Day 57 -- Key West Bound

Today we got up and headed South until there was no more land!  The Southernmost point in the continental US is in Key West.  We found it and a lot more when we got there.  What a crazy place--incredible traffic on narrow roads, people everywhere, no parking--but we endured and enjoyed anyway!  First stop was in the historic seaport area which was very reminiscent of Galveston's Strand.  The old buildings remain as reminders of a distant past, but now filled with touristy kitschy stuff.  I loved seeing the buildings, many of which looked like they had come from New Orleans.  Bill wanted a shirt so we began looking for a parking place and the first place we pulled in wanted $20 minimum for up to 3 hours--we passed.  Finally found a parking place on the street where we could use a parking meter and put in all the quarters we could round up for a 45 minute period to do our shopping!  Didn't find a shirt, but walked four or five blocks in the area--which was Bill's max walking pretty much.

Beautiful old homes everywhere

Cool old building which now sells T-Shirts from China

First legal rum brewery

Some people obviously weren't thrilled with the distillery!

Sample of the historical district area

Next we went to what was called the Truman Annex--had no idea what it was but it was between us and the Southernmost point of the US so we pulled right in to the guard gate and he waved us on.  Turns out this area is a very high-end homeowner's area with quaint old cottages and houses, all white, and just beautifully landscaped, probably costing upwards of $3-? million.  The name comes from the fact that Truman had his retreat here which he called the "little white house".  Many historical decisions were made in that little white house.  We drove through the neighborhood and then went on to the state park which was our destination to get as far South as possible!

Entrance to the state park and fort

One of the streets in Truman Annex

Beach at state park

Southernmost tip of US

Can't read sign but it has all kinds of cities and how far it is to them from that point

This is truly how turquoise the water is

Giant pieces of coral the size of boulders

Of course, by now it was time to eat yet again, so we decided to leave the hubbub of the historic area and go to the other side of the key and see what we could find.  We found a great very quiet restaurant in an old Victorian house right on the water with a dog beach next to it.  We entertained ourselves watching the silly dogs play in the water--one was a Corgi just like Lucy--couldn't really imagine her diving in like that one did!

Hidden restaurant

View from by chair--this was an appetizer!

View from the table

We drove around a while longer and when we thought we had seen most everything we wanted to see, we headed north back to Marathon.  We got there and actually both took naps which was very refreshing, and then found a great place for dinner about a block from the hotel.

Beautiful Victorian resort

Sitting on back porch poolside  for dinner

All the meals were presented so beautifully!