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Key West Island News connects Key West residents and friends of the island, fosters our One Human Family culture and advances understanding of shared goals for our island community

Nine things to do when it rains in Key West

By Linda Grist Cunningham, editor and proprietor

Linda Grist Cunningham is editor and proprietor of Key West Island News and KeyWestWatch Media LLC. She and her husband, a park ranger at Fort Zach, live in Key West with their Cat 5s.
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05/25/2018

 

Key West is closing in on 10 inches of rain for May and there’s a week to go. That’s three-plus times our normal May rainfall of 2.99 inches — and with Subtropical Storm Albert churning through the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, we island folks have pulled out the Wellies and rain gear. There’s a notable increase in cliched grumbling about arks, ducks and kayaks on Duval.

Key West’s rainy season begins in  mid-May and extends through October and the end of hurricane season. Usually that’ll mean a 50-60 percent chance of a thunderstorm or shower throughout the day with some mixed clouds and sunshine the rest of the time. Enough rain to keep things green and clean; not enough to dampen your plans.

Except this year.  We’re getting cranky and it’s way to early in the season for cranky. November is a lot of calendar pages away.

So what does one do in Key West when it rains? Depends on whether you’re local or visiting. Let’s start with local.

Locals keep doing what they were doing before except they might wear a rain coat, carry an umbrella or replace flip flops with boots. Or not. You can tell locals from visitors because locals aren’t the ones in yellow, see-through ponchos. Locals know better than to step off curbs in flooded streets without boots. Other than that? Just another day. We go to work, school and errands on bikes and scooters. Keep a change of clothes in a dry bag. Might take a book to work with us since things are almost guaranteed to be slow. Except in the bars where an adult beverage or two and some live music can make for one great afternoon.

Which brings us to visitors. You come down here all prepared for sun, sand, water sports, sunset sails, fishing and a week in paradise. You get rain. Buckets of it for which you are, of course, paying buckets of money.

 

Here are nine things you can do in Key West when it rains — other than bar crawl on Duval.

 

Key West Island NewsConch Train: That sucker keeps on rolling around the island come rain or shine. Ditto the trolleys. Climb aboard (they’ll even provide a poncho) and relax for the history tour. And, this time, take the whole thing, not just the first half before the store stop.

 

Key West Island NewsGo to the beach: Seriously. Grab some rain gear and an umbrella and wander the deserted sand of Smathers, Higgs, South and Fort Zach. It’s not cold; and overcast and rainy makes for a contemplative way to enjoy a cafe con leche along the way. Walk the White Street Pier, too. Same reasons.

 

Key West Island NewsTake the kids to the splash pad and playground at Truman Waterfront Park: Kids love splashing in the rain; they’re already wet. (We took our 5-year-old grandson this week in the rain and he had the place to himself.)

 

Key West Island NewsCatch a movie at the Tropic Cinema: First-run movies and art films, the best popcorn ever and beer and wine to go with. Make it an afternoon for grownups or bring the kids. The Tropic is an experience you won’t get back home — and who goes to the movies on a sunny vacation day?

 

Key West Island NewsDo the history stuff: From Hemingway House to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, the Eco Discovery Center, the Shipwreck Museum and the Custom House, these are great places to explore on a rainy day — and the free Duval Loop bus will take you around if you can’t bear to get your hair wet. Just wear a rain coat, pull up the hood and dash for the door. On a rainy day you’ll have time to wander, not just tick off a checklist and split for the next place on the list.

 

Key West Island NewsArt galleries: Ditto. See above. And, if you see something you love and have to have? Most of the galleries will ship right to your door back home.

 

Key West Island NewsGo sailing: Sure the marketing pictures show clear water and brilliant sun. But a day on the water under cloudy skies and decent winds ensures you see Key West in a different way. Experienced captains won’t take you out if it’s dangerous, so don’t let the rain or cloudy skies stop you. (PS: Same with kayaking.)

 

Key West Island NewsGrab some art supplies, some cards or a board game: Nothing says you can’t sit by the pool or on the porch and simply let the hours slip by in casual conversation with friends and family. Oh, and put away the electronics.

 

Key West Island NewsJust chill: Sleep a little later. Savor a second cup of coffee. Put on some music or drop into a venue. And know that despite the forecast, the chances are darn good that somewhere today the clouds will break and there will be some sun. It’s Key West.

 

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Linda Grist Cunningham

Linda Grist Cunningham is editor and proprietor of Key West Island News and KeyWestWatch Media LLC. She and her husband, a park ranger at Fort Zach, live in Key West with their Cat 5s.

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