You will find vendors of all sorts at this event ranging from food vendors, artists, local craftsmen to fresh produce and flower stands! And get ready to be serenaded by local artists as you browse the shops because there is live music throughout the whole event. Wish you had a drink as you walk around the booths? Well, you’re in luck because there is a bar located near the stage to quench your thirst!
Chairs and shade provided for guests to enjoy the music
The event is located on a grass field in between the Higgs Beach Dog Park and the Higgs Beach Playground. The location is very convenient and located near White Street Pier, Salute On The Beach, West Martello Museum and the local Bocce Courts. There is plenty of parking near the location with the largest area being a gravel lot off of White Street that leads straight into the market. Although previously the market was only held every other Sunday during high season, they have greatly increased the number of weekends the market is open due to its popularity! The Key West Artisan Market will be held this season on the following days…
February 23
March 1,8,15,22,29
April 5,19
Local Produce Stand
Bring a lawn chair, a bag for your market finds and an appetite and enjoy this incredible event!
I’m sure there is no surprise that of the biggest amenities at Boyd’s is the… POOL! Most days of the year there are people of all ages soaking up the sun and relaxing to the sound of palm trees swaying in the wind above. We make sure that the pool is heated/cooled to maintain a temperature of 78-82 degrees to accommodate our guests in all sorts of weather.
Walkway to Tiki Hut
But the there is more than just the pool. The Tiki Hut provides a great area to enjoy a nice lunch, watch your favorite sports team on TV or enjoy Movie Night on Tuesday and Thursday during season (December-April). The Tiki Hut provides shade to those hot, sunny days but still allows a nice breeze to keep you cool. There are picnic tables and benches under the hut for a great place to sit and play some boardgames or watch your little ones as they show off their skills in the pool.
Tiki Hut
My favorite part of the pool area though is Elsie’s Garden. The entrance is hidden at the back of the Tiki Hut, making it the perfect area to enjoy a nice cup of coffee or place to read a good book in peace. There is a small fountain running through this little oasis with beautiful tile work and an abundance of tropical foliage to make it feel very private.
Elsie’s Garden
So, grab your float and a cold drink and come enjoy the gorgeous island weather by the pool!
If we have learned anything from our campers, it’s that camping is just not complete without the fur-babies. We like to joke that Boyd’s hosts more dogs per year than children, and I honestly think that is a pretty accurate statement! Traveling with the pups is a great way to see the world and Key West just happens to be a very dog-friendly island. Most places in Key West are very accommodating for furry friends, but we have round up a few of our downtown favorites to help you make the most out of your travel plans with fido!
Higgs Beach Dog Park– This dog park is by far the largest area for dogs to run free with their pup friends! There are separated areas for large dogs and small dogs, each with plenty of room to run and play. There are large trees that provide a nice amount of shade for warmer days and benches spread out through the area for convenience. There is a water station with dog bowls so your pup can rehydrate after some fun play and there are usually dog bags for the owners… I would bring my own just in case!
Schooner Wharf Bar– Right on the Historic Harbor Walk, Schooner Wharf is “A last little piece of Old Key West”. There are always great events going on there, live music and a energetic atmosphere. This is a perfect place to stop in with your fur-friend and grab some drinks (for you and the pup) and watch a show!
Island Dogs Bar– Island Dogs is located right off of Duval on Front Street. They have a great selection of food, great signature drinks and live music! Bring your pup down to enjoy a nice happy hour and enjoy the music!
Dog Beach– Located right next to Louie’s Backyard, this is the only dog beach in Key West. It is very small (but so is the island of Key West), but still a great place for Fido to swim and play with you’re on vacation. Bring your own chair, a toy to play fetch with and a few towels to cover your car on the way home!
Salute on the Beach– Located right across the street from the Higgs Beach Dog Park, this becomes the ideal stop for you and your pup after a nice dog park date. Salute is located right on Higgs Beach and is a nice place to sit and watch the ocean waves, a great sand volleyball game or the kids playing at the playground. There is seating outside and a great place to grab a happy hour drink with Man’s Best Friend!
Cuban Coffee Queen– Walking around downtown and need a pick-me-up? Cuban Coffee Queen has the best Iced Cuban Coffee made with coffee ice cubes! They have great options for food as well and very ideal location right off of Duval. Run into their gift shop right next door and grab some coffee beans to take back home!
We hope you enjoy some quality time exploring Key West with your fur-babies!
The time has come to start thinking of those New Year’s resolutions everyone dreads as we start off the new 2020 decade. A hot topic for resolutions is getting into “tip top shape” for a new beginning and Stock Island has the perfect place to help! And guess what? It happens to be just down the road from Boyd’s! Talk about NO excuses!
FYT Key West is a new state-of-the art gym that covers all of your needs for physical and mental fitness. This one stop shop offers classes throughout the day including bootcamp style group classes, many different forms of yoga, and specialty classes! Have you ever wanted to blend workouts and happy hour together? Well, FYT agrees and they offer great happy hour classes every Friday afternoon!
FYT LYFT Group Class
The instructors at FYT are very educated through a wide variety of physical fitness and are very helpful whether you are taking a group class or would like more one-on-one training with small group or personal training.
Not only does FYT love to work hard and get sweaty in the gym, but they also have a great social following and provide many different events for their FYT Fam to interact and mingle with other members!
Oh and I almost forgot to mention…. THEY HAVE CHILDCARE! FYT is the only facility in Key West that provides childcare for their members during the busiest class times and also has great events for kiddos to learn about fitness and have fun with other kids their age!
Vacationer Packages
1 week of unlimited gym use and unlimited classes: $55
2 weeks of unlimited gym use and unlimited classes: $85
And they have offered all Boyd’s guests 15% off of auto-pay memberships!
FYT 50 Group Class
Make sure to visit their website for classes times, longer term memberships and keep up to date on special events through their social media outlets!
A Boyd’s holiday tradition that started over 50 years ago is still just as exciting as it was back in 1968. The Campground’s founder, Boyd Hamilton and his wife Elsie Hamilton started this tradition to bring more holiday cheer to the guests wanting to spend their holiday on the road. Little did they know, this fun visit through the park would still bring so much joy to our campers and employees! You can still find Mrs. Elsie enjoying her time as Mrs. Claus as she travels through the park to deliver candy to the little campers on Christmas Eve.
Please enjoy this excerpt from The Life & Times of Boyd N. Hamilton, written by Boyd N. Hamilton.
It was not long after we bought our first golf cart that the issue came up of what we could do at Christmas time. It would be nice to do something to liven things up for the kids. After all, they were away from home, probably for the first time in their lives, and it was Christmas time, too. Someone came up with the idea for Elsie and I to dress up like Santa Claus and his wife and go around the campground and hand out candies to the kids. It wasn’t long before someone had rounded up a nice red Santa suit for each of us with shiny black leggings, pointed hats with a white tassel on the top and whiskers for me. We looked quite authentic when we were all decked out in these new suits.
Soon we had a good quantity of candies and we were ready to go. The golf cart was decked out with silver trim around the edges of the top. Shortly after dark we were on our way around the campgrounds. We had a melodious sounding bell to shake and I let out plenty of loud Ho-Ho-Hos. We weren’t really prepared for the enthusiastic response we received. It seemed like just everyone came out to see us and there were a lot more kids than we had expected.
To our amazement we had kids sitting on our knees while their parents were snapping pictures. We were generous with our candies but not wasteful as we didn’t know for sure how much candy the parents would allow their kids to have. It seemed like everyone, big and little, old and young, enjoyed our visit as we slowly made our way around the campground.
Because so many people enjoyed this activity it has become an annual affair and not only the old time repeat customers look forward to it, but we do too. The girls that work the counter wear red pointed hats with a white tassel on the top and wish the customers a “Merry Christmas”. I’m sure it brings out a lot of pleasant smiles and a more happy feeling in almost everyone. This little act of spreading Christmas cheer started in 1968 and it goes on with at least as much fervor today in 1997 as it did then.
It’s the time of year again when the streets of Key West are filled with twinkling lights and holiday cheer. There is something for everyone to enjoy whether you like exploring the neighborhoods of Downtown looking for the most festive Conch homes or partaking in the more “athletic” side of the holidays with a 5K or Triathlon.
Check out these December Events and grab your tickets because these events fill up fast!
KEY WEST HOLIDAY FEST (Nov. 27-Dec. 31): This event includes the lighted boat parade, tree trimming party and many, many more Hometown events! You can even get your pet’s picture taken with Santa! Check out their website for more information. Please visit the website for more info!
KEY WEST SHOWS: The shows have begun in Key West! Check out these different locations and make sure to get your tickets ASAP because they tend to sell out very fast!
KEY WEST THEATRE
12/1: Max Weinberg
12/15: Bret Michaels
12/19-12/21: Key West Burlesque Presents: Sugar Rum Cherry, A Burlesque Nutcracker
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THEATRE
12/5: Sutton Foster
12/19-12/20: The Play That Goes Wrong
WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE
12/12-12/28: Around The World In 80 Days
KEY WEST AMPITHEATRE
12/28: Blackberry Smoke
KEY WEST LIGHTED BIKE PARADE (Dec. 4): The Wesley House puts on this parade to help gather toys for local families in need of help during this holiday season. The entry fee is an unwrapped toy or monetary donation and the ride will start at Bayview Park at 7pm. http://www.wesleyhouse.org/
OLD TOWN TROLLEY LIGHTS AND SIGHTS HOLIDAY TOUR (Dec. 6-23): This 60 minute tour leaves from Mallory Square and takes you on a magical tour through the festive neighborhoods of historic Key West to see the beautiful holiday lights. Boyd’s Campground will host their own trolley tour for campers on 12/23. Tickets are $10. Visit the front office to reserve your spot today! https://www.trolleytours.com/key-west/christmas-holiday-tours
KEY WEST CITY HOMETOWN HOLIDAY PARADE (Dec. 7): Come join the annual holiday parade filled with floats and acts from groups all over town. The parade starts at Bayview Park’s Truman Avenue and White Street location. Find your spot on Duval early to get the best view!
TRIKW SPRINT AND OLYMPIC TRIATHALON (Dec. 7): Whether you want to participate or just spectate, check out the website for more info!
FULL “COLD” MOON KAYAK TOUR (Dec. 12): What’s better than a kayak paddle during a full moon? One that includes the winter favorite, S’mores! The paddle leaves from Sunset Marina on college road in Stock Island. https://bluemoonkayakkeywest.com/
I LOVE STOCK ISLAND FESTIVAL (Dec 13-15): Come explore all Stock Island has to offer during this annual festival. Events of all kinds will be going on throughout the weekend, including a lighted boat parade and a Rooster 5K presented by FYT Key West. Check out the website for more info!
KEY WEST ARTISAN MARKET (Dec. 15 and 29): Come check out local arts and crafts as well as a large variety of fresh produce, food, drinks and more at Higgs Beach. There is free parking for your convenience!
60TH ANNUAL KEY WEST HOME TOURS (Dec. 27-28): Have you ever wondered what some of the most iconic old town homes and inns look like on the inside? This self-paced Annual Homes Tour is the best way to explore some of the most gorgeous homes and learn all about the history behind them. Make sure to grab your tickets early and save room for snacks throughout the tour!
NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOE DROP CELEBRATION: Head down to Duval St. to watch the famous 6 foot red high heel shoe drop at midnight sharp. This is a Key West tradition that you don’t want to miss!
These are just a handful of events happening in Key West during the month of December. For a complete list, please visit https://keywest.com/calendar/ and plan your holiday trip today!
Having a hard time finding a place to spend the day in Key West where you don’t have to walk all over town to keep everyone occupied?
Traveling with people of all ages and need a place that will have something to spark everyone’s interest?
Love going downtown but wish there was an area with a little more peace and quiet to enjoy the outdoors?
Well, let me tell you about a hidden gem of Key West that we have fallen in love with!
The new Truman Waterfront Park is a great amenity to Key West visitors as well as residents. There is a wide variety of things to do on the property and a great place for all ages to enjoy. Whether you want to get a little workout in on the fitness trail, expand your knowledge at the USCGC Museum and Eco Discovery Center or have a nice picnic while the kids work up an appetite at the splash pad, everyone is sure to have a great time!
Fitness Trail– There is a new fitness trail at the North end of the park that has 7 workout stations, including equipment to improve both your agility and strength. Each station has instructions on how to best use the station and includes modifications for all skill levels. It’s a great way to get your sweat on and soak up some Vitamin D at the same time!
Splash Pad and Playground– Located in the heart of the park is a perfect oasis for kids of all ages. There are two playgrounds, for both younger and older kids, with tropical palms sprinkled throughout and large sunshades making it a very nice area even during the hottest part of the day. Very close by is the most fun of all, Key West’s very own Splash Pad. From the big slide to the dropping buckets of water, there is something for kids of all ages to have a little fun while cooling off in the water. Located all around the park is a huge grass lawn perfect for lunch time picnics or kicking the soccer ball around. There are well kept restrooms located right next to the play area for your convenience as well.
USCGC Ingham Maritime Museum– The USCGC Ingham has over 50 years of service with the Coast Guard from the 1930s-1980s and has traveled all over the world. The hours to explore this incredible ship are 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday.
Eco-Discovery Center– Do you love the Florida Keys but don’t feel like you know enough about the unique local plant and animal life? Visit the Eco-Discovery Center and you will learn all about the local life here both on land and under the water as you walk around their self-paced exhibits. You will also learn about the efforts being made to conserve our local ecosystem and how you can help!
Truman Amphitheatre– The Amphitheatre hosts many different concerts and events for Key West and is the home of many great festivals including the Mile 0 Fest held at the end of January. Visit their Facebook page to see more about upcoming events.
Weekly Farmers Market– Every Thursday from 10am-2pm a local Farmers Market is held near the dock area of the park. The Market has a large variety of food and craft vendors and is the perfect place to pick up a quick lunch to enjoy along the docks or your favorite shade tree on the lawn. There is a pay-to-park parking lot located very close so you don’t have to worry about carrying all of your market treasures too far. And don’t forget to grab the most delicious fresh lemonade from The Gourmet Italian Tomato!
With the arrival of Fall, comes the season for… CAMPFIRES! Yes, even in Key West when the temperature drops to a frigid low of 70 degrees, we put on our sweats and flip-flops, grab a bundle of wood from the Camp Store and start up that fire for our very own survival. I am slightly exaggerating… but really, 70 is COLDDDD to us locals. And what is a nice campfire without the ol’ faithful s’more? Not a very tasty one that’s for sure!
Before we talk about jazzing up the S’more, we need to go over the three basic components of this campfire favorite.
It’s very simple.
Graham cracker.
Chocolate bar.
Roasted marshmallow.
Graham cracker.
THAT’S IT!
Now here are 5 ways to dress up those s’mores and add a little fun to these traditional treats!
Nutella
Smear some of this hazelnut goodness on your graham crackers before adding the toasty marshmallow and chocolate.
Toasted Coconut
Toast some shredded coconut over the flame or in your oven and sprinkle over the melted chocolate for a tropical flavor.
Salted Caramel
Add a drizzle of melted caramel right on top of that hot marshmallow before squishing all that yumminess together with your top graham cracker.
Candy Bars
Instead of the plain chocolate bar, try adding your favorite candy bar on the graham cracker before roasting up the perfect marshmallow!
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Don’t like graham crackers? Bake your favorite cookie and use that as your S’more foundation. Bonus: if they are still a little warm, it can help melt that chocolate bar a little more for extra gooeyness!
We hope you enjoy these tasty treats along with some quality family and friend time by the campfire this season. It’s what camping is all about!
These are a few of the characteristics that come to mind when we think of a Camper….or YOU!
Chances are if you are reading this, you are camping at Boyd’s, thinking about making the trip to Key West, or just really love the outdoors. And regardless of which category you fall into, this blog is for you!
Our hopes for this blog is to provide a space for campers to come and learn about the camping way of life, learn new tips and tricks to make your adventure easier and to learn all about what Key West has to offer to it’s visitors. We want you to make the most out of your trip to Mile 0 whether you are staying for a nice long weekend or you are escaping from the snowy weather up North for the next four months.
We are so happy you are joining us on this journey and we hope you tune in for all the great things ahead!
Happy Camper Chronicles 