Half Shell Raw Bar and

Half Shell Raw Bar is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Ray and I have spent many an afternoon eating oysters and socializing with people from all over the world. With a tag line of "East it Raw," doesn't it make sense to see what it's all about?  It's fun, it's casual and it's conveniently located on the Waterfront in Key West. There is plenty of paid parking nearby. There is a fish market on the premises - see below. Be sure to bring a license plate to tack on the wall for posterity.

From their website: Half Shell Fish Market is a neighborhood seafood market in Old Town Key West, located inside the Half Shell Raw Bar, at the foot of Margaret Street, along the Historic Seaport.

Half Shell Fish Market
(Located inside Half Shell Raw Bar)
(305) 294-7496
231 Margaret Street
Key West, Florida 33040
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Half Shell Fish Market Now Open

While Half Shell Fish Market is now open to everyone, we were born out of necessity. There was a need for a centralized source of outstanding Key West seafood for the five restaurants within the Pat Croce & Co. family. Half Shell Fish Market makes sure that items like Rum Barrel’s Yellow Tail Snapper Rubens, Island Dogs’ fish tacos, Turtle Kraals’ ceviche, and, of course, your favorites at Half Shell Raw Bar, are the freshest around and are provided at a great value. We do this by cultivating long-standing partnerships with local commercial fishing captains. You are invited to step in to Half Shell Fish Market any day between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. so we can introduce ourselves and meet you while you’re picking out your favorite daily and seasonal specials like snapper, stone crab, Key West pink shrimp, lobster, hogfish and more. www.halfshellrawbar.com

All Keys Gas

Update: January 2016 - All Keys Gas moved to Key West. That's a shame, because it was very convenient to get our propane tanks refilled at a place that was close by.

If you're like us, we rent a house for several months on Ramrod Key. It's like our second home so we like to cook on the grill a lot! Most rentals supply grills and gas for grills, but if you need propane I recommend getting refills from All Keys Gas located at 30046 Overseas Highway in Big Pine Key. Last time we bought propane was January 3, 2015; a 20 lb. refill was $21.00. Seems reasonable. They also sell grills if you happen to need one - AND, they come already assembled! 305.745-1122.

Ambrosia Sushi Restaurant and Sake Bar

What a treat it was to dine at Ambrosia Sushi Restaurant and Sake Bar located at 1401 Simonton St., in Key West, Fl. Established in 1998, Ambrosia offered a strikingly elegant ambience and wonderful full-flavored food. I ordered their Miso soup - it was truly outstanding. Featuring two kinds of mushrooms - cremini and shiitake - the soup had a creamy, smokey flavor that was probably the best I've ever eaten.

There were four of us in our party so we did a lot of sharing. Ray, who isn't a huge fan of sushi, ordered the Beef Negimaki and liked the flavor very much. The dish consisted of thinly sliced beef wrapped around scallions and sautéed in teriyaki sauce. If I remember correctly it came with some kind of potato, but I'm not 100% sure. We also had Dragon Balls, Duck Tatki and something call Stingy Women's Purse which consisted of several crispy shrimp dumplings - yummy, really! Then our friend ordered a plethora of sushi items - all delicious and satisfying. We all walked away sated and more than full.

Ambrosia serves only Asian beers, Sake and wine. They are open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended. 305.293.0304; www.ambrosiasushi.com. If you type Ambrosia Key West into your URL the first thing that comes up is Ambrosia, a Bed and Breakfast. Look a little further down the page for the restaurant. Dining there was a wonderful experience. You won't be disappointed.

Good Food Conspiracy Whole Food Market and Holistic Health Center

Update: January 2016 - I see by the sign out front that Yoga classes take place here. Will advise once I get a chance to stop in.

I have passed this store dozens of times and have never had a desire to go inside. It just didn't look like a place that I would frequent although the parking lot was always full. I wondered if the vehicular activity came from their store or one of the other stores housed in the same tiny strip mall. Then one day, when I realized I was out of my favorite salt - Pink Himalayan Salt - and couldn't find it at the Winn-Dixie, I decided to give the Good Food Conspiracy a go. When I opened the door there were a number of people working and a number of people shopping. There was lots of laughter and talking. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they carried lots of fresh veggies and fruits, had a smoothie bar and sandwich menu, as well as a myriad of organic, vegetarian, and healthy alternatives. I haven't visited the Herb Garden out back, but I hear there is picnic seating. The staff is very friendly and helpful and a myriad of services are offered - acupuncture, skin care, facials, massage and now yoga classes. Visit their website for more info. www.goodfoodconspiracy.com

I am so glad that I decided to stop that day. I have been back there several times and plan to use it as my go-to whole food store. Their prices are a little higher that what I would normally pay at home or online, but when you need an item, well, you just need it. I am happy that I discovered this little gem.

MM 30.5 Big Pine Key, 305-872-3945; 30150 Overseas Highway.

Crane Point Museum & Nature Center

Located at MM 50, Bayside in Marathon, the Crane Point Museum & Nature Center is a nice place to visit when you're looking for a down day and can't go to the beach. While it's not very exciting, it's an interesting walk back in time. The day we went it was a little overcast and not too hot, so it seemed the perfect time to visit a place that we had never experienced before.

From the brochure - "The property consist of 63 acres of hardwood hammocks and home to the historic Adderley House the oldest house in Monroe County outside of Key West. It was built in 1903 by George and Olivia Adderley, Bahamian immigrants who created a small village called Adderley Village. Mr. Adderley made an arrangement with Henry Flagler, as he built the Florida East Coast Railway, to put a train stop at this location in order to assist Mr. Adderley in transporting sponges he harvested in Key West for sale. In addition to the Adderley House, which is listed on the Historical Register of Historical Places, you will find a museum of natural history, a well-done-nine-minute video provide information on what you will see on the trails, a replica of a Florida Cracker House, 1960's architectural wonder call the Crane House, built by Mr. and Mrs. Frances Crane for whom the property is named. There is a salt-water lagoon at the entrance, a wonderful gift shop and two miles of hiking trails which take you from the highway to the Gulf of Mexico. Some trails are gravel and easily navigated while others are quite rustic."

All trails are very well marked as are the native plants and trees. It's interesting to see how the foliage changes throughout the hammock. The Marathon Wild Bird Center is housed there and is located near the back of the property where sick and injured birds are rehabilitated.

Wear comfortable shoes - I wore flip flops and wished that I had worn tenners. I kept getting small stones caught under my heels. There are plenty of benches along the paths for resting and a trolley tour is usually available, although the day we were there the volunteer was out sick with the flu. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. The main loop is about 1.5 miles. Yes, you can bring a picnic lunch and use the picnic tables provided or while overlooking the Florida Bay. There is a very nice gift shop on premise.

(305) 743-9100 or www.cranepoint.net for more information. 5500 Overseas Highway, MM 50, Marathon, Florida.