There is one marina in Key West that is known for housing some of the most popular Key West tours and activities. Everything from Key West snorkeling trips to Key West fishing charters depart from this marina. Located in the heart of Old Town Key West is the Key West Historic Bight Marina. Spanning five city blocks and boasting a pleasant seaside boardwalk, the Key West Historic Bight Marina is an experience onto itself. In this article, we will give you an idea of what you will find as you stroll down the boardwalk of this marina, including restaurants, Key West tours, and Key West hotels.
Key West Restaurants Along the Historic Marina
The Key West Historic Marina and boardwalk is lined with some of the most well-known restaurants in Key West Florida. The big names include the Half Shell Raw Bar, the Schooner Wharf, and the Conch Republic Seafood Company. The Half Shell Raw Bar is where you go to get those scrumptious raw oysters. The ambianceis laid back and very typical Key West. Down the boardwalk you will run straight into the Schooner Wharf bar that has an open air bar facing the marina. The bar serves all kinds of liquors (a lot of rum), beers and wine, and they also have an extensive menu and a separate dining area. The Conch Republic Seafood Company is massive. They can probably fit over 200 people.The food is filled with classic Key West seafood favorite such as conch fritters, lobster tail and grilled dolphin.
Key West Tours and Activities
Many of the Key West tours and activities offered by Best On Key West leave right from the Historic Bight Marina in Downtown Key West. The marina is home to many docked boats including the Dolphin Echo that provides the daily Dolphin Watch & Shipwreck Snorkel trips and the Reef Express running two Key West snorkeling trips each day. At the western end of the marina, closer to Mallory Square, you will find the large powered catamaran that runs six-hour Do-It-All adventures and the nightly Commotion on the Ocean sunset and live music cruises. At the other end of the marina, you will find the massive Key West Express ferry that makes daily trips from Fort Myers Beach down to Key West Florida and back up. Next to that you will find the luxury catamaran the Yankee Freedom that makes trips out to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson year-round.
Key West Hotels and Guesthouses
One of the best places to stay in Key West Florida is close to the Key West Historic Bight Marina. Staying in this area allows you to walk everywhere in downtown Key West including the various museums, bars, Key West restaurants, and check-in locations for many of the Key West tours and activities. Some of the Key West hotels and guesthouses that are closest to the marina including the Key West Harbor Inn (located so close to the marina that some of their rooms are "harbor view" rooms with great views of the marina and the Gulf of Mexico), the Garden House (located just a few blocks away and offering their guests cozy rooms and a complimentary nightly happy hour), the Casa 325, and the Simonton Court. If you are coming to Key West Florida you definitely want to stay in one of these Key West bed & breakfast properties in order to get a true feel for the unique history of the island. Most of this type of Key West hotels are located right in Downtown among all the great Key West attractions and establishments.
