Hemmingway House and getting around in Key West

[Jorg_]

Doing Celebrity Edge to Key West. Is it easy  to get around town? Is it walkable as you get off the ship or need of bus or taxi to get to town?

 

And also - would love help on how to take is to Hemmingway house. 
 

Thank you!

[YogiKathy]

25 minutes ago, Jorg_ said:

Doing Celebrity Edge to Key West. Is it easy  to get around town? Is it walkable as you get off the ship or need of bus or taxi to get to town?

 

And also - would love help on how to take is to Hemmingway house. 
 

Thank you!

Key West is a great town — yes, it is walkable but I would recommend that you jump on the trolley at the pier which will give you knowledge and history of the town.  You can get off at the Hemingway House and hop on/hop off all day.  Make sure you stop at Sloppy Joe’s (Hemingway’s favorite watering hole)!

[Langoustine]

The original location of Sloppy Joe's was at 428 Greene Street, now Captain Tony's Saloon.

[JFontaine]

On ‎1‎/‎5‎/‎2020 at 7:45 AM, Jorg_ said:

Doing Celebrity Edge to Key West. Is it easy  to get around town? Is it walkable as you get off the ship or need of bus or taxi to get to town?

 

And also - would love help on how to take is to Hemmingway house. 
 

Thank you!

Whether or not you can walk off the ship and into town depends on which Key West port the ship uses that day.  Edge uses two ports - the one in town (walk off, "B" on the calendar) and the one in the naval yard (you need to take a free shuttle out of the naval yard before you can start walking around. "OM" on the calendar).  The shuttle is about a five minute trip to the center of town and runs continuously.  In February 2020, as an example, the Edge is using both ports.  You can check your port with the calendar here:  https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/department/calendar.php

 

[Grumpy Husband]

On 1/5/2020 at 6:45 AM, Jorg_ said:

Doing Celebrity Edge to Key West. Is it easy  to get around town? Is it walkable as you get off the ship or need of bus or taxi to get to town?

 

And also - would love help on how to take is to Hemmingway house. 
 

Thank you!

Key West is fairly flat, so walking is not hard. Hemingway house is not that far of a walk from Pier B or the drop off area if you dock at the Outer Mole and take the shuttle to town.

Here are a couple of videos that will show you the way.

video 1, video 2, video 3

[peter_krynicki]

Hemingway kiddingly said that his house was on Mount Key West. It was on the highest point of the island, some 14 or so feet above sea level. But it was enough for him to have one of the first pools on the island built. There's an interesting article in the archives of the Key West Chronicle where he describes to the interviewer where it will be, the depth, etc.

 

Pjk  

[keywester33]

4 hours ago, peter_krynicki said:

Hemingway kiddingly said that his house was on Mount Key West. It was on the highest point of the island, some 14 or so feet above sea level. But it was enough for him to have one of the first pools on the island built. There's an interesting article in the archives of the Key West Chronicle where he describes to the interviewer where it will be, the depth, etc.

 

Pjk  

 

FYI, Hemingway may have said this, but  it’s not accurate.  The highest point on Key West is Solaris Hill which is by the cemetery.  It is about 18 feet above sea level.

[MississippiMom]

Regarding walk ability - Key West is definitely a walking town.  You will see people walking EVERYWHERE.  However, if you have mobility issues of any sort, even if it’s a little hip or knee arthritis, wear supportive shoes and watch where you step.  There are lots of uneven cobblestones, as well as many slanted side walks.  

[Anyislandwilldo]

On 1/7/2020 at 11:30 AM, Grumpy Husband said:

Key West is fairly flat, so walking is not hard. Hemingway house is not that far of a walk from Pier B or the drop off area if you dock at the Outer Mole and take the shuttle to town.

Here are a couple of videos that will show you the way.

video 1, video 2, video 3

 

Awesome videos. Even though I've been to Key West 3 times already, I watched them anyways just to drool at the sights.

[Hlitner]

Just a heads up that Key West has an issue on the November ballot to put serious restrictions on cruise ships.  The ballot initiative would ban any ship with more then 1300 passengers and limit the total number of cruise ship passengers per day to 1500.   I have no clue as to what impact this initiative will actually have, but it certainly does indicate that there are plenty of folks who have an issue with cruise ships (especially larger ships).

 

As one who has frequently vacationed in Key West on land trips (we drive) and also been there on a couple of cruises..I do understand the pros and cons.  The reality is that many on Key West do not want huge ships (like the Edge) as they see little benefit to the city other then crowding the streets near Mallory Square and blocking part of the view (when the big ships dock near Mallory Square).

 

What does this really mean?  Ships have gotten bigger and bigger (which suits many cruisers) and they have become a real issue for those that live and vacation near cruise ports.  There is growing resistance around the world to the large ships and this is not going away.  It is not only Key West, but there has also been anti-cruise activities in Venice, Italy; Charleston, VA, La Spezia, Italy, Santorini, Greece, etc etc.  When we started cruising (in the 70s) a 1000 passenger vessel was considered large.  Most ports welcomed the ships and their passengers spent a fair amount of money ashore.  But now, some of these ships have 6000 passengers, crowd the ports, and the passengers do not spend nearly as much per person.  Many simply book cruise line excursions (which do little for most of the locals) and others tax the local infrastructure.  Yes, the cruise industry does create jobs at and near the ports, but many others in the regions of ports do not think it is worth it!  

 

Hank

[Grumpy Husband]

22 hours ago, Anyislandwilldo said:

 

Awesome videos. Even though I've been to Key West 3 times already, I watched them anyways just to drool at the sights.

Thanks.