The Postcards Archive
Stories from
the water.
First-person trip notes, weather calls and practical advice for a day on the water, from Brian Williamson in Key West.
Just Posted
How to actually pick a Key West boat — without paying for the wrong one
By Brian Williamson · July 14, 2026 · 9 min
Twenty-four rental boats across six yards. Pontoons, tritoons, center consoles, double-deckers, tikis. The one you pick decides your day. Here's how the locals sort it out.
Postmark Archive
More postcards from the Keys
Sandbar day — what nobody tells you about the Marquesas run
By Brian Williamson · July 3, 2026
You leave from Stock Island, not Duval. You bring your own limes. And if the wind's cranking east, you go west or you don't go.
What a good fishing charter actually costs — and why the cheap ones aren't
By Brian Williamson · June 28, 2026
The $400 half-day off Craigslist isn't a deal. It's a boat that can't get you to fish. Here's what you're actually paying for on a real charter.
Sunset sail — where locals actually go (it's not Mallory Square)
By Brian Williamson · June 20, 2026
Mallory's a scene. It's fine. But if you actually want to sit down, hear yourself talk, and watch the sun drop, you go out the harbor and turn right.
Reef snorkel — Key West vs. Key Largo, and why the difference matters
By Brian Williamson · June 12, 2026
Same barrier reef, same fish, very different day. Key Largo means shorter boat ride, better vis on calm days. Key West means Sand Key Light and a live channel.
Conch carts & Key West — driving rules nobody explains before you rent one
By Brian Williamson · June 5, 2026
You can drive on Duval. You can't drive on US-1. You get pulled over if you're not buckled. Here's the actual rule sheet before you rent.
Dry Tortugas — how to actually pick your trip
By Brian Williamson · July 14, 2026
Ferry, seaplane, or private charter. Full day or overnight. The Tortugas is one of the best days you'll have in the Keys — but only if you pick the right way to get out there.