Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson

 Dry Tortugas National Park can be accessed by ferry or seaplane from Key West, offering stunning views along the way. The ferry departs daily, while seaplane flights provide a quicker and significantly more expense option.  Guess which one this fox is on?

It was smooth sailing that day on the boat.  A couple hours later this guy arrived safely at Fort Jefferson at Dry Torugas National Park

ort Jefferson, located on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas, was built in the mid-1800s as a coastal defense but was never fully completed or used in battle. In the late 1800s, it became a prison, housing various prisoners, including Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was convicted for his involvement in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Mudd served his sentence at the fort, where he eventually gained the respect of fellow prisoners and guards by treating their medical ailments, earning him a pardon in 1869.

Once inside the fort there were a lot of places to explore.  Lots of windows to fire cannons at potential threats during the Civil War.  Rumor has it they had 450 cannons ready to go.

So many old building to explore.  My archeology professor is going to be impressed.

The birds on the island were amazing.  So many of them. 

Even outside of the fort was cool.  A lot of the passengers on the ferry I took used their time to play on the beach and in the water.

Do you think the roommates will splurge for the seaplane home?

Nope, no luck. Taking the ferry back.

Drinking Buddies

 Drunk Fox told me that when he was partying hard in the 70s Key West was the place to be. I took a few of his recommendations on places to check out and they have stood the test of time.  

First up is Captain Tony's.  Captain Tony's Saloon in Key West is a historic bar with a laid-back, quirky vibe. Jimmy Buffett played here for drinks and tips before becoming famous, soaking in the island atmosphere that inspired much of his music.

A small drink of island punch.

Um, this punch is pretty good.

While I was drinking I met a cool potato from the East Coast.  Her humans must know how to party as they were on their 6th bar that day (yes, Captain Tony's was the 6th).  

Potato and I hung out for a while (he is a newer stuffy) but has his own Instagram as well.

A few more drinks later and it's a miracle that I didn't fall over.

After Captain Tony's, it was time to go to the Green Parrot.   The Green Parrot Bar in Key West, founded in 1890, is one of the island’s oldest and most iconic dive bars. Known for its lively atmosphere and welcoming crowd, it’s been a favorite spot for locals.  

 Over the years, it has hosted countless musicians and artists, becoming a key stop on the Key West music scene. Its eclectic décor and strong drinks make it a timeless part of the island’s vibrant nightlife.

Don't worry readers there was plenty of drinking in Marathon and Miami. 

A mojito here and there.

Plus a Moscow Mule to finish the night.

Key West

 Who is the guy in my photo?  Ugh, tourists. I made it to Key West and yep I'm in the southernmost point in the continental US. 

Off to see the cats at the Hemingway house.  Ernest Hemingway had a house in Key West because he fell in love with the island’s laid-back lifestyle and found it an inspiring place to write (and drink). The house became home to many cats, including one with extra toes given to him by a ship’s captain. Today, the cats—many with extra toes—are famous for being descendants of Hemingway’s original feline and are a unique feature of the property.

Hemingway didn't have much money but his wife (at the time) had a rich uncle who funded the restoration of the house (including adding a swimming pool).

This the room where he wrote some of his famous works including To Have and Have Not, Snows of Kilimanjaro and a little bit of For Whom the Bell Tolls. 

More cats, so awesome.  These cats are federally protected. The gate to the house is open and the cats are free to go but the guide said they never leave.

There are a ton of chickens in Key West and they are protected by the city. Why you ask? There are so many in Key West because they are descendants of birds brought over by early settlers for food and cockfighting. When cockfighting was outlawed and people no longer needed them for food, many chickens were released and began roaming freely. With the island’s warm climate and lack of natural predators, the chicken population continued to grow and is now a well-known part of Key West’s charm.

These chickens weren't too friendly to this fox. Must keep my distance.

Drinking is a big thing in Key West (Drunk Fox used to hang out here in the 70s and he could tell you stories).  I went to a few bars, this is the Green Parrot. Good drinks, loud music. 

The Key West butterfly convservatory was amazing.  Why are there no pictures of butterflies with me?  Well, have you tried to take a photo of a stuffy and a butterfly?  Very challenging.  Flamingos were much easier to take a photo with.

There's more to come in Key West but this little fox heard the sunsets are amazing at Mallory Square.  The universe wasn't cooperating for a sunset this time but got some nice pictures none-the-less

Hello Marathon, Florida

Hiya Gang, Little Fox relaxing and chilling.  I really fit into the Florida Keys lifestyle. 

Now, it's time to explore. First I watched people feed the Tarpon fish at Robbie's Marina.

The fish know how to jump so it's safer for me to hang out with the roommates.  Next stop is the Dolphin Research Center. 

A refuge for 27 dolphins who are not able to be released back to the wild.

Dolphins are so cool (like foxes).  There is more to the middle keys than dolphins and Robbies.  The old 7 mile bridge has walkable sections and some of the sections are bikeable as well.

The 7 mile bridge is quite the engineering feet.

Next up.  A little bike adventure.

The old 7 mile bridge is right next to the new one.  Fun fact, it was originally a railroad bridge, then in the 1930s the state transformed it into an automobile bridge.  It was in use until 1982 when the new bridge opened.

See that island?

 
It's Pigeon Key, a former rest stop when it was a interstate highway but before that it was a railroad work  camp.  When the railroad was built in the early 20th century by Henry Flagler (and crew) Pigeon Key was a work camp for the people who built the railroad. 

A short 2 mile bike ride later I reached the end of the bridge. 

Pigeon Key was originally established as a temporary camp for workers building the Overseas Railroad. During that time, the buildings were left unpainted since they were not intended to be permanent. Later, the site was preserved and transformed into a historic landmark to honor its role in Florida's railroad history.

My roommates found a great place on the Atlantic Ocean.  Time for a little break.

Should I take a chair or a lounger? 

More Miami

 Hiya Gang,
Little Fox here.  I was exploring some of the cool street art in Miami.  This one really calls to me.  However there was a lot of cool street art in Wynwood neighborhood. 

Beanie Mouse would love this street art.

Besides the cool street art, Calle Ocho in Little Havana was pretty neat.  The Cuban coffee was delicious.

Little Havana was a pretty fun area.  Lots of restaurants from all over Latin America.  Plus they have a ton of fiberglass roosters around to celebrate the areas culture.  This rooster is in front of a Starbucks.

After Little Havana it was time to explore the good life at Vizcaya Museum, the former winter home of American Industrialist James Deering of International Harvester fame.  This home is more of a villa, so many rooms, formal gardens and right on Biscayne Bay in Miami.  The heirs to the estate were kind enough to give the estate to the City of Miami so the could operate it as a museum.

This garden is so amazing - it's what I imagine Jerry's garden looks like.

After exploring Vizcaya it's time to explore more of South Beach.  Espanola way is a quiet little street with outdoor restaurants similar to Italy and Spain.

One more stop at the beach. 

Even the lifeguard stands are done in Art Deco style.

Miami is a cool town, but this fox is more of a smaller town fox.  Off to the Florida Keys.