Overview

Key West, part of the Florida Keys (a chain of islands stretching in an arc, south of Miami), is the southernmost strip of land of the entire U.S. Before Columbus introduced Europeans to America, the Calusa tribes inhabited Key West. Key West remained fairly isolated until 1912. During this time, the Overseas Railway Extension was built, connecting it to the mainland. This was destroyed by a hurricane on Labor Day, 1935. In 1938, the government replaced the railroad with an auto highway. Since then, the city was fairly occupied by people.

Activities & Attractions

Key West offers a lot of activities for tourists to indulge in, especially during the daytime. This includes water sports such as scuba diving, reef snorkeling, sailing at sunset, and more. However, if you are traveling with young children, you should stay off the main streets; the bustling nightlife of Key West may cause sleep difficulties.

Though most enticements of Key West are water-related, there are, however, some excellent attractions on land, such as the 90-minute walking tour titled Ghosts and Legends of Key West. The Audubon House is an elegant mid-nineteenth century example depicting the American classic revival architecture. Visit the Harry S. Truman Little White House, which is a great historic treasure of the U.S. This place was used as the White House during the Truman administration. Learn about shipwrecking and its help in the growth of the country with the help of the Shipwreck Treasures Museum in Key West.

Lodging

Many fine accommodation options are available in the city of Key West, which can fit all budget ranges, including luxury resorts, bed & breakfasts, small historic inns, spas, and more. However, make your reservations well in advance, as Key West is a popular vacation destination.

Transportation

Key West has its own international airport served by several airlines, but its runway is too short to accommodate massive jets. You can fly directly to Key West from Atlanta and most major cities in Florida. An affordable way to get to this island is to fly into Miami International Airport and rent a car. If you fly into Key West International Airport, be advised that the car rental desks are in town; hence you will have to catch a shuttle bus into town. If you choose to first stop at Miami, you can take a bus to Key West from there, either by Greyhound, or the Keys shuttle, which serves the Keys, Miami, and Ft. Lauderdale. There are also high-speed passenger ferries from Ft. Myers Beach, Marco Island, and Miami to Key West.