Key West, Florida
Key West is one of the most captivating islands in the Florida Keys. It is impossible not to succumb to its magical charm. No wonder people keep returning here to recapture the pleasures of their memorable Key West vacations. There is something here for everybody and the first-time visitor can pack in so much in a short time because of the excellent public transport.
About the Community
Take a pedicab, tour train, trolley, or walk to absorb the ambiance of this old city where Ernest Hemingway lived and people like Thomas Edison, Harry Truman, and Tennessee Williams spent time. Key West is steeped in history and many real estate titles date back to the Kings of Spain.
The Old Town will fascinate you as you amble down a winding lane taking in the fragrance of the flowers and listening to the music that fills the air from one of the bars on Duval Street. The locals have painstakingly restored old wooden homes and cultivated lush tropical trees and flowers around them. The gingerbread mansions and tin-roofed conch houses on the palm-lined streets will fascinate you. Do not miss the John Audubon House. Bahaman immigrants settled in the historic Bahamas Village neighborhood in the 19th Century. Today it is home to new stores and restaurants.
Important Links
Vicinity of Key West
Additional Details
The Historic Seaport district, known locally as the Key West Bight is still active, though not with shrimp boats of yore. Today you can organize a boat here for a day on the waters if you fancy deep sea fishing, diving, or snorkeling. Eco-tourists take off from here to admire the local botanical and marine wonders. You can just stroll along the harbor or enjoy a fresh catch from the sea at one of the many restaurants. Get onto a catamaran or glass-bottomed boat and go on a wild dolphins watch, or snorkeling the coral reef with their tropical fish or shipwrecks, or relax at the sand bar. Enjoy a night dive to observe nightlife on the reef. You could even kayak in the backcountry off Key West.
Visit the local art galleries for treasures by Key West’s well-known and unknown artists. The Sunset Celebration on the Mallory Square draws crowds from all over. The sun in Key West shines brightest as it sets. There is entertainment galore at sunset with jugglers, mimes, musicians, and street artists of every variety.
Nights at Key West are even more pulsating with the sidewalk cafes open-air bars, and fine restaurants coming alive at sunset with island specialties. The theater is very active in Key West, a city that has moved with the times while celebrating its past. The Gay community has been largely responsible for Key West’s economic and social revival in the 1980s. The town combines all its major attractions in a small geographic area so it is possible to enjoy its beaches, museums, historic districts, water sports, and golf all in one day. The golf course is world-class with lush tropical landscaping and within easy reach of accommodation.