The Keys

KEY WEST

Key West is the highlight for anyone visiting the Keys. Located in the Gulf of Mexico, only 140 kilometers from Cuba, it is a small and very well-developed island that is actually closer to Havana, Cuba than to Miami! It is without a doubt the southernmost destination in the United States. Did you know that this part of Florida is also great for a USA RV road trip?

Even today, many authors, poets and painters seek inspiration here in the middle of winter, lulled by the sea and the sunny landscapes. Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams were among the first to come here to reconnect with their art.
 

Old Town

This historic district has the greatest number of attractions to visit. Here are a few suggestions:

Duval Street

The city's main thoroughfare is always very lively with its many restaurants and cafes, attractions and shops. In the evenings, the music from the bars lining the street give it a festive atmosphere.

San Carlos Institute

The San Carlos Institute was founded by Cuban exiles in 1871 as an educational, civic, and patriotic center. The magnificent Baroque-style building dates from 1924, built after the preceding buildings were destroyed by fire (1886) and a hurricane (1919). The institute was closed for almost two decades and the building was condemned before being completely restored in the late 1980s. Since 1992, this dynamic centre houses a school, a theatre, a library, an art gallery and a museum. Admission is free and you can see exhibits on Cuba's history and the history of the Cuban-American community in Florida.

US 1 Mile Marker 0

501 Whitehead Street is the starting point for US Highway 1, which runs along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States to Maine, right to the border with Canada. Many people come here to take a photo in front of the iconic US1 mile marker zero sign.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

This magnificent Spanish colonial style Episcopal church was built in 1919. Go in to enjoy a quiet moment and admire the superb ocean-themed stained-glass windows, which contrast with the whiteness of the walls and rich wooden ceiling.

The Oldest House Museum

This is the oldest house on the island, built in 1829. It was the home of the wrecker Captain Francis B. Watlington, his wife and nine daughters. Like many buildings in Key West, it had to be moved 7 years after its construction from Whitehead Street to its present location on Duval Street. You can visit the house (which has a splendid collection of model ships), the cookhouse (the oldest surviving cookhouse in South Florida) and the exhibition pavilion overlooking the garden featuring, among other things, wood sculptures by local artist Mario Sanchez.

Harry S. Truman Little White House

This house was originally constructed in 1890 as naval officers housing and was used during the First and Second World Wars. It is best known as the winter White House of former American president Harry S. Truman, 33^rd president of the United States, who spent 175 days of his presidency there from 1945 to 1953. The house was also used by other important figures including former presidents Jimmy Carter and John F. Kennedy. It is now a museum where you can learn about the history of the Little White House and Truman's life and presidency and see items that belonged to him.

Tickets can be purchased online at a discount. The price includes a guided tour lasting about 30 minutes.

Audubon House & Tropical Gardens

Audubon House was built in the 1840s for wrecker Captain John Huling Geiger and his family, who lived there for more than a century. It was saved from demolition in 1958 by the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation and completely restored. This restoration sparked the preservation and restoration movement in Key West. After two years of work, the house was dedicated as a public museum commemorating the famed naturalist John James Audubon's visit to Key West in 1832 to study and sketch the birds of the Florida Keys for his "Birds of America" folio. Furnished with antiques and objects that belonged to the Geiger family, the museum proudly exhibits numerous original Audubon engravings. One of the highlights of the visit is wandering the paved walkways of the property's lush tropical gardens. The gardens contain a fascinating replica of the 1850s cookhouse, built in 2012 based on photographs of the original. The cookhouse is completely furnished with antiques of the period and even has a herb garden.

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

Mel Fisher was a great scuba diving enthusiast and spent years searching for the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank in Florida waters in 1622 carrying a mountain of treasure. After finally discovering the wreck in 1985, he opened several museums and donated 20% of the found treasure to the state. This museum houses exhibits on shipwreck salvage operations and artifact conservation, with displays of the equipment used to carry out this dangerous work as well as fabulous treasures. The collection contains some 100,000 artifacts such as gold and silver coins and ingots, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, navigation instruments, personal and trade items, chests, weapons, and much more.

Mallory Square

This waterfront plaza is in the northwest of the island facing the Gulf of Mexico. It has an interesting array of shops and restaurants, as well as the Key West Aquarium and the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Mallory Square also boasts the most beautiful sunsets, and is the location of the Sunset Celebration, a daily celebration that starts two hours before sunset and has been attracting crowds since 1960.

Visitors from around the world join the magicians, jugglers, clowns, psychics, local musicians, artists, and food vendors who come together for a moment of beauty and an incredible cultural experience.

Key West Shipwreck Museum

This museum tells the 400-year history of the wreckers who made their living by salvaging shipwrecks off the coast. They literally watched and waited for ships to run aground on the reef, then claimed salvage rights, retrieved everything that was good on board and sold it at auction. As the operation was extremely perilous, the seller was able to charge a considerable profit, to his great advantage! Be sure to climb to the top of the lookout tower for a stunning view of Key West.

Key West Aquarium

Since 1934, the Aquarium has been teaching visitors about the rich marine life of the Florida Keys and exotic creatures from other parts of the world. You will see American alligators, sharks, jellyfish, sea turtles, stingrays, giant isopods and much more.

Elsewhere in Key West…

The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

Hemingway and his then-wife, Pauline, ended up in Key West somewhat by chance in April 1928, when a new Ford Roaster that Pauline’s uncle had generously purchased for the newlywed couple was delayed in transit. During their 3-week wait, Ernest and Pauline got to know the town and its inhabitants, forged new friendships, and became quite attached to the place. They moved into the Whitehead Street house in 1931 and stayed there for almost ten years. Hemingway remained the house's owner and continued to visit until his death. He wrote several novels there and became one of the most respected authors in the country. This magnificent home, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968, is filled with the famous writer's furniture and possessions. The house and its grounds are also inhabited by 40-50 cats, many of which are polydactyl (6-toed). Legend has it that the cats are descendants of a 6-toed cat given to Hemingway.

If you would like to walk in Hemingway's footsteps, pay a visit to Sloppy Joe's Bar (201 Duval Street), where he was a regular, and Captain Tony's Saloon (428 Greene Street).

Key West Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters Museum

When it was inaugurated in 1848 to assure the safety of both military and commercial vessels navigating the shallow, reef-laden waters off the Florida Keys, the lighthouse had a woman as its keeper, which was nearly unheard of during the 19th century. The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse in 1969, since there was no longer a need for a full-time keeper due to technological advancements. It later became a lovely museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning. You can climb the 88 steps to the top of the light as well as explore the belongings, photographs, and words of the lighthouse keepers and their families who lived a now obsolete, yet never forgotten, way of life.

The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

Take a stroll through a tropical paradise in this huge climate-controlled greenhouse filled with more than 50 species of butterflies from around the world, flowers and colorful exotic birds: it's a one-of-a-kind experience! You can also learn all about the physiology, anatomy, diet, life cycle and migration of the majestic monarch butterfly.

Southernmost Point

Visit the southernmost point in the continental United States and have your picture taken next to the giant buoy that officially marks the spot. You may have to be patient, because the site is visited by more than 1 million people each year! Nearby, at 1400 Duval Street, you can see the superb Southernmost House, built in 1899 by Judge J. Vining Harris, which is now a hotel.

Corner of Whitehead Street and South Street, Key West

Eco Discovery Center

This discovery centre in the heart of Key West offers a journey into the world of the native plants and animals of the Keys, both on land and underwater. It features 6,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, a replica of a unique underwater laboratory, and a short film on the ecosystem of the Keys. Admission is free.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
 

This Florida state park is a National Historic Monument housing the largest cache of Civil War armament in the world. Built to guard the harbor of Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor played an important role in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the First and Second World Wars. Brochures and interpretive panels explain the history of the fort and how the soldiers lived as they defended the nation’s southeastern coastline. You can walk the red-brick corridors of the fort, past cannon and gun ports, and visit the small museum and collection of seacoast guns. Guided tours are offered every day at 11 a.m. The park is also a magnificent place to have a picnic, birdwatch, relax on one of the most beautiful beaches in Key West, swim and snorkel. You can buy food and refreshments at Cayo Hueso Café, souvenirs and items such as sunscreen at the small gift shop, and rent snorkeling gear, bicycles, chairs and more.

NEARBY

Lower Keys

Bahia Honda State Park
 

This Florida state park is said to have the most beautiful natural beaches on the archipelago! The shallow waters and white sand make it a beautiful and safe place for families with young children.

Calusa Beach is on the northwest side, near the marina, the picnic area and the Concession Building. It is one of the most photographed beaches, as it has the Old Bahia Honda Bridge in the background. Loggerhead Beach is right across from Calusa Beach, on the southwest side of the park. The longest beach, Sandspur, is on the southeast of the island, and looks like the Caribbean with its palm trees and turquoise waters.

The 500-hectare park also offers some of the best snorkeling sites, including Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, a reef teeming with ocean life about 20 km from the park. Daily 90-minute snorkeling trips depart from the park, and depths vary from 5 feet to 15 feet. Children are allowed as long as they are good swimmers. It is possible to rent snorkeling gear (mask, flippers, snorkel) and wetsuits if necessary. Reservations are required at 305-872-3210.

The following activities can also be enjoyed in the park if you have the necessary equipment: kayaking, canoeing, biking, fishing, swimming and hiking.

Dry Tortugas National Park
 

Dry Tortugas National Park is about 112 kilometres west of Key West and can only be reached by boat or seaplane.

It is made up of seven small sandy islands that are home to a large population of giant sea turtles, hence the name "Tortugas". “Dry” reflects the fact that no fresh water is available on the islands.

The main attraction of Dry Tortugas National Park is Fort Jefferson, the largest maritime fortification in North America, built in 1846 by the U.S. Army on Garden Key Island and designated a National Monument in 1935.

In addition to visiting the fort, you can go swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters and along the fort's coral-encrusted walls as well as birdwatching.

Note that it is best to book your ferry or seaplane tickets ahead of time to avoid being disappointed, as a limited number of visitors are admitted each day. The ferry ride aboard the Catamaran Yankee Freedom III takes about 2 1/4 hours and leaves from the Key West ferry terminal at 100 Grinnell Street (1-800-634-0939).

KEY LARGO

Also known as Cayo Largo, this destination is extremely popular with divers, as its magnificent coral reefs offer exceptional diving opportunities.

If you prefer to stay above the water, you will be delighted to know that Key Largo's proximity to the Everglades makes it a premier destination for kayaking, offering beautiful natural scenery and calm clear waters for paddling on.
 

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

This was the first undersea park in the United States, home to more than 40 types of coral and almost 600 species of fish! Open to the public for more than 50 years, the park was named for the late John D. Pennekamp, a Miami newspaper editor, whose efforts contributed to the preservation of this unique 70 square km area of coral reefs, tropical vegetation and marine life, and to the establishment of Everglades National Park.

The park is a true paradise for divers, even inexperienced ones. And there are many ways to enjoy the park without fins, mask and snorkel depending on your desires, needs and interests.

Here are the different options:

• Guided snorkeling tours: maximum of 6 snorkelers per guide. Tours last 2½ hours including 1 hour to 1½ hours water time. Equipment rental is available.

• Scuba diving tours for certified divers: two-location dives, with departures daily at 9 am and 1:30 pm. Maximum 6 divers per guide, variable duration. Equipment rental is available.

• Glass-bottom boat tour aboard a high-speed catamaran: maximum capacity of 130 passengers, with departures at 9:15 am, 12:15 pm and 3:15 pm. Tours last 2½ hours.

• Kayak, canoe and paddleboard (SUP) rental to explore the park's 50 miles of natural mangrove wilderness trails.

• Short walking trails, with picnic areas and beach access.

Reservations are strongly recommended for the snorkeling, diving and glass-bottom boat tours. Please note that children under the age of 15 can go snorkeling but must be accompanied by an adult.

Food and souvenirs can be purchased at the park's equipment rental centre.

NEARBY

Islamorada and the Middle Keys

This area of the Keys is extremely popular with deep-sea sport fishing enthusiasts. Marathon is the administrative and cultural centre of the “Middle Keys”.

Theater of the Sea

This marine mammal park features lagoons and lush, tropical gardens that are home to fish, sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, alligators, sea lions, dolphins and birds. The park was founded in 1946 by the McKenney family, whose mission was to protect and care for animals. Over the years, many animals have been rescued, rehabilitated, and still live at Theatre of the Sea because they could not be returned to the wild. Each rescued animal serves an important role in educating the public about the many natural and human-imposed threats to their wild counterparts.

General admission provides access to dolphin, sea lion, and parrot shows, a bottomless boat ride, a lagoon-side beach, as well as a fish and reptile tour with tropical fish, sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, alligators, and crocodiles. If you wish, you can also book one of the many unique experiences below:

• Swim with the dolphin
• Meet the dolphin
• Wade with the dolphin
• Paint with the dolphins
• Meet the sea lion
• Swim with the sea lion
• Paint with the sea lion
• Swim with the rays
• Meet the sea turtles
• Swim with the sharks
• Meet the alligator
• Adventure cruise and snorkeling
• Sunset eco-cruise

The park also has a gift shop and a restaurant, Nicky's Grill. 

Dolphin Research Center

Although dolphin watching is possible all over Florida, this research site allows you to watch and interact with these incredible mammals in a way that doesn't disturb their living environment. Enjoy an ethical, responsible experience! You will also get to meet the family of California sea lions. You can talk with staff and volunteers to learn more about the centre's animals and their way of life. You will also be able to attend the daily show and cool off in the water games available for visitors of all ages.

General admission provides access to the site, but you can also swim with the dolphins for an additional fee. Ask at the park reception.

Closed on December 25, Memorial Day (4^th Monday in May), Labor Day (1^st Monday in September) and Thanksgiving Day (4^th Thursday in November).

Seven-Mile Bridge

Built in 1982, the Seven-Mile Bridge connects Knight Key (Middle Keys) to Little Duck Key (Lower Keys) and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding turquoise sea. Rising to a 20-metre-high arch and almost 11,000 metres long, it can be considered a masterpiece of engineering and architecture.

Mile Marker 47 to 40, Overseas Highway