Key West Florida
Key West is the perfect vacation destination. The weather is amazing year round, the views are breathtaking and there so much to choose from. It's a great spot for Spring break, honeymoons, family vacations, or getaways with friends.
I've been 3 times in the past 7 years and I'm sure I'll get back there again. We usually go in February because it's a nice break from the snow we have here. We've flown in to Miami and driven the whole length of the Keys and we've also flown right into Key West.
Where to Stay
Travelers Palm Inn and GuesthousesThe guesthouses are located on Catherine Street. Prices vary by room and time of year. They have cottages that sleep 2, 4 and 6 people.
We first stayed here in 2002. We were traveling with our then 7 month old daughter so we wanted to stay somewhere with a good amount of space, with a kitchen and two bedrooms. We chose their Conch Cottage. It had what we needed. The cottage was a little dirtier than we hoped but the yard more than made up for it. It's a beautiful quiet place not too far from Duval Street. There is a large inground pool, a barbeque area, and lots of greenery. The Conch Cottage also has it's own private deck area. It also has central air.
In 2004 we went back and this time we chose their Captain's Quarters. It was much larger than the Conch Cottage and we had plenty of room for the 5 of us that stayed there. It has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a lot of space in the kitchen and living room area. It shares the same yard as the Conch Cottage as well as the other 2 cottages on the grounds. The deck is right off of the pool area so it's less private, but it's a really nice place.
They also have accommodations at Center Court Historic Inn & Cottages.
The first thing to do in Key West
Ride the Old Town Trolley Tour.This little open air trolley takes you all over Key West. A tour guide tells you about the history of the Island and many of the attractions you can see there. The Conch Tour Train has tours everyday from 9:00am to 4:30pm. The whole tour is about 90 minutes long but you can get on and off the train at various spots to check out the gift shops or get a bite to eat. Children under 4 ride free.
Some areas you'll see are Mallory Square, Historic Key West Seaport, Simonton Row, La Concha Crowne Plaza, Bahama Village Market, Key West Welcome Center, Casa Marina Resort, Southernmost Trolley Stop, and Duval St.
It will help you figure out what you'd like to do for the rest of your trip. :)
Where to Eat
Commodore Waterfront RestaurantWe go here every time we are in Key West. They have great steaks and seafood as fresh as you can get it. The location, overlooking the yachts at the Historic seaport, is beautiful.
Crabby Dicks'
This restaurant and bar overlooks Duval Street . You can sit on the large outdoor dining deck or inside in the air-conditioned dining room. It's open for lunch and dinner. This is another stop we make on every trip.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe
You should go more for the experience than the food. If you are a Jimmy Buffet fan you have to go at least once. It's a fun little place with live music and great Margaritas.
and More Food!
What other people have to say...
Here's what Yelpers have to say about Food in 33045
- Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory (Key West)
- "Holy sweet lime, Batman!!! Good pie and cookies but a bit pricey." more
- Croissants De France (Key West)
- "I came here one day tired as hell to get coffee and checked it out. Good coffee! I was impressed by the selection of pastries and desserts that I would..." more
- Peppers of Key West (Key West)
- "If you like hot sauces, this is a MUST! And I'm not talking hot like make it as hot as you can, but tastes nasty. These are hot sauces with great taste!..." more
- Blond Giraffe (Key West)
- "There's not much to say about Blond Giraffe that hasn't been said before. Yes, the key lime pie is delicious (though I couldn't finish it... so tart!) but..." more
- Kohr Bros Frozen Custard (Key West)
- "Open all night for your drunken cravings, with some of the best frozen custard I've ever had. Perfect stumbling distance from the bars, located on Duval..." more
Things to Do:
- Mallory Square
- Go to Mallory Square to watch the world famous Key West Sunset Celebration. Considered the heart of down town Key West, Mallory Square offers fine dining, shopping, entertainment, and attractions.
- Key West Aquarium
- A small but nice Aquarium to get an upclose look at indigenous sea life of Key West and the Florida Keys like grouper, moray eels, barracuda, tropical fish, tarpon, sharks, parrotfish. There are daily shark and turtle feedings and a great Touch Tank where you can pick up star fish and other small creatures.
- Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden
- A Tropical Secret Garden paradise in the very heart of Key West Florida. It's a really beautiful place full of tropical plants and birds. It's a bit hard to find. The entrance to the garden is down a small lane off of Simonton Street between Southard and Fleming.
- Hemingway Home & Museum
- The house was built in 1851 and became Ernest Hemingway's home in 1931. It still contains the furniture that he and his family used. You'll get to see the famous cats, descendants of the cats Hemingway kept while he lived in the house.
- The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
- Walk through a climate controlled, glass habitat with hundreds of butterflies and over 50 different species of flowers and plants. Many of the butterflies will land right on you. This is an excellent place for photographs.
Map of Key West
Books about Key West
True Secrets of Key West Revealed!
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Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/01/2009) 
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Key West: History of an Island of Dreams
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Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/01/2009)
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A Key West Companion
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June Keith's Key West & The Florida Keys (June Keith's Key West and the Florida Keys)
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Key West Gardens and Their Stories
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Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 12/01/2009)
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Used Price: $8.50
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What's the Weather Like Today in Key West?
Current weather conditions in Key West, FL
Local Pollen Reports
77°F (Feels like 80°F)
Last update: 12/1/09 5:53 PM EST
Humidity: 79%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 70°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 29.89in steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 10mph From: Airport Conditions
For anything you've ever wanted to know about Key West...
there's Wikipedia
To read the full article click the link below. You'll find everything from the island's history to it's geography to it's attractions and more.
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys.
Key West is politically within the limits of the city of Key West, Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city also occupies nearby islands and portions of nearby islands.
The island is about long and wide. In the late 1950s many of the large salt ponds on the eastern side were filled in, nearly doubling the original land mass of the island. The island measures in area.http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/Pages/MonroeCoFL_Emergency/toolbox/KWLMSVulnStudy.pdf
Upcoming Events in Key West
From the Official Tourism Council of the Florida Keys
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Been to Key West? Going soon?
Tell us about it
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Reply
- Bruceman Bruceman Aug 23, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
- Welcome to the group Christene. I know we only have three lenses so far but the standard is outstanding.
Kind regards Bruce.
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Reply
- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino Jun 25, 2008 @ 11:26 am
- Beautiful lens! I love the hens & chicks. Welcome to All Things Travel. I'm also giving you a Squid Angel Blessing.
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Reply
- GrowWear GrowWear Feb 5, 2008 @ 2:35 am
- Key West, in 2007, was my favorite vacation of all time. The views are spectacular. We took over 2000 pix -- even one of Mile Marker 0. Can't wait to go again!
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Reply
- adez7 adez7 Jan 14, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
- Hi Christine, I love this lens. I have never been here, but I now have a reason to go and visit some family. THanks 5*'s from me for a job well done.
by Christene
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