Part of Our Florida Holiday
If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that I spent a quiet Christmas in the Florida Keys. Joining me was my daughter, Alexis, my grandchildren Jude and Truman, and our friend, Kevin Sharkey. As it turned out, where we stayed, Pines and Palms in Islamorada, is a very good place for a family vacation. It was a very comfortable bungalow and having a functional kitchen to prepare meals made things quite easy with the little ones. We did venture one day to the southernmost point in the continental United States. Key West is just 90-miles from Cuba compared to 150-miles to Miami. Although there were several places of interest, we found Key West to be quite touristy. With its many honky tonk drinking bars, it reminded us of a mini New Orleans. Still, the drive through the Keys is quite lovely and there is much to take in.
1 We stayed in Islamorada for eight glorious days. The Florida Keys are a surprisingly relaxed and pleasant place, stretching from Key Largo all the way to Key West, covering a distance of about 120-miles. There are many places to stay and lots to do.
2 Granddaughter, Jude, swam every day in the pool and loved getting cozy in towels to keep warm when out of the water.
3 Kevin came with us and he napped with both Jude and Truman.
4 Fresh shrimp were plentiful. We mostly cooked at our bungalow and found the local stores had most everything we needed.
5 Lazy Days in Islamorada has a lively bar and serves fresh local fish and very good mixed drinks. The margaritas were excellent!
6 Even the fish taxidermy were in the holiday spirit!
7 We took a day trip to Key West, which was 77-miles from our lodging. It was a bit far, but we got it out of our system and Truman got to visit his namesake's vacation White House.
8 The Little White House has a very interesting history. Built in 1890 as quarters for Navy officers, the Little White House later was used by American Presidents William Howard Taft, Harry S. Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton for both vacation and policy making.
9 Key West is known for its tourist attractions, many of which are local watering holes, like The Green Parrot, which was started in 1890 as a grocery store. At the end of WWII, it was turned into The Brown Derby Bar and was transformed into The Green Parrot in the 1970s.
10 Kevin and I both liked this parrot sign, a smaller version of which is available here. http://greenparrot.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=82
11 Banyan trees, members of the fig family, grow to immense sizes in the Keys. They start out as epiphytes, a plant growing upon another, and grow to envelop the host tree, giving the nickname of 'strangler fig.'
12 Audubon House and Tropical Gardens is another of Key West's attractions, named for the naturalist, John James Audubon. There are 28 first edition Audubon works in the house.
13 Audubon visited the Keys in 1832 and drew 18 new birds for his "Birds of America" folio, many of which were drawn in the Audubon House gardens.
14 The Key West Aquarium is also an interesting place to visit and the babies got to feel some of the aquatic life at the touch tank, but not these strange green moray eels.
15 Green morays occupy shallow, rocky shorelines, reefs and mangroves in the western Atlantic from New Jersey to Brazil. They are actually a brown color, but their skin is bathed in a protective, yellowy mucus that tints them green.
16 In the shark tank, there are nurse sharks, sandbar sharks, and bonnethead sharks and there are feedings throughout the day.
17 As the guides feed, they offer interesting facts about the sharks and try to dispel myths regarding this misunderstood creature.
18 A good look at a bonnethead shark, which is a small, common hammerhead shark with a smooth, rounded head. Eating mostly crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish, it is a harmless and timid shark.
19 Spiny lobsters, or rock lobsters, are notable for their long, thick, spiny antennae and lack of claws.
20 Pterois, commonly known as lionfish, is a genus of venomous marine fish found mostly in the Indo-Pacific and is a very popular aquarium specimen.
21 If attacked, a lionfish delivers a potent venom via its needle-like dorsal fins. Its sting is extremely painful to humans and can cause nausea and breathing difficulties, but is rarely fatal.
22 Zooanthids are colonies of sea animals commonly found in coral reefs, the deep sea, and many other marine environments around the world.
23 Another look
24 Gorgonians are also known as sea whips or sea fans.
25 This is a clownfish or anemonefish, native to warmer waters, and lives in coral reefs.
26 Soft corals are an order of corals which do not produce calcium carbonate skeletons.
27 Sea Horses, Hippocampus erectus, are a deep chested, robust and hardy seahorse. They are commonly found in sea grasses along the Atlantic coastal areas of the US and in the Gulf of Mexico.
28 After the aquarium, we ate at Pepe's Cafe in Key West for lunch and had very good fresh local fish sandwiches. Established in 1909, it is the oldest restaurant in town.
29 The ride through the Keys is quite fascinating. The old railroad line and the many miles of old construction are still extant, although unusable, except as fishing piers in certain areas.
30 The highway, the southernmost leg of US 1, follows a trail originally blazed in 1912 when Henry Flagler extended his Florida East Coast Railroad from Miami to Key West.
31 The railroad ceased operations on the Miami-Key West link in 1935, following extensive damage to the roadbed by severe hurricane winds and the economic decline caused by the Depression era.
32 Some stretches are used by joggers and cyclists. It's really quite beautiful, especially at sunrise and sunset.
33 An appealing island getaway near the highway
34 An Australian pine, a non-indigenous species, takes hold in unusual places.
35 This Overseas Highway was begun in the 1930s and was an incredible engineering feat. There is a total of 113 miles of roadway and 42 overseas bridges. This span is known as Seven Mile Bridge.
36 It took seven days to finish this very complex Liberty classic wooden jigsaw puzzle. Alexis is really patient and good at puzzles - I work only in short spurts.
37 Jude was renamed Juicyfrutas because of the huge amounts of fresh fruits she consumes every day.
38 One of the many friendly cafes for morning coffee
39 It was nice to sip a cafe outside.
40 Alexis made sure the children spent lots of time communing with nature - in and out of the ocean and pool.
41 Truman loved the ocean and did not mind the cool water at all.
42 The red ball, or just about any ball, is very appealing to Truman.
43 Jude learned about sunrises. We went out every morning to see the sun rise up over the horizon.
44 She loved seeing the sky change.
45 The pelicanos were a source of constant comment and fascination.
46 The babys' and Alexis' luggage - Alexis uses Muji bags and each is tagged with contents - swimwear, clothing, diapers, toiletries, etc. All our bags were driven to Florida ahead of time so we could send down prepared baby food and pantry items. We had no check-in baggage!
47 Our bungalow was pretty basic, but airy, light, breezy, and comfortable. It was part of the compound known as the Pine and Palms.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
What a great place to have a winter vacation, but Martha, where was your Christmas tree?
I've been to the Keys before, but I don't remember just where. It was a looooong time ago...July of 1967, to be exact. I do know there was an Air Force Base there.
Oh yes, those beautiful blue eyes competed with the beautiful sunrises.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | January 4th, 2013 at 12:29 am
Martha, I'm thinking the highlight of the photos are Jude and Truman. Jude throwing down on that fruit (she's giving me a craving for fruit) and Truman with the red ball and boy is he sporting that hat! I love doing puzzles also. That nap with Kevin looks comfy too. Thanks so much for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | January 4th, 2013 at 12:58 am
Hi Martha,
Glad to see you had a very relaxing Christmas Holiday
Posted by: C. Corseion | January 4th, 2013 at 1:33 am
What a lovely family vacation you all had. Thank you for sharing it. The grandkids are beautiful and you can see the love that is surrounding them from each of you.
Posted by: Cindy | January 4th, 2013 at 1:38 am
The best joy in life is spending the holidays with your family. What a beautiful family Martha, Jude and Truman are so precious and so cute. Love your photos, thank you for sharing. Happy New Year and best wishes with lots of blessings xo
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | January 4th, 2013 at 6:17 am
The Florida Keys is one of my very favorite places, it's so relaxing. What a treat to spend Christmas with your beautiful grandchildren and daughter in such a tropical paradise! Yes, I know Key West is very touristy, but I love it. Very interesting you observed it is like a mini New Orleans, my hometown, maybe that's why I like it so much! Thanks for sharing your pictures Martha!
Posted by: Cindy F | January 4th, 2013 at 7:49 am
Hi Martha,
What a relaxing and warm place to go in the middle of winter. I just can't believe how big Jude and Truman are. I love the picture of Truman with the ball and the hat. They look like they had a great time
Thanks for sharing
Karen
Posted by: Karen Tracy | January 4th, 2013 at 7:59 am
hi martha,
it was nice to see you and your family having fun. le cirque is awesome and the keys, well, i've always wanted to visit. we are beach people and we love the beach so we usually go to st petes. its not too far from sanibel and there is a state park there called fort de soto. its very kid friendly. there are tidal pools and lagoons so the little ones can enjoy the water without being swept into sea. lol j.k. its not as touristy as the keys. i was surprised you did not go to st barts this year. it must be a hassle to lug the little ones. all in all it looks like you had fun. i cant take off the image of the foldaway bed/sofa. who was the unlucky one who ended up taking that. lol
miss your tv talk show. you were really good at it. now i kind of regretted telling you it was annoying to see how the clueless celebrity guests did not know what to do at the cooktop. it was very entertaining. i hope you have plans to have a new one soon.
best,
t
Posted by: tim | January 4th, 2013 at 8:21 am
Hi Martha, You sure picked a perfect place to spend your delightful Christmas vacation with Alexis, Jude, Truman, and Kevin in Florida! The weather must have been fabulous compared to what it's like up north this time of the year! That website of Pines and Palms resort in Islamorada is gorgeous! These photos are awesome and it's easy to see how much fun each one of you had! I missed seeing photos of you, but Alexis and Kevin look so happy taking Jude and Truman to such lovely places and both kids look adorable in every photo of them! You sure did take some outstanding photos of Islamorada and Key West! I love all of this historic information you gave us and every place you visited was so much fun to be able to see and this tour you shared was a perfect place I would love to visit some day! Seeing all of those fabulous fish was wonderful, also! Love those coral reefs, too! The photos of the railroad lines and the highways over the water are awesome! The photos of the kids by and in the water were so great to see! Thanks a million for sharing this wonderful tour with all of us! Hope you have a great day and first weekend of 2013! Happy New Year to all of you! Off to see The Daily Wag about "Studying Animal Tracks!" Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 4th, 2013 at 9:10 am
Just love Key West, going down in late April, can hardly wait!!! The best cosmos at LaTeDa, a beautiful blush pink!!! And of course the sunset party on top of the Pink Conch Hotel...beautiful!!!
Posted by: David | January 4th, 2013 at 9:18 am
What a lovely vacation. We love Key West. We would get there from the Gulf side by Catamaran. We really should check out the East coast one of these days.
Happy new year to your family.
Posted by: Sharon Weinmann | January 4th, 2013 at 9:51 am
Hi Martha,
The kids are going to love these pictures when they are a bit older, especially Truman in front of The Little White House. How cute! Pines and Palms looks like a great place to stay – the beach is beautiful with clean smooth sand, a nice dock to walk out on and of course an ever present volleyball net.
~
I’m with Alexis where puzzles are concerned - I also have tons of patience for them. I started one Christmas Day and finished it in 3 days with a little help from two 'spurt' helpers. I'll have to try a Liberty puzzle - the one Alexis chose looks extremely challenging. Thanks for sharing your wonderful vacation with us. I haven't been down to the Keys in quite some time but we get sporadic reports from our Michigan friends from time to time. I love it down there – it reminds me so much of Harsens Island, a great place in Michigan where we used to spend a lot of time. Have a great weekend all! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 4th, 2013 at 10:28 am
Looks like you had a lovely trip. The aquarium looks like a lot of fun!
Posted by: Laura Dembowski | January 4th, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Looks like an incredible vacation! Sure beats all the snow up in the northeast!
Posted by: Lisa Huff @ Snappy Gourmet | January 4th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Looks like a fun, relaxing vacation spent with the people that matter most. How wonderful for your grandchildren to be able to spend such focused time with you, and I am sure it is just as rewarding and gratifying for you. Happy New Year, Martha!
Posted by: Jana Francis | January 4th, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Thanks for sharing. Look's like a great time in the Keys!
Posted by: Janet Van Loo- Haverkamp | January 4th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Looks like a relaxing time...nice to see an Australian Casaurina growing in the middle of nowhere like they do here in Oz!
Posted by: Karen Davis | January 4th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Thanks for sharing your Christmas vacation with us Martha - looks like a lovely place to rest and relax! Always something to see and learn - so nice for the kids!
I have seen another sign relating to unattended children that I think is also cute:
)
'Any child left unattended will be given a free puppy!'
Posted by: Donna | January 4th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Hello, Martha:
What a wonderful share! Thank you! The Keys are always special and so lovely. And what a happy family memory for your grandchildren!
And bless you for giving me a great tip about sending your luggage ahead. My hubby and I are thinking "Alaska" this year. With such a long flight we'd rather not worry about our bags coming and going. You are my queen!!
)
Posted by: P. Hawkins | January 4th, 2013 at 9:00 pm
On your next trip to the Keys, please consider staying at Little Palm Island. It will afford you the necessary privacy, fantastic restaurant. It is a 5-star resort...you will love it.
Posted by: Nancy Sleeper | January 4th, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Next time you visit Key West, please let me know. I will show you the not 'touristy' side of paradise. There are so many wonderful things about Key West that have nothing to do with tourists and drinking. Please!!! I'd love to show you around!
Posted by: Betsy Naselli | January 4th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
I miss you on tv in Ohio, miss seeing you and hearing your voice at 10 am every morning. Do you have any plans to do another show? Maybe one decorating? DIY projects? You have great ideas on your website. Glad you and Alexis and kids had a relaxing time!!!
Posted by: Nancy M | January 4th, 2013 at 9:13 pm
What beautiful photos. And the notes on each were wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lily Mount | January 4th, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Beautiful pictures and the babies are growing so fast. Thank you for sharing. I have received your magazine for over twenty years now. Feel like part of the family...Key West is a place I hope to visit with my husband someday soon.
Posted by: Inge Curtis | January 4th, 2013 at 9:29 pm
Hi, Martha,
We rent a home in Islamorada for two months every winter. We love to scuba dive, fish and just enjoy the gorgeous surroundings. I am so excited that you enjoyed your family holiday getaway in the place I love.
Posted by: Rosemary Turner | January 4th, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Hi Martha!
Being from Florida I am partial to the tropical beauty of it all! You stayed in a great spot. I think Key West {downtown} is not really a place for families but the upper keys are amazing! We used to visit Duck Key all the time when the kids were little. It's always a little challenging to find spots where little ones can play in shallow water.
We live in Punta Gorda and Tampa so we never have too far to drive. We'll be visiting the Keys soon to catch shrimp...yes, shrimp! In a net right from shore! We did it last year and my son loved it. {I never knew it could be done and just how easy it was!} You can beat all the fresh shrimp you can catch!
Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family!
~Kim
Posted by: Kim @ EverythingEtsy | January 4th, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Nothing more enjoyable on your blog than seeing you spending time with your lovely daughter and beautiful grandchildren - oh, and friends such as Kevin too, of course. Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us!
Best wishes for a happy new year that delivers you and to those who love you perfect health, happiness and continued success in all you love to do!
xo
Posted by: Janet | January 4th, 2013 at 10:26 pm
Hi Martha,
So glad you enjoyed your family vacation in the Florida Keys. It was very interesting and enjoyable to see the picture through your eyes, I live in Key West, Fl. have lived here all of my life and sometimes we forget how unusual and beautiful it is. Thanks foe sharing. I have been a follower of you for many years.
Posted by: Christina Maribona | January 4th, 2013 at 10:30 pm
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Cathy Tulluck | January 4th, 2013 at 10:49 pm
wow- you went to my home town- Key West. Fun to see all the familiar places
Posted by: Donna Thompson | January 4th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
Martha,
The Florida Keys is one of my favorite places in Florida. It has a laidback character and quirkiness with gorgeous sunsets and beautiful clear water. Everyone looks so relaxed. You grandchildren are adorable..Truman sitting on the beach in his hat and red ball, and Jude enjoying a plateful of luscious fruits. What a great place to be with your family during Christmas! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Judy | January 4th, 2013 at 11:04 pm
Martha,
There are those that exist and those that truly live!
We've had dinner together in the past; Bluelight Days --- and I'm happy to witness the joy you are experiencing as you explore our world.
Posted by: Lori v. Gagnon | January 4th, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Happy New Year Martha! Thanks for sharing the photos. I love Islamorada. I stayed there many years ago at The Islander at Mm. 82.1. My family would buy local food to cook too. We would wait for the fishing party boats to come in and buy their fresh fish. We would use the key limes from the trees by our kitchenette. Those were happy, relaxing days. We would drive down to Key West and it was not as commercialized as it is now.
Posted by: Darlene | January 5th, 2013 at 12:15 am
i have read u blog ,and u enjoyed holiday that u describe is really nice to me ,u information is helpful others visitor as a holiday program i thank u again
Posted by: Iftekhar Uddin | January 5th, 2013 at 12:41 am
your granddaughter is very beatiful today ankara turkey is snowy. it is a great pleasure for me to see a nice ocean and warm weather. thanks Martha and jude baby.
Posted by: birsen | January 5th, 2013 at 2:44 am
Must have been so grand to get away from the materialism and bustle of NY at Christmas time. What I so love about you Martha is appreciating a little simplicity and normalcy in your life and for your your grandchildren. Hearing you on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on NPR last month and seeing these lovely photos confirms for me that you're still a Jersey girl with a lot of class. Thanks!
Posted by: Martin D | January 5th, 2013 at 5:59 am
Looks like a great vacation, away from crowds. I'm married to a Dermatologist and we live in Florida. I assume you had that baby in sunscreen from top to bottom because I've followed you online and on tv and know how tuned into health topics you are. The Florida sun feels great this time of year but coming from the north, people don't understand how easy it is to get too much and even burn at this time of year. Love the keys!
Posted by: FG | January 5th, 2013 at 7:59 am
Thanks for sharing the photos and information on the Keys and Islamorada. I am a native Floridian but have moved north since being born and raised in Miami. Your photos make me want to go back! What a wonderful way to spend a vacation with two beautiful growing babies. Enjoy every moment of their darling lives. They grow so quickly. Happy 2013!
Posted by: mimi | January 5th, 2013 at 8:09 am
thanks for sharing Martha, I sure miss your show, Enjoy those grandbabies - that is all that matters in life!!
Posted by: jude gould | January 5th, 2013 at 8:48 am
Happy 2013, Martha! Jude is precious! And so is Truman! What lovely grandchildren: don't they just make you want to keep working hard to make a more civilized world? I know my grandson does -- he will be three on May 1. Thank you for the beautiful photos, Martha, and all the serenity that your work and sharing inspire in my life... That sunset is gorgeous! Have a safe, healthy & prosperous 2013, and let's change the world together, so there are no more of those atrocious attacks we read about that just chill one to the core...
Posted by: Maria Ashot | January 5th, 2013 at 10:55 am
Happy New Year Martha! I love your site and enjoy very much reading about your fun life;). Lets have a contest called 'Hang Out With Martha' which gives us a chance to have a delight of life hanging at the farm....(I'm the first winner).
Posted by: Kathi | January 5th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
I wanted to see photos of YOU, Martha, not some old bridge...
Posted by: Chuck Staley | January 5th, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Hi, there, Martha,
Thank you. Very enjoyable. When my daughter was small and even well into high school, we never passed up a museum (art, natural history, science) or an aquarium. After leaving home, even during college and now that she is well into her career, she still sets up field trips with her friends and children. She continues to share her love of learning.
Posted by: Bobbie | January 5th, 2013 at 11:00 pm
Thank you.
Posted by: Karen | January 6th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Thank you for sharing your Christmas Family Vacation with us. I have been to the keys twice and have stayed in Key West both times.U just traveled there in Dec, two weeks before the christmas holiday. Made a few stops through out the keys. Key Largo and Islamorada were two of my favorite places. Its a place I would love to call home someday! I enjoyed all of your photos~
Posted by: Nichole | January 7th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
fantabulous pics
Posted by: LucyAn | January 7th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
You seem to have really GOTTEN the Keys for what we are, ma'am! I'm glad you had a good time. You hit some great spots while you were here. Come see me play next time.
Posted by: Clint Bullard | January 7th, 2013 at 10:22 pm
LOVE THIS PICTURE...ISN'T GOD GOOD???
Posted by: MARYHELEN FERGUSON | January 8th, 2013 at 3:16 am
MARTHA, I ADMIRE THE WAY YOU TRAVEL...EVERYTHING IS WELL IN ORDER...YOU LOOK LIKE YOU HAD A BLAST...
Posted by: MARYHELEN FERGUSON | January 8th, 2013 at 3:20 am
Beautiful photos Martha
Best wishes, Alex
Posted by: Orlando Villa | January 8th, 2013 at 10:24 am
I love seeing the different perspectives and takes each visitor has when visiting this one of a kind island chain. I spend a week in "Old Town Key West" staying in a vacation rental each year. Looks like you had a wonderful time, if you ever head back, consider staying in this distinguished Classic Key West Estate.
http://vacationhomesofkeywest.com/classic-key-west-estate-vacation-rental.html
Posted by: Michael Irwin | January 9th, 2013 at 10:20 am
Martha,
We were just up the road from you all at Christmas, Pennekamp Park, and wasn't the weather just absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Drove past Robbies, didn't stop in. Did you and the children feed the Tarpon, one of my fav things to do there. The Florida Keys are one of my favorite vacation spots and it's so great living in Florida and being able to enjoy all it has to offer.
Posted by: Kathy Gleason | January 10th, 2013 at 7:39 am
Oh I just have to ask who slept on the sofa bed?? dont get me wrong I was shocked to see it dont know why ya I do Your Martha Stewart !! I mean that in a very nice way
Posted by: Jeff | January 11th, 2013 at 8:37 pm