Avoid these 5 tourist traps to keep your Key West vacation relaxing and enjoyable
- T-Shirt Shops. For years, Key West had a well-documented problem with Duval Street t-shirt shops.
- $5 Shops. Many of the shady t-shirt shops have tried a new line of attack – the $5 store.
- Jewelry Stores.
- Shady Art Galleries.
- Cosmetic Shops.
Key West, Fla., is one of the most beautiful areas to visit in the country. The fact is that some of the more dangerous places in Key West have three times the national average in crime rates.
(Yes, there are nice beaches in Key West!) Many visitors are surprised to find that the island paradise of the Florida Keys does not have a lot of beaches. You see, Key West and the rest of the Florida Keys are coral islands – former reefs, created when the ocean was deeper and the region was submerged below the sea.
The key strategies are:
- Go during the off season, roughly June to November. (September and November are the cheapest of all.)
- Shop around for accommodations and compromise on amenities or location.
- Seek out affordable, casual restaurants.
- Take advantage of the many terrific free and inexpensive things to do in Key West.
Most Scenic Views in the Florida Keys
- Key West - Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.
- Big Pine Key - National Key Deer Refuge.
- Marathon - Bahia Honda State Park.
- Marathon - Seven Mile Bridge.
- Pigeon Key.
- Islamorada - Florida Bay.
- Key Largo - John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
If you want to be in the heart of things, the best area to stay in Key West is the downtown area. Here, you'll be within easy walking distance of Duval Street, giving you plenty of options for drinking and dining, as well as some excellent shopping.
Check out our list of things to do while visiting Key West for a day.
- Climb Aboard a Sightseeing Tour.
- See Marine Animals at the Key West Aquarium.
- Grab Lunch Near Mallory Square.
- Explore Key West's History.
- Watch the Sunset Celebration.
- Order a Drink at the Green Parrot Bar.
Best Local Foods to Try in Key West
- Key lime pie. Perhaps no food is more strongly tied to Key West than key lime pie.
- Conch Fritters. Conch fritters are another Key West delicacy.
- Conch Chowder.
- Coconut water.
- Fresh caught fish sandwich.
- Key West pink shrimp.
- Spiny lobster.
- Key West Legal Rum.
Key West, at the very end of the chain of tiny islands forming the Florida Keys, is in a very dire situation. The rock is sinking. Yet so flat, so low, predictions have been made that Key West could one day disappear from the horizon line, to be covered by a mix of Atlantic Ocean waters and Gulf of Mexico rise.
As a territory of the U.S, a passport is not required for U.S. Citizens. The US Virgin Islands of St. Key West, Florida - This is the only little piece of the Caribbean that Americans can drive to.
It's understandable if you're on the fence about a family vacation to a well-known party spot, but you need not worry. Key West is absolutely a wonderful place to explore with little ones in tow. If you do little more than lay on the beach, snorkel and visit nearby state parks, it'll still be a wild success.
With that said, we offer some suggestions on packing:
- Suitcase – Travel smart.
- Shorts – Key West is shorts territory.
- Sandals/Flip-Flops.
- Bathing suits.
- Cotton shirts – light colors and whites work well with Key West's strong sun.
- Island wear – short sleeve shirts.
- A pair of jean/pants – two if it's winter.
Uber, one of the nation's largest ride-hailing companies, will start up again in Key West on July 1, two years after city police arrested a man for driving for the then-outlawed vehicle-for-hire outfit. The new law allowing ride-sharing companies to work freely in Florida takes effect July 1.
Fort Myers to Key West Ferry - Overnight Roundtrip
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|
| Adult | $155.00 |
| ChildYOUTH age: 5-12 years old. Under 5 pay port tax and security tax. | $92.00 |
| SeniorSenior age: 62+ with ID | $145.00 |
Ferry Service from MiamiOne popular way to get to Key West from Miami is to take a ferry. There is a multitude of ferry services that make the trip from mainland Florida to the Keys. There are also trips that leave from Fort Myers beach on the gulf side of Florida. One popular company is the Key West Shuttle.
So, is Key West worth visiting? Yes, it is because you can experience and enjoy so many different activities here and it's a great location for adults and children. In Key West you can enjoy beautiful beaches and sunsets, discover local wildlife and immerse yourself in maritime, literary and political history.
While you could drive directly from Miami to Key West in about 4 hours, there's a lot of cool stuff to see around the rest of the Florida Keys too. I recommend driving down over the course of 2 days, spending a night in Marathon before continuing on to Key West.
Cars: In general, our suggestion for people flying into Key West and staying in Old Town is that a car is NOT necessary, and, more often than not, is an unnecessary expense and can be burden.
The Florida keys is highly overrated unless you go to fish or dive only, everything is expensive and a lot of businesses just a tourist trap. If you go to keys to enjoy beach, there are no sandy beaches in keys, just coral reefs. Florida has a lot of other places/beaches that are worth your time and money.
Pier House Resort & Spa is an all inclusive resort on Key West (in the Florida Keys) with the only full-service spa in the area. Sirata Beach Resort, which is situated in St. Bungalows Key Largo is a breathtakingly beautiful adults-only, all-inclusive escape in the Florida Keys.
Here are some of the best ways to get around Key West.
- Take the Old Town Trolley Tour.
- Tour the City on a Bike.
- Hop in an Electric Car.
- Rent a Car.
- Cruise around by Boat.
- Call a Cab or Limo Service.
Peak season is generally from Christmas through mid-April. Low season is June through November, with several holidays and festivals here and there raising rates to high season rates. The summer months tend to be the cheapest time to visit.
The best way to get from Naples to Key West without a car is to ferry which takes 3h 24m and costs $130 - $140.
Things To Do In Key West In February
- Mile Zero Fest.
- Romantic Sunset Sails.
- Wesley House Valentine's Day Gala.
- Visit Key West's Historic Seaport.
- Take Part in Key West House & Garden Tours.
- National Parks Are Free on Presidents' Day Weekend.
- Old Island Days Art Festival.
Key West does get some spring breakers, but it is not mobbed with them like in Ft. Lauderdale. Key West is also pretty expensive in March, and is outside the budget of a lot of college kids. Go and have fun.
Before we begin answering that question, there's another question that needs to be addressed: Is Airbnb legal in the Key West real estate market? Fortunately, the answer is yes. To be on the safe side, be sure to review the short term rental laws and Airbnb regulations in Key West before investing in the city.
For most, though, the really good times for visiting the Florida Keys are in late April to early June and November to mid-December. Not much chance of a hurricane then.
- Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, A Noble House Resort. 901 Reviews. Little Torch Key, FL.
- The Moorings Village. 369 Reviews. Islamorada, FL.
- The Caribbean Resort at Sea Isle. 121 Reviews. Islamorada, FL.
- H2O Suites Hotel. 696 Reviews. Key West, FL.
Add to this the many great beaches-both public and privately owned resort beaches-and plenty of sunshine, and you're pretty much guaranteed a great time for kids of all ages. Find the top places to stay with our list of the best Florida Keys resorts for families.
