Key West is known as a big party destination but there is so much more than that!
Our Wild Key West backstory
We’ve been to Key West 4 times in 2 years
Yes, we’ve been to Key West 4 times in 2 years. Yes, it’s an amazing place but we don’t ever go anywhere that many times in a row unless it’s Hawaii or Utah. BUT we were trying to go to Dry Torgugas National Park (read here about that trip) and it took 4 times to get there. That is kind of a weather dependent adventure but so worth it. Anyway, we loved each visit even if we didn’t get to our ultimate destination the first 3 times. Here are some of our favorites over 18 days of visiting.
Getting to Key West
You can fly into the cute little Key West airport which is not big and easy to maneuver and has easy access to your car rental or you can fly into Miami and drive down to Key West. Your drive from Miami is about 3 hours and 30 minutes but there is much to see as you drive down the keys which is beautiful. You will also pass Everglades National Park and Key Biscayne National Park if you are National Park buffs like us.
Favorite things to do, see and eat in Key West
Our favorite sights and activities
Key West Conch Tour
Key West is fairly touristy and it’s adorable. We aren’t tourist type people because we don’t like crowds or organized tours. However, we did do the Key West Conch Tour Train and we loved it. I recommend this first thing because you will get a great overview of the town and might see something that you didn’t know about in advance and decide you have to see it. It’s a lot of fun and the tour guides/drivers are super knowledgeable.
You can buy your tickets online or get them at their location the day of your visit. Tickets are $42.84 for the 1-day tour ticket. They have specialized tour combos as well. The First tour starts at 9:15am and the last tour departs from Front Street at 4:15 pm. There are three stops that you can hop on and off at with your 1-day ticket.
Key West Lighthouse & Keepers Quarters
We love a lighthouse and try to visit every one in a place that we visit. The Key West Lighthouse & Keepers Quarters did not disappoint. It’s stunning. The grounds are beautifully maintained and lush. The view from the top allows you to see a good portion of the town and ocean on three sides. It’s awesome and allows for some beautiful pictures.
Tickets can be purchased online, and general admission is $15.50, senior admission (62+) is $11.50, youth admission is $7.50 (age 7-18) and children 6 and under and active military are free. The lighthouse is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with last admission at 4:30 p.m.
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
We loved the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory so much we went more than once. It’s such and amazing experience. Once you get your tickets you go through an air lock area to help keep the butterflies from getting out and then you are allowed into the big, humid, warm butterfly area. They are everywhere and there is gorgeous foliage. You can get great butterfly and flower pictures. Some will even land right on you. The gift shop is cute as well.
Tickets are $15.50 for adults, $12.50 for kids 4 and up and free for kids 3 and under. Active military and seniors (65+) are $14.50. The conservatory is open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily. I promise you will enjoy this. It’s a don’t miss for sure.
Hemmingway House
We love anything historical so the Hemingway House was a great tour. In addition to the Hemingway stories and history and beautiful old house and grounds, there are the CATS. If you don’t go for any other reason, go to see the cats. Even my non cat person husband enjoyed seeing them.
The Hemingway cats, about 60 on the grounds right now, are descended by a 6 toed cat that was given to Ernest by a sea captain. Normal cats have five front toes and four back toes. The Hemingway cats have the run of the house and as you can see from my pictures below are even allowed to sleep on Hemingway’s bed.
About 50% of the cats at the museum have the polydactyl trait but all of them carry the polydactyl gene in their DNA, which means that the ones that have 4 and 5 toes can still parent 6-toed kittens. Most cats have extra toes on their front feet and sometimes on their back feet as well. Some people think they look like they are wearing mittens because they appear to have a thumb on their paw.
The Hemingway House is open daily 9:00am-5:00pm for walk-in visits 365 days a year. The tour rates include a 20-30-minute guided tour before or after you look around the grounds outside. Admission is $18 for adults, $7 for kids 6-12, and free from kids 5 and under.
Harry S. Truman Little White House
The Harry S. Truman Little White House is right in downtown Key West and super interesting. We are history buffs, and this tour didn’t disappoint. It’s a small group tour and you will see the inside of the home where President Truman came to get away from D.C. and which came to be called the Little White House. There were lots of interesting stories about his time there and various guests who stayed at the home.
The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and tickets are $22.95 each. They also have a White Glove VIP tour for up to 6 people for $645 but we passed on that one. You will have to let me know what you think if you try that one out.
Southernmost Point
Every visit to Key West deserves a quick stop at the Southernmost Point. This is the southernmost point in the Continental US. The actual southernmost point in the US is South Point on Hawaii Island in Hawaii, aka The Big Island. But this spot is pretty neat to check out and there is a sign marking that this is the last spot between you and Cuba. There are always tons of people taking pictures here so if you want to get it alone go really early in the morning.
Roads not to miss!
While in Key West there are some roads and streets to check out! One is the beginning (or end depending on your perspective) of Route 1 which runs up the entire east coast through Maine. It’s a fun place to stop and get a few pictures and maybe someday get pics at the other end in Maine. There is even a gift shop on the corner with all things Mile 0.
The second is Duval Street which is THE main happening place in Key West. There are shops, restaurants, bars and more on this hopping street. We stayed in a rental house just 2 houses off of Duval over New Year’s Eve and were heard the whole party. There is something for everyone on Duval St.
Fort Zachary Taylor
Again, the history buff’s enjoyed getting their history on at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. This Fort has a lot going for it. It predates the Civil War, has the largest number of Civil War armaments in the world and is the southernmost state park in the US. The fort is huge and gives you a good picture into life in the defense of the southern tip of the US back in its day.
Additionally, this park boasts the nicest beach in Key West. Which isn’t saying a LOT given that there are very few beaches in the area. It’s not a spot known for its beaches but this one is nice, and you can walk from the fort down to the beach and it’s just a gorgeous area.
Key West Firehouse Museum
Our oldest is a Fire Lieutenant/paramedic so we are always on the lookout for cool fire stations when we travel. Key West has a great little museum with unique artifacts and firefighting history. The Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum is a great place for kids as well because they may climb on an old fire engine, ring the bell, and search for Dalmatians around the fire house. This station has been around since 1907 so stop by and do their 30-minute audio tour and hear all about its and Key West’s fire history.
The museum is open Wednesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. so plan your schedule for a stop to check it out. Tickets are $15. $5 discount for firefighters, first responders, active and retired military, locals, seniors, and students. Kids under 10 are $7.50. There are retired firefighters available to answer all your questions.
Mallory Square
Do you want to see a beautiful sunset? All sorts of music and entertainment? Food vendors? All sorts of interesting people? If so, Mallory Square is the spot for you. There is always something going on. There are restaurants all around and the sun sets beautifully right near here. Don’t miss this spot one evening during your visit.
Key West’s Critters
You don’t need to look hard to see some of Key West’s residents. Chickens are EVERYWHERE. If you ask a local, they will tell you there have always been chickens there. And don’t mess with the chickens. Most people like them and want them protected. The chickens actually fit the vibe of the town. Colorful, fun and a little wild at times. Enjoy them but please don’t feed them.
You may also come across some pretty big lizards. Don’t let them freak you out. They will leave you alone if you leave them alone. They are actually quite fun to watch for a while.
Where to eat in town!
We are not foodies, but we love good food. You will have plenty of choices here in Key West. I’ll share our favorites in no particular order. We’ve tried a bunch of places, and these are the places we go back to over and over.
Breakfast
Sarabeth’s
Brunch at Sarabeth’s is amazing! We eat here at least one every visit. The location is adorable inside and out and the service is always great. BUT the food is the best part. Everything has been amazing. You definitely want to check this one out! They are usually packed so plan for that as you head their way.
Breakfast Club Too
We love the Breakfast Club Too. They have more than breakfast, but we only go for breakfast since we have so many places we love. This place is also quite busy as they are located right near a pier where there are lots of tours leaving. But they seem to turn tables fast and keep people moving. If you can, eat on the patio. It’s beautiful, covered, and nice to people watch.
La Grignote
La Grignote or Little Nibbles is located right on Duval St. They serve breakfast and lunch on site, but they are also an amazing French bakery and we loved everything we bought. This bakery was right around the corner from a house we stayed in for a week and we visited numerous times. You won’t be sorry. Yum!
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Blue Heaven
We’ve eaten at Blue Heaven for all three meals. It’s fantastic. They are always busy (notice a theme?) like the other places I mentioned. One nice thing about Blue Heaven is you can leave your number to be texted and they will text you when your table is ready. This is nice because you can browse some shops/stands nearby. When we have been in the evening there has been some nice music outdoors. We ate inside one morning, and I definitely don’t recommend it as much as outside.
Rams Head Southernmost
We’ve also eaten sever different meals at Rams Head Southernmost and they were all yummy. In addition to some good music in the evenings they also have an all-day build your own Bloody Mary bar if that is your kind of thing. Rams Head has been busy each time we were there, but we’ve never experienced a ridiculous wait.
Dinner Spots
El Siboney
If you like Cuban food, you need to check out El Siboney. It’s so good. It’s a little further from the main part of Key West but still walkable from town. We try and walk everywhere since we eat so much when visiting. It’s nothing fancy but the food is so tasty, and the wait staff is friendly and efficient. We’ve been every time we visit the area. Another don’t miss!
El Mason de Pepe
El Mason de Pepe is another great Cuban restaurant. It’s located right in Mallary Square (see above for details so you can eat and then head out for sunset. It’s a much nicer setting than El Siboney and a little more commercialized feeling. Still definitely worth going to because it’s very good Cuban food. It’s also much bigger so while it’s busy being by Mallory Square it’s big enough to get people through. Definitely give this a try as well.
Willie T’s
If you want a loud, rowdy, Duval Street type of restaurant definitely check out Willie T’s. You will have great food, lots of people watching and some loud music. It’s worth a visit. One of the most interesting things at Willie T’s if all the $1 bills papering the walls, beams and just about anything you can attach them to in the restaurant. We were fascinated at trying to figure out how much money could be hanging there and didn’t really come to any answer.
Shopping in Key West
Full disclosure, I am not a shopper on vacation. Not really at home either. I prefer online shopping and getting it done fast. So, I am not good at recommendations for the best shopping other than to say that Key West has a LOT of shopping. But in the case of Key West there is one shop I really enjoyed. The Funky Chicken Store is full of all things Key West chicken and it’s so cute!
I Love Key West!
If you can’t tell by now, I love Key West. I would love to go back again even after visiting 4 times. It’s got so many amazing things to do, see, and eat. Make a visit something in the near future and let me know what you think. If you have already been, let me know your favorite things to see and do.
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Keep exploring!
Stephanie
seymoreoftheworldwithme
We may have to add Key West to our destinations list
You really should! It’s lovely.
Thank you so much Stephanie, for sharing all this information. Wow ! We would have to move there to take in all these sights. We visited Key West several years ago and thoroughly it. You feel like you are out of the States and on a Caribbean Island. Keep up the good work.
Awww thanks so much!!
Key west is a favorite of mine. Cuban food is the best!
I can see why. Yummy food!
Thank you for the wonderful tour!!! I can’t wait to visit on my next trip to FL!
Thanks so much! You will love it.
We loved Key West. We went about 8 years ago and had so much fun! The dry tortugas is the one thing we didn’t get to do! We ate at Blue Haven and the Key lime pie was scrumptious.
I’m glad you loved it. So much fun.
We love to find new outdoor adventures when we travel. And Key West certainly looks like a great spot. Certainly if you have been back so often is bears more than one visit. Although running into a big iguana might freak me out a bit!
It really is!! And I did keep my distance from that fellow. 🤣
Have been to Key West around 7 years ago for day trip.
Would like to go back for a return trip. Alot to see and do 🙂