We just returned to 40 degree weather in DC after of a week of sunny 80 degree days in Key West. We headed south with my family to celebrate my mom’s 50th birthday, which happened to fall on Thanksgiving this year. Our rental house was on Duval Street just a block away from the southernmost point in the continental U.S., near lots of art galleries and restaurants (not to mention the adult entertainment club across the street!).

Key West certainly lived up to its laid back reputation, though there were a few more tacky T-shirt shops than we expected. We managed to hit the couple of major sites: Ernest Hemingway’s house, where we played with the six-toed cats; Audubon House, where, sadly, John James Audubon did not stay while working on “Birds of America”… he actually stayed next door (a fact only found in very fine print in the very last room of the tour); and the Dry Tortugas, where Drew took lots of pictures and I saw a barracuda while snorkeling. Unfortunately, we missed the famous Key West sunset in Mallory Square because every time we tried to go there were enormous cruise ships blocking the entire view!

All in all, we managed to get some much-needed rest and relaxation (though I’m sorry to say we’re not tan at all). Now we just need to motivate ourselves to get back to work!