Key West: Best Things to Do
SIGHTSEEING
Just like its name, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum was the residence of the famous author Ernest Hemingway that now turned into a museum. This museum opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket to enter this place includes a guided tour about the life of Ernest Hemingway in Key West.
Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
DOWNTOWN
Mallory Square is a plaza that is located in Key West's historic Old Town. Every day, two hours before the sunset this plaza is a venue for events like live entertainment performances to celebrate the sunset.
Mallory Square
SHOPPING
Clinton Square Market is a market that uses an old Coast Guard building. The vendors here mostly sell local souvenirs and T-shirts of Key West. Eaton Street Seafood Market & Restaurant sells the freshest seafood from the locals. Here, you can find various types of seafood. The restaurant also serves delicious seafood dishes.
Clinton Square Market
Eaton Street Seafood Market & Restaurant
FOOD & DRINK
Key West pink shrimp is a must-try when you visit Key West. The clear coral sand off the west coast of Florida where the shrimp are harvested is one of the factors that make the pink color of the shrimp. The Rum Runner is a cocktail drink that is popular in Key West. It is made of rum, pineapple juice, or orange juice that are mixed with ice.
CULTURE
Key West consists of many ethnicities such as Cuban and African-American. This makes Key West has diverse and unique customs, celebrations, foods, and architecture.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Peak season: The high season in Key West is from March to May. The weather is great during this time, the temperature is also not too hot, and the humidity level is low, this kind of weather is nice to explore the city. The city is also really busy and crowded during this time.
HOTEL
Pier House Resort and Spa is a great place to stay when you're in Key West. This elegant resort has a nice garden, a private beach, and spa service. The location of this resort is also near several popular Key West attractions. Duval Inn has a convenient location. It is only one block from Duval Street. The place is also close to restaurants, bars, and shops. You can also relax at the hotel's lovely pool that is surrounded by trees.
Pier House Resort and Spa
Duval Inn
RESTAURANT
Blue Heaven is known for its Carribean dishes like key lime pie and fresh seafood.
The restaurant also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. The place also provides a peaceful outdoor setting. El Siboney Restaurant is a popular restaurant that serves authentic Cuban home cooking food. You can try their popular dishes such as the Roast Pork, Ropa Vieja, Siboney Steak, and Garlic Shrimp.
Blue Heaven
El Siboney Restaurant
CAFE
Cuban Coffee Queen is a perfect spot to have a nice breakfast. The cafe offers delicious Cuban coffee and breakfast menu. Two of their most popular menu are the Cuban Chocolate Mocha and Key Wester, which is a type of sandwich. Banana Cafe is a French Bistro in Downtown Key West. The cafe serves a fusion of French and Caribbean food from salads, burgers, crepes, sandwiches, and seafood. The cafe also provides vegetarian-friendly options.
Cuban Coffee Queen
Banana Cafe
BAR AND NIGHTLIFE
Sloppy Joe's Bar is a historic bar in Key West. The bar is located on the popular Duval Street, which makes the bar also popular among tourists. You can enjoy live music performances when you're here. They offer food such as burgers, sandwiches, tacos in a big portion. Green Parrot Bar is one of the oldest bars in Key West that first opened in 1890. They have a great selection of drinks. The live performance and lovely ambiance of this place make it a perfect place to enjoy the night time in Key West.
Sloppy Joe's Bar
Green Parrot Bar
INTERESTING PLACE
The Southernmost Point Buoy is a monument in Key West that marks the southernmost point of the United States. This iconic place is popular among tourists who want to take pictures. The view of the sea from this spot is also really amazing. Fort Zachary Taylor is a historic state park located on the beach of Key West. In this park, you will learn the history of the fort back to the Civil and Spanish American War. You can also have a picnic at the beach here and enjoy some water sports.
The Southernmost Point Buoy
Fort Zachary Taylor
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOT
The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is home to hundreds of butterflies. Besides butterflies, this place also has several species of birds, such as red-factor canaries, zebra finches, and cordon-blue finches. You can also learn more about the life of butterflies in the conservatory's learning center. Higgs Beach Pier is where you can have the perfect view of the sunrise or sunset. The pier allows you to walk out into the ocean. The shallow water also makes the pier a good spot for swimming.
The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Higgs Beach Pier
