The Best Things to Do in Key West
This lively, offbeat Florida Keys community captivated Ernest Hemingway, Harry S. Truman, and Tennessee Williams—and you're not likely escape its charms, either.
938 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
The U.S. Navy opened the Key West lighthouse in 1848 to help commercial and military vessels navigate the coral reefs around the harbor. After decommissioning, the lighthouse and the house in which its keeper lived were converted into a museum....
220 Simonton St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
New Orleans may be home to America’s most festive thoroughfare, Bourbon Street, but Key West’s Duval Street is a close second. This two-kilometer-long (1.25-mile-long) road runs from north to south, from one end of the island to the...
601 Howard England Way, Key West, FL 33040, USA
Yes, there is a fort here—a National Historic Landmark built in the mid-1800s to protect the country’s southernmost coastline—but locals know it for its excellent beach. A nice sandy expanse is a rarity in the Florida Keys—they’re surrounded by...
1 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
The Key West Shipwreck Museum transports visitors back to 1856, when the young city's port had more than 100 ships passing through daily. Because of the coral reefs, shipwrecks were common at the time and salvage...
907 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
Key West’s most famous literary resident, Ernest Hemingway, lived in this two-story Spanish-colonial villa for nearly a decade and composed several of his best-known works here. His second wife, Pauline, insisted they add a pool to the spacious...
400 Wall St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
Key West is billed as "the Home of the Sunset," which means every time the sun sinks below the horizon, it’s time for a party. Since the 1960s, Mallory Square’s dock has been hosting this nightly celebration, which begins two hours...
513 Truman Ave, Key West, FL 33040, USA
The city of Key West has an incredible literary history, and one of itsmost celebrated residentswas Tennessee Williams, who lived in townfrom 1941 until his death in 1983. A final draft of his most famous play, A Streetcar Named Desire, was...
Whitehead St & South Street, Key West, FL 33040, USA
The Southernmost Point buoy, at the corner of Whitehead Street and South Street, marks not only the spot for the southernmost point ofthe continental United States but alsothe distance (90 miles) to the next country,Cuba. The buoy, installedby the...
It is irresistibly tempting to compare distiller Paul Menta to Captain Jack Sparrow. There’s the long, dark hair, the slightly Depp-ish eyes, and yes, a shared love of rum and open sea (Menta’s a competitive kiteboarder). Menta’s...
8311, 111 Front St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
This wood house was originally intended as officers' housing on the island's naval base, but became famous as the Little White House when Harry S. Truman used it as a base of operations for several extended stays during his...
516 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
The San Carlos Institute was founded in 1871 by Cuban exiles who came to Key West to campaign for Cuba's freedom from Spain. The original building was elsewhere and burned to the ground. The present building was erected in 1890. The interior was...
1316 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a hidden gem among the bars and bustle in Key West. The small glass-enclosed habitat is fluttering with more than 50 species of butterflies, as well as colorful birds and a large...
