Additionally, many people forego the expenses of having cars, instead preferring to rely on bikes, scooters, etc., which tend to be sufficient for getting around in Key West. Making little changes like this can help to negate the high real estate and living costs of Key West, and can therefore make living there manageable.

Once you figure out whether or not you are prepared and able to make the necessary sacrifices, you will discover that Key West is an extremely charming area in which to live. Not only are there tropical beach settings, but “Old Town” in Key West is known as a very unique and historical residential town area complete with a number of preserved and restored houses that have been there quite some time. The town features a unique blend of Caribbean atmosphere and American history, and can ultimately be a very nice place to settle.

- Samantha Cohen is an online writer for HomeSecuritySystem.com, and has contributed to multiple sites in the fields of home improvement, family protection, and real estate.

Living the Good Life in Key West

Caty — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:10:31 +0000

No matter how many visitors to this island, and no matter how many daily flights come into Key West International Airport, Key West remains an island that’s far removed from the mainland, way out in the middle of the ocean between Cuba and Florida. Taking a Key West vacation is a dream, but choosing to live here is entirely different. Those relocating here leave behind family, in many cases, but in any case communications are important for keeping in touch with friends & family on the mainland and beyond.

About 20,000 people live here year round, and to stay connected in the modern world they increasingly rely on high quality Comcast Cable TV, High Speed Internet and Digital Voice Bundles in Florida. Comcast in Florida provides reasonably priced bundles to keep everyone in touch, up to date, and fully entertained. By bundling communications services, it’s all taken care of in one package so there’s more time to enjoy all that Key West has to offer.

Comcast Cable TV in Florida offers lots of Digital channels and if you have DVR there’s no need to watch commercials. Some are now in High Definition. Digital Cable also offers the ability to pause and rewind your shows, and of course to watch them whenever you want. In Key West that’s important so you can tailor your life around diving, fishing, snorkeling, kiteboarding or whatever your passion.

Weather is all important to islanders. Bad weather can mean everything shuts down for a while until storms pass. Bad weather can also mean outages in communications services. Comcast Cable in Florida is better in these situations because, unlike satellite TV, service won’t be interrupted because of bad weather the way satellite TV can be.

Not only are the TV, Internet and Voice bundles a great deal, but they are also very easy to have installed. Most homes in Key West are now wired for cable TV so when Comcast comes to set you up, it’s just a matter of pluggin in a receiver to wires that are already in place.

And for the Digital Voice part of the package, you get unlimited calling, both local and nationwide and it’s super economical. Definitely a plus when it comes to staying in touch with your friends and family who couldn’t make the move to paradise.

Coral Is King

Caty — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:08:48 +0000

I love Key West for all sorts of reasons, but what drew me here and what keeps me on the Rock is the coral reef in our waters. The coral in Key West is what makes Key West special, unlike any other place in the United States. Where else do you find living coral reef only six miles from shore? North Carolina has rocks with a marine ecosystem living around them and perhaps there are bits of coral on the rocks. But it’s not a coral reef system like ours, and plus it’s twenty miles out with almost constant high winds. In other words, you only get to dive a few times a year.

So for me, coral is king. Our coral reef system might not hold up to that of the Abacos but it’s pretty good nevertheless.

Best Place to Stay

Caty — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:53:43 +0000

Well most folks will agree that your accommodations make a big impact on any vacation you take. That’s especially true for Key West, where the whole town is full of gorgeous conch houses for rent. In fact, Key West is famous for the guest houses, which is what they call Bed & Breakfasts down here. Lovingly restored historical homes in Old Town or oceanfront condos with every modern amenity are all for rent.

I’ve had good luck when traveling, because I always research my trip before I go. That includes where I stay. I don’t want a cookie cutter hotel when I go on vacation. I want something unique and a place to stay that has a personal touch, maybe even the unexpected. One of my favorite trips was when I went to Arizona, last year. I was seeking a little bit of hiking therapy so I wanted to stay in the foothills in Scottsdale. We found the perfect vacation rental home nestled in the foothills just outside the city and it was perfect.

My search for Scottsdale Arizona rentals was easy, too, since so many homeowners are online these days. That’s true in Key West as well. Just because you want to stay in a private home doesn’t mean you have to resort to Craigslist. There are online booking companies that consolidate private vacation rentals to make the transaction easier for everyone involved. It worked in AZ for me and it can work in Key West for you!

Vandenberg Pics

Caty — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:44:58 +0000

Current on the Vandenberg was strong today, so for freediving it was a quick drift and that was it, all over in a minute. Here are a few pictures from today.

Another Key West Sunset

Caty — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:43:34 +0000

The view from Ocean Key Resort’s Hot Tin Roof restaurant is simply amazing. After all the windy weather we’ve had, and after the Bonnie storm scare that never actually happened but canceled boat trips anyway, a calm evening was serendipitous.

Sunset is one of the best times of day in Key West, and the Sunset Celebration is almost always on every visitor’s list of things they plan to do while on vacation in the Southernmost City. While planning a trip to Key West, also make sure to consider trip cancellation insurance. Our sunsets are gorgeous, but our weather is unpredictable. With trip cancellation insurance, you can buy a policy that covers trip cancellation, trip delay, trip interruption, missed connections, and more. There’s even an optional cancel for any reason add-on for some policies if you go through Seven Corners, Inc.

Basic policies will cover nonrefundable portions of your trip if it gets canceled, or if you incur additional expenses due to missed connections, delayed portions of your trip, and even lost baggage and more. Premium policies will let you cancel your tip and get your money back with no questions asked. Say you want to attend a surprise birthday party that you didn’t know about when you bought your travel tour tickets. If you bought the right level of trip cancellation insurance, you’ll be covered.

Travel insurance also covers you if your airline goes bankrupt before you get to complete your trip. Let’s say you book your trip a few months in advance, well the airline you plan to use may go bankrupt before you even get to fly! Other covered areas are emergency medical expenses, and even baggage delay. If your baggage arrives but not until two days after you’ve landed at your destination, you’ll have to buy a few things just to get through those first few days without your baggage. Trip insurance can cover this expense for up to $400. Now, everyone knows that you only need a swimsuit and flip flops in Key West, but even that costs money!

Hot Tin Roof

Caty — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:36:59 +0000

The views of the sunset are great from Hot Tin Roof. This is the restaurant at Ocean Key Resort, accessible from the second floor of the hotel, or from the dock at Sunset Pier. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, with the outdoor seating overlooking their newly renovated outdoor pool area.

The food is very good, with steak the best meal. The fried gorgonzola is the best reason to dine here, so scrumptious.

Sunny Vacation, New Hotels

Caty — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:39:42 +0000

As far as sunny vacations go, you can’t beat Key West. But for a different type of fun in the sun, try Tucson, Arizona. It’s even hotter in Tucson than in Key West in summertime, but as they say it’s a dry heat! Temperatures can reach 110 degrees and above in summer in Tucson but what a difference the dry desert air can make. All the same, you want your AC to be working. Most new hotels in Tucson have AC, unless they are old adobe historic places that use something called a swamp cooler, which was how they cooled places in the days before AC.

For the best experience, your hotel should have a nice view of the mountains that surround Tucson. Santa Catalina National Forest surrounds the city, with the Rincons on one side and Mt. Lemmon on the other. Hotelsand resorts that are nestled in the foothills are the best, since they offer natural vegetation like cacti, as well as the best views and proximity to hiking trails. In the spring, summer and fall months in Tucson, hiking is the best way to beat the heat, so a hotel in the foothills will ensure your stay in this desert city is not only restful but convenient as well!

Birds in Key West

Caty — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:49:43 +0000

We spend so much time in Key West looking down, underwater that is, because the marine world is so fascinating here. But when we’re stuck on land, the birds remind us that nature exists everywhere, including upwards. This guy was in the yard pecking at blossoms on this tree. I can’t identify either: all I know is that it’s a black bird on a red tree.

We live in a rental that costs way too much, but can’t seem to leave it because it’s so perfect for us. As you can see, there’s a tree or two, birds, and a little teeny yard and deck. That’s a heck of a lot for Key West. We’d love to buy it but it’s too much money. Having owned condos in the past, I just can’t get past the fact that there’s a premium for anything you buy on the island of Key West, since it is Key West after all.

My dream would be to own a few condos: one in South Beach, one in New York City, and one in Rome, Italy. There are much better deals in South Beach than in Key West, what with all the high rises that are continually going up. Key West doesn’t have high rise apartment and condo buildings. New York City condos offer a lot more to choose from as well. Not only are there high rises, there are also pre-War buildings with gorgeous condos full of great architectural details.

USS Coast Guard Cutter Ingham

Caty — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:26:56 +0000

USS Coast Guard Cutter Ingham is part of the Key West Floating Maritime Museum. It’s located at the Truman Waterfront and also includes the USS Mohawk. For a short time before its sinking, the USS Vandenberg was also docked here while it was prepared and cleaned for sinking as an artificial reef. It’s 327 feet long and was launched in the mid-1930s. It’s an important part of US history because she is one of only two such ships that have been preserved and still in good condition today.

Cutter Ingham saw action in WWII, the Korean War and in Vietnam. During the 1980s she performed search and rescue operations while the Muriel Boat Lift was taking place. Decommissioned in 1988, she was brought to Key West, FL in 2009. She is now a National Historic Landmakr. You can visit USS Coast Guard Cutter Ingham and take a tour.