What to do in Key West: the exotic North American Caribbean
Always active and full of life, this city is full of activities to enjoy the sea. We tell you what to do in Key West to get the best experience.
Located closer to Cuba than Miami, Key West is the southernmost subtropical paradise in Florida and the United States. Key West, as it is also known in Spanish, may be a small place, but it has a lot to do and have a great time. In this guide, we tell you what to do in Key West and not miss anything from this very particular place.
Things to do in Key West
Key West is an island city in the United States, which is part of the Florida Keys archipelago. There is a unique confluence of history, climate, natural beauty, cultural diversity, architecture and a constant romantic appeal.
Always active and full of life, this city is full of activities to enjoy the sea. But those who prefer to stay on the mainland will also have the opportunity to live great experiences with the attractions of the city and its surroundings.
We invite you to learn about these must-see activities in Key West or, if you prefer in Spanish, in Key West, Florida.
What to do in Key West: a colorful urban tour
The main way to get to know and enjoy Key West is by walking its streets. For that, nothing better than a good walk. This will allow you to gradually discover the houses in which many famous personalities lived. Of course it is also possible to take the Conch Train, the Old Town Trolley or rent a bicycle. On this walk, you can discover many interesting points.
Little White House (The Little White House)
Walking through the city you will be able to discover this mansion, which as a child has nothing. Its name makes sense if we remember that the White House in the United States is the one inhabited by the President of the country in Washington. And this house, which belonged to the President of the United States Harry S.Truman, was the place where he spent a good part of his rest time.
Even today, Key West's Little White House is used by high-ranking officials in the country as a place of retirement and business, but it is also a museum open to the public. The museum exhibits documents, photographs and original furniture from the time.
The Ernest Hemingway House in Key West
Writers have always loved the Keys, but perhaps none more than Ernest Hemingway, who bought a beautiful Spanish colonial house at 907 Whitehead Street in 1931 and stayed there for eight years. Today the house is a major tourist destination, always surrounded by lush tropical gardens and replete with photographs celebrating the writer's fishing conquests.
This was Hemingway's first home, in which he resided with his wife Pauline and their two children. All the furniture that is preserved in it is original. It is very exciting to visit the studio and remember that it was there that the writer finished "Farewell to Arms", his World War I novel, and produced "Death in the Afternoon", his hymn to bullfighting.
In Key West he wrote the novel “To Have and Have Not” about bootlegging during the Depression. He wrote perhaps his best short story, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" and began his novel about fascist Spain, "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
The Conch Tour Train, among the best things to do in Key West
Another good option to see every corner of Key West is to take the tour on the Conch Train, a striking bright yellow train that has been in operation since 1958. While it may seem a bit touristy, it is an easy way to familiarize yourself with everything. the island and its history.
Your knowledgeable guides provide an overview of the historic district and recount thousands of stories that occurred in the area, including legends about Robert the haunted doll, who lives in Fort East Martello. In addition, they can explain the shell-style architecture, characteristic of the city and provide more details about the most important houses and places.
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
To end the tour of things to do in Key West, nothing better than joining a unique celebration that takes place in Mallory Square. Located in the historic Old Town of Key West, Mallory Square is a waterfront plaza.
It faces west, towards the Gulf of Mexico, and due to this magnificent location, the "Sunset Celebration" takes place every afternoon. The festival begins around two hours before sunset and ends approximately shortly after sunset.
During this time, tourists and many locals gather there to enjoy the views of the sunset and begin to relax with the fresh air that comes from the sea. There are art exhibits and craft shows, and those who wish can have a snack or watch performances by street performers: clowns, jugglers, magicians and local musicians. It takes place every night, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (weather permitting).
What to do in Key West: activities at sea
If your goal when traveling to the Florida Keys is to do sea sports, Key West is undoubtedly one of the best places to practice snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing. One of its main advantages is that the climate there is warm throughout the year. This makes it a great place to go to the beach and spend some time in the water, even in January and February.
Near the docks, you can find many companies that offer all kinds of activities to tourists, as well as the rental of sports equipment. It is also possible to hire activities online. Let's see some proposals for activities to do in Key West.
There are tours that last a single day and take you from Miami to Key West with everything organized, giving you the opportunity to see the most beautiful and paradisiacal places in this Caribbean corner of the USA.
Key West: Snorkeling Tour
If you want to have a good time snorkeling, Key West is the place to be. You will be able to enjoy the underwater wonders of 2 points of the reef that you will access in a modern catamaran that will take you anywhere at full speed.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
When visiting the Florida Keys, it's hard to miss the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, as most of the water surrounding the Florida Keys is part of the sanctuary. Spanning 2,900 square nautical miles, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects the incredible underwater world of the Florida Keys, where reefs and animals flourish.
The sanctuary is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world and is an excellent place to dive or snorkel. There are even a number of wrecks that you can explore as a named diver on a tour known as the Shipwreck Trail.
Dry Tortugas National Park in Key West
Florida's Dry Tortugas National Park is 100 square miles (25,900 hectares) of open water, protected coral reefs, and seven small islands in the Gulf of Mexico that are only accessible by boat or air. Dry Tortugas is famous for its blue waters, wildlife, and Fort Jefferson, a 16-acre (6.5-hectare) coastal fort.
With a name derived from the Spanish word for "turtles," it may come as no surprise that wildlife is the main attraction at Dry Tortugas National Park. These secluded islands are accessible on a high-speed catamaran cruise from Key West, during which you'll be able to swim and snorkel with dolphins and sea turtles.
Your tour includes a tour around the park's coral reef, where you'll explore 19th-century Fort Jefferson on Garden Key and learn about its surroundings from an onboard naturalist.
Key West: Wreck Diving
Avid divers can head to Loggerhead Reef, made famous by the Windjammer Wreck, the remains of a Norwegian ship that sank in 1907.
Key West: Bird Watching
If you like bird watching, you can also take a boat ride to Bush Key, a nesting site for seabirds such as sooty terns and brown noddies.
key west swim with dolphins
With the exception of crocodiles, few animals are as associated with Florida as dolphins. Charter Dancing Dolphin Spirit excursions have expert guides who tell thousands of stories and describe the lives of these popular animals. Captain Victoria's Dolphin Day for Humans charter even allows you to be almost a dolphin.
This boat tour is a nature adventure that specializes in pleasing “kids of all ages.” It includes swimming like a dolphin on a special board and also snorkeling. Wild dolphins often join the "human dolphin" in their process of "delphinizing."
Beach in Key West: Smathers Beach
This 5-mile stretch of white sand is the largest public beach Key West has to offer. Located on the south side of the island, facing the sparkling turquoise waters of the Atlantic, Smathers Beach is the perfect place to relax in Key West.
It is the largest of the public beaches in Key West, Florida and fills up with sun-loving people when the weather is nice. Stalls along the beach rent kayaks, sailboats, paddleboards, umbrellas and chairs, or you can also book a parasailing experience to soar over the crystal clear waters. It's just as beautiful from above, and many Key West scenic flights offer aerial views of the pristine sands of Smathers Beach.
From Miami to Key West: Drive Over the Ocean
If your intention is to visit Key West during your trip to Miami, we recommend that you at least reserve an entire day for this excursion. The island offers a lot of interesting places to visit and once there, you will discover that you will not want to miss any. Beautiful and eccentric, it is famous for its pastel-coloured wooden stilt houses and is a cruise port accessible from the mainland via the Overseas Highway.
The journey along this route can be done by car. The distance from Miami is 250 kilometers and it takes approximately 4 hours. Driving this highway is a one of a kind experience. It's literally just a thin line over the ocean at many times and you'll need to drive across a thin chain of islands and bridges, including the famous 7-Mile Bridge. These bridges connect 34 islands that make up the Florida Keys.
Hotels in Key West
With so many activities to do in Key West, without a doubt another good option is to stay for 2 or 3 days, which will allow you to get to know this beautiful place in more depth. There are a good number of hotels available in Key West. It is also possible to hire an organized excursion to the Keys starting from Miami, and it is perhaps one of the most comfortable ways to visit.
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