Key West is a magical place year all year long. However, there are times of the year when it is more magical than others. January through March is when our little island city is at its best. No question the weather plays the biggest role. The days are usually very clear and the air has lost its heavy humidity. There are art shows, boat shows, sailboat races, and all of our performing arts venues are in full swing. But without a doubt, my favorite is the Old Island Restoration House tours. Now in its 50th year, the house tours take place in December, January, February and March and offer the visitor (and us locals) a glimpse into some of Key West’s most spectacular, unusual and clever homes. Old Island Restoration Foundation’s mission is “dedicated to preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of Key West, Florida.”

Kitchen of the Oldest House Museum

In addition to their house tours, OIRF maintains and runs the Oldest House Museum, which is free and open to the public daily.

Savananh is having their annual Super Museum Sunday this week end.   Over 40 museums and historic sites will be opening their doors for free.  It is a wonderful event that the Savannah area has been doing for over 20 years.  Many families come down for this week end to ride our trolleys and get into the museums and homes for free.  What an awewome event!

Milk…dark…caramel…bars…ice cream…nougat…truffles…the list goes on….

Chocolate.

In all it amazing, rich, wonderful incantations, chocolate is a worldwide favorite.  Beginning with Aztec and Mayan civilizations in the pre-Columbian era, chocolate became an intrinsic part of everyday life.  Cultivation of the cacao bean was easy in the steamy jungles and the bitter drink the beans yielded was soon seen as a source of power, both political and economic.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Pink Ladies Ring in the New Year!

I’m All Shook Up…On the Good Ship Lollipop…and I Just Want to Hold Your Hand…
Welcome to the Holly Jolly New Year’s Trolley!

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We thought we would share with you the winners of the Holiday Light Contest. These folks worked to hard on their houses not to go recognized.

First Place - Robert & Fran Decker of 600 Elizabeth Street

Second Place Stephen Habberstad of 302 Amelia

Third Place Stephen Hammond and Jonathon Beyers of 909 United Street

First prize and an award of $500 went to Robert and Fran Decker at 600 Elizabeth Street. Second Place and the winner of $300 went to Stephen Habberstad of 302 Amelia and third place and the winner of $200 went to Stephen Hammond and Jonathon Beyers of 909 United Street. On hand to make the presentation were Lind Test, Director of Key West Operations for Historic Tour of America and Lynn Tejeda, Executive Director of Keys Energy Services. Congratulations to everyone who entered and participated. Can’t wait to see you next year!

Last night we joined folks from the Conch Tour Train and Keys Energy Services for judging of our annual Holiday Lights Contest. This is one of our favorite events all year. We may not know much about a white Christmas here in Key West, but we sure know how to decorate our houses! This year we had over 20 entries and I would say they all did an awesome job.

So without further ado, First Place: Robert and Fran Decker (600 Elizabeth - Corner of Southard St.); Second place Stephern Habberstad (302 Amelia Street) Pictured below; 3rd Place: Stephen Hammond and Johnathon Beyers (909 United Street). Congratulations and Happy Holidays!

Our second place winner on Amelia Street

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
And here in Saint Augustine no Christmas is complete without our traditional Nights of Lights display.
With the flip of a switch, 2 million twinkling white lights burst into life over the Historic District of Saint Augustine on November 21, 2009.  This sudden burst of light was the official start of the 2009 Nights of Lights display, now entering its 16th year as a holiday tradition for the city.

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by Abe Burgos

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through DC
Not a car on the pavement, ‘cept the trolley
The snow on the ground was a shimmering white
The Capitol and Monument lit up bright Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve got some great new video on our website that we are mighty proud of. For those of us who live in San Diego, we are aware of the fact we live in America’s Finest City. That’s part of what makes our jobs at Old Town Trolley Tours so easy. We get to share this beautiful place with folks who are visiting San Diego every day. So for those of you who have never been, are dying to get back or are planning a vacation here, sit back and and enjoy this sneak peak of Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego! http://www.trolleytours.com/san-diego/video.asp

I know that when you think of Key West, probably the last thing to come to mind are the holidays in December. But just because we live in the sub tropics, doesn’t mean we don’t pull out all the stops at the holiday. Just because we will never have a white Christmas doesn’t mean we can’t dream of one.

We may not have snow, cold, chimneys, holly and pine trees, but we sure do have lights. Lots of lights. Each year the residents of Key West pull out all of the stops to make sure this island is decorated to the hilt. And each year Old Town Trolley Tours of Key West along with the Conch Tour Train and Keys Energy Services sponsor the Holiday Light Tour, awarding prizes for the best decorated houses. This year the judging takes place on Tuesday, December 8. If you would like to enter the contest just visit our website at http://www.keywestholiday.com/