Hurricane season is in full swing, with the main threat from a storm striking the Keys going from August until at least the end of September.  This should not dissuade you from planning your trip, however. Accommodations such as the Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast stay constantly updated through the assistance of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, keeping visitors informed of any advisories and evacuation orders. Chances are, your trip will not be interrupted by a hurricane, but the possibility remains. With modern technology though, tracking and predicting these storms has improved to the point to ensure losses to lives and property are kept to minimum.  

In 2004 and 2005, Emergency Management officials in the Keys and across Florida were put to the test. Several tourist evacuation notices were issued along with an advisory to others to postpone their trips until the storm threat passed. While the Keys were affected by the active 2004/05 seasons a direct landfall never occurred.

 The convenient and quaint Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast has a refund policy in the event of an evacuation order, issuing a voucher for the unused portion of your stay for a future one. If you are unable to even get to the Keys, a voucher is provided in the amount of the required deposit. While the Inn does the best they can, travel insurance is suggested.  Late August and September are some of the best times to visit the Keys though. Room rates are generally a little less since kids are back in school. Many events are also scheduled during that time of year. But, the possibility of tropical weather remains. Proper information and preparation ensures you can make a safe exit from the Keys if necessary.

Each night starting about 2 hours before sunset, the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is where visitors and local residents gather to see what was rated in 2006 as the best place to watch a sunset in Florida by Florida Monthly magazine. Located only 5 blocks down Duval Street from the Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast, Mallory Square is an eclectic venue where artists, musicians, and performers display their talents with the sun disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico. In a way, the Sunset Celebration can be termed a mini circus. Plenty of entertainment can be found including jugglers, comedians, magicians, and more. Currently at Mallory Square in the evenings, world renowned animal trainer Dominique the Catman performs a magnificent act with his trained house cats.
Mallory Square and the deepwater port it borders have seen much history since the inception of Key West and before. Pirates once used the area as an anchorage point and the square also served as an assembly point for American troops for four wars. Many ships and submarines have wrecked just offshore.  Plenty of other attractions from museums to shopping abound at Mallory Square. The Sunset Celebration however is something that must be on your list of things to do. 

Whew! Record gas prices across the United States are causing people to cut back and do the best they can to deal with the continuous increase in the cost to get from point A to point B. Finding the best price for fuel is a big priority for all of us trying to save where we can.

Gas prices around Key West are around 25 cents higher than the closest mainland city, Homestead, Florida.

According to Gasbuddy.com , a member-driven site designed to inform people of prices across the U.S., lists regular self-serve unleaded gas for $4.05/gallon in Key West while stations in Homestead, just across on the Florida mainland, are more around the national average of $3.79/gallon

Filling up for 26 cents less per gallon provides a $6.50 savings for a 25-gallon purchase. That may not seem like much but every little bit helps. And once you’re in Key West, it’s really easy to get around without a car.

The Tropical Inn, Key West Bed & Breakfast’s convenient location on Duval Street allows you to enjoy many of Key West’s attractions without having to fire-up the car engine. Frugality in your car trips during your stay makes it possible for you to fill-up in Homestead while en-route to Key West and not have to buy anymore until your return to the mainland.

Another way to conserve and see Key West is to rent a scooter. Most have small tanks and can get you around all day on only a few bucks. Gas is usually included in the rental price of the scooter anyhow.

So go ahead and fill-up in Homestead on mainland Florida before starting the drive through the keys, and treat yourself with the money you saved or save it to buy more gas when you need it!