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| What to do in Key West when it rains. Here on Duval Street someone has a different option than a rain poncho. |
Showing posts with label best time to visit Key West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best time to visit Key West. Show all posts
Sunday, December 18, 2016
What to do in Key West when it rains
If you're reading this then it's probably raining in Key West and you're looking for ideas about what to do. First I'm sorry it's raining and I hope it stops soon. Anyway, what to do? The traditional answer in Key West when it rains is: Drink! You have a multitude of choices and you'll find the bars packed today if it's raining. But there are alternatives, read on...
Sunday, November 30, 2014
When is the best time of year to visit Key West?
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| Best time to visit Key West is January to May |
The off season (June to December) has its charms, but big downsides you need to be aware of, as I explain below.
See below for a month by month guide 📆 to visiting Key West….
See below for a month by month guide 📆 to visiting Key West….
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Visiting Key West in October and November
FIRST: you get the two best events in Fantasy Fest, the adult themed mardi gras of Key West. That's the Masquarade March on Friday 24 and the main parade on Saturday 25 October.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Key West in November
November is a good month to visit Key West.
It's shoulder season, about to go into peak, so still a little cheaper and quite a lot LESS busy than peak time, which is really good because it means you can get into restaurants, find space at the beach, order a drink quicker at the bar etc.
But if you like it mad busy, then come January to March time and you'll get your wish.
In November, the weather has broken - that is to say, the stifling heat and humidity of July to early October has gone. Which is very good! But the weather can be a bit variable some years.
Our visit this week, in early November 2012, is a great example......
At the beginning of this week just gone, I took this screenshot of the forecast for Key West. It's definitely slightly colder than usual in November. And look at that 20% rain on the forecast ALL WEEK....Looks like we were set for a BAD week in Key West.
And here's the hour by hour forecast for Monday, which makes you want to head to a Duval bar early and settle in for a long drinking session!....20% rain every hour!!!
Doesn't look too good, right? So, how did it pan out, for real?
Actually, good! Phew!
20% rain here actually means: "20% chance of a small drizzle or dribble of rain, over very quickly." Not a prolonged rain shower for hours (like back home!).
Here's what really happened this week:
Monday - From 9am to 11am it was lovely, strong sunshine, enough to make you feel a little bit burned. Yes, it was that hot. Here's what the sky looked like...
Then at 11am, it turned overcast-ish for an hour:
And yes it DID rain... but ... 2 drizzle showers for 3 minutes each. It was so light I did not need to go in, and I stayed outside. And that the rain for the whole day, the rest of the day fine with hot sunshine.
Tuesday - No rain at all. Hot and sunny all day. Some hazy cloud for a few hours in the morning but the sun came through it anyway. Actually, despite the haze, less breeze meant it felt real hot. Temp: 81. In only 3 hours in the morning sun and factor 15, we both got a little burned/red.
Friday - forecast said heavy cloud in morning and worse in afternoon. What happened: moderate cloud in morning (enough to just about sunbathe). Then, big surprise, turned fine from 1pm to 3.30pm. Hot and lovely. Then clouded over. No rain.
So, basically, a 20% chance of rain, in November to May anyway, usually means a few drops, or a single thundershower and it's over and back to lovely weather for the rest of the day. So don't worry!
It's shoulder season, about to go into peak, so still a little cheaper and quite a lot LESS busy than peak time, which is really good because it means you can get into restaurants, find space at the beach, order a drink quicker at the bar etc.
But if you like it mad busy, then come January to March time and you'll get your wish.
In November, the weather has broken - that is to say, the stifling heat and humidity of July to early October has gone. Which is very good! But the weather can be a bit variable some years.
Our visit this week, in early November 2012, is a great example......
At the beginning of this week just gone, I took this screenshot of the forecast for Key West. It's definitely slightly colder than usual in November. And look at that 20% rain on the forecast ALL WEEK....Looks like we were set for a BAD week in Key West.
And here's the hour by hour forecast for Monday, which makes you want to head to a Duval bar early and settle in for a long drinking session!....20% rain every hour!!!
Doesn't look too good, right? So, how did it pan out, for real?
Actually, good! Phew!
20% rain here actually means: "20% chance of a small drizzle or dribble of rain, over very quickly." Not a prolonged rain shower for hours (like back home!).
Here's what really happened this week:
Monday - From 9am to 11am it was lovely, strong sunshine, enough to make you feel a little bit burned. Yes, it was that hot. Here's what the sky looked like...
Tuesday - No rain at all. Hot and sunny all day. Some hazy cloud for a few hours in the morning but the sun came through it anyway. Actually, despite the haze, less breeze meant it felt real hot. Temp: 81. In only 3 hours in the morning sun and factor 15, we both got a little burned/red.
Wednesday - Today's forecast STILL predicting 20% rain, just like yesterday. Morning was lovely, strong sun. Then heavy cloud came over at 1pm for the rest of the afternoon. No sunbathing this afternoon. Cleared in the evening. No rain.
Thursday - Maybe the most perfect day's weather I've ever had in Key West. Clear skies, 80 degrees, light wind - absolutely sublime! So much for 20% chance of rain. I saw 6 tiny clouds all day. Wonderful blue skies. See here for a post on today's weather.
Friday - forecast said heavy cloud in morning and worse in afternoon. What happened: moderate cloud in morning (enough to just about sunbathe). Then, big surprise, turned fine from 1pm to 3.30pm. Hot and lovely. Then clouded over. No rain.
So, basically, a 20% chance of rain, in November to May anyway, usually means a few drops, or a single thundershower and it's over and back to lovely weather for the rest of the day. So don't worry!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
March in Key West and March weather in Key West
Two things come to mind when considering March for vacation in Key West: Slightly variable weather and crowds.
Key West is having it's busiest March since 2003 (according to one local barman, and as he deals with it the crowds every day, he should know!).
This means it's very busy. I must admit that, having not visited Key West in March for over 3 years (coming July to November instead) I'd forgotten quite how busy the place got - it's MAD here!
Very busy
And this makes a real difference.... You have to make a reservation for all the better restaurants as they are running 100% full. The sidewalks are clogged up with people. It takes ages to get served in shops. Last time I visited the aquarium there were about a dozen people there - this week there was maybe 80 in there. There was a bike tour with over 30 cycles in it that I've never seen before (are visitors now unable to cycle around Key West by themselves?). I even had to wait in 30 minutes for my pizza to be cooked (we're not talking about delivery here) in the pizza place on Duval.
And I just feel everyone is frantic. There's no time to chat or be really nice because it's so busy!
Then the extra complication is Spring Break (most of March). Every college kid deserves to have fun and, yes, even I was young once. And I wished I could have said that Spring breakers didn't impact my vacation. But they did. There do seem to be many of them here in Key West. Key West Bight walk was ruined because of the awful noisy disco thing (Dante's) they have every day up there. They seem to love going too fast on scooters. Or on bikes on the sidewalk. They took over and occupied Smathers beach. They always travel en mass in packs of 10 and get in the way on Duval Street.
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I understand a lot of visitors now delay their vacation to April to avoid Spring Break and I can see why. I am not going to visit Key West again in March. Too busy, and not relaxing enough.
March weather in Key West
The weather in March can still be more predictable than you'd like. Cold fronts further north that are causing snow up there can still cause some poor weather down in Key West.
I mean, it's almost certainly miles better than back at home. And also this season's up util now has been pretty good but we saw that variability and unpredictability in action this week.
Unfortunately, during my visit this week we've had a freaky few days with a cold front on Sunday. This caused 6 hours of rain on Sunday - see when the storm front came through on Sunday when I was in Blue Heaven, how rapidly it came on and how it changed everything! But whilst Sunday was a wash out until 6pm, then it was back to normal on Monday, albeit with strong winds pretty much all week. (The temperature was fine so actually the strong winds were refreshing).
So in a week we had one very cold night, one very cloudy day, and the wash out Sunday. Apart from the good sunbathing weather. There is, of course, none of the humidity that you'd get from June onwards.
Finally, of course, you're on vacation so the rain does not ruin vacations - see here!
So in summary, if you like it busy and the buzz that generates. Then February and March will be good for you. If you don't then consider April or May. Or if you don't mind it quiet but a bit humid then choose (non Fantasy fest time) from late September to late November.
See here for my article on when to visit Key West.
Key West is having it's busiest March since 2003 (according to one local barman, and as he deals with it the crowds every day, he should know!).
This means it's very busy. I must admit that, having not visited Key West in March for over 3 years (coming July to November instead) I'd forgotten quite how busy the place got - it's MAD here!
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| It's crowds on Duval. |
And this makes a real difference.... You have to make a reservation for all the better restaurants as they are running 100% full. The sidewalks are clogged up with people. It takes ages to get served in shops. Last time I visited the aquarium there were about a dozen people there - this week there was maybe 80 in there. There was a bike tour with over 30 cycles in it that I've never seen before (are visitors now unable to cycle around Key West by themselves?). I even had to wait in 30 minutes for my pizza to be cooked (we're not talking about delivery here) in the pizza place on Duval.
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| The line to get into the Hemingway House in March. You should see the line for standing next to the Southernmost point buoy - it goes round the block! |
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| Gangs of 30 or more cycle tours have invaded Key West and really get in the way |
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| It's busy in March. |
Then the extra complication is Spring Break (most of March). Every college kid deserves to have fun and, yes, even I was young once. And I wished I could have said that Spring breakers didn't impact my vacation. But they did. There do seem to be many of them here in Key West. Key West Bight walk was ruined because of the awful noisy disco thing (Dante's) they have every day up there. They seem to love going too fast on scooters. Or on bikes on the sidewalk. They took over and occupied Smathers beach. They always travel en mass in packs of 10 and get in the way on Duval Street.
.
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| Restaurants are super busy in March in Key West. The wait on Sunday at Blue Heaven was 45 minutes. |
March weather in Key West
The weather in March can still be more predictable than you'd like. Cold fronts further north that are causing snow up there can still cause some poor weather down in Key West.
I mean, it's almost certainly miles better than back at home. And also this season's up util now has been pretty good but we saw that variability and unpredictability in action this week.
Unfortunately, during my visit this week we've had a freaky few days with a cold front on Sunday. This caused 6 hours of rain on Sunday - see when the storm front came through on Sunday when I was in Blue Heaven, how rapidly it came on and how it changed everything! But whilst Sunday was a wash out until 6pm, then it was back to normal on Monday, albeit with strong winds pretty much all week. (The temperature was fine so actually the strong winds were refreshing).
So in a week we had one very cold night, one very cloudy day, and the wash out Sunday. Apart from the good sunbathing weather. There is, of course, none of the humidity that you'd get from June onwards.
Finally, of course, you're on vacation so the rain does not ruin vacations - see here!
So in summary, if you like it busy and the buzz that generates. Then February and March will be good for you. If you don't then consider April or May. Or if you don't mind it quiet but a bit humid then choose (non Fantasy fest time) from late September to late November.
See here for my article on when to visit Key West.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Visiting Key West in September - watch out for the closed restaurants
Several restaurants in Key West close for a few weeks or more every September.
As I write this in mid-September the following are currently closed for a while (not permanently!) -
Blue Heaven - closed
Sarabeth's - closed
Roof Top Cafe - closed
Cafe Sole - closed
Old Town Mexican - closed
La Trattoria - closed
Mangoes - closed for lunch, open in the evening
(Even Kermit from the Key Lime pie shop is not standing in his normal position outside the shop)
This is not a complete list but it's the ones I noticed closed - because I like them and I really miss them!
I don't blame them (much!) - it's the quietest time of year and really humid. They work really hard during the peak season. But it's still a shame.
Should this put anyone off visiting this time of year?
I don't think so because:
As I write this in mid-September the following are currently closed for a while (not permanently!) -
Blue Heaven - closed
Sarabeth's - closed
Roof Top Cafe - closed
Cafe Sole - closed
Old Town Mexican - closed
La Trattoria - closed
Mangoes - closed for lunch, open in the evening
(Even Kermit from the Key Lime pie shop is not standing in his normal position outside the shop)
This is not a complete list but it's the ones I noticed closed - because I like them and I really miss them!
I don't blame them (much!) - it's the quietest time of year and really humid. They work really hard during the peak season. But it's still a shame.
Should this put anyone off visiting this time of year?
I don't think so because:
- guest houses and B&Bs are cheap (er)
- it's nice and quiet
- there are good restaurants still open: Mangoes, Antonia's, 915, Michael's, Veggie Cafe, etc
But it's just good to know if you are visiting in this pre-fantasy fest period.
For anyone interested here are some pictures of what a closed restaurant in Key West looks like!....
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| A starkly empty and closed (only for a few weeks) Old Town Mexican restaurant |
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| Old Town Mexican closed for a while for their annual vacation |
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| Cafe Sole gone fishing for a while! |
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| I managed to catch Virgilio's for one evening before it closed for 10 days |
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| Sarabeth's - seems strange not to have David standing guard on Simonton Street! |
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| An unusually empty (because they are closed for vacation for part of September) front dining area at Sarabeth's |
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| Roof Top Cafe closed until Sept 29 |
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