Lizzie Lives Makai
The Shaka Kai Guide to Key West
With the warm weather of spring in full swing, you might be seeing a lot of posts from one of Florida’s most popular vacation spots: Key West. We at Shaka Kai are big fans of the southernmost point in the continental United States of America, and have compiled our own little guide of all our favorite grub spots and watering holes for you to enjoy! Key West is a diverse town full of old Florida history (with big names like Ernest Hemingway), exciting night life, and water activities. First things first, Duval Street is where it all happens. All the bars, snacks, and shopping you could need on your vacation will be right on Duval. Whether you come by car or by boat, there are plenty of marinas and parking lots to leave your vehicle and continue the journey on foot. If walking isn’t your style, Key West has a number of rental companies with everything from golf carts and mopeds to bikes and electric scooters. Either way, you’ll be sure to enjoy a classic “Duval crawl.” We like to park near Half Shell Raw Bar to get our day started with fresh seafood and delicious cocktails. From there, you can mosey down to Hog’s Breath for live music and a great outdoor bar atmosphere. If you’re looking to get out of the heat and see one of Key West’s oldest bars, check out Captain Tony’s where you can leave your mark by signing a dollar bill and stapling it to the walls! And, of course, it wouldn’t be a proper St. Patty’s Day vacation without a stop at Irish Kevin’s (remember to wear green!). For boaters, our favorite marina here at Shaka Kai is the Galleon Marina. It’s got the easiest docking experience and is within walking distance of Duval Street. If you’re not able to sleep on your boat, there is also a hotel and restaurant to rest and refuel yourself. This marina can be a great waystation if you’re continuing past Key West and heading to Dry Tortugas. When the day is over, we recommend watching the sunset at Mallory Square. This dockside walkway is the perfect way to wind down after a long day of fun in Key West. Like many other spots in Key West, this is a great place to find local art and discover more of Florida’s history. If you’re lucky, you may even see the green flash as the sun sinks below the horizon. If you’d rather be on the water, be sure to book a sunset cruise for the full experience. Whether you’re a history buff or just love to bar hop, Key West has something for all ocean lovers to experience and enjoy. If you can’t stay in Key West, always remember to drive sober and safe. We at Shaka Kai want you to keep going on adventures and making new memories!
Learn more
Shaka Kai's Cruising Guide to the Exumas
Whether you’re charting your own course or just going along for the ride, the Bahamas offers a staggering variety of experiences and islands. Made up of over 700 islands and cays, more than 300 are in the Exumas. Located just past the tongue of the ocean, the Exumas have everything from swimming pigs and Hollywood landmarks to fine dining and shark encounters. Our journey truly began in Shipping Channel and Highbourne cays, where we looked for nurse shark breeding grounds and ate lunch at Xuma’s. While there were no nurse sharks to be found, the shallow saltwater creek is a great place to look for shells, shorebirds, and small stingrays; or to simply splash around. After, we made the leap all the way south to Chat n Chill in time for their weekly pork roast and swam with the lemon sharks that occasionally investigate the beach, looking for conch scraps. With full bellies we headed to our next home base in Grand Isle. This secluded resort is very peaceful and offers a par-72 seaside golf course for those who like to get their strokes in. With its own pool and beach, there is something for everyone to enjoy; as well as two restaurants. The next day we caught a taxi ride with Queenie (the best on the island!) and went into George Town for lunch at Peace and Plenty. From there, Queen directed us to Hopper Bay to swim with turtles. Tourists often feed these turtles lettuce, so be prepared for a magical experience of multiple curious turtles swimming up to you! We also visited the Jacque Cousteau mystery cave (in the same basin as Chat N Chill); an underwater cave that connects the Atlantic and the bay on the other side of the island. It is an easy snorkel, and you can feel the cold currents coming in from the other side! There are all kinds of fish swimming near the mouth of the cave, just waiting to catch smaller prey that gets caught in the current. Enthusiastic snorkelers should also check out Rolle Reef for stunning coral specimens and high fish diversity. After leaving Grand Isle, we found ourselves exploring the small cays in search of reefs, iguanas, and stromatolites on the way back to Staniel Cay. First, we headed to Leaf Cay to see one of the famous iguana beaches. These endangered rock iguanas really enjoy their grapes but be sure to respect their tails! After, we tracked down the ancient stromatolites (think of them as an evolutionary prototype of coral reefs) and collected shells from the nearby beach. Another great snorkeling spot was the Mermaid Playing a Piano underwater statue near David Copperfield’s private island. The current here can be challenging, so fins are necessary. There are also numerous plane wrecks in the area that provide quick, interesting snorkel sites or a great spearfishing stop. Once you’re ready for a break, stop at Little Farmer’s Cay and see JR for hand carved wooden artwork. Finally, we headed up to Staniel Cay for the remainder of the trip. Staniel Cay and the surrounding adventures requires a few days to fully appreciate all it has to offer. Likely the most notable is Pig Beach, where you can get in the water and swim with the local pigs. Be sure to bring some veggies! These guys are very friendly and love it when you bring them some snacks. For the more adventurous, Compass Cay marina has a host of resident nurse sharks that hang around for the feedings and are with attention from humans. Coral Reef lovers will definitely want to check out the natural wonders of Exuma Land and Sea Park, where there are countless reefs to snorkel and even land trails for those that like to look at local wildlife. If you are a birdwatcher, this is a great place to watch for shorebirds and a few inland species. This is only a precursory overview of things to do in the Exuma islands of the Bahamas, and is by no means a complete guide. If you are plotting your own course, consult experienced mariners and refer to official charts and professionally published cruising guides for specified information on navigation, ports, interesting stops, and more. We at Shaka Kai love the ocean, but the most important lesson to be learned is respect for the natural wonders of our world.
Learn more
