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When you need a break from the always bustling feats of the metropolis, visiting a city that’s just close to the sea is always a part of the option. The cool breeze coming from the ocean will give you a sense of jolt that amidst the toxic city life, some spots within this chaotic world is available for you to relax and find your inner tune.
The smell of sea salt and the very taste of it in the air is reminiscent of the days when you and the whole gang of family relatives evaded a nearby seashore and just enjoyed the whole heck of the ocean.
The cafeteria lining the seashore, the sound of the waves crashing to the pebbles in the shore, the awakening scent of barbecues being done at a nearby house, all of which perks of being close to the sea. If you want this kind of luxurious time, then paying Key West Florida a visit would really suit your craving.
LOCATION
Key West is 129 miles (208 km) southwest (229.9 degrees) of Miami, Florida, (about 160 miles (260 km) by car) and 106 miles (171 km) north-northeast (21.2 degrees) of Havana, Cuba. Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States.
The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 (the Overseas Highway) (east), Sigsbee Park (north, originally known as Dredgers Key), Fleming Key (north), and Sunset Key (west, originally known as Tank Island). Both Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park are part of Naval Air Station Key West and are inaccessible by civilians.
Key West is the county seat of Monroe County. Key West is the southernmost city in the Continental United States.
CLIMATE
Key West has a tropical savanna climate. Like most tropical climates, Key West has only a small difference in monthly mean temperatures between the coolest month (January) and the warmest month (July) – with the annual range of monthly mean temperatures around 15 °F (8.3 °C).
Very adept to tourists who loved the beach, Key West Florida, like most tropical climates, has a two-season wet and dry climate. The period from November through April is normally sunny and quite dry while May to October is generally accepted as the rainy season. Key West, Florida is known to be United States’ driest city.
TRANSPORTATION
Key West, Florida has two airports that you can enter and exit to which are the main Key West International Airport and the Florida Keys Marathon Airport. Both of which are gateways to this sun-kissed city that caters to both local and international passengers.
The Key West Ferry, more formally known as the Key West Express, is the ferry from Fort Myers Beach to the old harbor at Key West. The Ferry costs about $146 round trip for adults and only $81 for children. The boat departs Fort Myers Beach at 8:30 am, once per day, with schedules varying based on the seasons. The return trip from Key West departs at 6pm.
The FMB to Key West ferry is pretty laid back. Ticketing and boarding begins at 7:00am, the earlier you arrive, the sooner you board, so you can ensure you get a good seat (especially important if you have a group).
We arrived about 7:30 and had no problems finding two seats; we decided to sit on the back deck where we were sheltered from the wind, and were a bit warmer than the air conditioned inside of the boat. People started drinking as soon as they set foot on the boat, and we got to listed to the door slam every thirty seconds as people went back and forth to the bar and restrooms.
There is a public bus system connecting Key West to Marathon and another bus connects Marathon to Florida City. For the hardcore budget traveler you can get from Searstown in Key West to Florida City (Wall Mart) for a grand total of three dollars and eighty-five cents. It’s a good way to meet the local working folks as well.
Seven Mile Bridge connects connecting Knight’s Key to Little Duck Key on US Highway 1.
WHAT TO SEE
Museum of Art & History at the Custom House
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There is art at the end of the road, and you’ll find the best at this museum, which is worth a look-see if only for its gorgeous home – the grand Customs House, long abandoned until its impressive renovation in the ‘90s. The permanent display includes massive portraits and some of the best showcases of international (particularly Caribbean) art in the region.
Bahama Village
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Bahama Village was the old Bahamian district of the island, and in days past had a colorful Caribbean feel about it, which is resurrected a bit during the Goombay Festival. But today the village is pretty gentrified; many areas have been swallowed into a sort of pseudo-Duval periphery zone, but some retain Caribbean charm. At the Office of the Secretary General of the Conch Republic you can see all manner of Conch Republic tat – flags, souvenirs and such.
Duval Street
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Key West locals have a love-hate relationship with the most famous road in Key West (if not the Keys). Duval, Old Town Key West’s main drag, is a miracle mile of booze, tacky everything and awful behavior. But it’s fun.
The ‘Duval Crawl’ is one of the wildest pub crawls in the country. The mix of neon drink, drag shows, T-shirt kitsch, local theaters, art studios and boutiques is more charming than jarring.
Fort East Martello Museum & Gardens
This old fortress was built to resemble an Old Italian Martello-style coastal watchtower (hence the name), a design that quickly became obsolete with the advent of the explosive shell. Now the fort serves a new purpose: preserving the old.
There’s historical memorabilia, artifacts, the folk art of Mario Sanchez, and ‘junk’ sculptor Stanley Papio, who worked with scrap metal and a genuinely creepy haunted doll.
Perhaps the most haunted thing in Key West, ‘Robert the doll’ is a terrifying child’s toy from the 19th century who reportedly causes much misfortune to those who question his powers.
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Studios of Key West
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These 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, 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.
Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden
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Nancy, a local artist and fixture of the Keys community, invites you to bring lunch (but no cell phones!) into her oasis of lush palms, orchids and chatty rescued parrots and macaws.
Although the place is called a secret garden, Nancy considers it to be a piece of art in and of itself – the last acre of undeveloped (although tended and cared for by human hands) natural space within the heart of Key West. Children are welcome and seem to love the local bird life.
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