In the American state of Florida you can visit nice cities such as the immensely popular Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Port Saint Lucie and the southern Keys. The several small islands of the Keys are located along the Florida Strait, a strait southeast of Florida. The most southerly island is Key West. The drive from Miami, for example, is an experience in itself. Sometimes the road you drive on is only a few meters from the sea. The atmosphere on the island of Key West is unlike the mainland of Florida. There is a kind of ‘hippie’ feeling here and the atmosphere is extremely relaxed. It is a haven for many artists, writers and other artistic persons. The diversity of people is also reflected in the architecture. Colombian and other Spanish influences are clearly visible in various structures. Wonderful examples of this are the fine Victorian wooden mansions that line the streets of the Old Town. And catering establishments such as ‘Sloppy Joe’s’ retain the memories of yesteryear. Key West in Florida is a must-see island. And catering establishments such as ‘Sloppy Joe’s’ retain the memories of yesteryear. Key West in Florida is a must-see island. And catering establishments such as ‘Sloppy Joe’s’ retain the memories of yesteryear. Key West in Florida is a must-see island. See 800zipcodes for American cities that start with letter N.
Key West ‘s Top 10 Things to Do
Dry Tortugas National Park
This national park is located west of Key West. The seven islands form an archipelago in the Gulf of Mexico and are home to beautiful colored coral reefs. The many visitors to Dry Tortugas National Park like to come here to dive, snorkel or just camp in nature. The flora and fauna also has a special attraction for nature lovers. As a breeding area you can encounter about three hundred different bird species here. And the sea turtles ‘Las Tortugas’ like to prefer the beach of this park to lay their eggs.
And with a visit to the 19th century Fort Jefferson you will learn more about American military architecture.
Sunset Pier
It is almost a tradition on Key West to have a drink at the famous Sunset Pier at least once during your stay. A band regularly performs to accompany you musically during the setting of the sun. Here too you will find an atmosphere that fits perfectly with the rest of the island. The pier is located between the harbor ‘Key West Harbor’ and Mallory Square.
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Near the southernmost tip of Key West on Duval Street, there is a butterfly garden to visit. The employees are very committed and are happy to assist you with an explanation of the process from pupa to butterfly. The conservatory in which the butterflies are located is decorated with colorful flowers, plants and waterfalls. Besides the more than fifty different butterfly species, there are also exotic birds to admire.
Southernmost Point
The majority of Key West visitors are photographed with the red/black and yellow colored buoy located on the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street. The monument, which represents the southernmost point of the United States, is also the symbol of the island. From here you are just ninety miles (145 km) from Cuba. The concrete and anchored buoy was placed in 1983.
Mallory Square
This intersection in the old part of Key West is always busy. Not only do the cruise ships arrive here in the harbor, you are also at the place where the sunset is exuberantly celebrated every evening. Especially towards the evening, many street performers and musicians can be found here who love to entertain the public.
Harry S. Truman Little White House
When the thirty-third president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, finds himself exhausted during his second term in 1946, he decides to take a break for a while. He chooses the Florida Keys and stays for a while in the ‘Little White House’ on Front Street. From 1948 the house was used to organize meetings for the Ministry of Defense and other political gatherings. The house has been open to the public since 1987 and has been converted into a museum. You can see where President Truman lived, worked and how he spent his weekend.
Key West Shipwreck Museum
With a visit to this museum you immediately take a step back in time. You will go back to the year 1856 when the American merchant ship Isaac Allerton was wrecked near Saddlebunch Keys. During a hurricane, the ship ran into trouble and was largely destroyed. During its heyday during this period, Key West harbor was frequented for trade. Sometimes as many as 100 ships passed in one day. The museum has many exciting stories to tell. Key West Shipwreck Museum is fun for young and old.
Duval Street
In historic downtown Key West, Duval Street is the most popular. The long street therefore runs from north to south, splitting the center in two. In the north the cruise ships come in and in the south is the butterfly garden with near the southernmost point of the United States. On the Duval Street you will find many atmospheric terraces, nice boutiques and cozy bars. During the Fantasy Fest in the last week of October, a parade of brightly colored revelers moves through Duval Street.
Ernest Hemingway House
The American writer Ernest Hemingway is inextricably linked to the island of Key West. He wrote his novels and non-fiction stories from his homes in Key West, Cuba and Idaho, among others. Towards the end of his career he won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Ernest Hemingway House is on Whitehead Street. The writer lived and worked here from 1931 to 1939. The house, which was built in 1851, has been open to the public since 1968. First as a bookshop and later as a museum. A remarkable number of cats can be seen on and around the estate. The love for these creatures has been continued by Ernest Hemingway’s son. The special breed has a special feature.
African Cemetery
This historic Key West cemetery is located off Higgs Beach. It occupies a dark page in history where millions of African people died as slaves. They spent years on ships where they worked and lived. Since the discovery of this place in 2002, a museum (Mel Fisher Museum) has been created that shows the history of these people and their lives.