About Tom

The Move to Key West

My first trip to Key West was in 1986, visiting yearly over the summer months, spending time with family and friends. On the first day at 4 Lowes Lane, right after a very ghostly encounter, I ran into a bearded old timer named Panama Pete who proceeded to tell me precisely what I had seen a moment earlier, without me ever saying a word. Drinking in “The Chart Room Bar at the Pier House Resort” with Earl Widener, before anyone showed up looking for Jimmy, was priceless. “The Full Moon Saloon” was where the sidewalk ended in the early morning hours. After it closed for good, they said “You had to be there”. When things changed, it was back to the basics in the “Chart Room” hanging out with Capt. Tony, catching up while he usually was waiting on a lady friend. I met my wife Janine in 1998, tending bar in that very same spot at the “Chart Room”. She came up to CT, stayed until we moved back to Key West in 2003. We got married on the day of Hurricane Katrina here in the Southernmost City and so far, …”the tribe hasn’t spoken”

Sharing My Local Experience with Visitors

Since visiting Key West, I have met quite a few local characters who have shared some inside island information concerning recreational activities. If you’re planning to visit Key West, I can give you some local advice on what to do while you are here. Let me know how long you’re staying for and if you have any particular interests. We can chat a little bit and make some plans for your “on or off” Island excursions to help make your stay in Key West most memorable. “I Survived Key West & You Can Too!”

Plan Your Trip with Personalized Advice

I am currently the concierge at the Courtyard. For over 15 years I have been helping Key West visitors experience fantastic excursions on our beautiful waters. During this time, I have developed close relationships with a huge variety of Key West tour operators and have used this knowledge to personalize enjoyable day trips for many. The advantage of booking through me personally as opposed to booking with an online search engine is that there are a multitude of daily happenings in Key West and I can advise you on what to do taking into consideration variable seasonal activities, weather restrictions and the nuances of the day to day activities here on our two by four mile island.