Southernmost Point Buoy, Florida Keys & Kayak Tour

Day 2: It was hard to wait until it was light outside but we wanted it light out so we could see the new area we were going to explore. We got in the truck at 7:00am. The first key we came to is Key Largo and of course the song is in our head. 🎶

Florida Keys are different than we both thought they would be. We were surprised at all the vegetation on them; tons of trees and bushes. We both thought it would be just land full of sand & beaches where you can see everywhere.  Isn’t it funny how we get a “picture” in our heads?!  A few of the keys are that way, but we were surprised by Marathon and Key Largo being so big. The drive took about 3 1/2 hours. 131 miles from the hotel in Homestead to Southernmost Point Buoy. Thankfully today was sunny. It felt hotter than it was. I texted to a friend: “Right now it is 76* but feels like 81*. Humidity is 92% and dew point is 73*.” We sure like this type of winter. 😃

So Excited To Be At Southernmost Point Buoy, Key West, FL 01/24

When we got to Key West, we went right to Southernmost Point Buoy. We turned on the Duvall St and right there was a parking spot on the side of the road. Plenty long for our long-bed truck; drove straight in. We were so giddy with thankfulness! The place was packed! Paid $5.00 per hour to park and walked over and down the block to Southernmost Point Buoy. This is the most southern point in the continental US and it was the place I wanted to go. There was a nice and orderly line along the sidewalk waiting for a picture. The line moved fast. It was fun to watch people; some didn’t want to stand in line so they stood across the street and did selfie pictures with the buoy way behind them. 

Next we walked Whitehead St for a block. It was fun to see the old houses; they look like small plantation-type styling and fun colors. We even saw the famous chickens and roosters. So funny because to us, that isn’t a big deal at all, since we grew up on farms. But people get all excited to see them. Kevin wanted to walk along Duvall St. It is mostly souvenir shops and restaurants and a fun walk. 

Southernmost Fabric Shop In Continental US, Seam Shoppe, Key West, FL 01/24

After about 6 blocks I remembered I had looked in the Quilting Traveler’s Companion book and found Seam Shoppe, “the most southern fabric store in the continental US”. I had to go! We walked the 0.6 miles one way to the store. The store is darling. Small but with fun sunshine-beachy fabrics. I found one that has different places in Florida on it. The lady cutting the fabric showed me this shop is even on it. Cool! I got two other fabrics to go with it. I got 1 yard each. I wanted 1/2 yard but Kevin insisted at least a yard. He is so fun and sweet. 

Photo By Kevin, Lazy Dog Kayak Tour, Key West, FL 01/24

The next stop we drove 3.4 miles to Lazy Dog at Hurricane Hole Marina, Key West. I knew Kevin wanted to do a kayak through mangroves but I don’t want to. I don’t like the unbalance of a kayak, I get dizzy easily, being so close to the water with alligators, and all the snakes in the trees. When we set up this trip, I encouraged strongly for Kevin to make a reservation for him to do it. He did and I am glad. He did the 2 hours Kayak Eco Tour.

Photo By Kevin, Lazy Dog Kayak Tour, Key West, FL, 01/24

*****Words from Kevin: After walking around Key West, we drove north just a bit to the kayak tour.  It was at a marina, and there was a restaurant there.  There was also a sandy waiting area at the launch point of the kayaks.  I checked in, and then Charla and I walked around for a bit.  Then our tour started.  There were about 10 of us with a guide.  He was a young enthusiastic college student that really knew how to look for animals.  Most of the people on the tour were in double kayaks.  

We started out in a canal learning how to paddle, etc.  Then we followed our guide through the first mangrove tunnel.  The mangrove trees have many “fingers” instead of a main trunk.  They grow through the brackish water down to the sand below.  I learned that brackish means a mix of salt water and fresh water.  The mangroves offer a lot of protection for just about everything.  The “fingers” of the roots offer great protection for juvenile fish and marine life.  There are areas or coves of open water.  When hurricanes are coming, sailboats seek the refuge of these coves to stay protected.  Mangroves are also a great first defense for hurricanes destruction on land.  

These tunnels are super narrow.  We had to put our paddles parallel to the kayak and pull ourselves through the tunnel.  

I am sure glad we had a guide, because I was lost at the first turn!  We would go through a mangrove tunnel, out to more open water.  All along our guide was looking for animals – both above and below the water.  He found a lizard, but could not catch it.  He found many jelly fish and caught one so we could hold it and feel its texture.  He also bravely tried to catch a snake, but couldn’t get it.  Whew!  

We went through many tunnels and then out to open canals or coves.  

I would recommend going on a kayak mangroves tour!  It was very educational and entertaining.

*****Back to Charla’s travel journal: From there we headed back through the keys. As the sun set, I got a few pictures out the window. Kevin had seen Robbie’s of Islamorada on Youtube. They have quite a few things to do around there, including feeding the tarpon. We didn’t do that but ate at Hungry Tarpon Restaurant. The weather was still warm and we got seated outside right along the dock. Kevin had a Philly cheesesteak and I had mai mai tacos. I really liked the dressing/sauce.  Rated: Once Every 6 Months If We Lived Here. The place wasn’t crowded. It was pretty much dark as we left.

The rest of the drive to the hotel seemed to go fast. When we walked into our hotel room, we saw the TV was on and so were the closed captions. Wahoo! There was a different remote on the bed. Kevin had figured correctly that the smaller remotes the hotel traded out had the settings blocked. This one is the remote that goes with the TV. Yay – the closed captions worked! So thankful.

Next time…another day in Florida Keys and we discover Cuban food.