Going to Miami...

jlydon

jlydon

Joined
Jun 27, 2006
Messages
477
Can someone please tell me if there are any cool knife stores in and around Miami and/or stuff to do??? I've got 2 kids, an airbnb with a pool, a babysitter and a rental car. đŸ€ȘThanks in advance.
 
How close? Most of the high-end knife sellers down here only do online sales. Best actual B&M retailer I know of is Delray Shooting Center, which carries CRK, Medford, Protech, and a ton of Microtech (along with the usual Spyderco, Benchmade, etc.). But Delray Beach is a hike from Miami.
 
I hear alligator wrestling in the Everglades is fun. Seriously, I enjoyed the fan boat rides, if its not too far to go. Its been a long time since I've been to Miami, but Delray shooting center is the place I visited when I saw my friend years ago. Every time I hear Delray brings back memories, as a 9 year old my football team flew down from Chicago to play in a tournament in Daytona, and we lost to Delray...


Btw, where are you traveling from? Bringing a knife on a plane can be dicey for some. Me, I hide them in my checked luggage under the insoles of my size 14's. YMMV depending on shoe size.

Also, depending on where you are from and/or what you are looking to buy, be aware of higher sales tax and/or inflated prices or at least MSRP.
 
Traveling from New Mexico and yes, I will tuck mine in a checked bag and pray that the TSA doesn't somehow snag it. And thanks for the suggestion of Delray Beach - a small road trip wouldn't suck, but also as stated, paying MSRP plus tax for a Microtech sounds like the 7th circle of hell for me. Personally, I haven't been there in like 40 years so I have no idea what to expect (other than punishing heat and the kids complaining).
 
hollowgrind is down there. you can look his site up and what he's got in stock. not sure he has a store front, didnt used to......but in the past he would do private showings to a serious buyer.
 
I haven't lived and worked down there in a while, but aside from local shows or going to Laci Szabo's place back then, Larry Brahms and bladeart was a good place to go and it's in the Kendall area. Send an email and see if you can stop by if they are still doing business.
 
To Do:
If you like to fish charter a boat at Bud and Mary's Marina in Tavernier (ocean side) or Key West.

Swim With the Dolphins on US-1 at MM 60 (bay side)

US -1 is the only road in to and out of the Keys. Going South towards Key West, Left is Bay Side, Right is Ocean Side.
Mile Marker 0 on US - 1 is at the Federal Courthouse, corner of South Street and Whitethead Street, a block from Duval Street.
Also on Whitehead street is the Southern Most Point of the USA (southern end of Whitehead Street), President Truman's Little Whitehouse museum, and Ernest Hemmingway's home and museum.
The latter two have an adimission fee.

If you go to the old town/downtown section of Key West (Truman Street, Duval Street, Whitehead, Street) consider renting scooters or bicycles, or pedi cars. The Streets are narrow, and packed with cars, pickups, vans, Retired Army Duck amphibious tour trucks, trolly car style buss's, tour trains (I believe they started "life" as airport baggage trains) pedestrians, bicycles, and scooters. In a car it can take 45 minutes to go 2 blocks on Duval Street, durig the Tourist Season.

OH! IF YOU GO TO KEY WEST AND VISIT ONE OR MORE OF THE BEACHES OR CITY PARKS DO NOT USE THE CITY SUPPLIED BB-Q GRILLS or any that you may have with you.
Doing so is an arrestable offence, (fire hazard) punishable by up to two years in the county jail, (an felony) and up to a $20,000 fine.
They do give supervised probation until the fine is paid. One way to ensure tourists return, I suppose.
(IMHO Monroe County, FL, is more corrupt than Miami, Tampa/St. Pete, LA, NYC, Chicago, Boston, Phillidelphia, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and DC ... combined.

The Miami Zoo is worth a stop. (has an enrtry fee, though. I think it was around $5 a head the last time I was there around 2008/2009. You can rent up to 8 passenger pedi cars (6 passengers get to pedal, but only one gets to steer) at the zoo after you are inside, so you don't have to walk.)

I've heard The Everglades National Park in Monroe County "is worth a visit".
However, when I lived in Monroe County, and the Miami/Homestead area, I never went. Too many daRn legless lizards (inluding now 12 foot plus pythons "people" released when they were much, much smaller), and too many Vampire Mosquitos.
 
Wow, that's a lot of good info right there - especially about those public-use bbq grills. :oops: I sincerely appreciate the tips and the details are outstanding. :thumbsup:
 
jlydon said:
Wow, that's a lot of good info right there - especially about those public-use bbq grills. :oops: I sincerely appreciate the tips and the details are outstanding. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
You are quite welcome. :)
I almost forgot to mention:
The Bass Pro in Islamorada ('Offshore Angler'?) has either Hemmingway's boat he used for Marlin fishing, or it's sister ship on display. (you can board it) (bay side. I don't remember their hours. With the Covid's B.S. they may have changed them, anyway. I moved out of the Keys in 2007.)
If you are "into" vintage fishing gear, they also have roughly 300 old reels dating from c1900 on display (not for sale)
There is a fresh seafood/daily catch market next door, as well. The prices at the seafood market are reasonable. :)
EDIT:
If still there, there is a restaurant ("Wreck" something or something "Wreck" ...) at Mile Marker 60, next door to the Swim With dolphins (Bay Side)
On either Thursday or Friday they have an all you can eat yummy deep fried frog legs, for under $7 or $8, if memory serves. They also had an all you can eat shrimp for about the same price.
 
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afishhunter, good write-up with one minor correction to the following sentence: US -1 is the only road in to and out of the Keys. Going South towards Key West, Left is Bay Side, Right is Ocean Side. Heading south (southwest) on US-1 left is oceanside and right is bayside.

Other than that I agree with all of your Keys suggestions. I might add the Mel Fischer Museum in Key West as well as adding a hotel room in KW because it is a long day from Miami to KW, having fun while in KW the getting back up to Miami; getting a flop room makes it much easier.

Also, watch your speed on US-1; Monroe County Sheriff and FL Hwy Patrol hammer tourist (and locals) on that road. There's places that are four lanes (i.e. Rock Harbor) but are only 45 ... and they mean it!

For cool Keys dives (bar/restaurant, not SCUBA) make a left on Card Sound Road and hit Alabama Jacks then take 905 to re-unite with US-1; Gilberts Resort is also a cool spot for lunch and a couple adult beverages. In the Key Largo/Upper Keys area also try Shipwrecks, Buzzard's Roost, Robbie's in Islamorada and, for dinner, The Fish house in Key Largo is hard to beat for old school Keys fare; the Matacumbe dish is their hallmark.

Key West isn't my thing but all of the little gems up and down Route 1 between Key Largo and Key West are; KW, as a turn-around (or overnight) spot just makes sense and many, many find it enjoyable.
 
afishhunter is very correct on the World Wide Sportsman (Bass Pro Shop) at MM80; that's where the Hemmingway PILAR boat is on display [corrected information thanks to Orange Blue] .

The rods and reels of which he speaks are in display cases in the store level as well as the Zane Grey Lounge upstairs.

I've had a few adult beverages on the balcony of the Zane Grey Lounge overlooking the marina.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at the neighboring Islamorada Fish Company.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at Lor e' Lei's.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at Robbie's.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at the Island Grill on Snake Creek.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at Hog Heaven in Islamorada ... as well as Hog's Breath in Key West.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at the Whistle Stop Pub and Islamorada Brewing Co.
I've also squeezed in a little fishing and diving ... honest!
 
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afishhunter said:
You are quite welcome. :)
I almost forgot to mention:
The Bass Pro in Islamorada ('Offshore Angler'?) has either Hemmingway's boat he used for Marlin fishing, or it's sister ship on display. (you can board it) (bay side. I don't remember their hours. With the Covid's B.S. they may have changed them, anyway. I moved out of the Keys in 2007.)
If you are "into" vintage fishing gear, they also have roughly 300 old reels dating from c1900 on display (not for sale)
There is a fresh seafood/daily catch market next door, as well. The prices at the seafood market are reasonable. :)
EDIT:
If still there, there is a restaurant ("Wreck" something or something "Wreck" ...) at Mile Marker 60, next door to the Swim With dolphins (Bay Side)
On either Thursday or Friday they have an all you can eat yummy deep fried frog legs, for under $7 or $8, if memory serves. They also had an all you can eat shrimp for about the same price.
Click to expand...

SALTY said:
afishhunter is very correct on the World Wide Sportsman (Bass Pro Shop) at MM80; that's where Hemmingway's boat "PILAR" is - one of two Wheeler boats (of Brooklyn, NY, IIRC) that Hemingway owned is located; the other he left in Cuba.

The rods and reels of which he speaks are in display cases in the store level as well as the Zane Grey Lounge upstairs.

I've had a few adult beverages on the balcony of the Zane Grey Lounge overlooking the marina.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at the neighboring Islamorada Fish Company.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at Lor e' Lei's.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at Robbie's.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at the Island Grill on Snake Creek.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at Hog Heaven in Islamorada ... as well as Hog's Breath in Key West.
I've also had a few adult beverages over at the Whistle Stop Pub and Islamorada Brewing Co.
I've also squeezed in a little fishing and diving ... honest!
Click to expand...

The "Pilar" at Bass Pro is not a Wheeler like Hemmingway's; it was made by Weeks, a builder around the corner from Wheeler. Hemingway's Pilar is still in Cuba, where it's been since WW2. The "replica Pilar" has been around the Keys for essentially its entire life, and was rechristened by Hemmingway's granddaughter.

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Bass Pro Shops - World Wide Sportsman

Ever wonder about our 'PIlar' boat that lives here at the WorldWide Sportsman? Well, wonder no more! Here's a brief history about her and if you haven't seen her, come on by and check out what being...
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Ever wonder about our 'PIlar' boat that lives here at the WorldWide Sportsman? Well, wonder no more! Here's a brief history about her and if you haven't seen her, come on by and check out what being on a fishing boat was like in the 1930's!

Dry-berthed at WorldWide Sportsman is the vessel which has been called the sister ship Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Pilar.’
Our ‘Pilar’ was built at Weeks Shipyard in Brooklyn in 1933, a year before Hemingway’s boat was built by the Wheeler Boat Yard around the corner. Legend has it that Hemingway fished from this boat in 1933 and decided he must own one just like it if he were to satisfy his yearning to hunt the big game fish of the Gulf Stream waters, all the way to Bimini. He took a Wheeler brochure with him on his African safari in the fall of 1933 and, when he returned through New York in April of 1934, he placed his order for the Wheeler Playmate Cabin Cruiser for a price of $7500, monies raised from advances against his future articles and royalties for Esquire magazine and Scribners, his publisher. He christened her ‘Pilar’ in honor of the shrine of Zaragoza and also of his wife, Pauline, who had used it as her secret nickname during their courtship.
The two ships are very much alike, except that Hemingway customized his ‘Pilar.’ It was four feet shorter at 38 feet and the transom was lowered by one foot. Otherwise, they shared the same home at the Port of Key West and fished the same waters throughout the 30’s. Both boats also took part in World War II, WorldWide’s ‘Pilar’ being called to duty with the Navy in Key West, while Hemingway armed his ‘Pilar’ to the hilt and chased German submarines in the waters off Cuba, having changed his home port to Havana.
When Hemingway left Cuba in 1959, he entrusted his ‘Pilar’ to long-time captain and friend, Gregorio Fuentes. Two years later Fuentes received a letter giving him ownership of the ‘Pilar,’ about one month after Hemingway shot himself, but he never went out on her again. Thus the boat sat idle throughout the 60’s, until the Cuban government moved her to the present location at Finca Viga where she is on display at Hemingway’s old homestead on the island.
Our ‘Pilar’ has less documented but nevertheless colorful tales to tell. In 1948 she co-starred with Bogart and Bacall in the movie “Key Largo,” bearing the name ‘Santana’ on her stern. And in the 50’s she showed up in the Bahamas as ‘The Blue Heron’ in the movie of the same name. Years thereafter she was left to deteriorate on shore at Stock Island until someone calling himself Blue Heron Don moved aboard and commenced restoration. Her new fiberglass bottom allowed the old vessel to float once again, but, after nine years, Blue Heron Don died, his job unfinished.
In 1978 Tex Perkins moved to Key West from Fort Worth and went into the charter boat business. As a Hemingway aficionado, he’d had his eye on the boat for some ten years, with ideas of restoring her as a ‘Pilar’ replica. He bought her from attorney, Mark Quinn, who had her moored in the mangroves on the other side of Stock Island, and towed her over to Steadman’s Boat Yard where, with the help of Cheryl Clark and Kurt Blum, he set about rebuilding her from the waterline up. Within a year she had newly rebuilt twin diesel engines, new electronics, a modern steering system, and gleaming mahogany and accessories. With satisfaction, they proclaimed her to be the sister ship, ‘Pilar.’ Tex put her to work in his charter business as a veritable floating museum of Hemingway memorabilia, catching the attention of Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shops, who in 1993 expressed an interest in acquiring her as a centerpiece for his saltwater emporium. Tex agreed and on January 15, 1994, Captain Don Van Esselstine sailed her up to Islamorada. Johnny Morris had the boat transported to his home town in Springfield, MO, where she was totally refurbished before return to Islamorada.
In October 1997 she was rechristened by Mina Hemingway, Ernest’s Granddaughter. At last the ‘Pilar’ has a comfortable anchorage, just as her sister ship does in Cuba.
Click to expand...
 
Wow, you guys are awesome - I'm sitting here laughing to myself about the term, "adult beverages" as my 5 year old (in concert with her mother) like to remind me of the evils of alcohol by telling me I drink too many adult beverages. But I do appreciate the suggestions as I plan to have a few without them. Everything seems to point to me heading south on my own (which sounds fantastic). Certainly looking forward to some good seafood as I live in New Mexico. I'm really liking the restaurant suggestions and speed trap warnings especially. You guys rock. đŸ’Ș
 
jlydon said:
Wow, you guys are awesome - I'm sitting here laughing to myself about the term, "adult beverages" as my 5 year old (in concert with her mother) like to remind me of the evils of alcohol by telling me I drink too many adult beverages. But I do appreciate the suggestions as I plan to have a few without them. Everything seems to point to me heading south on my own (which sounds fantastic). Certainly looking forward to some good seafood as I live in New Mexico. I'm really liking the restaurant suggestions and speed trap warnings especially. You guys rock. đŸ’Ș
Click to expand...
I grew up in Pinecrest, and the local cops live to write tickets.
Monty's in Coconut Grove is a great touristy spot, right on the water.
 
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