Key West is one of those places I wouldn’t mind visiting over and over again. When you are there it brings on this Caribbean feel, with the beaches, the pastel colored houses, and seeing the chickens and roosters roaming the streets. It’s like a little Caribbean Island in the U.S.
When I visited Key West it was my first time going and I wasn’t sure of what to do there, even though I did some research online. I knew for sure I wanted to visit the buoy but some of the other places I discovered while there. So in this article I have created a list of places you can visit to try and make it a bit easier for you.
The Buoy
This landmark structure in Key West marks the Southern most point in Florida and has written on it “90 miles to Cuba”. This is a very popular spot in Key West, with lines taking you anywhere from 10-15 minutes to take a picture. The buoy itself is an instagrammable spot but the ocean just behind it heightens it by providing a nice backdrop for photos. If you are not so much into social media, at least you can go there to take pictures to show as proof to family and friends that you visited Key West, and I am sure it will also make a good photo op for postcards.
Duval Street
Ever city has that go to place where all the hot spots are, like restaurants, night clubs, bars, stores and so on. Duval Street is that place in Key West, it’s the main street where you go to shop, eat and party. You will find places like Mangoes restaurant, the Southernmost Key Lime Shop that sells everything Key Lime, clubs, and the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.
Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe
Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe is home of the famous key lime pie. It is said that this is where the key lime pie originated and this is where you will find the best key lime pies in Key West. We visited the store and everything you could find was key lime scented or flavored. From fragrances, to the food, and even the spices. There is also a café in the back of the store. Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe has multiple locations in Key West, we visited the one on Elizabeth street.
A & B Marina
Just across the street from Kermit’s is A & B Marina. It’s more than just a marina, apart from boats docked you will find a lot of restaurants like Wahlburgers, the Conch Republic Seafood Company and more. and if you take a walk down the boardwalk you also find more restaurants and shops. There is also live music events that occur on some nights.
At A & B Marina you can also charter boats for fishing.
Infront of the Conch Republic is a kiosk for the Fury watersports company where you can book watersports activities like glass bottom boat rides, snorkeling, parasailing and so on. One thing you might not want to miss is the ocean waterpark adventure, which is a waterpark in the middle of the ocean. For more information you can visit their website by clicking here.
Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum
The Key West lighthouse and the Keeper’s Quarters Museum are located on the same property and are just across from each other. After the original lighthouse was destroyed by a storm the current lighthouse was opened up in 1848. It originally stood at 15 feet high but over the years it was extended and currently sits at 100 feet high.
To get to the top of the lighthouse is an 88 steps climb. It maybe a little nerve racking going up but the climb is worth it once you get to the top and see how beautiful the view is. From the top you can see most if not all of Key West. (Please climb at your own risk).
Inside the museum you will find artifacts like the keepers clothing, lanterns and also learn about the history of Key West and the lighthouse by watching a short documentary.
Hemingway Home
Just across the street from the lighthouse is the Hemingway Home. Now a museum, it was once the home of author Ernest Hemingway which he bought with his wife, at the time, Pauline . You can take a guided tour of the Home or a self tour. You will see different areas of the home like the dining room, ships, photos, cats, and also the room where Hemingway would go to write his novels.
There is a bookstore on the property where you can go to buy any of the author’s famous books after the tour.
These are just some of the places I visited while in Key West. I hope you found this list helpful. Share some of your Key West experiences in the comments.
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