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Fordhams Island Retreat
Sightseeing
"OFF THE BEATEN PATH"
More things to explore
Big Pine Key- No Name Pub
Located on No-Name Key. Turn toward the Gulf at the
light in Big Pine Key and take the right hand fork in the road. Several miles down the road
(keep your eyes open) you'll find it on the left. You will love this out-of-the-way bar/eatery
which features pizza and (ONLY OK food as of this writing) stuff like burgers and brews.
Add your dollar bill to the wall or ceiling.
Key Deer -
Head toward the No Name Pub. If you go too far, you will run out of road and
that is where you will see the tiny endangered Key Deer (if not before.)
Key Deer can show up when you least expect them... so go slow and don't
hit one. (They would probably put you in jail and throw away the
key.) You may also spot a large iguana if you keep your eyes open.
No Name Key has no electricity but plenty of homes. The
county gave them building permits but will not allow the power company
to install electricity.
Best Dive Shop - Underseas Diver -
Oceanside of US1 on Big Pine Key.
Bahia Honda Key- Bahia Honda State Park....
One
of the most beautiful beaches in the world. They have boat
excursions and other interesting amenities. I believe it costs
$6.00 a carload for entry. A great place to take a picnic & wade
down the beach. Snorkel gear works too, as they have showers.
Summerland Key-
Turn
south at the light across from Monte's Fish Market and Restaurant
(mile marker 25). This ocean side residential neighborhood
features deep water canals with an airstrip down the middle. The
residents can fly in, put their plane in their garage, walk to the back
yard and get in their boat. This is a great concept! Now, if
I could just win the lottery...
Little Palm Island Resort-
(Mile
Marker 32 3/4) Take one of the Resort's beautiful speed boats form
Little Torch Key to the Island (about a 10 min ride). It is
pricey: about $40/person for brunch, or $20 for a hamburger, but there
is a lot more to it than that...Fabulous tropical gardens, hammocks,
scenes. Rated the Most Romantic Spot in the US.
Cudjoe Key -
Some
say the name is Bahamian for "Cousin Joe" or maybe someone had
a speech impediment. Then again maybe early settlers came here to cut
the Joe-wood trees. Another theory has a freed slave residing here
taking the name Cudjoe for himself in reference to a Jamaican rebel
slave leader. Take a ride down Blimp Road and check out "Fat
Albert," the local's name for the government blimp. I understand it
knows all, because it can see all. (There is also a boat ramp at
the end of Blimp Road.) By boat, from the house you go through
Kemp Channel and right by "Fat Albert," on the way to the back
country.
Sugarloaf Key- The Bat Tower -
If you are headed
toward Key West, take a right after you pass Sugarloaf Lodge (Mile
Marker 17) and follow the road past the private airport. You will
see the 42' Bat Tower. Land owner and developer, Richter Clyde Perky
built the tower in 1929 to house bats for much needed mosquito
control. A single bat could eat 3000 mosquitoes a day.
The chute down the center of the tower was to catch the bat droppings,
considered the finest and most expensive fertilizer. Perky bought the
plans and secret bat bait for $500. The smell was said to keep
bats away and people, too. It seemed like a good
idea at the time. Anyway, there are no bats, and they use
airplanes to kill mosquitoes now. Sky Diving - Yes, Sky
Diving and sight seeing trips are available from the private
airport at Sugarloaf Key. What a view you could have! About
$35/each.
Pigeon Key-
Access at the Marathon end of
the Seven Mile Bridge. This small island is now used as a marine
research facility. We haven't been, but understand that someday it
will be well worth visiting. Daily tours are available.
Go to: www.pigeonkey.org
A NOT SO LOCAL ATTRACTION -
Fort
Jefferson: Located in the Dry Tortugas, about 50+ miles from Key West,
this is our
most off-the-beaten-path state park. There are several ways
to get there, but I would recommend the 5 passenger seaplane out of Key
West, favored for views of rays, dolphin, turtles and wrecks on the trip
over. They do day trips and you can explore the fort and snorkel the
crystal clear surrounding waters. There are also 6 passenger boats
that do 3 day fishing and diving trips to the fort. Nights are spent
anchored inside the sheltered waters of the fort. You can keep your
catch.
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