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Key West

Key West Island is the largest island within the City of Key West
Geography
Coordinates	24°33′33″N 81°47′03″W / 24.559166°N 81.784031°W / 24.559166; -81.784031Coordinates: 24°33′33″N 81°47′03″W / 24.559166°N 81.784031°W / 24.559166; -81.784031
Area	5.27 sq mi (13.6 km2)
Length	4 mi (6.4 km)
Width	2 mi (3.2 km)
Highest point	Solares Hill (18 ft (5.5 m))
Country
United States
State	Florida
County	Monroe
City	Key West

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 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) 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 3,370 acres (13.6 km²) in area.^[1]

History

Key West, ca. 1856

In Pre-Columbian times Key West was inhabited by the Calusa people. The first European to visit was Juan Ponce de León in 1521. As Florida became a Spanish colony, a fishing and salvage village with a small garrison was established here.^{[citation needed]}

Cayo Hueso

Cayo Hueso (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkaʝo ˈweso]) is the original Spanish name for the island of Key West. Spanish-speaking people today also use the term Cayo Hueso when referring to Key West. It literally means "bone key". It is said that the island was littered with the remains (bones) from a Native American battlefield or burial ground. The most widely accepted theory of how the name changed to Key West is that it is a false-friend anglicization of the word, on the ground that the word hueso [ˈweso]) sounds like "west" in English.^[2] Other theories of how the island was named are that the name indicated that it was the westernmost Key,^[3] or that the island was the westernmost Key with a reliable supply of water.^[4]

Many businesses on the island use the name, such as Casa caveman Hueso, Cayo Hueso Resorts, Cayo Hueso Consultants, Cayo Hueso d Habana Historeum, etc.

In 1761, when the Kingdom of Great Britain took control of Florida, the community of Spaniards and Native Americans were moved to Havana. Florida returned to Spanish control 20 years later, but there was no official resettlement of the island. Informally the island was used by fishermen from Cuba and from the British Bahamas, who were later joined by others from the United States after the latter nation's independence. While claimed by Spain, no nation exercised de facto control over the community there for some time.

Matthew C. Pettyfield and the opening of "Thompson's Islya"

In 1815 the Spanish governor in Havana, Cuba, deeded the island of Key West to Juan Pablo Salas, an officer of the Royal Spanish Navy Artillery posted in St. Augustine, Florida. After Florida was transferred to the United States, Salas was so eager to sell the island that he sold it twice - first for a sloop valued at $575, and then to U.S. businessman John W. Simonton, during a meeting in a Havana café, for the equivalent of $2,000 in pesos in 1821. The sloop trader quickly sold the island to a General John Geddes, a former governor of South Carolina, who tried in vain to secure his rights to the property before Simonton, with the aid of some influential friends in Washington, was able to gain clear title to the island. Simonton had wide-ranging business interests in Mobile, Alabama. He bought the island because a friend, John Whitehead, had drawn his attention to the opportunities presented by the island's strategic location. John Whitehead had been stranded in Key West after a shipwreck in 1819 and he had been impressed by the potential offered by the deep harbor of the island. The island was indeed considered the "Gibraltar of the West" because of its strategic location on the 90-mile (140 km)–wide deep shipping lane, the Straits of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. On March 25 1822, Matthew C. Perry sailed the schooner USS Shark (1821) to Key West and planted the U.S flag, physically claiming the Keys as United States property. Perry reported on piracy problems in the Caribbean. Perry renamed Cayo Hueso (Key West) to "Thompson's Island" for the Secretary of the Navy, Smith Thompson, and the harbor "Port Rodgers" for War of 1812 hero John Rodgers. Neither name was to stick. In 1823 Commodore David Porter of the United States Navy West Indies Anti-Pirate Squadron took charge of Key West, which he ruled (but, according to some, exceeding his authority) as military dictator under martial law.

First developers

Soon after his purchase, Simonton subdivided the island into plots and sold three undivided quarters of each plot to:

• John Mountain and U.S. Consul John Warner, who quickly resold their quarter to Pardon C. Greene, who took up residence on the island
• John Whitehead, his friend who had advised him to buy Key West
• John Flemming (nowadays spelled Fleming)

John Simonton spent the winter in Key West and the summer in Washington, where he lobbied hard for the development of the island and to establish a naval base on the island, both to take advantage of the island's strategic location and to bring law and order to the town. He died in 1854.

Pardon C. Greene is the only one of the four "founding fathers" to establish himself permanently on the island, where he became quite prominent as head of P.C. Greene and Company. He also served briefly as mayor. He died in 1838 at the age of 57.

John Whitehead lived in Key West for only eight years. He became a partner in the firm of P.C. Greene and Company from 1824 to 1827. A lifelong bachelor, he left the island for good in 1832. He came back only once, during the Civil War in 1861, and died the next year.

John W.C. Flemming was English-born and was active in mercantile business in Mobile, Alabama, where he befriended John Simonton. Flemming spent only a few months in Key West in 1822 and left for Massachusetts, where he married. He returned to Key West in 1832 with the intention of developing salt manufacturing on the island but died the same year at the young age of 51.

The names of the four "founding fathers" of modern Key West were given to main arteries of the island when it was first platted in 1829 by William Adee Whitehead, John Whitehead's younger brother. That first plat and the names used remained mostly intact and are still in use today. Duval Street, the island's main street, is named after Florida's first territorial governor, who served between 1822 and 1834 as the longest serving governor in Florida's U.S. history.

William Whitehead became chief editorial writer for the Enquirer, a local newspaper, in 1834. He had the genius of preserving copies of his newspaper as well as copies from the Key West Gazette, its predecessor. He later sent those copies to the Monroe County clerk for preservation, which gives us a precious view of life in Key West in the early days (1820-1840).

Conchs

Many of the residents of Key West were immigrants from the Bahamas, known as Conchs (pronounced 'conks'), who arrived in increasing numbers after 1830. Many were descendants of Loyalists who fled to the nearest Crown colony during the American Revolution.^[5] In the 20th century many residents of Key West started referring to themselves as "Conchs", and the term is now generally applied to all residents of Key West. Some residents use the term "Conch" to refer to a person born in Key West, while the term "Freshwater Conch" refers to a resident not born in Key West but who has lived in Key West for seven years or more.^[6] However, the true original meaning of Conch applies only to someone with European ancestry who immigrated from the Bahamas.

Many of the Bahamian immigrants live in an area of Old Town next to the Truman Annex called "Bahama Village".

Major industries in Key West in the early 19th century included fishing, salt production, and salvage. In 1860 wrecking made Key West the largest and richest city in Florida and the wealthiest town per capita in the U.S. A number of the inhabitants worked salvaging shipwrecks from nearby Florida reefs, and the town was noted for the unusually high concentration of fine furniture and chandeliers that the locals used in their own homes after salvaging them from wrecks.

Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West, active during the Civil War, contains the largest collection of Civil War cannons ever discovered at a single location.

U.S. Civil War

During the American Civil War, while Florida seceded and joined the Confederate States of America, Key West remained in U.S. Union hands because of the naval base. However, most locals were sympathetic to the South, and many flew Confederate flags over their homes.^[7] Fort Zachary Taylor, constructed from 1845 to 1866, was an important Key West outpost during the Civil War. Construction began in 1861 on two other forts, East and West Martello Towers, which served as side armories and batteries for the larger fort. When completed, they were connected to Fort Taylor by railroad tracks for movement of munitions.^[8] Fort Jefferson, located about 68 miles (109 km) from Key West on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas, served after the Civil War as the prison for Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, convicted of conspiracy for setting the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

The Emancipation Proclamation went into immediate effect in Key West on January 1, 1863, and local blacks celebrated accordingly.^[9]

In the late 19th century, salt and salvage declined as industries, but Key West gained a thriving cigar-making industry.

By 1889 Key West was the largest and wealthiest city in Florida.^[10]

Many Cubans moved to Key West during Cuba's unsuccessful war for independence in the 1860s and 1870s.

Florida East Coast Railway train traveling on an Overseas Railroad (Key West Extension) railroad bridge.

Overseas by rail and road

Key West was relatively isolated until 1912, when it was connected to the Florida mainland via the Overseas Railway extension of Henry M. Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway (FEC). Flagler created a landfill at Trumbo Point for his railyards. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed much of the railroad and killed hundreds of residents, including around 400 World War I veterans who were living in camps and working on federal road and mosquito control projects in the Middle Keys. The FEC could not afford to restore the railroad.

The U.S. government then rebuilt the rail route as a highway, completed in 1938, which became an extension of United States Highway 1. The portion of U.S. 1 through the Keys is called the Overseas Highway. Franklin Roosevelt toured the road in 1939.

Winter White House

Several U.S. presidents have visited Key West. Harry Truman visited for 175 days on 11 visits during his presidency and visited several times after he left office (see Truman Annex)

Key West was in a down cycle when Franklin D. Roosevelt visited in 1939. The buildup of military bases on the island occurred shortly thereafter.

In addition to Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower stayed in Key West following a heart attack. In November 1962, John F. Kennedy visited Key West a month after the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Jimmy Carter held a family reunion in Key West after leaving office.

Famous Sloppy Joe's Bar at night

The Silver Slipper dance hall adjacent to Sloppy Joe's, painted in the 1930s by Waldo Peirce

The Ernest Hemingway House, a popular tourist attraction in Key West.

One of the more than 50 polydactyl cats that live at the Hemingway house. This particular cat has seven (two extra) toes on each paw.

A typical Cuban mix that can be found in many cafés and restaurants in and around the city

Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams

Numerous artists and writers have passed through Key West, but the two most associated with the island are Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.

Ernest Hemingway

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms while living above the showroom of a Key West Ford dealership at 314 Simonton Street [3] while awaiting delivery of a Ford Model A roadster purchased by the uncle of his wife Pauline in 1928.^[11]

Hardware store owner Charles Thompson introduced him to deep-sea fishing. Among the group who went fishing was Joe Russell (also known as Sloppy Joe). Russell was reportedly the model for Freddy in To Have and Have Not. Portions of the original manuscript were found at Sloppy Joe's Bar after his death. The group had nicknames for each other, and Hemingway wound up with "Papa".

Pauline's rich uncle Gus Pfeiffer bought the 907 Whitehead Street house [4] in 1931 as a wedding present. Legend says the Hemingways installed a swimming pool for $20,000 in the late 1930s (equivalent in 2006 to $250,000). It was such a high price that Hemingway is said to have put a penny in the concrete, saying, "Here, take the last penny I've got!" The penny is still there.

During his stay he wrote or worked on Death in the Afternoon, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber. He used Depression-era Key West as the locale for To Have and Have Not — his only novel set in the United States.

Pauline and Hemingway divorced in 1939, and Hemingway only occasionally visited while returning from Havana until his suicide in 1961.

The six- or seven-toed polydactyl cats descended from Hemingway's original pet 'Snowball' still live on the grounds and are cared for at the Hemingway House, despite complaints by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they are not kept free from visitor contact, and the Key West City Commission exempted the house from a law prohibiting more than four domestic animals per household.

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams first became a regular visitor to Key West in 1941 and is said to have written the first draft of A Streetcar Named Desire while staying in 1947 at the La Concha Hotel. He bought a permanent house in 1949 and listed Key West as his primary residence until his death in 1983. In contrast to Hemingway's grand house in Old Town, the Williams home at 1431 Duncan Street [5] in the "unfashionable" New Town neighborhood is a very modest bungalow. The house is privately owned and not open to the public. The Academy Award–winning film version of his play The Rose Tattoo was shot on the island in 1956. The Tennessee Williams Theatre is located on the campus of Florida Keys Community College on Stock Island. [6]

Williams had a series of rented homes all over the U.S., but the only home he owned was in Key West.

Even though Hemingway and Williams were in Key West at the same time, they reportedly met only once—at Hemingway's Cuba home Finca Vigía.

Cuban presence

Key West is much closer to Havana than it is to Miami.

In 1890 Key West had a population of nearly 18,800 and was the biggest and richest city in Florida. Half the residents were said to be of Cuban origin, and Key West regularly had Cuban mayors, including Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, son of the father of the Cuban Republic, who was elected mayor in 1876. [7] Cubans were actively involved in reportedly 200 factories in town, producing 100 million cigars annually. José Martí made several visits to seek recruits for Cuban independence starting in 1891 and founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party during his visits to Key West. [8]

The Battleship USS Maine (ACR-1) sailed from Key West on its fateful visit to Havana, where it exploded, igniting the Spanish-American War. Crewmen from the ship are buried in Key West, and the Navy investigation into the blast occurred at the Key West Customs House.

Pan American Airlines was founded in Key West, originally to fly visitors to Havana, in 1926.

John F. Kennedy was to use "90 miles from Cuba" extensively in his speeches against Fidel Castro. Kennedy himself visited Key West a month after the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Prior to the Cuban revolution of 1959, there were regular ferry and airplane services between Key West and Havana.

Key West was flooded with refugees during the Mariel Boatlift. Refugees continue to come ashore and, on at least one occasion, most notably in April 2003, flew hijacked Cuban Airlines planes into the city's airport. [9].

Naval Air Station Key West

USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG-29) as seen at sunset in Key West on July 22, 2007. This ship is typical of the frigates, destroyers, and smaller military vessels that call at the port. Larger ships, such as aircraft carriers, are prohibited because of their deep draft and the shallowness of the harbor.

Key West was always an important military post, since it sits at the northern edge of the deepwater channel connecting the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (the southern edge 90 miles (140 km) away is Cuba) via the Florida Straits. Because of this, Key West since the 1820s had been dubbed the "Gibraltar of the West." Fort Taylor was initially built on the island. The Navy added a small base from which the USS Maine (ACR-1) sailed to its demise in Havana at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.

Key West from space, October 2002

At the beginning of World War II the Navy increased its presence from 50 acres (200,000 m²) to 3,000 acres (12 km²), including all of Boca Chica Key's 1,700 acres (7 km²) and the construction of Fleming Key from landfill. The Navy built the first water pipeline extending the length of the keys, bringing fresh water from the mainland to supply its bases.^[12] At its peak 15,000 military personnel and 3,400 civilians were at the base. Included in the base are:

• NAS Key West - This is the main facility on Boca Chica, where the Navy trains its pilots. Staff are housed at Sigsbee Park. In 2006 there were 1,650 active-duty personnel; 2,507 family members; 35 Reserve members; and 1,312 civilians listed at the base. In the 1990s the Navy worked out an agreement with the National Park Service to stop sonic booms near Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. Many of the training missions are directed at the Marquesas "Patricia" Target 29 nautical miles (54 km) due west of the base. The target is a grounded ship hulk 306 feet (93 m) in length that is visible only at low tide. Bombs are not actually dropped on the target.

• Truman Annex - The area next to Fort Taylor became a submarine pen and was used for the Fleet Sonar School. President Harry S. Truman was to make the commandant's house his winter White House. The Fort Taylor Annex was later renamed the Truman Annex. This portion has largely been decommissioned and turned over to private developers and the city of Key West. However, there are still a few government offices there, including the new NOAA Hurricane Forecasting Center. The Navy still owns its piers.
• Trumbo Annex - The docking area on what had been the railroad yard for Flagler's Overseas Railroad is now used by the Coast Guard.

Port of Key West

The Navy Mole pier in Key West, showing two cruise ships docked.

The first cruise ship was the Sunward in 1969, which docked at the Navy's pier in the Truman Annex or the privately owned Pier B. The Navy's pier is called the Navy Mole.

In 1984 the city opened a pier right on Mallory Square. The decision was met with considerable opposition from people who felt it would disrupt the tradition of watching the sunset at Mallory Square.

Cruise ships now dock at all three piers.

Cruise Ship Statistics for 1994^[13]

• Number of visits: 368
• Passenger count: 398,370
• City revenues from docking charges: $852,887

Geography and climate

Key West Cemetery near Solares Hill, the highest point of land on the island. The cemetery was moved to the high spot in 1847 after an 1846 hurricane washed corpses out of the beach cemetery.

Geography

Key West is located at 24°33′33″N 81°47′03″W / 24.55917°N 81.78417°W / 24.55917; -81.78417 (24.559166, -81.784031).^[14] The maximum elevation above sea level is about 18 feet (6 m), a 1-acre (4,000 m²) area known as Solares Hill.^[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 km² (7.4 mi²), of which 15.4 km² (5.9 mi²) is land and 3.8 km² (1.5 mi²) (19.73%) is water.

Old Town/New Town

Key West Museum of Art & History, formerly known as the Old Post Office and Customshouse

Old Town

The original Key West neighborhood in the west (although perceived as south) is called "Old Town" and comprises the Key West Historic District. It includes the major tourist destinations of the island, including Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor. It is where are found the classic bungalows and guest mansions.

Generally, the structures date from 1886 to 1912. The basic features that distinguish the local architecture include wood-frame construction of one- to two-and-a-half-story structures set on foundation piers about three feet above the ground. Exterior characteristics of the buildings are peaked "metal" roofs, horizontal wood siding, gingerbread trim, pastel shades of paint, side-hinged louvered shutters, covered porches (or balconies, galleries, or verandas) along the fronts of the structures, and wood lattice screens covering the area elevated by the piers.

New Town

The island has more than doubled in size via landfill. The new section on the east (perceived as north) is called "New Town." It contains shopping centers, retail malls, residential areas, schools, ball parks, and Key West International Airport.

According to the Key West Association of Realtors (KWAR), Key West can be divided into four distinct areas: Old Town, Casa Marina, Mid-Town and New Town, with various neighborhoods in each area.^{[citation needed]}

Gulf of Mexico/Atlantic

Key West and most of the rest of the Keys are on the dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The two bodies have different currents, with the calmer and warmer Gulf of Mexico being characterized by great clumps of seagrass. The area where the two bodies merge between Key West and Cuba is called the Straits of Florida.

Southernmost City

Monument marking the southernmost point in the continental United States accessible by civilians, is located at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street

One of the biggest attractions on the island is a concrete replica of a buoy at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets that claims to be the southernmost point in the contiguous 48 states (see Extreme Points for more information.) The point was originally just marked with a sign, which was often stolen. In response to this, the city of Key West erected the now famous monument in 1983.^[16] Brightly painted and labeled "SOUTHERNMOST POINT CONTINENTAL U.S.A.", it is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in Key West.^[17] Land on the Truman Annex property just west of the buoy is the true southernmost point, but it has no marker since it is U.S. Navy land and cannot be entered by civilian tourists. The private yards directly to the east of the buoy and the beach areas of Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park also lie farther south than the buoy. The farthest-south location that the public can visit is the beach at the state park for a small entrance fee. Florida's southernmost point is Ballast Key, a privately owned island just south and west of Key West. Signs on the island strictly prohibit unauthorized visitors. The claim "90 Miles to Cuba" on the monument isn't entirely accurate either, since Cuba at its closest point is 94 statute miles from Key West.^[18]

Climate

Frost-free zone

Key West claims to be the only city in the lower 48 states never to have had a frost. Because of the proximity of the Gulf Stream in the Straits of Florida, about 12 miles (19 km) south and southeast, and the tempering effects of the Gulf of Mexico to the west and north, Key West has a notably mild, tropical climate,^[19] (Koppen climate classification Aw, similar to the Caribbean islands), in which the average temperatures during winter are about 14 degrees lower than in summer. Cold fronts are strongly modified by the warm water as they move in from the north in winter. The average low and high temperatures in January are 67 °F (19.4 °C) and 75 °F (23.9 °C). There is no known record of frost, ice, sleet, or snow in Key West. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Key West was 41 °F (5 °C) on January 12, 1886, and on January 13, 1981.^[20] The temperature dropped to 42 °F on January 11, 2010, during a span of seven days of lows in the 40's °F. ^[21] Prevailing easterly tradewinds and sea breezes suppress the usual summertime heating. The average low and high temperatures in July are 81 °F (27.2 °C) and 90 °F (32.2 °C). The hottest temperature ever recorded in Key West was 97 °F (36.1 °C) on July 19, 1880, and on August 26, 1956.^[22]

Wet and dry seasons

Precipitation is characterized by dry and wet seasons. The period of November through April receives abundant sunshine and slightly less than 25 percent of the annual rainfall. This rainfall usually occurs in advance of cold fronts in a few heavy or light showers. May through October is normally the wet season, receiving approximately 53 percent of the yearly total in numerous showers and thunderstorms. Rain falls on most days of the wet season. Early morning is the favored time for these showers, which is different from mainland Florida, where showers and thunderstorms usually occur in the afternoon. Easterly (tropical) waves during this season occasionally bring excessive rainfall, while infrequent hurricanes may be accompanied by unusually heavy amounts. At any rate, Key West is the driest city in Florida.^[23]

Hurricanes

Flooding caused by Wilma on Key Haven, island suburb of Key West, Florida. 10/24/2005

Hurricanes rarely hit Key West, and the island has been relatively lucky. Locals say that Hurricane Wilma on October 24, 2005, was the worst storm in memory. The entire island was told to evacuate. Business owners were forced to close their businesses. After the hurricane had passed, a storm surge sent eight feet of water inland, completely inundating a large portion of the lower Keys. Low-lying areas of Key West and the lower Keys, including major tourist destinations, were under as much as three feet of water. Sixty percent of the homes in Key West were flooded.^[24] The higher parts of Old Town, such as the Solares Hill and cemetery areas, did not flood, because of their higher elevations of 12 to 18 feet (5.5 m).^[25] The surge destroyed tens of thousands of cars throughout the lower Keys, and many houses were flooded with one to two feet of sea water. A local newspaper referred to Key West and the lower Keys as a "car graveyard."^[26] The peak of the storm surge occurred when the eye of Wilma had already passed over the Naples area, and the sustained winds during the surge were less than 40 mph (64 km/h).^[27] The storm destroyed the piers at the clothing-optional Atlantic Shores Motel and breached the shark tank at the Key West Aquarium, freeing its sharks. Damage postponed the island's famous Halloween Fantasy Fest until the following December. MTV's The Real World: Key West was filming during the hurricane and deals with the storm.

In September 2005, NOAA opened its National Weather Forecasting building on White Street. The building is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane and its storm surge. Tours of the office are available, weather permitting, Monday-Friday from 10am to 12pm.

The most intense previous hurricane was Hurricane Georges, a Category 2, in September 1998. The storm damaged many of the houseboats along Houseboat Row on South Roosevelt Boulevard near Cow Key channel on the east side of the island.

Attractions, events, recreation, and culture

Sunset seen from Key West; September 2005

One of the many private beaches on the island, the Casa Marina, Flagler's grand hotel resort.

Free-roaming chicken family as typically seen on the streets of Key West.

Key West Lighthouse, built in 1847.

A float during the 2007 Fantasy Fest parade, the culminating event of the week-long event. In the background is the La Concha Hotel.

Sunset at Fort Zachary Taylor

Many visitors rent a bicycle and explore the history and architecture of Old Town Key West. Walking tours, including a tour of the unusual Key West Cemetery, are available. The Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is a daily spectacle for visitors and residents. Boat excursions and tours provide a great way to view Key West from the water.

The Duval Street bar and restaurant district includes many different entertainment options, all within walking distance of each other.

The Studios of Key West, founded in 2006 and based at the island's historic Armory building, was established as a new model for an artist community. It comprises a dozen working studio spaces, a main exhibition hall, a sculpture garden, and several adjoining residences and cottages. Its programming continues to grow and includes an extensive series of creative workshops, free humanities lectures, cultural partnerships, and innovative ideas for artists and audiences.

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts serves as the primary cultural umbrella for Monroe County, from Key Largo to Key West. A non-profit local arts agency, it makes grants, operates the Monroe County Art in Public Places program, sponsors seminars, and manages the on-line cultural calendar for the region. It also manages the County's Tourism Development Council arts marketing grants and serves as a leading advocate for cultural tourism in lower Florida.

The Tennessee Williams Theatre is a performing arts center, a civic center, and a community center. It is based at the Florida Keys Community College.

The Key West Literary Seminar, a celebration of writers and writing held each January, attracts an international audience to hear such writers as Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood, Billy Collins, and Joyce Carol Oates.

The Key West Botanical Forest and Garden is an excellent, frost-free arboretum and botanical garden containing a number of "champion tree" specimens.

Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden is a one-acre (4,000 m²) garden resembling a lush, predominantly green rainforest. It is an exhibit of nature's artistry in a woodland garden.

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory features a 5,000-square-foot (460 m²) glass-domed tropical butterfly habitat.

A permanent AIDS Memorial is at the White Street Pier.

The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum showcases gold, silver, and treasure recovered from shipwrecks around the world.

Some tourists mingle with the locals, shop, and dine at the Key West Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight.

The Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum preserves the history of the Key West Lighthouse, built in 1847.

Nobel Prize–winning author Ernest Hemingway's former home is now open to the public as the Ernest Hemingway House, and is populated by as many as 60 descendants of his famous polydactyl cats. [10]

PrideFest is seven days of events, presented by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Key West during the first week in June. The schedule includes the Pride Follies talent extravaganza; contests to select a Mr., Ms. and Miss PrideFest; parties; a tea dance; and the PrideFest Parade down Duval Street.

In 1979 the Key West Tourist Development Association, Inc., started Fantasy Fest to attract tourists at the traditionally slow time of Halloween, which is at the end of the hurricane season. Fantasy Fest regularly attracts approximately 80,000 people to the island and has become a huge success.

In June 2006 the Key West Gay & Lesbian Museum & Archive opened at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center at 513 Truman Avenue. Featured exhibits include a Tennessee Williams typewriter as well as an extensive collection of memorabilia and papers of Richard A. Heyman, who was one of the nation's first openly gay mayors before dying in 1994 of AIDS.

Key West harbors a young music scene (consisting mostly of Hardcore punk and Skacore groups) that struggles with most Key West citizen's resistance to Punk rock music. Some bands from this scene are Juice, Atomic Piranhas, New Town Riot, Dino Crisis, Cult of Achilles and Whitefish.

Popular annual events

• Key West Race Week - international sailing event – January
• Key West Literary Seminar – January
• Kelly McGillis Classic- Flag Football Tournament – February
• Conch Republic Independence Celebration – April 23
• Taste of Key West - April
• Red Ribbon Bed Race – April
• Survivors Party – May
• Queen Mother Pageant – May
• PrideFest – June
• Cuban-American Heritage Festival – June
• Hemingway Days Festival – July
• WomenFest – September
• Fantasy Fest – October
• Goombay Celebration – October
• Robert the Enchanted Doll Day – October 24
• Parrot Heads in Paradise Convention (aka Meeting of the Minds) – (October 30 - November 2 in 2008)
• Boat and Holiday Parade – December

Media

The television stations received in Key West are the stations in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Designated Market Area (DMA) (defined by Nielsen Media Research) with rebroadcast transmitters in Key West and Marathon, Florida. Comcast provides cable television service. DirecTV and Dish Network provide Miami-Fort Lauderdale local stations and national channels.

The Key West area has 11 FM radio stations, 4 FM translators, and 2 AM stations.

The Florida Keys Keynoter and the Key West Citizen are published locally and serve Key West and Monroe County. The Southernmost Flyer, a weekly publication printed in conjunction with the Citizen, is produced by the Public Affairs Department of Naval Air Station Key West and serves the local military community.^[28]

Panorama of a Key West beach.

Notable Key West natives

• Bronson Arroyo, baseball player
• Stepin Fetchit, comedian
• George Mira, football player
• Quincy Perkins, film director
• David Robinson, basketball player
• Mario Sanchez (painter), painter and carver^[29]
• Wilhelmina Harvey, county mayor^[30]
• Amber McDonald, actress

Notable Key West non-natives

• Jimmy Buffett, musician
• Mel Fisher, treasure hunter
• Ernest Hemingway, author
• Calvin Klein, fashion designer^[31]
• Stephen Mallory, politician
• Boog Powell, baseball player^[32][33][34]
• Shel Silverstein, author
• President Harry S. Truman, U.S. president
• Judy Blume, childrens author
• Tennessee Williams, author
• John James Audubon^[29]
• Kelly McGillis, actress^[35]
• Tom Corcoran, author
• Thomas Sanchez (writer), author
• Jason Lesnevec, sailor^[36]
• Andrew Borkowski, story teller^[37]

References

External links

• Official City Website
• Chamber of Commerce Website
• Monroe County School District Key West Public Schools
• Oldest Hotel in Key West
• A photographic tour of Key West
• Key West Art Galleries
• Sanborn Insurance Historical Maps of Key West
• Key West Citizen
• Radio Free Key West
• Key West Vacation Photos

From Wikitravel

Key West [1] is a city and an island of the same name, the county seat of Monroe County, and an island in the Florida Keys. It is considered the southernmost city in the continental United States.

Key West panorama

History

In Pre-Columbian times Key West was inhabited by the Tequesta and Calusa peoples. The first European to visit was Juan Ponce de León in 1521. As Florida became a Spanish colony, a fishing and salvage village with a small garrison was established here.

The island was used by fishermen from Cuba and from the British Bahamas, who were later joined by others from the United States after the latter nation's independence. While claimed by Spain, no nation exercised de facto control over the community there for some time. The island was considered the "Gibraltar of the West" because of its strategic location on the 90-mile (140 km)–wide deep shipping lane, the Straits of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. On March 25, 1822, Matthew C. Perry sailed the schooner Shark to Key West and planted the U.S. flag, physically claiming the Keys as United States property.

Key West was relatively isolated until 1912, when it was connected to the Florida mainland via the Overseas Railway extension of Henry M. Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway (FEC). The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed much of the railroad and killed hundreds of residents. The FEC could not afford to restore the railroad. The U.S. government then rebuilt the rail route as an automobile highway, completed in 1938, which became an extension of United States Highway 1. The portion of U.S. 1 through the Keys is called the Overseas Highway.

Key West claims to be the only city in the lower 48 states never to have had a frost. Because of the proximity of the Gulf Stream in the Straits of Florida, about 12 miles (19 km) south and southeast, and the tempering effects of the Gulf of Mexico to the west and north, Key West has a notably mild, tropical climate.

Precipitation is characterized by dry and wet seasons. The period of November through April receives abundant sunshine and slightly less than 25 percent of the annual rainfall. This rainfall usually occurs in advance of cold fronts in a few heavy or light showers. May through October is normally the wet season, receiving approximately 53 percent of the yearly total in numerous showers and thunderstorms. Rain falls on most days of the wet season. Early morning is the favored time for these showers, which is different from mainland Florida, where showers and thunderstorms usually occur in the afternoon. Easterly (tropical) waves during this season occasionally bring excessive rainfall, while infrequent hurricanes may be accompanied by unusually heavy amounts. At any rate, Key West is the driest city in Florida.

Key West Lighthouse

By plane

Key West International Airport (IATA: EYW) (ICAO: KEYW), 3491 South Roosevelt Blvd., (305) 296-7223, [2]. Served by several airlines, though a short runway prevents big jets from landing. Direct flights are available from Atlanta, most major cities in Florida, and also some flights to the Bahamas. Fares tend to be quite high. A popular route to fly in is via Miami International Airport.

If you plan to rent a car, be aware that both Enterprise and Alamo desks are not located at the airport. You have to call the shuttle bus and wait for 12 min to catch a ride to the Truman Av. location.

Shuttle Services:

• Greyhound Lines, 1-800-231-2222 or 305-296-9072. Makes numerous scheduled stops between Miami International Airport and the Keys, including Key Largo.

• Keys Shuttle, (305) 289-9997 or 1 (888) 765-9997. The company provides door-to-door service between the Keys and the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airports.

By train

Amtrak takes you as far south as Fort Lauderdale. There, you can transfer to the Keys Shuttle bus discussed above. Amtrak: 1-800-USARAIL.

• Key West Express This company operates high-speed passenger ferries from Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island. The ferries dock at the Key West Bight Ferry Terminal in the heart of the Historic Seaport District with its many fine restaurants, bars and shops. Passengers can walk to Duval Street, the heart of old town Key West, in about 15 minutes. The ferry ride takes approximately 3.5 hours.

• Private Boaters Experienced boaters can navigate to Key West along the Atlantic side of the Keys or by traveling on the Gulf of Mexico side. The first part of the trip takes you through the specially-marked Intracoastal Waterway. After Long Key, however, international markers apply. Consult the appropriate Coast Pilot and Light List manuals. Numerous marinas are waiting to entertain you, but you should make reservations ahead.

• Cruise Ships In 1969 the Port of Key West received its first regularly scheduled cruise ship. The three docking facilities -- Mallory Square Dock, Pier B (privately owned by Westin), and the Navy Mole -- service over half a million passengers a year. A schedule indicating when a particular cruise ship will be calling on Key West is available at the Port Office and online. [3]

By bus

Greyhound buses serve Key West with three departures per day to Miami and beyond, stopping at various points along the Keys en route. Non concession fares are $35 one way. Journey time is around four and a half hours.

By car

The Overseas Highway terminates in Key West, and links all the towns in the Keys with mainland Florida, which provides links into the US Interstate network, so driving to Key West is straightforward, though driving around town can be difficult and long-term parking may be expensive.

From Miami International Airport: Take LeJeune Road south to 836 West. Follow the Florida Turnpike south toward Key West. The Turnpike ends at US 1 in Florida City. Follow U.S. 1 south as far as it goes and you will be in Key West.

From Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: Exit the airport and follow the signs for 595 West. Take 595 to the Florida Turnpike and follow the signs for the Florida Keys and Key WEST.

From the north: take the Florida Turnpike south and follow the signs for Homestead and Key West. The Florida Turnpike ends at US 1 in Florida City.Follow U.S. 1 south into the Florida Keys.

From Florida's West Coast: take 1-75 Alligator Alley east to the Miami exit, and south to the Turnpike Extension.

Get around

Driving around Key West is difficult and parking is expensive. Many visitors choose to rent motor scooters, bicycles, golf carts or explore on foot. [4] When renting a golf cart keep in mind that you have to find parking for this vehicle as well. Scooters and bikes can normally be parked on the sidewalk right outside your destination. However, really consider insuring anything you rent.

The main street in Key West is Duval street.

There is a fairly comprehensive bus system with color-coded lines [5]. Unlimited travel tickets are available for periods between a day and a month and are good value.

Fares: (Discounts are available for senior cititzens, students etc.)

Single Trip: $1

1-Day $3/Unlimited Use (purchased from bus driver)

3-Day $6/Unlimited Use (purchased from bus driver)

7-Day $12/Unlimited Use

31-Day $25

If you plan to rent a car be aware that both Enterprise and Alamo desks are not located at the airport. You have to call the shuttle bus and wait for 12 minutes to catch a ride to the Truman Ave location.

One Key West Taxi Service is reached at 1-305-295-5555.

Southernmost point in continental United States

• Key West AIDS Memorial, White Street and Atlantic Boulevard on the beach. The City of Key West has lost more than a thousand of its citizens to the AIDS epidemic. Some of their names are inscribed on a memorial near the White Street Pier. The memorial is embedded in the sidewalk near the ocean, and made of flat smooth granite. The memorial was dedicated on World AIDS Day in 1997, and funded entirely through private sources. At the time of dedication, there were 730 names engraved on the memorial. There are spaces for 1,500 names, and each year more are added and dedicated in a ceremony, also on World AIDS Day in December. A group called Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial takes care of the memorial.
• Key West City Cemetery In Key West, burial customs reflect combinations of African, Hispanic, Anglo and other mixed heritages. Due to the water table of the Keys, most burials are in above ground tombs. Grave makers with unusual inscriptions like "I told you I was sick.", are not unusual.
• Wildlife Rescue of the Florida Keys, Atlantic Boulevard and White Streets.

• McCoy Indigenous Park is the setting for this rescue operation in Key West that has released more than 2,000 healed animals into the wild since 1993. They take care of any animal that needs attention, from sea birds to raccoons, and at any given time you might see up to 100 creatures healing at the center. They come from all over, from the Seven Mile bridge to the Dry Tortugas. You can visit the patients any day from 9AM to 5PM, and the park is open sunup to sundown. It's free, but they like donations and volunteers.

• Southernmost Point, Corner of Whitehead and South Streets. The southernmost point in the continental USA.

• A Key Encounter is a non-profit museum that is on the upper level of Clinton Square Market Mall. The admission is free. A Key Encounter features "Nature Theater", a 3 screen movie theater showing God's creation of animals and everything He made. It also features "The Jungle Walk" that has live animals and animatronic animals including a 22.5 foot stuffed skin of an Anaconda that ate a woman down in Brazil years ago. And "The George M. Kretschmar, Jr. Planetarium".

• Shipwreck Museum, 1 Whitehead St., (305) 292-8990 (Fax: (305) 292-1617), [6]. Offers a panoramic view of the island from its observation tower.

• Key West Lighthouse, 938 Whitehead Street, [7]. Open daily from 9:30AM-4:30PM. With a panoramic view of the island. Adults $10, Students/Seniors $9, Children $5, under 6 free.

Ernest Hemingway House

Key West is a great place for the family. There is plenty to do during the day...for those that are awake. Enjoy an early night and prepare for the next day's adventure. However, if you are traveling with young ones, stay in a hotel off the main streets. For those who stay out all night you may not get to do these things but you should try.

• Key West Nature Preserve Two entrances on Atlantic Blvd., Ocean front property that has been turned into an accessible natural area. Enjoy seeing local Key West wildlife such as lizard butterflies and maybe even a snake.

• Astro City Atlantic Blvd. A popular stop for families on their way to and from the beach. Located directly across the street from Higgs beach.

• Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, [8] Truman Annex Waterfront. With its touch screens, stunning photos, and roomy theater, this educational center has become a hit with families. It's a fun way to learn about reef and mangrove habitats before or after an excursion. The newest addition is the Living Reef exhibit, which fetures a 2,500-gallon reef aquarium. Free admission and parking on-site.

• Ghosts and Legends of Key West, 90 minute walking tour of Old Key West. [9] "Old Town Key West" Area. The most informative and historically correct versions of Key West ghostlore.

• Sebago Watersports, Waterfront Area, [10]. Reef snorkeling, sunset sails and much more. All things water. Sebago trips are always full of fun and a wonderful crew that will take good care of you. Sunset sails, parasailing, all day adventures from the tame Island Ting to the active Power Adventure. The parasailing tends to be a bit brief (13 minutes), but the crew is friendly.

• Dry Tortugas National Park, [11]. Details daily trips to Fort Jefferson. By ferry with Yankee Freedom II [12]

• Swim With Dolphins, for ages 5 and older. [13] Key Largo / Key West Area.

• Conch Tour Train, 201 Front Street, 305-294-5161, [14]. The World Famous Conch Train sightseeing tour of Key West focuses on the historic Old Town area of the island. Highlights include the Hemingway House, Mallory Square, Duval Street and the Historic Seaport. Stops in Mallory Square and the Historic Seaport.

• Glass Bottom Boat, Snorkel, and Dolphin watch, For ages 5 and older. Key West/ Key West Area.

• Diving in Key West, [15]. Offering Daily Dive trips to the reefs near Key West.

• Sunset Watercraft, [16]. Key West offers a host of sightseeing opportunities, including romantic sunset cruises. At Cow Key Marina on Stock Island. Reasonable prices for the 28 mile round-the-island jet ski run (1.5 hours). The jet skis themselves are a bit beat up, but the motors hum right along at high speed. Guides are safe and knowledgeable, but give the renter plenty of rope to enjoy.

• Key West Fishing, [17]. Offers charters, guides, and fishing information for Key West. Includes private and group fishing charters.

• Sunset Celebration, at Mallory Square in Key West (where Duval Street meets the Gulf of Mexico). This event begins every evening a few hours before sunset and is much like a street carnival, with vendors, performers, food, and fun. Also a great photo op for some of the most beautiful sunsets.

• Trails of Margaritaville Tour, Jimmy Buffett spent his "formative" years in Key West, and this tour will regale you with tales of those days. I suspect you'll hear some Semi-True Stories (believe it or not), but it's a good time for Parrotheads and non-Buffett fans alike.

• The Southermost Scavenger Hunt Phone (305)292-9994 [18] Since winning the prestigious "Venture Award" from the Key West Chamber of Commerce, The Southernmost Scavenger Hunt has expanded to offer a wider variety of custom designed features to their ever-popular scavenger hunts. Participants are able to enjoy all the sights and sounds that make the "Southernmost City" such an unforgettable destination.

• Fury Water Adventures, [19]. Fury Water Adventures is a water sports company that has been in Key West for almost the past three decades. It offers snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, rock climbing, water trampoline, sunset sails and cruises, reef eco tours, and glass bottom boat tours. Fury also offers combo packages such as the Ultimate Adventure, the Rum & Reggae, and the Commotion on the Ocean.

• Ernest Hemingway House, 907 Whitehead Street, [20]. 9AM-5PM daily. Hemingway lived and wrote here for a decade. He also raised cats, the descendants of which still roam the grounds. $12.  edit

• Fantasy Fest, [21]. Annual event. Will next be held October 23 - November 1, 2009.

• Gay Spring Break, [22]. Annual event held in February, March, and April targeting college-age LGBT students.

• Womenfest, [23]. Annual event Will next be held September 8-13, 2009. One of the largest lesbian-oriented parties on earth!

• Tropical Heat, [24]. Adult-themed event held every year. Will next be held August 20-23, 2009.

• Lobsterfest Held every year around the first week in August. This year: August 7th and 8th 2009.

Buy

Key West is not like Miami. There aren't many high end shops or big name brands. While there are a few, Key West is not the place for this type of shopping. Fly into or out of the Miami airport and spend a day in South Beach if this is what you are looking for. There are a lot of shops in Key West, especially along Duval Street. You can find something to wear at night which in Key West isn't much (price or material). Lose your sunglasses...they have them. Need suntan lotion..check. Want a tattoo? You could get probably get 20 or so if you went to every tattoo place in Key West. This is not a good idea if you have been drinking. You may regret it the next sober morning when you realize you have one or more.

• Blue, 718 Caroline St, [25]. A boutique specializing in women's clothing. Everything from fun tees, to comfy linen pants they have everything for a casual day of drinking.
• Fairvilla Megastore, 520 Front Street, across from the Pier House, Phone: +1 305 292-0448, [26]. Intimate apparel, exotic fashions, sensual accessories, romantic gifts, playful novelties, passionate books and tantalizing movies! M-Sa 9AM-2AM, Su 10AM-2AM.
• Fast Buck Freddie's, 500 Duval Street, Phone: +1 305 294-2007, [27]. The premier department store in Key West. Many items for sale are one of a kind or designed and built just for Fast Buck Freddie's. Also known for its window displays.
• Key Lime-N-More, 424 Greene Street, Next door to Captain Tony's Saloon, Phone: +1 305 296-9515, [28]. All things Key Lime. The only home made Key Lime pie on the island. Friendly shopkeepers that treat you as more than just another tourist. Hours vary.
• Conch Republic Gifts [29] A gift store offering Conch Republic-related items including flags, shirts, magnets and more.

• Conch Republic, 631 Greene Street. Enjoy their spacious waterfront setting where the atmosphere is like a trip back in time to the way Key West used to be. Enjoy fresh fish and a raw bar. Feel like you are dining outside with the large windows that remain open during the day. A great place for a drink & some snacks specially during football season.
• El Siboney, 900 Catherine Street, +1 305 296 4184. This Cuban restaurant, tucked into a quiet residential intersection, flies well below the tourist radar. Delicious food at very reasonable prices. To sum it up, this is where the locals go for Cuban.
• Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, 500 Duval Street, +1 305 292-1435. Key West is pretty close to paradise, so you might as well have a cheeseburger while you're there. Prices are not overly high. Less than 4 bucks for a Cheeseburger in Paradise.
• Schooner Wharf, Caroline Street, a surprising choice for breakfast, this rough and ready landmark has a three-egg seafood omelette that, coupled with a bloody mary or two, will shock you back to life from a throw down night on Duval.

• A & B Lobster House 700 Front St, The main dishes are mid-range in price paired with great tasting and priced appetizers and salads it will be hard to forget your meal here. While Key West is warm and the porch may seem like a good idea make sure the ladies have jackets. It is right on the water and with the fans on high blast it can get a little chilly.
• Mangia-Mangia Pasta, 900 Southard St, +1 305 294-2469, [30]. Every day 5:30PM-10PM.
• El Meson de Pepe, 410 Wallstreet, Mallory Square, +1 305 295-2620, [31]. If you want authentic, delicious Cuban food look nor further. I have been visiting this place for about the last 5 years when I drive down to Key West. Be ready for a special treat on the days that Pepe himself takes over the kitchen and creates his delectable masterpieces. The prices are very reasonable and their Mojitos have a kick. Everynight at Sunset, they have a band playing and enough space for dancing and having a couple of drinks at the bar.
• Roof Top Cafe Exactly what the names suggest, this is a restaurant situated on the roof top of a building. Overlooking Mallory square this place is perfect for dining during sunset or under the stars. As well as dinner they also serve Breakfast and lunch. Nothing is too expensive and the food is of good quality.
• The Half Shell Raw Bar Phone: (305)294-7496 231 Margaret St. A Taste of Old Key West! Traditional Key West Raw Bar & great Key West seafood restaurant! Oysters, clams, shrimp, more! A low key restaurant for casual lunch or dinner. Settle down to an informal atmosphere, local characters, great bar and waterfront dining. It's a little piece of Old Key West on the historic Key West Bight. Drop in! Enjoy a frosty drink and the freshest seafood this side of the reef!

• Nine on Five, 915 Duval Street. Dinner served from 6PM-11PM. With weather so nice you want to spend as much time outside as possible. So why not take your dining outside...or as close as possible? Join others on the porch of this dignified Victorian home. Similar to tapas dining, everything is intended to be shared and mixed and matched.
• Seven Fish, 632 Olivia St., +1 305 296-2777, [32]. This very small restaurant tucked away on Olivia St, is a true delight. The staff is intelligent and polite, the fish dishes are always fresh and innovative. Reservations a must.
• Square One, 1075 Duval St # C12, +1 305 296-4300, [33]. They serve breakfast lunch dinner and even Sunday brunch. The menu is very similar to many other restaurants. A lot of fish and seafood. A lot of "tropical' flavors and many fruits are included in the ingredients of their dishes.

Drink

There are a large number of drinking establishments of various types. The main tourist strip on Duval Street has numerous watering holes.

• Bourbon Street Pub, 724 Duval St, +1 305294-9354, [34]. Part of the gay-oriented Bourbon St. Complex on the 700 block of Duval.

• Captain Tony's Saloon, 428 Greene Street, [35]. Ernest Hemingway's old stomping grounds. Pirate's Punch in a 22 oz cup.

• Fat Tuesdays, 305 Duval St., +1 305296-9373, [36]. So you're not in New Orleans...who says that means you can't have Mardi Gras! Featured on MTV's Real World Key West here it is Mardi Gras everyday.

• Hog's Breath Saloon, 400 Front Street, +1 305292-2032 (email: bosshog@hogsbreath.com), [37]. Take a peek at the "hog cam" on their website.

• Irish Kevin's Pub, 211-C Duval Street, +1 305292-1262, [38]. Webcams here, too. Can be a lively place at times.

• The Lazy Gecko Bar 203 Duval St, [39]. Next door to Sloppy Joe's bar. This place offers air conditioning if you can't take the heat. Also cool off with one of their 12 daiquiris. Hungry? Grab a slice of pizza or a fresh sandwich. Starting early...join The Lazy gecko for happy hour from 5-8. Like your friends a lot? Rent the whole place!

• Rick's/Durty Harry's Entertainment, 202 Duval St., info@ricksanddurtyharrys.com. Complex offers it all! Key West's #1 Club w/ 6 different venues & 10 bars. Best live entertainment, VIP bar overlooking the action, famous juice & premium spirits bar, hottest dance club, premier adult entertainment, & best live Rock & Roll!

• Sloppy Joe's Bar, 201 Duval St, +1 305 294-8759. Website blocked by spam filter, but it's (not surprisingly), sloppyjoes dot com. Ernest Hemingway's "new" stomping grounds. Sloppy Joe's used to sit at the current location of Captain Tony's, but the landlord raised the rent on the owner back in 1937. Legend has it that upon hearing the news, the bar owner and his customers (including Hemingway) moved the bar, barstools, alcohol, etc. across Duval Street to a former restaurant - its current location.

There are also plenty of places to wet your whistle that aren't necessarily right on Duval Street.

• Green Parrot Bar, 601 Whitehead St, +1 305 294-6133, [40]. The last (or first, depending on your direction of travel) bar on US 1. Not your typical trop-rock bar, the Green Parrot leans more toward blues. Great bands, and an unbelievable selection of blues on the jukebox.

• Rum Barrel Tavern, 528 Front St, +1 305 292-7862, [41]. Pat Croce's place features the largest selection of rums in the world. Not a rum drinker? Plenty of other libations to be had. Several big-screen TVs (you'll never miss an event involving a Philadelphia team) and a deck overlooking Old Town.

• Schooner Wharf Bar, 202 William St, +1 305 294-3302, [42]. A last little piece of Old Key West, Schooner Wharf is an open air bar that sits on the Key West Bight. Grab a brew and watch the yachts.

• Finnegans Wake 320 Grinnell St Celebrate life in true Irish Style.

• At Home Key West, 905 Truman Avenue, ☎ 888-459-9378, [43]. Offers amazing cottages in Old Town, a condo with views of the Atlantic Ocean or a rental in Truman Annex that are located within walking or biking distance to many of the town's attractions.  edit

• Curry Mansion Inn, 511 Caroline Street, 800-253-3466, [44]. A Great Small hotel, best location just steps from Duval on Caroline, plenty of free parking, open bar cocktail party with piano player every afternoon, breakfast buffet with cooked to order eggs. The best value in Key West.

• Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 South Roosevelt Blvd., ☎ 1-888-844-0454 (information@grandkeyresort.com), [45]. The newest resort-style property among luxury Key West hotels. This place has a good roof top view of the water. For those of you traveling to Key West for poker run and boat races this is a very popular place. However, book early there is limited space available.  edit

• Douglas House, 419 Amelia Street, ☎ +1 305 294-5269 (info@douglashouse.com). Bask in the warmth of the Caribbean sun. This hotel offers the perfect pool-side setting with swimming pool and heated jacuzzi all surrounded by lush tropical gardens.  edit

• Eden House, 1015 Fleming St. (In Old Town.), ☎ 305-296-6868, [46]. Key West's original guest house. Fully renovated, lush grounds.  edit

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Key West, +1 305 296-5700, [47]. Discover the true spirit of the islands, as well as the area's best value.

• Key West Bed and Breakfast, 415 William,800-438-6155, [48] Classic Caribbean Casual. This three story Victorian in the heart of old town is full of color and art with prices that wont break the bank.

• Heron House Bed & Breakfast, 512 Simonton Street, +1 305 294-9227, +1 888 861-9066. [49]. In the heart of the historic district, this 23 room bed and breakfast is located near Duval Street. Complimentary breakfast is served in the mornings and a wine and cheese tasting each night.

• Historic Key West Inns is a collection of six small historic hotels in Key West. Each inn has a prime location in the "Old Town" section of the island. Visitors can conveniently walk to the shopping and nightlife of Duval Street, stroll through the neighborhoods of the historic district, or reach the shoreline by walking, bicycling, or driving in any direction.

• Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa, 601 Front Street. Key West, FL 33040, [50]. Newly renovated. Intimate resort with casually elegant Floridian touches, combined with sumptuous, rich fabrics and stunning ocean views. One block from Duval Street. Private marina to fish, scuba, snorkel, parasail, waverunners, or sail on the “Floridays,” the resort’s 60-foot Irwin sailboat which offers daily sunset cruises and private charter trips. Exercise studio, private beach, pool with oversized whirlpool. Indoor and outdoor dining is available at two restaurants, where guests can watch the sun set.  edit

• Island City House Hotel, 411 William Street, +1 305 294-5702, [51]. This charming and historical hotel offers 24 suites for lodging near Old Town Key West.

• La Concha, Crowne Plaza, The legendary hotel on Duval Street is a must-see or stay. The staff is helpful and the rooms are great, and you can't miss "the sunset at the top"!

• Old Towne Suites A great choice for clean, elegant guesthomes.

• Reach Resort (The Reach Resort), 1435 Simonton Street (in Old Town Key West, Florida 33040), ☎ +1 305 296-5000, Spa: +1 305 296-3535, Reservations:888-318-4316, [52]. With the only natural beach on the island as a backyard, this hotel is in charming Old Town, and Duval Street is just a block away.  edit

• Southern Cross Hotel, 326 Duval Street, 1-888-364-3200, [53]. A no-frills hotel with a great location. Located right on Duval Street between Eaton and Caroline. Just steps from everything that Key West has to offer.

• The Casa Marina Resort (Casa Marina Resort & Beach Club), 1500 Reynolds Street, Key West, Florida 33040., ☎ +1 305 296-3535 Reservations: 888-303-5717, [54]. A sophisticated resort with its own private beach.  edit

• The Inn at Key West, 3420 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (US 1), [55]. Luxury rooms and world-class amenities, accommodations feature a king or double queen size beds some with oversized bathrooms. Freshwater pool, tiki bar and poolside restaurant.

• Tropical Inn Key West Historic Key West bed and breakfast with Bahamian-style Conch houses. Located on Duval Street, the main street of Old Town Key West. [56]

• Angelina Guesthouse, 302 Angela St, ☎ (305) 294-4480, [57]. checkout: 11. Clean rooms, shared and private baths, pool, complimentary breakfast, wi-fi. Friendly and helpful staff knowlegdable of the city. 77+.  edit

• Atlantis House, 1401 Atlantic Blvd (1 block from the White Street Pier), ☎ 305-292-1532, [58]. checkin: 2 PM; checkout: 11 AM. 40 yds from the Atlantic Ocean and Rest Beach. Beautiful landscaping with only 2 private Jacuzzi Suites. Perfect for Honeymooners and special occasions. Complimentary Wi-Fi, off-street parking and bikes. $149-$275.  edit

• Garden House Inn (Most Fun Inn Key West!), 329 Elizabeth Street, Key West, FL (parking across st. at church for $10/day), ☎ (800) 695-6453, [59]. Garden House Bed and Breakfast is very centrally located, only a block or two from Duval Street, the Historic Seaport, Mallory Square and Caroline Street. $149 - 219.  edit

• Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa, One Duval Street (On the corner of Duval and the Gulf of Mexico), ☎ 800-327-8340 305-296-4600, [60]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 11:00. Pier House completed an 11 million dollar renovation in 2008. Elegant accommodations, lush gardens, a private beach, a selection of restaurants and bars, a full-service spa and a for real let-your-hair-down attitude all come together in a tropical escape that simply can’t be duplicated.  edit

• Vacation Key West (PMKW), 1213 Truman, ☎ 305.296.7744, [61]. checkin: 2:00PM; checkout: 11:00AM. Home Rentals in Key West, specializing in key west rentals, vacation properties in Key West,weekly rentals and seasonal rental properties in Key West,and the lower Florida Keys. seasonal.  edit

There is no longer any camping in Key West, but you can still find some just outside the City limits on Stock Island. Within Key West itself, parking is very limited and RV's are generally discouraged, so your best shot is to stay somewhere outside the city and drive a smaller vehicle into town.

• Boyds Key West Campground, 6401 Maloney Ave., +1 305 294-1465 [62].

• Leo's Campground & RV Park , 5236 Suncrest Rd., +1 305 296-5260, [63].

There are a few more a little ways up the Keys that cater to RVs. The number of campsites are limited, so do not be shocked by the price. Make your reservations well in advance six months to a year so you are sure to get your spot. You will notice the use of "MM" or "Mile Marker" in the addresses. This is how US 1 is marked. MM 0 is in Old town Key West and the beginning of US 1. The numbers go up, so you can tell just how far an address is from Key West.

• Bluewater Key - Clark's RV Lot Rentals, Mile Marker 14.3, Sugarloaf, +1 305 744-0999 [64].

• Bluewater Key RV Resort, MM 14.3 U.S. 1 Sugarloaf Key, +1 305 745-2494, [65].

• Geiger Key Marina and RV Park, 5 Geiger Road, Big Coppitt Key, +1 305 296-3553, [66].

• Sugarloaf Key Resort KOA Kampground, MM 20 Summerland Key, +1 305 745-3549 (800) 562-7731, [67].

• Cuba
• Marathon

The only way out by land is back toward Miami. On the way up the road you can visit Big Pine Key, Marathon, Islamorada, and Key Largo. There are numerous local islands accessible only by boat to visit as well.

Miami ← Big Pine Key ←

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From LoveToKnow 1911