Key West

Key West: history

Key West passed to the United States in 1822. In the 1800s its people grew rich by salvaging ships wrecked on the reef, and for a time it was the wealthiest town in Florida.

Henry Flagler's railway arrived in 1912 and was destroyed by a hurricane in 1935. The Overseas Highway replaced it in 1938. Ernest Hemingway lived here in the 1930s. The island is the southernmost point of the continental United States, about 90 miles from Cuba.

Key West: tourist attractions

• Mallory SquareStreet performers and the sunset over the Gulf.
• Duval StreetThe main street, a mile long from sea to sea.
• Hemingway HomeThe writer's house and its six-toed cats.
• Southernmost PointThe painted buoy that marks the end of the country.
• Truman Little White HousePresident Truman's winter home.
• Key West Lighthouse88 steps to a view over the island.
• Fort Zachary TaylorA Civil War fort beside the best beach on the island.
• Reef snorkellingA boat trip to the only living coral reef in the continental United States.

Key West: excursions nearby

• Bahia Honda State Park about 37 milesOne of the best beaches in the Keys.
• Marathon about 50 milesThe Turtle Hospital and the Seven Mile Bridge.
• Islamorada about 80 milesFeed the tarpon at Robbie's marina.
• Dry Tortugas 70 miles by seaFort Jefferson on a coral island, by ferry or seaplane.

Distances are approximate. Tell us which excursions you want and we add them to your quote.