The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

I had never heard of this place until I was in The Keys but I'm so glad I found it! It was absolutely breathtaking! 

Key West

During our trip to The Keys we spent one day in Key West. It was an intense day of relentless overstimulation. Key West is an enticing mix of vintage and modern, religious and secular, natural and man-made. 

Seward Johnson's sculpure "Embracing Peace" outside The Custom House.

Key Lime Mom.

Sue and mom at The Southernmost Point of The Continental United States.

Love Locks placed on the gate just behind The Southernmost Point.

A pair of sunglasses forgotten in a tree.

The Hemingway House.

The Grotto behind The Basilica of St. Mary Star of The Sea. It was built out of local rocks in 1922 by Sister Gabriel to serve as protection from the devastation of hurricanes. Since its constuction there has been no major hurricane that has hit The Keys.

Stunning trees growing in front of The Harvey Government Center.

Disco ball in the trees.

White chocolate covered wine glass at Better Than Sex. By far the best thing about the meal was listening to my mom and Sue giggle over the names of the desserts and suggestive pictures on the walls. I'm certain I saw a glimps of what they were like in high school.

The crowd gathering to watch the sunset at Mallory Square.

The Florida Keys

I realized that I had lived my whole life in Florida but I had never been to The Keys. I planned a road trip for my mother and I as well as Sue, my mothers best friend since high school. 

Sue and my mother on the patio outside The Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory.

Bridge on the Overseas Highway.

We got out to admire the view and my mother spotted wild manta rays. 

My mom on the dock ouside of our hotel room.

Catch of the day: a beautifully painted wooden fish.

Wild iguana.

Breakfast slice of key lime pie with a view.

Uninhabited island along the highway.

Kitesurfer.

Shallow coral outcrop.

Mom in an oversized beach chair.

One of the boats docked at our hotel.

Ended The Keys the way it began: with a stop at The Blond Giraffe.