Key West: The Conch Republic
It has been made famous in many ways by Earnest Hemingway's living there and his references to Key West in his writings. His former residence is still a major tourist attraction. Hemingway would do an estimated 70% of his lifetime's writing in the writer's den in the upper floor of the converted garage, in back of this house.
Every evening crowds gather at the dock to watch the sunset and the local entertainers do their thing.
Contents at a Glance
Cruise Ships Docked At Key West Port
The Conch Republic
Established April 23, 1982.
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"We Seceded Where Others Failed"
On April 23, 1982, Key West declared itself as the micronation of "Conch Republic" in a humorous attempt to increase its tourism.The motto of the "Conch Republic" is We Seceded Where Others Failed. It was done as a tongue-in-cheek "secession from the U.S", but they had a basic in fact for their frustration.
The original protest event was motivated by a U.S. Border Patrol roadblock and checkpoint to check for illegal drugs which greatly inconvenienced residents and was detrimental to tourism in the area.
The following quotes from Wikipedia give more details.
"As part of the protest, Mayor Wardlow was proclaimed Prime Minister of the Republic, which immediately declared war against the U.S. (symbolically breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a naval uniform), quickly surrendered after one minute (to the man in the uniform), and applied for one billion dollars in foreign aid.
The mock secession and the events surrounding it generated great publicity for the Keys' plight - the roadblock and inspection station were removed soon afterward. It also resulted in the creation of a new avenue of tourism for the Keys."
Shore Excursions
Suggested Places To See While In
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Key West
Key West is not only one of the frequent stops on the Eastern Caribbean Cruise routes, but is also a favorite destination by those who love to drive south through the Keys from Miami. But since this lens is directed toward those stopping off at Key West as one of their cruise destinations, I am emphasizing here some of the shore excursions that are frequently offered. If you drove down, you can probably find the same excursions through the local tourist agencies.
Like all cruise destinations you can only choose one or two within the time you have available, so choose carefully.
Remember however that you can always see the rest on your NEXT cruise to Key West, Florida.
I am listing a few of the shore excursions listed by Carnival cruise lines below. The full list of twenty (+/-) excursions can be found HERE, or you can click directly on the shore excursion title to get a more complete description.
If you go to the Carnival Cruise Lines site above, you will be able to click on links for each excursion which will give detailed descriptions of each excursion.
- Butterfly Conservatory & Key West Aquarium 2 Hours Discover the beauty of nature in this dual eco tour. A short air-conditioned bus ride from the pier takes you to the Key West Butterfly and Conservarory. See hundreds of butterflies, representing up to 60 different species from North, Central, and South America, Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Ghosts & Legends Tour of Key West 1.5 Hours Step off the beaten path for a spine-tingling, fully narrated walking tour of "Bone Island's" spirit world. Learn about haunted Victorian mansions, island pirate lore, voodoo superstitions and rituals.
Hear about a Count who lived with the corpse of his beloved, a secret leper colony, and other bizarre aspects of "Bone Island". See hidden parts of Key West that only a "Conch" would know, including: the Audubon House, old city morgue, Marrero House, St. Paul's Cemetery and the Otto Mansion. - Hemingway House & History Tour 2.5 Hours Learn all about the storied past of Key West on this leisurely walking tour to the Hemingway House.See and hear about the Truman Little White House, Bahama Village, Queen Julia, The Straw Market, original cemetery, Key West Lighthouse, naval history, pirates, wrecking, sponging, cigar and shrimp industries, and much more. Enjoy an interior guided tour of Ernest Hemingway's home and see the famous Hemingway Cats.
- Pirate Soul & Shipwreck Historeum 2.5 Hours Explore the relics of swashbuckling pirates and discover the wrecking and salvage history of Key West. See the original journal of Captain Kidd's last voyage, the only authentic pirate treasure chest in America belonging to Captain Thomas Tew, Blackbeard's original blunderbuss, an assortment of rare pirate gold, cannonballs, maps and almost 500 museum-quality artifacts.
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Key West Museum 1 Hour "Stories you can't imagine, people you won't believe" best describes the amazing Ripley's Believe It or Not! Key West Museum. Experience over 500 bizarre exhibits, including the world's tallest man, a six-foot tall prehistoric shark jaw, and the Vortex Tunnel.
- The Trails of Margaritaville Walking Tour 2 Hours Experience Jimmy Buffet's Key West during this entertaining walking tour through Old Town. Conclude your "Walking Party" at the famous Margaritaville Cafe and discover for yourself the magic and spirit of this unique tropical island paradise that inspired Jimmy and his music.
Fort Zachary Taylor In Key West, Florida
Haunted Fort Zachary Taylor
Haunted Fort Zachary Taylor Key West, Florida
Foty Zachary Taylor in Key West, Florida. Key West Ghost Tour.
Runtime: 4:04
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More Key West Information
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 is also informally known as The Conch Republic.
Key West Weather
Current weather conditions in Key West, FL
Local Pollen Reports
89°F (Feels like 102°F)
Last update: 7/6/09 12:53 PM EDT
Humidity: 67%Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 77°F
UV Index: 10+ (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 30.01in steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 9mph From: Airport Conditions
Today
Fair
High: 89°F
Low: 82°F
Sunrise: 6:44 AM
Sunset: 8:20 PM
Tuesday
Jul 7
Isolated T-Storms
High: 89°F
Low: 82°F
Sunrise: 6:44 AM
Sunset: 8:20 PM
Wednesday
Jul 8
Isolated T-Storms
High: 89°F
Low: 83°F
Sunrise: 6:45 AM
Sunset: 8:20 PM
Thursday
Jul 9
Isolated T-Storms
High: 90°F
Low: 84°F
Sunrise: 6:45 AM
Sunset: 8:19 PM
Cruise Trip Toolbox
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Aerial View Of Key West Looking North
Other Resources For Your Cruise Preparation
Insiders' Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West, 12th (Insiders' Guide Series)
From the Back Cover
For more than twenty years, the Insiders' Guide® series has remained the essential source for in-depth travel and relocation information. Each guide is written by locals and true insiders and offers a personal, practical -perspective that readers everywhere have come to know and love.
The Florida Keys and Key West are reverently called "Paradise" by locals and visitors alike. Come see why as you kayak through mangrove islands, gaze at gorgeous sunsets, or dive near fragile coral reefs. This authoritative guide show's you how to navigate ecotourism adventures and water sports as well as colorful street celebrations, a vibrant arts scene, and exciting nightclubs from Key Largo to Key West.
Amazon Price: $14.78 (as of 07/06/2009) 
Southernmost Point
Southernmost Point is a story of action, daring and mystery. All on an island that has attracted adventurers, pirates and dreamers, Key West. Join Dan Simonton and Jimmy "Shogo" Yamada as they track a ruthless East European gangster from Southern California to Key West in order to crack a mystery and murder involving a close friend. The adventure begins when close friend and business associate Chris Smith, comes up missing after being assigned to work as a bodyguard for the mysterious Boris. Only later will Dan Simonton and Jimmy "Shogo" Yamada discover the dark truth behind Chris's disappearance and Boris's true intentions. What follows is an exciting adventure that starts in Southern California and makes its way from Mexico to Las Vegas, Las Vegas to New Orleans and finally reaches its exciting conclusion in Key West. Once you start reading Southernmost Point you better buckle your seat belt because the ride will definitely be rough!
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Insiders' Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West, 9th (Insiders' Guide Series)
The Florida Keys are more than just the Duval Street party scene in Key West. Discover coconut palms and cormorants, angelfish and anemones, and archaeologists and anglers--this guide details all that this magnificent scenic area has to offer.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean
Amazon.com Review: In Last Train to Paradise novelist Les Standiford has written a lively, felicitous account of the building of the Florida East Coast Railway, which, for a little over two decades, connected mainland Florida with Key West. Henry Morrison Flagler, John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil partner and, in many eyes, the true genius behind that company, embarked on the project in 1905 when he was 74 years old. The railroad, which crossed more than 150 miles of open sea, was an engineering feat nearly equal in scale and difficulty to the digging of the Panama Canal. Standiford's narrative skillfully blends tales of construction perils (not the least of which were escadrilles of mosquitoes) with brief, illuminating travelogues and natural histories, pocket descriptions of life in early 20th-century Florida, and a truly gripping description of an epic standoff between Mother Nature, in the form of a monstrous hurricane, and a stalled, 160-ton steam locomotive. With nary a single missed note, this fascinating tale is popular history at its best.
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/06/2009)
Other Destinations
To See
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In The Eastern Caribbean
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Puerto Rico is frequently the first stop on the Eastern Caribbean cruises sailing out of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. It is also the initial departure location for most of the Southern Caribbean cruises. If you are on an Eastern Caribbean Crui...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: The Bahamas
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Of the Caribbean Island Destinations, The Bahama Islands are probably the best known islands among cruisers and would be cruisers. Its close proximity to the United States makes it a destination for cruise ships ranging from overnight cruises from M...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: St. Kitts and Nevis
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Historically, St. Kitts is noted as being the first successful British colony in the West Indies, having been settled in 1624. [For perspective, this is the same year that many of the Dutch were settling New Amsterdam (New York) in the U.S. area]. Th...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Turks And Caicos Islands
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Grand Turk Island is world renowned as a diving and snorkeling jewel, with its incredible aqua-blue waters. It also features magnificent beaches, and a large variety of fishing and water sports activities. Just a few hundred yards from shore, the co...
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Caribbean Cruise Destinations: Antigua and Barbuda
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The tourism videos emphasize that Antigua and Barbuda are like twin gems in a turquoise sea. This is one cruise destination you don't want to miss, especially if you like the beaches. The seas around the islands are perfect for sailing and once a ye...
Other Local Photos of Key West
Man kayaking with do...
View of destruction...
Limerick at the Half...
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It's Your Turn Now.
" I'd Love To Know You Dropped By."
walclan wrote...
I absolutely love cruising. I cruised on the Pacific Dawn from Sydney last April. I'm going again in July this year. I would love to cruise from Florida. My daughter is right into ghosts and visiting Fort Zachary Taylor is on her 'to do' list. My daughter visited Pennsylvania in November and went on some ghost tours. She loves America. Nice lens and lovely photos.
Posted February 17, 2009
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