The Conch Connection

Choosing a restaurant is easy—until one person wants tacos, another wants barbecue and someone else has already decided that dinner should involve sushi.

That is where a food truck park saves the day.

Southwest Florida has turned the humble food truck stop into a full evening out. These colorful gathering places combine several kitchens with outdoor seating, cold drinks, live music, games and plenty of room to settle in. Everyone can order something different, yet the whole group still eats together. No menu negotiations required.

Ready to roll up hungry? Here are five food truck parks worth putting on your Southwest Florida dining list.

Fishing in the the Florida Keys and Key West, whether it's bottom fishing for grouper, hitting the weed lines for mahi-mahi or dolphin, sinking a line deep into the Atlantic for a marlin, sailfish or swordfish is for the most part, unlike any other fishing you've ever done.  One type that does carry over is fly fishing.

Fabulous funky fun ONLY IN THE KEYS.   About 30 miles north of Key West is Looe Key, where they host the annual Underwater Music Festival. Yes, you read that right UNDERWATER...  Ok, granted that no one is really playing an actual instrument but, jamming to your favorite watery favorites with homemade replicas typically fish or shell based by design. 

Key West Has Always Been Happily a Little Different

Key West does not do ordinary especially well. This is an island where a cemetery comes with a self-guided map, a legendary bar has a tree growing through the middle of it, and a day on the water can end with you climbing, sliding and trying not to splash off a floating playground.

That is part of the charm. The usual beaches, boats and sunset views are still here, but leave a little room in your plans for the stranger side of the island. These five experiences are a good place to start.

 When many people think of Key West, they picture lively nightlife, famous bars, and colorful Duval Street. While those attractions are certainly part of the island's personality, there's another side of Key West that families quickly fall in love with. 

World renowned oceanographer and son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Fabien, recently came to the beautiful reefs, off the Florida Keys. His family's legacy of oceanic conservationism, exploration, education and technological advancement came with him.

One of the best things about visiting Key West is that you do not need a car to enjoy much of the island. Old Town is compact, many major attractions are close together, and visitors can choose from walking, bicycles, public transportation, taxis, rideshare services, trolleys, golf carts, and other options.

Key West, Florida.... There is so much to see and do on this island oasis, the Southernmost Point of the United States. What to choose?  How to decide?  S.O.S! We're here to give you a hand with just a few of the best things to make the most out of your 2 day vacation.

Forget the lazy river. This water park has actual waves.

Fury Water Adventures takes slides, climbing obstacles and slippery wipeouts, then floats the whole playground in the blue water off Key West. There is no concrete deck and no escaping the splash zone. Out here, the splash zone is everywhere.

The floating park is part of Fury’s Ultimate Adventure H2.0, a choose-your-own-thrill kind of day that can also include parasailing, jet skiing, a banana boat ride and—on the full-day trip—reef snorkeling. If your ideal vacation includes spending more time in a swimsuit than street clothes, you have found your people.

Definition of a "Buoy" - "an anchored FLOAT serving as a navigational mark, to indicate reefs or other hazards or for mooring".   The southernmost buoy's claim to fame is being one of the most photographed and visited attractions in the United States.  The buoy is an impressive 12' tall, 7' wide and made out of approximately 4 tons of solid concrete!

The current marker actually didn't exist until 1983 when it was commissioned and installed by the City of Key West and painted by local artist Danny Acosta.