Dateline: June 19, 2009 Key West, Florida
We were under no "Pier Pressure" when we left the Square Grouper in Jupiter, Florida under the watchful eye of the Jupiter Lighthouse on the Jupiter Inlet as we peeled out onto the Florida Turnpike, "Southbound & Down." We had fresh new Michelin rubber on the Lexus and MargaritaShack.Com Margaritas in the cooler.
Our destination was Key West, Florida and the World Renown Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa, One Duval Street.
But first we had to make a pit stop for a late lunch at Craigs, in Tavernier, Florida just south of Key Largo and a little north of the Purple Isle also know as Islamorada. You see, Craigs is known for the World Famous Fish Sandwich and it has long been a favorite of ours. After about a two and half hour ride from Jupiter we were ready for the "Super Grouper."
The "Super Grouper" comes fried or grilled, but who in their right mind is going to fry a fillet of grouper? It is served on toasted bread, with melted cheese, a tomato and a juicy secret sauce that melts in your mouth, if not in your hand. If you get a cold draft beer and a some hot greasy fries you are good to go. Lets Roll!
So off we went, anxious to get to our destination and the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa. We had made our reservations at the last minute, with Susie, who is the owner of Key West Key, Inc. We found out about Susie through the Tampa Bay Parrot Heads, and boy are we lucky we did. Remember, it was Father's Day Weekend and we had waited until Thursday to make reservations for the weekend. Tell her Margarita Steve sent you.
In any event, we made our way through the Keys and over the Seven Mile Bridge (one of the seven wonders of my world) and down into Key West at about 6:00PM.
One of the best things about the Pier House is the location. It is right at the end of Duval Street and it has plenty of free parking to boot. For those of you who aren't in the know, Duval Street is to Key West what Bourbon Street is to the French Quarter in New Orleans.
We ripped right up to the front door and were met by the bellman who helped us unload our gear. At the front desk, I was introduced to Eric Van Hove, the Guest Services Manager, who immediately welcomed us with a complimentary upgrade to "A Room with a View."
The Room Eric set us up with was much more than words could describe. It was located in the "Beach House" building overlooking Sunset Key and Christmas Island, which were located right off our two balconies and the Florida Straits. The view was to die for and the room number is 212 if you want to request it on your next visit. In fact the room, which is in actuality a suite, was so nice you could actually live there.
It had a huge living area with a couch, two Caribbean style chairs and an entertainment center with flat screen TV and gaming controls. The separate bedroom had a king size bed, of course, and a large walk in closet. The bathroom was like a spa in and of itself, with slate tile floors, a separate dressing area and a luxurious stand-up shower with a sunflower shower head. All classically divided with white Bahamian louvered doors with etched glass. We were told that the resort had recently completed a multi million dollar renovation and it showed!
In addition, one of the features that I like best about the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa, besides the aforementioned luxury accommodations and exclusive location, is their private label line of bath products, appropriately labeled the Pier House Spa Collection. Their Lemon Eucalyptus Shampoo, Conditioner, Shower Gel and Body Lotion feels like an aroma-therapeutic spa experience every time you take a shower and it is available by calling the resort at 1-305-296-4600. It will remind you of the wonderful experience you had at the resort when you are back at the ranch in Texas or wherever, wishing you were back in the Islands...
That being said, we realized that we had a few minutes before the nightly Sunset Celebrations that occur at Mallory Square and the Sunset Pier, which were both within a few steps of our room. Or we could just stay in on one of our two lanais and watch the sunset, from the privacy of our suite at the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa. Na!
We opted for the Sunset Pier and the live music which was right next door. After witnessing an amazing technicolor display of the sun blazing into the horizon, we had another margarita and cruised over to the historic Key West Harbor Walk along Key West Bight, just a few blocks from the resort. This boardwalk along the historic harbor is a must see attraction. As we strolled along the Harbor looking at the Charter Boats and smelling the fresh seafood spilling out from the restaurants along the boardwalk, we made our way over to Schooner's Wharf for a hand rolled cigar, some more live music and a little Grand Mariner.
It was there that we met "Cayobo," or Cayo Jim, who had moved to Key West from Northern California when Jerry Brown became Governor & Ronald Reagan President, he declared.
He had bought and fixed up a little place in Old Town that is now worth somewhere shy of a cool million. He spends his time fixin' and takin' pictures with his Fuji Pro S5 DSLR Camera while his wife is a concierge at a local hotel. They also do a few weddings every once in a while and after looking at Cayobo's pictures on Flickr after we got home, I would highly recommend them if you are considering tying the knot on Bone Island...We did it back in March of 2007 and wished we had known Cayobo back then.
From Schooner's Wharf we made our way over to Duval Street, after nearly getting run over by the Pub Crawl Gang. We should have taken that as a sign because it was then and there that we looked up and saw Elvis.
I knew he was still alive! ELVIS LIVES!!! and he was standing out in front of the Bull and Whistle Bar, right on the corner of Duval and Caroline Street. Of course Sinbad, had to get her picture with The King of Rock-n-Roll and then I had to give him a few bucks for some jelly donuts. I thanked him for puttin' some air in her tires so I could ride her home later that evening as we went into the The Bull Bar on the first floor.
Now I know you are not going to belive this, but Sammy the Crown Royal drinking dog was ON THE BAR, lapping at the Crown Royal bottle and waggin' his tail to beat the band and I have the pictures to prove it.
As if that wasn't enough we had to go up to the third floor balcony club, called "The Garden of Eden" a clothing optional bar, the sign said, as if when the pretty girl coming down the stairs said, "Don't go up there," was not enough of a warning sign.
Why is it that when we are told not to do something that we always end up regretting it when we do?
We stumbled down the stairs and spilled out onto Duval Street laughing our asses off at the "Garden of Eden." If God had wanted it to be in Key West he would have came up with Adam & Steve instead of Adam & Eve...
On that note, we headed west down Duval towards Irish Keven's and Sloppy Joe's, both of which were so crowded you couldn't get a word in edge wise much less a cold beer to wash the taste of the garden out of your mouth. So it was across the street to Hog's Breath for a few beers, wings and an awesome cheeseburger to top off the mornin' as it was getting close to 2am.
Tell Brian the Bartender, who had worked there for the last eighteen years, that if he can't lie no better, he might as well tell the truth...
Needless to say the sugar sand beach and swimmer's lagoon back at the Pier House was deserted when we got back so we had the place all to ourselves for a clothing optional french dip, hold the au jus. We rinsed off back at the suite, had a night cap on the lania and fell asleep to the rhythm of the waves lapping at the foot of the resort's waterline below us, while the ceiling fan whirled away above our dreary wet heads.
The next morning, after breakfast at the Beach Bar & Grille at the resort, I informed Cindy that I had made her an appointment for a facial at the Caribbean Spa.
This gave me some time to explore the resort's tropical setting, Koi fish ponds and the Chart Room Bar, which is reputed to have hosted Jimmy Buffet's first gig in Key West upon his arrival in Jerry Jeff Walker's Packard automobile. In fact, did you know that Key West has more bars and "chuches" as my grandfather Curly used to say, per capita than anywhere else in the United States and that Schooner's Wharf has a happy hour at 9am?
I digress...the bottom line is this. The Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa is the self proclaimed "Flagship Hotel of the Key West State of Mind," and I for one would not disagree.
So the next time you are needing a little "Sunshine State of Mind" give Susie a call at Key West Key, Inc (1-800-881-7321) to make your reservations or call the Resort directly at 1-305- 296-4600 and ask for Eric in Guest Services. Tell him Margarita Steve, freelance photojournalist & travel writer, sent you from One Mans Florida, LLC "A Sunshine State of Mind."
Until next time, it has been a lovely cruise...
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