Bev's Guide to the Florida Keys: Caroline's

Welcome

Welcome to my blog, Bev's Guide to the Florida Keys. While I don't consider myself an expert, my husband, Ray and I have been visiting the Keys every year (sometimes more than once a year) for over 20 years. My intention is to tell you of my experiences in the places we've lodged, eaten, boated, endulged in libation, or simply relaxed. You can make up your own mind whether or not to heed my suggestions.

I'll try to provide as much information as I can in regard to contact info, what the bathrooms are like (ladies you know it's important to you), parking, and customer service. So read on all you Conchs and Parrotheads and please leave comments about whether or not one of my posts was helpful or if you have any suggestions.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Caroline's

Voted Best Lunch Place by USA Travel, Caroline's on Duval in Key West is a really sweet open-air restaurant with a large offering of salads and sandwiches for lunch and more hearty plates for dinner. Regardless, each meal is prepared well and presented beautifully. Ray and I have eaten there many times and have always enjoyed great service and excellent meals. Our friends, who live on Stock Island, visit Caroline's frequently and always rave about their food. Yes, their burgers really do look like this - plentiful and moist - hard to beat.

The first time we ate there was for lunch. I had a salad with blackened shrimp on top and Ray had a fish sandwich. Both of our choices were plentiful and flavorful. The second time we ate there it was for dinner. Ray ordered a blackened chicken pasta that was extra cheesy and yummy, and I ordered blackened chicken with black beans, rice and plantains. The chicken was moist and cooked to perfection. The black beans, rice and plantains were authentically pleasing.

The ambiance is purely Key West style. The wait staff are super friendly and the service is fast. We love sitting outside on the shaded patio for lunch or under the stars for dinner watching the passersby on Duval Street. The whole patio is mostly shaded with large market-style umbrellas and is rather large. They also have a small bar that overlooks Duval Street so it's a great place to people-watch. Ladies - the bathroom is not the greatest, but is not the worst I've seen either. Since there is only one women's toilet you might imagine that its not always the tidiest and there is usually a short line of one or two.

Carolines is located in the heart of Key West at 310 Duval Street; 305.294-7511. Their website says they have free delivery within Old Key West. www.carolineskeywest.com.

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Facts and Advice

1. Key Deer are endangered. It is illegal to feed them. They weigh only 75 lbs. when fully grown & stand only 32 inches high.
2. Speeding is a big no-no in the Keys. My advice - don't do it. Passing someone is not only stupid, it's dangerous. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. Adding 10 minutes more to your trip isn't that big a deal.
3. The local newspaper is called The Citizen. Inside the front page is a column called Citizens' Voice. It's hysterical. Also check out the paper to find out when cruise ships are in port. You may want to avoid KW on those days.
4. Manatees "sleep." They appear dead b/c they often lay lifeless, drifting in the current. They love lettuce & will suck on a fresh water hose like a baby. While its recommended that you do neither of those things, they sure are cute to watch. Adults on the average are 10 ft. long & weigh about 1,000 pounds. They feed on seagrass & aquatic plants, consuming up to 100 lbs/day. They can hold their breath for 20 minutes. They are on the Florida endangered species list.

5. There are 5 kinds of sea turtles that live in the Gulf of Mexico & Atlantic Ocean - Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Kemp's Ridley & Leatherback. They are found in shallow saltwater & among coral reefs. They dig over 4,000 nests on Florida beaches every year. They live to be 40-60 years old. All species are on the endangered or threatened list. Lights on beaches by boaters & revelers often disorient sea turtles, causing them harm.

6. Key West is the southernmost city in the continental U.S. and is closer to Havana, Cuba than to Miami.

7. There are 42 bridges that connect the islands of the Keys. The longest bridge is the 7-mile bridge.

8. The small green mile marker signs along US 1, start with 126 just south of Florida City & end with MM 0 in Key West.

9.There are over 800 Keys. Key Largo is the longest at 33 miles.

10. The word "key" comes from the Spanish word "cayo" which means "little island."

11. Key West is known as the Conch Republic.

12. US 1 is also called the Overseas Highway.

Welcome

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Caroline's

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