Things to do in Florida Keys
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Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is America's most inaccessible national park. Reachable only by boat, it rewards you for your effort in getting there with amazing snorkeling, diving, bird-watching and star-gazing.
reviewed
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Irish Kevin’s
One of the most popular megabars on Duval, Kevin’s has a pretty good entertainment formula pinned down: nightly live acts that are a cross between a folk singer, radio shock jock and pep-rally cheerleader. The crowd consistently goes ape-poo for acoustic covers of ’80s favorites. Basically, this is a good place to see 50 women from New Jersey do tequila shots, scream ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’ at the top of their lungs and then inexplicably sob into their Michelob. It’s more fun than it sounds.
reviewed
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Café Solé
Conch carpaccio with capers? Yellowtail fillet and foie gras? Oh yes. This locally and critically acclaimed venue is known for its cozy back-porch ambience and innovative menus, cobbled together by a chef trained in southern French techniques who works with island ingredients. The memory of the anchovies on crostini makes us smile. It’s simple – fish on toast! – but it’s the sort of simple yet delicious that makes you feel like mom’s whipped up something special for Sunday dinner.
reviewed
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Blue Heaven
The outdoor dining can be a bit like eating in a barnyard, but a funky, eclectic barnyard, with creative, well-executed dishes. Waiting in line to enjoy a nice meal with chickens scratching under your table? Welcome to Key West.
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East Martello Tower
The East Martello Tower is home to Robert the haunted doll, the inspiration for all those Chucky movies. (He's in a glass case to keep him from making mischief in the rest of the museum.)
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Key West Lighthouse
You can climb up 88 steps to the top of this lighthouse, built in 1846, for a decent view. But honestly, it’s just as enjoyable to gaze up at the tower from the leafy street below.
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Key West Cemetery
Residents get the last word at the Key West Cemetery, with eccentric epitaphs such as, 'At least I know where he's sleeping tonight, ' or the famous 'I told you I was sick.'
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El Siboney
Key West is only 90 miles from Cuba, so this awesome corner establishment is quite literally the closest you can get to real Cuban food in the US. Cash only.
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Hemingway House
Key West’s biggest darling, Ernest Hemingway, lived in this gorgeous Spanish-Colonial house from 1931 to 1940. Poppa moved here in his early 30s with wife No 2, a Vogue fashion editor and (former) friend of wife No 1. The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber and The Green Hills of Africa were produced here , but Hemingway didn’t just work; like all writers he wasted a lot of time, specifically by installing Key West’s first saltwater swimming pool. The construction project set him back so badly he pressed his ‘last penny’ into the cement on the pool’s deck. It’s still there today, along with the evil descendants of his famous six-toed cat, who basically rule the house a…
reviewed
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Casa Antigua
This was technically Hemingway’s first house in Key West and the spot where he wrote A Farewell to Arms, but it isn’t all that notable except for a lush garden in the back and one of the kitschiest ‘guided tours’ in the US. Here’s how it breaks down: go to the Pelican Poop Gift Shoppe, which now occupies the Casa, pay the $2 garden entrance fee and let the kitsch begin! Go into the peaceful green area out the back, then a recorded tape plays at the volume God uses whenever he says anything that begins with ‘Let there be…’ At this ear-splitting volume, a man with a voice that can only be described as Big Gay Al raised in Dixie, lays down the history of the Casa f…
reviewed
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Gay & Lesbian Trolley Tour of Key West
- Key West, USA
- Activities › Bus
Though less true than in the past, visiting Key West is still a rite of passage for many LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Americans, as gays and lesbians have always had a major impact on the local culture. Just as there is a straight trolley tour, you can hop aboard the Gay & Lesbian Trolley Tour of Key West, which provides commentary on local gay lore and businesses (you'll also see the sites of the infamous Monster club).
It's organized by the Key West Business Guild, which represents many gay-owned businesses and departs from the corner of South and Simonton Sts at 11:00 on Saturdays.
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The Studios of Key West
This new nonprofit showcases about a dozen artists’ studios in a gallery space located in the old Armory building, which includes a lovely sculpture garden. Besides its public visual-arts displays, TSKW hosts readings by local authors like Robert Stone, literary and visual workshops, concerts, lectures and community discussion groups. Essentially, it has become the accessible heart of this city’s enormous arts movement, and offers a good point-of-entry for visitors who want to engage in Key West’s creative scene but don’t have a clue where to start.
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Long Key State Recreation Area
The 965-acre Long Key State Recreation Area takes up much of Long Key. It’s about 30 minutes south of Islamorada, and comprises a tropical clump of gumbo-limbo, crabwood and poisonwood trees; a picnic area fronting a long, lovely sweep of teal water; and lots of wading birds in the mangroves. Two short nature trails head through distinct plant communities. The park also has a 1.5-mile canoe trail through a saltwater tidal lagoon and rents out canoes (hour/day $5/10) and ocean-going kayaks (two/four hours $17.20/32.25).
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Heritage House
Of all the many historic Key West homes open to visitors, this Caribbean–Colonial house is among the most wonderful to walk through. That’s because it’s rarely crowded, has passionate guides, and contains original furnishings and antiques, from a piano from the court of Marie Antoinette to a set of dining chairs from the 1600s. All have been collected and preserved by seven generations of a local family. The Robert Frost Cottage, where the poet stayed for 16 winters, is out back, along with another wonderful garden.
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Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
‘America’s Southernmost State Park’ (we get it, Keys Chamber of Commerce – Key West is southern), this park is oft-neglected by authorities and visitors, which is a shame as it’s a nice place to while away a quiet afternoon. The actual fort walls are still standing, and within the compound those most-blessed of nerds – historical reenactors – put on costumes and act out scenes from Civil War and pirate days. Butterflies flit over the grounds, and the beach is quiet and quite pretty to boot.
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Little White House
President Harry S Truman – the one who came after Franklin Roosevelt? Marshall Plan? Helped start the Cold War? Never mind – used to vacation at this house. It is as lushly luxurious as you’d expect and open only for guided tours (though the two rooms of the Harry S Truman Annex, with displays on political and presidential trivia, are free). Plenty of Truman’s possessions are scattered about, but the real draw is the guides, who are intensely intelligent, quirky and helpful.
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Nine One Five
There is a war being waged for Duval’s identity. On the one side: an army of alcoholic aggression and tribal band tattoos. On the other: this immaculate, modern and elegant eating experience, with its creative, New American-dips-into-Asia menu. Korean ribs over pad thai show Eastern promise, but scallops sizzling in black-truffle butter are deliriously French. The excellent interior artwork is a nice touch.
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Champagne Celebration Sunset Cruise
2 hours (Departs Key West, Florida)
by Viator
Get out on Key West’s beautiful Atlantic waters to sip Moët & Chandon champagne while enjoying the sunset. Included in the tour price are Chandon Brut Classic s…Not LP reviewed
from USD$73.99 -
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Conch Town Café
Too many people ignore this walk-up/carry-out, with its plastic patio furniture and scruffy island vibe. It’s a shame, as it serves conch – good for more than listening to the ocean – deliciously ‘cracked’ (deep-fried) with a lip-puckeringly sour-lime marinade. You’ll be tempted to wash it down with the homemade smoothies, but be warned: they’re more milky than refreshing.
reviewed
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Bourbon St Pub & 801 Bourbon Bar
Gay nightlife, in many cases, blends into mainstream nightlife, with everybody kind of going everywhere these days. But the backbone of the gay bar scene can be found in a pair of cruisey-type watering holes that sit across the street from one another, Bourbon St Pub and 801 Bourbon Bar (801 Duval St), which can be summed up in five words: drag queen-led karaoke night.
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Bourbon St Pub
Gay nightlife, in many cases, blends into mainstream nightlife, with everybody kind of going everywhere these days. But the backbone of the gay bar scene can be found in a pair of cruisey-type watering holes that sit across the street from one another, Bourbon St Pub and 801 Bourbon Bar, which can be summed up in five words: drag queen–led karaoke night.
reviewed
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Key West Island T’ing: Sail, Snorkel and Kayak Adventure
6 hours (Departs Key West, Florida)
by Viator
Beautiful Key West is surrounded by the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, making it perfect for day of fun in the sun. On the Island T’ing adventure,…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$84.99 -
Ultimate Jet Ski Tour of Key West
1.5 - 2 hours (Departs Key West, Florida)
by Viator
Experience Key West from the sea on this ultimate island adventure! Glide along tropical waterways around Key West and several nearby islands with your professi…Not LP reviewed
from USD$61.99 -
Shipwreck Snorkel and Wild Dolphin Encounter
4 hours (Departs Key West, Florida)
by Viator
Spend a beautiful Florida day out in the clear, blue waters off Key West. On the Key West Shipwreck Snorkel and Wild Dolphin Encounter cruise, you’ll spot dolph…Not LP reviewed
