Paul and Valynne at The Smallest Bar in Key West ~ 2008
Paul and I aren’t wandering much farther than Portland this summer, aside from an occasional drive to the Pacific or train ride to Seattle. This is because Portland is absolutely gorgeous in the summer and we have local pet sits lined up through August. In late August, Paul is spending a week in Orlando, Florida with his boss and co-workers from around the globe. I will meet him there the first week of September (yay!). Yes, this is a hot time to be in Florida. That is why we are renting a convertible and heading for the Florida Keys … Key West, to be exact. But not before visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. Cannot wait and am actually wearing a Muggle shirt as I type this. Feel free to call me a nerd. Don’t care.
I'm a Muggle
OK, back to Key West. Key West is one of our favorite places here in the US. Nothing is set in stone, but I will be keeping an eye out for a potential long-term sit of the island variety beginning in late fall/early winter. Both Key West and Northern California are on our radar at present. We love Portland and would be happy to stay here, as well…it is just that yours truly has a serious case of Wanderlust (by the way, have you seen the movie yet? I got a total kick out of it) and it is true what they say about Portland being a bit…soggy for a good several months of the year. And the tagline for Caretaking Couple is “Caring For Properties and Pets Across the US”, after all.
Have you been to Key West? If so, tell us about it. If not, where have you been that you would love to get back to? Or, where haven’t you been that you would really, really like to visit? Leave a comment on this post or any other for a chance to win a prize (details here) and I will draw a name on Monday, 5/28. Thanks for keeping in touch!
Hi Valynne, I was reading your blog about heading to Key West. It’s funny that I was just a day or two ago thinking about Key West and what it would be like to live there. I have been there on vacation and loved every minute of it. We only had bicycles for transportation because we had a motorhome at the time and didn’t haul a car with us. Bicycles are the best way to get around!
My favorite part of anywhere that I visit or live is finding out about and exploring the history of the place. I have a couple of favorite places on Key West, but for me the best was Hemmingway’s home. There is a penny that he buried in the concrete patio (or maybe in the pool). He said that his wife may as well get his last penny. Love it! Hemmingway and his bohemian lifestyle is a big part of the Keys. Be sure an visit Sloppy Joes!
The only other thing that is a must is to get Key Lime pie from a street vendor called the Spotted Cow or something along those lines. It is the best I’ve ever eaten. They make it with sweetened condensed milk in the Keys, none of this gelatin stuff that the rest of the nation passes of as the real thing. Did you know that Key Lime pie is the official Florida state pie?!
Have a wonderful trip!! I know that you will enjoy the sunsets the most from the most southern point in the United States.
Sue
Hi Sue!
I love Hemingway’s home as well and especially love visiting the polydactyl cats http://www.hemingwayhome.com/cats/ Wish I could actually enter the room where he did his writing.
I think it would be great fun to live in KW for a while and get to know the locals. In the meantime, we are loving life here in PDX so no rush. Speaking of…hoping to share a cuppa with you here in the Pacific Northwest soon!
It is good to hear from you, and thanks for the great suggestions and information : )
Haha, yes, the “sogginess” does get a little dreary after a while. I’m so glad to hear you’re going to jet off to some golden sunshine!
Can’t complain now as summer is in full force here in Portland and absolutely divine, as you know. Are you still in Croatia? What an adventure you two are on!
I love the Keys and Key West is a hoot!!! I think you and Paul would absolutely love a few months in Key West. It’s crazy like Portland, but in a different way; smaller scale maybe. I”m more of an ocean person than a mountain person, so the idea of living on a sailboat and just sailing from port to port is appealing to me. You want the Airstream; I want the 42′ yacht !
Ahhh, Airstream…and just for the record, I am totally down with the 42′ yacht as well! Counting down the days until we visit Key West – not long now…