When J and I were planning our trip for 2021 we knew we couldn’t leave without hitting the Florida Keys. So we made Key West, our favorite place on earth (so far), stop number one. We left Bradenton and took 41 across the state to Homestead stopping at the fruit stands to stock up on local produce and weird double yolk eggs. For our first night we boondocked in public land by Everglades National Park in Florida City (25.40754, -80.55920). This was a great free spot to stay a night before driving down to the Keys, but make sure to bring lots of bug spray!
We pulled up just in time to enjoy the sunset and meet fellow vanlifers Penny and Shayna who with their husky and rescue cat are @momentsinwanderland. Penny and Shayna have been vannin full time for 2 years and are travel photographers for HipCamp. The following morning we ate breakfast in their airy, plant-filled camper and they offered to take some photos of us and Steve Bluscemi.
After our impromptu photoshoot we packed up and headed south. We swung by Harriets on Key Largo and picked up a Guava Cream Cheese Muffin to start the drive. We made sure to stop in Marathon for lunch at Keyes Fisheries. Keyes Fisheries has become one of our favorite spots in the Keys. It gives us that warm nostalgia feeling reminding us of A.P Bell in The Cortez Fishing Village back home. It’s great for a quick and casual waterfront lunch and to pick up fresh seafood and their house-made fish dip.
We booked a tent spot at Boyd’s Campground on Stock Island. The campsite overlooked a little bay where a motley array of boats are moored. We pulled in with enough time to boil some fresh shrimp while watching the sunset. The houseboat people were lit. Playing the cowbell, and using their pots and pans as makeshift drums celebrating the sunset.
We woke up to a windy day. We scrambled some of the double yolkers and made FL avocado toast. We got soaked by a surprise rain storm just as J finished the eggs, so we ate in the van while waiting out the storm. After everything dried off we hopped on our bikes, fought the 30 mph winds and headed toward Old Town Key West. We locked our bikes at Mallory Square and walked to Sloppy Joes. There we decided to get silly. From Sloppys we hit all the regular spots: Schooners, Tattoos and Scars, Captain Tonys and Smokin Tuna. By sunset we were all jacked up and super silly. The ride home was rough.
The following morning we woke up to the sound of fighter jets running drills over the campground; taking off from the Navy Air Station across the bay and flying circles around Key West. After breakfast we drove Blu down to Fort Zachary Park and walked around with the Little Dog. The park has a beautiful picnic area that overlooks the point where the Gulf of Mexico meets The Atlantic. We ate a quick lunch and hit Duval Street to find J some cigars.
For our last night in the Keys we Made a Florida Lobster Stew with the tails we bought at Keyes Fisheries and the produce we picked up in Homestead. We drank Flora de Cana and J smoked his cigar.
Recipe:
- Lobster Tails
- Sweet Potato
- Corn (On or Off the Cob)
- Carrot
- Red Bell Pepper
- Onion
- Celery
- Honey
- Sriracha
- Any Light Beer-We chose Dogfish Head Grateful Dead Hazy IPA and Pacifico
- Cayenne and Red Chili Flakes (Can Leave Out for Less Heat)
- Salt and Pepper
Cut up all the veggies, slicing the carrot and sweet potato thin. Put everything except the lobster into a pot and cover. Cook until the sweet potato is soft. Add lobster tails and recover. Steam until lobster is cooked through and serve.
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