Station/Boat Location~
Station Key West (Lower keys)
Date there~
July 2010-July 2012 (although I was born and raised in Key West from 1985-2005 when I left for college)
Weather~
HOT, HUMID. Occasional cold/cool fronts from Nov-March (usually lasting 3 days give or take). Don't be surprised by 80 degree Christmas'.
Military facilities~
On Boca Chica Base (about 10-15 min up the keys) there is the only Bowling alley in the Lower keys (which is nice!). On Sigsbee base (In KW, where majority of housing is), there is a a decent commissary and exchange, dog park, many playgrounds, car wash area, base elementary school, Child care center, restaurant on the water, etc.
Medical~
Many decent Local Docs, Ped's, OB/GYN's to choose from if you have standard. If you have prime you will be seen at the Navy Hospital. We had standard one year and prime the 2nd and were very happy with the care received on base.
Housing~
Housing in the keys is very expensive, and usually small (it's an island of course!hehe). However you have 2 options. Sigsbee housing is very old (my Dad was raised there as a kid because my Grandpa was in the Navy!) but has been remodeled inside. They aren't pretty to look at on the outside but the neighborhoods are very welcoming, kid friendly and family oriented. And for Key West, it's a nice amount of living space, not to mention not having to worry about your AC bill during the blistering heat of the summer. We chose to live off base because my Family lives here (and it would have been a pain to not be able to have them just drive over to our house). We live on the Golf Course (on Stock Island, about 10 min from base). It's a beautiful neighborhood with 2 heated pools (one with waterfall) and very pretty (but small! townhomes).
The HOA can be very strict though and there is little to no storage space (including closets in the homes....they are more designed as vacation homes, so if you have big furniture or a lot of stuff I wouldn't recommend). If you prefer to live off base you will most likely find a larger home up the keys. If I were you I wouldn't go further than Cudjoe Key (it's about 25 min from Key West). Stock Island, Big Coppitt, Bay Point, Sugarloaf would be your best bet to avoid a crazy long commute. The farther up the keys you go, the better your housing choices will be usually (since homes get smaller/more expensive closer the key west. CON to living up the keys is that you must commute to KW for decent shopping etc.
Shopping~
Base Exchange and Commissary, Ross Dress for Less, Beals Outlet, Kmart, Sears, (Expensive downtown tourist shops), Express, Banana republic, Rainbow clothing. Winn dixie supermarket, Publix supermarket, Albertsons supermarket. Local restaurants, Benihana, Dennys, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, IHOP, Outback steakhouse, Checkers
Child Care/Schools~
the CDC on base has great reviews from friends (although I've never used it) but has limited availability so put your name on the waiting list ASAP. There are numerous local day care facilities, preschools, elementary and middle schools etc and I have friends who have children in each of them and have never heard anything horrible.
Adult Schools~
Florida Keys Community College is on Stock Island. They have many 2 years degrees including a well established Nursing program with a high pass/success rate.
Fun Activities~
First and obviously there is ocean and beach activities. The beach on the base is nice (but rocky instead of Sandy). If you want a nice natural beach with Sandbars, a trip 30 min north to Bahia Honda State park (sandspur side) will make for a beautiful beach day! In October the city fills with tourists (upwords of 80,000 people) for Goombay and fantasy fest (this is a very adult 2 weeks, lots of nudity and partying). The only Children's events during this crazy Key West time is the Pet Mascarade and Childrens Day at Bayview park. There are many adult activities in the Keys (sunset cruises, kayaking etc etc.) but Key West is not very child friendly. We have 1 movie theater that shows 6 movies (very small but decent enough) and downtown there is a place called "tropic cinema" that shows a lot of independent/foreign films/documentaries etc. The only real activities for children are the aquarium (very small, non air conditioned and downtown with limited parking...and for 15 dollars a ticket I always expect more than I get). There is a petting zoo and animal farm (with horses, cows, pigs etc on Stock island on the 2nd and 4th sunday of every month from 1-3 pm BELOW THE JAIL (yes, you read that right.). So, expensive aquarium & bi monthly petting zoo at the Jail are really the only "childrens activities", hence why I said Key West isn't very "child friendly". However, there is Story times at the public library multiple times a week and baby/toddler preschooler music programs that are fun if you want to spend the money
Additional Info~
After growing up here for 19 years I was itching to leave and experience new things. (the nearest walmart/target/malls are at least 3 hours north in Miami!). I have a 17 month old right now and have had a very hard time finding things for us to do with him. Key West is a beautiful place and depending on your personality you may hate it or love it! Hurricane season is always exciting (make sure you get decent renters AND FLOOD insurance for storm surges). Overall it's a very safe town, just lot's of partying, tourists and adult centered fun. Would be much better if they just had a bit more for kids (however, you will find more for kids on Base! They do a good job trying to put on kid things! They hold a fall festival with Hay rides etc (even if it's 90 degrees haha) in the fall. Trolley ride/Christmas light viewing rides in the Winter etc.)
Homeport FL
Station Key West (Lower keys)
Date there~
July 2010-July 2012 (although I was born and raised in Key West from 1985-2005 when I left for college)
Weather~
HOT, HUMID. Occasional cold/cool fronts from Nov-March (usually lasting 3 days give or take). Don't be surprised by 80 degree Christmas'.
Military facilities~
On Boca Chica Base (about 10-15 min up the keys) there is the only Bowling alley in the Lower keys (which is nice!). On Sigsbee base (In KW, where majority of housing is), there is a a decent commissary and exchange, dog park, many playgrounds, car wash area, base elementary school, Child care center, restaurant on the water, etc.
Medical~
Many decent Local Docs, Ped's, OB/GYN's to choose from if you have standard. If you have prime you will be seen at the Navy Hospital. We had standard one year and prime the 2nd and were very happy with the care received on base.
Housing~
Housing in the keys is very expensive, and usually small (it's an island of course!hehe). However you have 2 options. Sigsbee housing is very old (my Dad was raised there as a kid because my Grandpa was in the Navy!) but has been remodeled inside. They aren't pretty to look at on the outside but the neighborhoods are very welcoming, kid friendly and family oriented. And for Key West, it's a nice amount of living space, not to mention not having to worry about your AC bill during the blistering heat of the summer. We chose to live off base because my Family lives here (and it would have been a pain to not be able to have them just drive over to our house). We live on the Golf Course (on Stock Island, about 10 min from base). It's a beautiful neighborhood with 2 heated pools (one with waterfall) and very pretty (but small! townhomes).
The HOA can be very strict though and there is little to no storage space (including closets in the homes....they are more designed as vacation homes, so if you have big furniture or a lot of stuff I wouldn't recommend). If you prefer to live off base you will most likely find a larger home up the keys. If I were you I wouldn't go further than Cudjoe Key (it's about 25 min from Key West). Stock Island, Big Coppitt, Bay Point, Sugarloaf would be your best bet to avoid a crazy long commute. The farther up the keys you go, the better your housing choices will be usually (since homes get smaller/more expensive closer the key west. CON to living up the keys is that you must commute to KW for decent shopping etc.
Shopping~
Base Exchange and Commissary, Ross Dress for Less, Beals Outlet, Kmart, Sears, (Expensive downtown tourist shops), Express, Banana republic, Rainbow clothing. Winn dixie supermarket, Publix supermarket, Albertsons supermarket. Local restaurants, Benihana, Dennys, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, IHOP, Outback steakhouse, Checkers
Child Care/Schools~
the CDC on base has great reviews from friends (although I've never used it) but has limited availability so put your name on the waiting list ASAP. There are numerous local day care facilities, preschools, elementary and middle schools etc and I have friends who have children in each of them and have never heard anything horrible.
Adult Schools~
Florida Keys Community College is on Stock Island. They have many 2 years degrees including a well established Nursing program with a high pass/success rate.
Fun Activities~
First and obviously there is ocean and beach activities. The beach on the base is nice (but rocky instead of Sandy). If you want a nice natural beach with Sandbars, a trip 30 min north to Bahia Honda State park (sandspur side) will make for a beautiful beach day! In October the city fills with tourists (upwords of 80,000 people) for Goombay and fantasy fest (this is a very adult 2 weeks, lots of nudity and partying). The only Children's events during this crazy Key West time is the Pet Mascarade and Childrens Day at Bayview park. There are many adult activities in the Keys (sunset cruises, kayaking etc etc.) but Key West is not very child friendly. We have 1 movie theater that shows 6 movies (very small but decent enough) and downtown there is a place called "tropic cinema" that shows a lot of independent/foreign films/documentaries etc. The only real activities for children are the aquarium (very small, non air conditioned and downtown with limited parking...and for 15 dollars a ticket I always expect more than I get). There is a petting zoo and animal farm (with horses, cows, pigs etc on Stock island on the 2nd and 4th sunday of every month from 1-3 pm BELOW THE JAIL (yes, you read that right.). So, expensive aquarium & bi monthly petting zoo at the Jail are really the only "childrens activities", hence why I said Key West isn't very "child friendly". However, there is Story times at the public library multiple times a week and baby/toddler preschooler music programs that are fun if you want to spend the money
Additional Info~
After growing up here for 19 years I was itching to leave and experience new things. (the nearest walmart/target/malls are at least 3 hours north in Miami!). I have a 17 month old right now and have had a very hard time finding things for us to do with him. Key West is a beautiful place and depending on your personality you may hate it or love it! Hurricane season is always exciting (make sure you get decent renters AND FLOOD insurance for storm surges). Overall it's a very safe town, just lot's of partying, tourists and adult centered fun. Would be much better if they just had a bit more for kids (however, you will find more for kids on Base! They do a good job trying to put on kid things! They hold a fall festival with Hay rides etc (even if it's 90 degrees haha) in the fall. Trolley ride/Christmas light viewing rides in the Winter etc.)
Homeport FL
