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Florida
- Key WestThe Southernmost, Frost-Free, Tropical city in the continental United States. Without a doubt Key West has the best diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating the continental U.S. has to offer.
With a laid back attitude like a summer breeze off the ocean, the people of The Conch Republic know that a comfortable hammock and a frozen margarita are much more fun than rush hour traffic or shoveling snow. The term “Conch” refers to just about anything that is native to Key West. You will find Conch food, Conch speech, Conch style and just plain Conchs—the natives of the island.
Just a three by five mile Island dotted with historic homes, quaint restaurants and "local's bars" this Island offers a treat for the tired masses that flock here to relax and explore the weird, wild and wonderful sites that make Key West unique. One of the most beautiful sites in Key West are the sunsets. Nightly local's and tourists alike take the stroll down Duval Street to Mallory Square to the Sunset Celebration. There you'll find live entertainers performing music, magic, tight rope walking and other fun and zany antics.
Like a Caribbean island, Key West has palm trees, tropical breezes and lovely coasts. But this southernmost town in the United States has developed a style and flavor all its own. Besides its natural beauty, the small island is renowned for its colorful history, its laid-back residents, its picturesque architecture and its festive party atmosphere. You should begin your tour on Duval Street, Old Town’s main thoroughfare. The area is filled with restaurants, boutiques and assorted landmarks such as the Key West Woman’s Club and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Wreckers’ Museum is situated on Duval Street in Key West’s oldest house; it contains fascinating displays of ship models, marine artifacts, historic documents, and paintings and prints.
Sloppy Joes -- 201 Duval Street Key West, FL 33040 No stop to Key West is complete without a visit to Sloppy Joe's. Live entertainment, bar, restaurant and store.
The Little White House, located in the Truman Annex on Front Street, was a favorite working-vacation spot for President Harry S Truman. During his presidency, he spent 175 vacation days at this posh home. The 1890 structure was refurbished during the 1940s and has been completely restored as a presidential museum reflecting that era. Of particular interest is the custom-made mahogany poker table, one of the original furnishings from the Truman period and is a reminder of the president’s fondness for this form of relaxation.
At the corner of Whitehead Street and Truman Avenue sits the Key West Lighthouse, built in 1847. The museum, originally the keeper’s quarters when the lighthouse was still operating, displays fascinating artifacts from the days when the lighthouse helped guide navigators through the dangerous waters around Key West. The lighthouse itself is one of the most rewarding workouts you’ll have on the island. A trek up 88 steps leads you a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and cruise ships docked in the harbour.
Quickly recognized as "the" most successful "new" restaurant on the island, A&B Lobster House's staff of professional chefs and management have brought experience and talent together to set a new standard for waterfront dining in Key West. Set in the heart of the Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight,the Half Shell Raw Bar is an authentic Key West fish house. Once a shrimp packing building, it has stayed true to its blue-collar harborfront heritage.
Just across the street, you’ll see the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum, filled with mementos that the author brought back from Spain, Africa, Cuba and other exotic locales. The lovely Spanish-colonial house, built in 1870, was Hemingway’s home from 1931 until his death in 1961. Frequently scheduled guided tours are often conducted by friends of the famous writer. Of particular note is the 65-foot salt-water swimming pool; it was the first of its kind built in Key West. You can also see the famous Hemingway cats, some of them six- or seven-toed, reputed to be the descendants of Hemingway’s beloved pets. There are about 40 of them living around the one-acre estate, lovingly cared for by museum staff.
At the opposite end of Whitehead Street is the Audubon House & Gardens, the 19th-century home of Captain John J. Geiger, a harbor pilot and master wrecker. Saved from demolition in 1958, the house was restored and decorated with period pieces from Europe, then dedicated to John James Audubon. The renowned painter and ornithologist visited the site while drawing the birds of the Florida Keys, painting the almost 200 species of birds that live in Key West or visit annually, including the remarkably adaptable great white heron. The restoration of the house started the movement that helped preserve many of Key West’s important historic buildings. Among the things to take note of while visiting are the children’s room on the third floor, where you’ll find on display two pairs of 19th-century roller-skates that bear a striking resemblance to the now-popular in-line skates of today; and the duplex outhouse in the corner of the garden.
In
the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, on Greene
Street, there is an extraordinary exhibit of historic
and cultural artifacts collected from 17th-century sunken
galleons. The exhibit documents Fisher’s long search
for the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and the Santa Margarita,
whose fabulous treasure troves are on view. Among the
items you can see on display are bars of solid silver,
a solid-gold dinner plate, pieces of eight in a cedar
chest, and sailors’ artifacts from the 17th century.
For a more
interactive look at the history of Key West’s wrecking
industry, visit the Key West’s Shipwreck Historeum,
located on Mallory Square at Whitehead Street. The museum
is a replica of an 1856 Key West wreckers’ warehouse
and uses actors, film and technology to tell the story
of the wrecking industry and its impact on the island’s
society. Asa Tift, a famous 19th-century wrecker, greets
you at the start of your tour and entertains you with
fascinating facts about Key West. You
can also learn about the wreck of the Issac Allerton
in 1956, whose salvaged treasures made Key West “the
richest city in the USA” at the time. While it
might be challenging to some, the climb up to Tift’s
Wrecker’s Lookout is well worth the nine flights
of stairs, as you are met with an incredible view at
the top.
Activities:
The Key West Aquarium, on Whitehead Street, features
coral, shells, colorful tropical fish, sharks and other
sea life. Besides the aquarium displays, there are touch
pools full of intriguing sea creatures and shark tanks,
where feedings take place every day. The Curry Mansion
Inn, an elegant Victorian structure on the corner of
Caroline and Ann streets, was originally the home of
William Curry, Florida’s first millionaire. For
an interesting museum that embodies the off-beat, eccentric
nature of Key West, head out on South Roosevelt Boulevard
to the East Martello Museum, located near the airport.
Originally a Civil War fort, the structure was converted
to a museum housing a variety of amusing and sometimes
bizarre objects. Among the things you’ll find here
are: a horse-drawn hearse and wicker casket from 1873;
Native American exhibits; Civil War and Spanish American
War artifacts; a hotel safe; “junkyard” art
by Stanley Papio (a character himself); a deep-sea diver’s
air suit with a wooden air pump; and even a crude raft
used by Cubans to escape the Castro regime. Children
will delight in the “junior museum” located
on the grounds--a tiny house built just to their scale.
A climb up the spiral staircase in the lookout tower
offers a lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean.
WaterSports:
Famous around the world for its fishing, Key West boasts
over 600 varieties of fish in its waters. This is also
a wonderful place to snorkel and scuba dive. Other options
include boating and windsurfing.
Ft.
Lauderdale || Key West
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