Four miles long, two miles wide, and loaded with quirky charm, the southernmost city in the continental United States feels like a Caribbean getaway. For instance, this was the lone place, south of the Mason-Dixon, to remain with the Union during the Civil War. Travel to Key West, and you’ll still find that freethinking sensibility today. The city’s location—closer to Cuba than to Miami—results in an eclectic cultural mix. This is a place where people go barefoot, chickens roam the streets, and epitaphs like “Devoted Fan of Julio Iglesias” are found in the cemetery. Though it may be best known for Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, you’ll find the real essence of the place in its very particular style of Victorian and Queen Anne architecture, and in its eclectic residents. Tap into this Key West travel guide to chart your own path here:
Things Not To Miss in Key West
• Watching the sunset (and theatrics) at Mallory Square
• Seeing the cats and literary relics at Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
• Exploring the Eco-Discovery Center
• Seeing the underwater life while snorkeling, or taking a dolphin or glass-bottom boat tour
• Catching a cabaret drag show at La Te Da
• Eating an authentic slice of key lime pie
• Taking a day trip, by boat or seaplane, to Dry Tortugas National Park
When To Go to Key West
The subtropical climate in Key West makes the balmy weather in Key West pretty consistent year round. That said, the height of the Key West travel season is winter and spring, when the weather tends to be the driest. Weather-wise, the riskiest time to visit Key West is during hurricane season, lasting from June to November—but most years that just means a higher chance of short rain storms.
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