Florida Keys

We lived large for 5 days at the KOA Key West.  We had a pool, hot tub, beach front/mangrove site, water, and electric.  A good internet connection was the only thing missing.  We spent our days relaxing, playing in the pool, listening to music in the pub, and fixing the bus.  We met a new VW friend; he owns a Syncro.  Super nice guy who understand traveling in a VW with kids, although his are grown. He is SO knowledgeable and he gave James some great advice on caring for Love Dove.

We visited Bahia Honda.  A state park with gorgeous blue water.  When you think Florida Keys water you think Bahia Honda water. This park is an intersection of the new Overseas Highway, the old highway and Flagler's railroad.  Did you know that Flagler had a train track built from Miami to Key West in the early 1900's. BTW, driving Love Dove on the Overseas Highway on a windy day is freaky!



Our day in Key West included the tourist spots like Mallory square, the southern most point marker, the  Botanical gardens, Fort Zachary and The Florida Eco-Discovery Center.

Besides a peaceful and beautiful garden the Botanical garden had a display of Cuban Chugs. Chugs are boats used by refugees escaping from Cuba.  The ingenuity of the refugees is brilliant. They use any resource they can find: old tarps and fiat motors to name a couple. The boys realized how badly some people want to leave their country when they are willing to sail 90 miles on the open ocean in these tiny boats.






The Eco-Discovery Center has displays describing Florida habitats, a mock up of the world's only underwater ocean laboratory, and several aquariums.  It is run by several agencies and because of that it is a donation based facility.  I love that even more because it is accessible to more people! T spotted jellyfish floating by the piers.  It was our first view of living jellyfish in the water.


















At Fort Zachary we snorkled and swam.  We explored the Fort.  T hoped this brick would lead to Diagon Alley :)

Sculpture in Mallory Square made for belly laughs and good pics.

 Eat at Help Yourself. Delicious. Lots of local foods. Homemade. Healthy. Oh and Delicious! They even had Master Cleanse drinks and tons of gluten free options. E says it was an epic place to eat.  We had so many choices, even homemade coconut yogurt!

We walked the streets, explored the fort, ate good food, people watched, and looked at lots of fun art work.  It was a long good day.  To end I give you Love Dove and the men at the Southernmost point in the continental United States.