Visiting Key West

(Key West, Florida - FL, USA)

The most southerly point of the US, Key West is a beautiful island with a traditional character and an impressive literary heritage, while also being surrounded by clear waters offering amazing water sports and diving opportunities. The island encompasses some popular tourist attractions, among which are Audubon House and Tropical Gardens, Mallory Square, Ernest Hemingway's home and Bayview Park.

Many visitors choose to drive to the island along one of the world's most spectacular road routes, which crosses dozens of bridges, while the island's airport also provides convenient access. Having long been a destination which has captured the hearts of many, Key West continues in its popularity largely due to its unspoilt beaches, museums, parks and relaxing Florida atmosphere.

There are a series of good-value motels concentrated in the New Town area, although most will agree that more appealing accommodation resides within the Old Town, where many options occupy historic buildings. Key West vacation rentals are also popular and these come in the form of family homes, well-placed condos and professional apartments, which are often just a stroll from Smathers Beach and a short drive to the airport.

Visiting Key West: Places to Visit

• Watch the sunset go down at Mallory Square, the most popular place on the island in the early evening
• Pay your respects to the sailors who lost their lives in the sinking of the USS Maine at the Key West Cemetery
• Visit the charming home of Ernest Hemingway, where he penned many of his most famous novels
• Discover the world of sea creatures at the Key West Aquarium and have a go at shark-petting!
• Take a ride on the Old Town Trolley, which provides an informative running commentary to complement the tour of the island's major attractions
• Relax on Key West's favorite sandy stretches including South, City and Higgs beaches
• Tour the Southernmost House Grand Hotel and its museum, which has been host to five different US presidents during their stays on the island
• Admire the impressive architecture of the East Martello Tower, a fort during the Civil War and now containing a museum
• Smoke a cigar after a tour of the Key West Havana Cigar Factory, famous for producing some of the world's best smokes
• Have your photo taken at the Southernmost Point, the buoy which marks the most southerly tip of the US, only 60 miles from Cuba