Taking Our Talents To South Beach: Part 3 - Key West

[Part 1 - National Parks can be read here. Part 2 - Miami and South Beach can be read here.]

Which brings us to the last and final post in this mini-series: Part 3 - The Florida Keys

We spent Sunday driving down to the Keys with a few stops along the way. The Overseas Highway was a beautiful drive. 

I forgot to take pictures... but we did stop at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo on the way. It is a popular place for snorkeling, but we decided to just kayak since we were visiting Dry Tortugas the next day. For $17/hr you can rent a double kayak, so we spent the morning kayaking through the mangroves and even saw a stingray! Don't expect to stop here for a nice beach. If you have been to Hawaii or other tropical areas in the world, expect to be disappointed by Florida's beaches overall. They don't compare, but none-the-less it is nice to have beaches in the continental U.S. :)

Our next stop on the drive was Bahia Honda State Park. The beach here was fairly decent. A storm rolled in as we arrived, but we were still able to enjoy the park during and after the storm passed. 

By the time we made it to Key West, it was time to check in to the resort and grab dinner. Adam found an amazing restaurant for us to try: Grunt's Island Grill. This restaurant is set off of Duval Street in a quiet area. The courtyard is perfect for dinner and conversation. We ordered the Avocado Caprese, Mahi Mahi, Scallops, and Jamaican Jerk Chicken. It was delicious and did not disappoint. One of the best meals I've had in a long time, and the Key Lime Pie was to die for!

After dinner, we walked around past the Ernest Hemingway House to the Southernmost Point.

The following evening, we had dinner at Bo's Fish Wagon. More of a casual and colorful place, but tasty. We ordered the Scuzzy Fries, Conch Fritters, the Famous Fried Grouper Sandwich, and the B.O.M.F. 1/2 lb burger.

Key Lime Pie followed. We selected the Key West Key Lime Pie Co. It was okay, but not spectacular. We did finish an entire pie though, but the pie we had the night before was so much better!

In closing out this mini-blog series, we are continually reminded of the joy that traveling brings us, but it is nothing compared to the joy we have in Christ, which we are reminded of while adventuring, taking in the beauty He has created.

"The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing...to find the place where all the beauty came from." 

-C.S. Lewis

Psalm 113:2-6 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?