Getting to Key West, Florida may be just as beautiful and memorable as actually being there, especially if you are driving into the island from mainland Florida and enjoying the spectacular ocean viewing. The slopes of the bridge are worth taking a picture of as you drive (Let the passenger take the photo!). Key West is the place to go to unwind, be yourself and forget about your daily life. The southernmost point of the U.S. is as tranquil as it is a crazy party town with seemingly endless bars and an array of activities. Key West really offers something for everyone. The tours you will take are funny, wild and educational, and watching the sunset is actually a local celebration. But with only one main road in and out of the town, it's advisable not to visit during hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th - if a storm threatens South Florida, Key West is the first place to be evacuated. Other than that, knock yourself out!
On the corner of South Street and Whitehead is the Key West Monument, shaped like a buoy, which reads "90 miles to Cuba. Southernmost point. Continental U.S.A." While visiting the monument is free it's also Key West's main tourist attraction, so you may wait in a long line to get that sought-after picture. Biking or walking is your best bet for getting around. Tour Key West by trolley on the Conchtour train or hop on the enclosed Old Town trolley in bad weather. Another option is to see Key West by boat - coral reef tours and evening sunset cruises are suitable for kids.
Visit the Bourbon Street of Florida, or Duval Street, as Key West's main street is named, and do some shopping (if you can handle shopping after visiting the row of free cover bars along the street!). If you would rather drink than shop, start out at the bars on Truman Avenue and work your way up to Duval. There's live entertainment every night and the bars and clubs don't close until 3-4 a.m.
If the bars on Duval weren't enough, take the Key West Pub Crawl, a tour of the island's most famous bars. It starts daily at 8 p.m., lasts two and a half hours, and includes four drinks. Need a break after all that revelry on Duval Street? Key West Botanical gardens is perfect. Catch some z's in the last hardwood hammock in Key West, or walk around the 11-acre garden and see colorful wildflowers, butterflies, birds and a genetically cloned tree.
Get back into the swing of things by visiting the Key West Cemetery which will leave you with conversation-starter photographs! Many tombs are stacked one on top of the other, and the headstones reflect residents' carefree attitude toward life and death. "I told you I was sick" is one of the famous engravings, as is the widow's inscription, "At least I know where he's sleeping tonight."
Key West has several small beaches – at the right time of day they provide a good escape from the craziness of downtown. Smathers Beach, a teenager magnet, is Key West's largest and most popular Beach. It's clean, and in the morning, quiet. Higgs Beach is a favorite of Key West's gay crowds. Higgs has a playground and tennis courts and Fort Zachary Beach has a small admission fee. It has a great historic fort, a Civil War museum and large picnic area with tables, barbecue grills, restrooms and showers, while large trees scattered across 87 acres provide ample shade.
With Key West surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, there is no shortage of water-related activities such as diving, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking. Other activities include biking and golfing. Especially for kids, the near-shore waters at Key West Marine Park are blocked off with buoys for safe swimming and snorkeling. Children can view numerous species of coral, tropical fish and birds. A good spot to take kids fishing is the end of White Street's Pedestrian pier, where they can catch small snappers, grunts and more.
The oldest attraction on the island is the Key West Aquarium. A long hallway of eye-level displays showcases dozens of varieties of fish and crustaceans. Kids can touch sea cucumbers and sea anemones in a shallow tank. Catch one of the free guided tours and see the feeding frenzy of the sharks, tarpon, barracudas, stingrays and turtles. Another fun tour is the 90-minute ghost tour. This spooky and interesting tour gives visitors insight into many of the island's old legends.
Hungry? - seafood restaurants are very popular, and American, Italian, French and Carribbean foods are also in demand.
From resorts with all the amenities to seaside motels, quaint bed-and-breakfasts, and clothing-optional guesthouses, you can almost always find a place to stay at the last minute. There are, however, a few times during the year when Key West is absolutely packed. Fantasy Fest (around Halloween), where Mardi Gras meets South Florida; Hemingway Days (in July), Christmas and New Year's - or a big fishing tournament (many are held in October-December).
Ernest Hemmingway called laid-back Key West his home. Visitors can tour his Spanish Colonial house, built in 1851. See his study and rooms in his house with glass cabinets that store certain artifacts, books and pieces of mail addressed to him.
Die-hard Jimmy Buffett fans will love Trails of Margaritaville, an entertaining walking tour providing fans with a great visit to Buffett's stomping grounds in the 70s. Dressed in full regalia - Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats - the knowledgeable and hilarious guides lead you past the hangouts and other high points of Jimmy Buffett's Key West life. Visitor's get a free lei on the tour, which departs daily at 4:00 p.m. from Captain Tony's Saloon, where Buffett used to hang out and perform.
Captain Tony's Saloon isn't your regular bar: ladies, leave your bra or underwear hanging from the ceiling. License plates are also welcome on the ceiling. The tour ends at Margaritaville Café, where you can enjoy Buffett's music to a few drinks before catching Key West's Celebration Sunset. Watch the gorgeous sunset, or the locals if you prefer. Depending on your location, watching the sunset can be relaxing and memorable. Every evening, locals and visitors gather at the docks behind Mallory Square to watch the sun go down and reflect on their day. Get a spot on the docks early to experience the carnival of portrait artists, acrobats, food vendors, animal acts, and other performers. Your kids might even get drafted to help the performers. In season, the crowded dock can be overwhelming, especially when the cruise ships are in port. Also, keep your bags and wallets close. If big crowds aren't your thing, watch the sun disappear from a hotel rooftop with a drink in hand. Standing seven-stories high, the La Concha Hotel on Duval Street is the tallest building on the island, which makes for prime viewing of the entire island of Key West.