Key West is the only main US city that is basically a Caribbean island. Like the other Caribbean islands, the vibe on Key West is laid-back, welcoming, and warm. The city is an island that measures about 4 miles by 2 miles. It is located 100 miles from the Florida mainland, and about 90 miles north of Havana, Cuba. The weather here is ideal with an average temperature of 77 (it rarely gets hotter than 87 or colder than 67). The air condition is pristine and clear year-round. Even the hotter summers are kept balmy and comfortable with the ocean breezes that brush against the island.
People flock to Key West for all kinds of reasons. One of the main reasons is for the excellent water conditions down in Key West that provide for some of the best water activities in all of Florida. Fishing, diving, sailing, and snorkeling are just some of the excellent water-related activities that are common in Key West. Snorkeling and diving, in particular, are great fun in Key West thanks to the beautiful coral reef that surrounds the island, as well as the several wrecks that are scattered throughout the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. You will find all kinds of interesting species in these waters, particularly a variety of reef and pelagic species. Key West tours and activities on the water should be booked well in advance, especially during high season and special events weeks.
Aside from the great water fun and sports, on-shore Key West provides all kinds of fun and excitement. Duval Street, for instance, provides some of the most thriving and free-for-all nightlife in the US. Here is where you will find all the great shops, restaurants and bars including the famous Sloppy Joes Bar and Hogs Breath Saloon. At the end of Duval Street at Mallory Square, locals, tourists, artists and performers gather nightly to watch the beautiful Key West sunset. The square is always packed and always provides an exciting end to an activity-filled day.
Key West is rich with history of maritime sailors, pirates, Spanish colonialists, and American legends. Several museums and guided tours will give you a taste of the islands unique history. Like most of Key Wests locals, the tour guides are quirky and interesting and provide for excellent guides and storytellers. The island was originally named Cayo Hueso by Spanish explorers, named for the Spanish word for bones (hueso) due to the number of skeletal remains from Indians that the explorers found when they came to the island. The island is said to be quite haunted and the several ghost tours will give you a taste of this creepier side of Key West.
There is a lot to do in Key West. It is a place to let loose, relax and have fun. And whether your idea of fun is jumping into the crystal-clear waters and exploring the world of fish and coral, or sitting at the edge of a swanky bar and downing whiskey and cokes, Key West offers you all this and everything in between, always with a taste of Caribbean flavor and with a sense of acceptance and eccentricity that no one is able to deny.
