KEY WEST
by Helen Marie Cook
Key West, also known as the “Conch Republic” is the southernmost point
in the United States. Key West is located 150 miles from Miami
(approximately 4-1/2 hours drive on US 1 South) and only 90 miles from
Havana.
If you're driving to Key West there are many interesting sights for nature
lovers along the way, including Everglades National Park - a birdwatcher’
s paradise just 28 miles north via Florida City. The park's mangroves are
home to many species of birds, such as osprey, herons and roseate
spoonbills.
During your visit to the lush island of Key West, you'll find many quaint
restaurants, local pubs, art galleries, shops and museums. The small
town of Key West has a quaint 19th-century architecture and a fascinating
mix of history. While touring Duval Street (the main street through town),
you will see many shops, which draw tourists as well as the people from
the gigantic cruise ships. The lifestyle is very laid-back.
KEY WEST WEATHER
The average temperature is 79 degrees. High season is from mid-
December through March. Crowds are smaller from November to the
middle of December. Recently, the summer season has become the
second highest season among families.
KEY WEST ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations include resorts, hotels, guest houses and bed and
breakfasts. During the high season, the resorts can be quiet expensive
but they are well worth it.
KEY WEST ACTIVITIES
Key West has many things to see and do including tours, water sports,
diving, snorkeling on the barrier reef and just relaxing on the beaches.
You'll find parasailing, kayaking tours, biking, golfing, scuba diving and
wave runners. To view one of the awesome sunsets the island is famous
for, try a sunset or dolphin cruise.
HEMINGWAY HOUSE
Pulitzer Prize winner Ernest Hemingway spent much of his best years at
Key West where he wrote some of his most important works. Today the
Hemingway House is still the most popular tourist attraction in Key West.
KEY WEST BEACHES
Although Key West is a tropical island paradise with translucent water,
exotic foliage and Caribbean atmosphere, you won't find beautiful white
sand beaches in this part of Florida. The following beaches are best for
sunbathing and water activities.
C. B. Harvey Rest Beach – Picnic areas and bike path.
Higgs Beach-Astro Park – Good beach for sunbathing
Simonton Street Beach – Great place to watch boats.
Smathers Beach – Best spot for windsurfing.
South Beach – Popular beach for tourists.
Dog Beach – The only beach where you can take the dog along.
TOP ATTRACTIONS IN KEY WEST
Conch Tour Train
World famous tour of Key West. This train takes you to the Hemingway
Home, Duval Street, Mallory Square and many other interesting and
historical sights.
Shipwreck Historeum
Discover the treacherous world of shipwrecking and how it made Key
West the richest city in the Florida Keys.
Key West Cemetery
A walk through this historic graveyard can tell as much about Key West’s
eccentric character as any history lesson. Unusual whitewashed above
ground tombs and statutes.
Old Town Trolley Tours
Sightseeing tours of Key West, featuring over 100 points of interest. The
trolley makes 9 stops so you can stop along the way for shopping,
attractions, and dining.
Audubon House and Tropical Gardens
Tour of 1840’s restored home of Captain Geiger. This has a one-acre
garden with a great collection of tropical plants.
Curry Mansion Museum
The Curry Mansion Museum is a 25-room Victorian mansion.
Earnest Hemingway Home and Museum
Key West’s number one tourist attraction.
Little White House
The Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman
Mosquito Coast Wildlife Tours
Guided kayaking through the waters of the keys to a mangrove island and
other biological highlights.
Adventure Charters and Tours
Guided tours of the Great White Heron and Deer National Wildlife Refuge.
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Nightly sunset celebration. Be entertained by various carnival performers
while viewing the spectacular sunset.
Red Barn Theatre
Year-round productions of both contemporary classic and modern classic
musicals.
KEY WEST ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Key West is very family oriented and you can find plenty of free activities to
entertain children. Following are some of the places that children will
enjoy.
Key West Nature Preserve – Wooden walkways and trails take tourists
through mangroves and forests. Here children can observe butterflies,
lizards and birds.
Key West Marine Park
Safe area for swimming and snorkeling. Children will see many species
of coral, tropical fish and birds at this park.
Astro City
This well-equipped playground is a popular stop for families on their way
to and from the beach, White Street Pier or old town Key West.
Bayview Park
This large park has a fully equipped playground, basketball court and
tennis courts. It is a popular spot for community events.
White Street Pier
This pier extends hundreds yards over the Atlantic Ocean. When winds
are calm, or out of the north, a stroll along this pier reveals large schools
of fish and numerous feeding shore birds. The end of the pier is a good
spot to take kids fishing.
Historic Seaport District
A public walkway was built around this former commercial-fishing
harbor. This a great place to take a stroll with your children. They might
find a wild sea turtle. They might also see hungry tarpon and occasionally
manatees from the walkway.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach
This historic fortress at the southwest end of Key West is a fascinating
place for children to play and watch boats as they sail by out of Key West
Harbor. The grounds offer a sandy beach with picnic tables and
restrooms.
Key West Aquarium
The 50,000 gallon Atlantic shore exhibit gives visitors a close look at the
Florida Keys mangrove near shore and reef.
by Helen Marie Cook
Key West, also known as the “Conch Republic” is the southernmost point
in the United States. Key West is located 150 miles from Miami
(approximately 4-1/2 hours drive on US 1 South) and only 90 miles from
Havana.
If you're driving to Key West there are many interesting sights for nature
lovers along the way, including Everglades National Park - a birdwatcher’
s paradise just 28 miles north via Florida City. The park's mangroves are
home to many species of birds, such as osprey, herons and roseate
spoonbills.
During your visit to the lush island of Key West, you'll find many quaint
restaurants, local pubs, art galleries, shops and museums. The small
town of Key West has a quaint 19th-century architecture and a fascinating
mix of history. While touring Duval Street (the main street through town),
you will see many shops, which draw tourists as well as the people from
the gigantic cruise ships. The lifestyle is very laid-back.
KEY WEST WEATHER
The average temperature is 79 degrees. High season is from mid-
December through March. Crowds are smaller from November to the
middle of December. Recently, the summer season has become the
second highest season among families.
KEY WEST ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations include resorts, hotels, guest houses and bed and
breakfasts. During the high season, the resorts can be quiet expensive
but they are well worth it.
KEY WEST ACTIVITIES
Key West has many things to see and do including tours, water sports,
diving, snorkeling on the barrier reef and just relaxing on the beaches.
You'll find parasailing, kayaking tours, biking, golfing, scuba diving and
wave runners. To view one of the awesome sunsets the island is famous
for, try a sunset or dolphin cruise.
HEMINGWAY HOUSE
Pulitzer Prize winner Ernest Hemingway spent much of his best years at
Key West where he wrote some of his most important works. Today the
Hemingway House is still the most popular tourist attraction in Key West.
KEY WEST BEACHES
Although Key West is a tropical island paradise with translucent water,
exotic foliage and Caribbean atmosphere, you won't find beautiful white
sand beaches in this part of Florida. The following beaches are best for
sunbathing and water activities.
C. B. Harvey Rest Beach – Picnic areas and bike path.
Higgs Beach-Astro Park – Good beach for sunbathing
Simonton Street Beach – Great place to watch boats.
Smathers Beach – Best spot for windsurfing.
South Beach – Popular beach for tourists.
Dog Beach – The only beach where you can take the dog along.
TOP ATTRACTIONS IN KEY WEST
Conch Tour Train
World famous tour of Key West. This train takes you to the Hemingway
Home, Duval Street, Mallory Square and many other interesting and
historical sights.
Shipwreck Historeum
Discover the treacherous world of shipwrecking and how it made Key
West the richest city in the Florida Keys.
Key West Cemetery
A walk through this historic graveyard can tell as much about Key West’s
eccentric character as any history lesson. Unusual whitewashed above
ground tombs and statutes.
Old Town Trolley Tours
Sightseeing tours of Key West, featuring over 100 points of interest. The
trolley makes 9 stops so you can stop along the way for shopping,
attractions, and dining.
Audubon House and Tropical Gardens
Tour of 1840’s restored home of Captain Geiger. This has a one-acre
garden with a great collection of tropical plants.
Curry Mansion Museum
The Curry Mansion Museum is a 25-room Victorian mansion.
Earnest Hemingway Home and Museum
Key West’s number one tourist attraction.
Little White House
The Winter White House of President Harry S. Truman
Mosquito Coast Wildlife Tours
Guided kayaking through the waters of the keys to a mangrove island and
other biological highlights.
Adventure Charters and Tours
Guided tours of the Great White Heron and Deer National Wildlife Refuge.
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Nightly sunset celebration. Be entertained by various carnival performers
while viewing the spectacular sunset.
Red Barn Theatre
Year-round productions of both contemporary classic and modern classic
musicals.
KEY WEST ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Key West is very family oriented and you can find plenty of free activities to
entertain children. Following are some of the places that children will
enjoy.
Key West Nature Preserve – Wooden walkways and trails take tourists
through mangroves and forests. Here children can observe butterflies,
lizards and birds.
Key West Marine Park
Safe area for swimming and snorkeling. Children will see many species
of coral, tropical fish and birds at this park.
Astro City
This well-equipped playground is a popular stop for families on their way
to and from the beach, White Street Pier or old town Key West.
Bayview Park
This large park has a fully equipped playground, basketball court and
tennis courts. It is a popular spot for community events.
White Street Pier
This pier extends hundreds yards over the Atlantic Ocean. When winds
are calm, or out of the north, a stroll along this pier reveals large schools
of fish and numerous feeding shore birds. The end of the pier is a good
spot to take kids fishing.
Historic Seaport District
A public walkway was built around this former commercial-fishing
harbor. This a great place to take a stroll with your children. They might
find a wild sea turtle. They might also see hungry tarpon and occasionally
manatees from the walkway.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach
This historic fortress at the southwest end of Key West is a fascinating
place for children to play and watch boats as they sail by out of Key West
Harbor. The grounds offer a sandy beach with picnic tables and
restrooms.
Key West Aquarium
The 50,000 gallon Atlantic shore exhibit gives visitors a close look at the
Florida Keys mangrove near shore and reef.
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