Self Bike Tour

[tropical.dreams]

We'd like to just rent a bicycle and ride around the island while where there in February on our cruise.

 

What would you do between the hours of roughly 8 and 1 to see the best of the island?

[peter_krynicki]

We'd like to just rent a bicycle and ride around the island while where there in February on our cruise.

 

What would you do between the hours of roughly 8 and 1 to see the best of the island?

 

The place to start is Sharon Wells' web page...

 

http://www.seekeywest.com/index2.htm

 

But it's easy enough to set something up for a tour of the island based on your interests. Let me know.

 

Pjk

[WTGKW]

Check out Lloyds Tropical Bike tour. He is one of Key West's last "characters" and will take you places that "tourists" never get to see.

 

http://www.lloydstropicalbiketour.com/

[keywester33]

It is very easy to do a tour on your own. This is a small island and very accesible on bikes. Lloyds does a nice tour, but some people would rather not be in a group of 15 or more people. Also, group tours are not allowed in the cemetery which is a fun place to ride around and look at some of the interesting stones with saying like "I told you I was sick." There is a free map available at the entrance to the cemetery to help you find your way around. You can easily spend an hour there. Also, be sure to include the South Shore of the island. Ride to Higgs Beach, out on the White Street Pier, and along Smathers Beach out toward the airport and back. Near the airport, stop at The East Martello Tower to visit a very quirky museum and see Robert The Doll. Ride up and down the streets in Old Town looking for small lanes or other spots. I also would ride through Truman Annex (enter at Eaton or Southard) and to Fort Zachary Taylor. I am sure you will enjoy yourself with or without a bike tour.

[peter_krynicki]

It all depends on where you start, but if you start at the Bight-side of Simonton...

 

 

 

 

Ride the bikes the one block over to Simonton and make a left and head south. For the first couple of blocks there are nice, restored houses on either side so go slowly but watch for traffic as there is no bike path here. Look for the Curry mansion (see who's atop the widow's walk there), Pelican Poop, and the Casa Antigua where Hemingway 1st lived. Find Sarabeth's for future reference.

 

 

 

 

The last cross street is South Street. Make a left then a right onto Reynolds and ride to the end, passing the Casa Marina on your right. You could stop here and go through the lobby to see the pool and beach area. It would be worth it and if anyoe asks, you're looking for a future stay. Park the bikess in their lot.

 

 

 

 

At the end of Reynolds you can only go left and you are at Higgs Beach. There is a smaller pier to walk out onto where you will generally see fish in the water, then there is the White Street pier which is much larger and you can ride out to the end, around and back. Don't miss the compass rose. And next to this is the West Martello Tower and garden which is worth a visit.

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, ride along Atlanic Blvd to the end and make a right (finally, a right) then a left and you are at Smathers beach. On bikes you can just make out the sand but the nicest part is after the sand ends for the views out over the ocean. Hopefully you will see some pelicans. Ride all the way to the East Martello tower where you will find Robert the Doll, but don't go much farther. Instead turn around and come back.

 

 

 

 

Retrace your ride until you come back to the Casa Marina. At the corner of Reynolds and Seminole, make a left onto Seminole and ride to the end for the John & Mary Spottiswood lookout point for the views. Then zig on Alberta and zag on Vernon and look for the sigh for Louie's Backyard, again for future reference, then back up to South Street where you make a left.

 

 

 

 

As you come to Duval, make a left and check out the Southernmost Beach cafe and beach there at the end of the block, then back to Duval and another left brings you to the Southernmost Point for a photo op.

 

 

 

Now your'e on Whitehead. Riding along brings you to the lighthouse, Hemingway's House, the Bahama Village, then the Green Parrot, the Audubon House and Kelly's. You might want to turn onto Truman and head out to Fort Zachery Taylor and the beach there. There is a small entrance fee, but you don't have to go in. And you might want to ride three blocks onto Petronia Street where the Bahama Village was. You will pass the Crepperie, Blue Heaven, Columbian Grace, and Santiago's Bodega for future reference, and Bessame Mucho.

 

 

 

 

IMO turn right onto Caroline Street off Whitehead and ride past Duval and Simonton so that you will ride past Pepe's on the right and B.O.'s Fishwagon on the left. If you are thirsty you can cross the parking lot behind B.O.'s and you are at the SWB for a drink. Can you find your way home from here?

 

 

 

 

Pjk

[pennielz]

Any recommendation on a good bike rental place? We have been looking at Eaton's because they will deliver and pick-up the bikes, anyone ever use them before?

[keywester33]

Eaton is a good local company. I have had many visitors use them.