A Truly Exceptional Stay at Ocean's Edge Resort! We visited Key West this week and stayed on Stock Island at the Ocean's Edge Resort. After a quick and scenic ride from the Key West airport, we arrived at the impressive entrance to the resort, where Sam was the first person to greet us--warmly, genuinely, and as if he had been waiting just for us. He brought us to the front desk where we met Bella, whose welcoming smile and kind demeanor immediately made us feel like we were the only guests on the property. After a smooth and friendly check-in, Sam whisked us away on a golf cart tour of the resort, showing us everything we could possibly need or want. He carried my bag up the short flight of stairs and dropped us right at our door. Our room overlooked two of the six pools and offered a beautiful view of the yachts in the marina. Later, we enjoyed drinks and a very generous charcuterie board at Yellow Fin Bar & Grill, conveniently located just beyond the pool. Our bartender, Jen, couldn't have been friendlier or more attentive--I truly left feeling like we'd made a great friend. We used the shuttle to downtown Key West a few times and learned so much about the islands thanks to Jeffery and Bob, the incredibly knowledgeable tour guides. Their stories about the history and current happenings of Key West were fascinating, and they always made time for questions. I also escaped for a peaceful solo kayak trip--two hours included daily with your stay. Heather at the Tiki Hut gave great instructions and even sent me off with a laminated map. Later, we borrowed two bicycles (also included). Felix pointed us toward great restaurant options, and we chose El Mocha for lunch before pedaling back to the resort. On our last full day, we rented a golf cart from the Tiki Hut. Richard, the concierge, gave spot-on directions to downtown, offering both the quickest and most scenic routes. His tips for parking were incredibly helpful! We absolutely cannot wait to return to this beautiful resort. read more

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For over the last forty years, I have had the opportunity to visit Key West several times a year. Fantasy Fest every October was a blast but extremely busy and not a place for overly conservative minded people. Mallory Square to watch the sunset each day is a sight to see. The hotels are pricey basically everywhere in Key West although are slightly less the further away from Duval Street, which is hopping with bars and restaurants. It is usually very hot in Key West so to get around quickly it is cheap to rent bicycles at an average of $20 per day. A half day scooter rental could set you back some bucks but you can see the whole island in one day. I do not recommend driving a car along Duval Street where an open parking space along the street are rare or super pricey at a hotel per day. They do have two decent public parking garages but expensive too. Late night bar action with live music I recommend The Bull, Irish Kevins or Sloppy Joe's. FYI: The "Open Container" alcoholic beverage law is enforced at times. Dont forget Z's Pizza for an after hours walk up slice on the way back to your hotel. Just a whole lot of fun crammed into a very small city. read more

Key West - Public Services & Government Near Me

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I am giving Key West a full 5 stars, even though I visited at the end of July/beginning of August and sweat myself silly! I always thought of Key West as the beachy little sister of Miami....fake boobs, fake hair, fake nails, real tan. Also? Lots of beaches. The reality? Sure there is fakery about, but there are a whole lot more "real" people, and a whole lot less beaches. And I like it! Honestly? I feel like it is very hard to nail down Key West. It's a party town, it's relaxing, it's fun. Laid back. Pretty. Clean. Crowded. Open. So many opposing descriptions, yet all of them dead on. Duval street is the main drag and is party central, particularly at night. The amazing thing is that everyone minds their ps and qs, making it 99% pleasant for everyone (gotta leave 1% for shenanigans, good and bad). By day, it's a nice place to walk and shop, and grab a cool drink. On the northern end is the aquarium and a few museums, while at the southern end is the southern most point buoy. In the middle is the Hemingway House. The street is home to some of the area's most famous restaurants, like Hard Rock Cafe, Sloppy Joe's, and Margaritaville. On the corner of Whitehead and Fleming is the 0 Mile Marker, and on Eaton street, between Whitehead and Duval, is the Marilyn Monroe statue. There are beaches, but not as many as I envisioned, and they certainly aren't the stretches like you see on the mainland. People live here, like, there are actual houses, and the place isn't overrun with condos and apartments. Chickens run free, and it is a crime to feed them because there are just so many. Who freaking knew?!?! While there are Inns, and AirBnBs, the hotels are on the north end of the key. Uber and Lyft are your friends, as parking is scarce and expensive the closer you get to Duval. It's weird, cool, fun, eclectic and more than anything, interesting. It's one of those places where you can't exactly describe it, but you know you love it, and I do. I desperately want to go back. Anyone want to buy me a ticket? I'll buy you a drink! 113/2025 read more

Been to Key West sooo many times over the past 20 years and have enjoyed each visit. It's a very nicely run town (island) which is kept very clean, and is low in crime. They have plenty of water sports to try and enjoy as well as a crazy amount of bars and eateries. So much fresh seafood to be had here! Plenty of great resorts to stay in too! We'll keep on coming back. read more

Key West - Public Services & Government Near Me

If there was ever a city that captured the essence of the late Jimmy Buffet, it would be this one. This is one of the most chill and laid back cities that I have been too. It is the Southern most point in the US and is famous for conch, ship wrecks, Hemingway's home, beaches, a strong LBGTQ+ community, and mile marker 0. It is also home to the world famous Duval Street, which is similar, but a bit more tame then New Orleans' Bourbon Street. You can try the Duval Crawl, if you dare. There is no shortage of souvenir shops here, so be sure to shop around for the best deal. Key west is actually an island and has only one main bridge in and out, which as you can imagine get very packed. They do have a cruise ship terminal and airport. I came in on a cruise ship and spent the day here. Tourism drives this city and they host over 5 million tourists a year. Some of the islands top attractions include the many bars of Duval Street, the aquarium, Trolley Tours, The Ship Wreck Museum, the Harbor and the water front. I guess marijuana is popular here because I saw a bunch of dispensary promotions. You will see a bunch of people, tourist included, getting around on golf carts. The city looked very clean and it looked like there is a lot of metered street parking available. This city is really on island time, so leave your watches at home. I really like this place. The weather was nice, but I am sure that it gets hot in the summer. I really hope to make it back here soon. Fun Fact: There was a section of Key West called the Conch Republic, which was declared a tongue-in-cheek secession of the city in 1982. Today, the entire island is sometimes referred to as the Conch Republic. read more

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Always a great place to just chill, relax, eat, enjoy the beach, locals, shopping, water sports, and great little getaway for those just needing some peace... will definitely return!!!! All I was missing was my BFF.... read more

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Key West Florida has a unique atmosphere that I love. While I was there I visited Hemingway's home, The Ripley Museum and enjoyed fresh seafood for lunch and dinner. I loved walking around the main streets and shopping. I purchased inexpensive souvenirs. I definitely recommend. I know I'd love to return. I spent two hours this morning looking for my photos and I couldn't find them. Sorry read more

Key West - My Souvenir is on the inside of my front door where I have a lot of my magnets. 03/07/23 - Public Services & Government Near Me

The southernmost point in the United States... Key West 11/25/22 What a cool place, our first time visiting the Key West. Up till today I've only seen photos in articles, magazines and TV... especially when they get hit by powerful hurricanes. Finding parking was challenging but after circling a few times we were able to find a spot right in front of the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum so we took a tour. We also wanted to visit The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum just right across but all tours that day were sold out. 2/22/23 We returned to the Key West because of unfinished business LoL! We made reservations for the Dry Tortugas National Park. It was a full day affair so that was all we had time for that day. Because we had to be at the ferry station by 7:00a we quickly took a detour to check out the Southernmost Point and the US1 Mile Marker 0. At 6:15a we were the only ones there and were able to snap some shots w/o the crowd. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the ocean in the background. Before sunset we stopped by the Key West Cemetery. It reminded me of St. Louis Cemetery in NOLA. Immediately went to the Find-A-Grave website to look for some notable people but we ran out of time and had to leave as we still had a long drive back to our place in Pompano Beach. Lots of watersport activities in the Keys that we didn't get to do including parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking, half-day cruises, or sailing aboard a water taxi. Perhaps another time... Review #2883 read more

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Key West is a wonderful place if you're young and healthy. But, if you're old, disabled, or just tired, don't bother. You'll never get out of your car. There is no handicap parking. If you find one, Good luck with it having a convenient non-knobby ramp anywhere close by. All the ramps on street corners and hotel entrances are knobby. You can't roll on them. Parking is parallel and expensive. So, 3 cars per building at best. You have to walk blocks from expensive parking lots. And don't depend on the trolley. It won't stop where you want to go. You'll still have to walk a block or ten. I wish I were young enough to enjoy it. Guess I'll go back to Clearwater where old people can go to the beach.​ read more

We had a great weekend in Key West until we ventured into the Butterfly Encounter! There is a reason why you won't find many reviews but tons of locale advertising! It's a 30 minute rip-off! From expensive parking to the hyp route thru their experience gift shop! Obviously, very profitable for these owners who purchase 10 to 20 Amazon larvae per week to keep this scene running! Is that the kind of eco plight you really want to support?? Our worlds rain Forrest 's don't need this sort of irresponsible management! read more

Key West is a small 2-mile by 4-mile island (yes, it's really that small) at the very tip of Florida. And it's connected by the Overseas Highway to the other Florida Keys and the Florida mainland. Key West is the southernmost point in the continental USA. John Audubon and Ernest Hemingway once lived here. One had a passion for conservation, and the other, a great zest for living. That combination exemplifies Key West's unique personality. You no longer need a car. You can tour the city by foot, bicycle, trolley or electric car and enjoy the village, theaters, museums, galleries, sidewalk cafes and legendary pubs. We have been here many times and we always love the lively street scenery, activities, restaurants and events...There's a ton of souvenir stores everywhere, but you will also find some unique boutiques and tasteful places to eat and shop. Key West is unique for its eclectic and diverse collection of residents, many of which are immigrants of European descent from the Bahamas and call themselves "Conchs." Those who were not born on the island but have called Key West home for at least seven years are affectionately known as "freshwater Conchs." The origin of the name is largely unknown, but the main theory stems from the American Revolution. Loyalists who had moved to the Bahamas started calling the locals Conchs after their shellfish-heavy diet. You might notice souvenirs with the phrase "Conch Republic" around the island. The term was coined in the early 1980s when the U.S. Border Patrol tried to set up a Key West inspection point to search for drugs and illegal immigrants and the city threatened a mock secession from the United States. Ultimately, the publicity from the event -- and the Conchs' resistance -- only increased tourism to the area. Check out this lovely city, where some of the main attractions are the Hemingway House, Mallory Square (especially at sunset), Duval street, the Truman Annex the Butterfly Conservatory and much more.... read more

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First time here The tourist portion of KW is 5/5, lots of cool rich history to explore. However, duval is a dirty area. Typical bars youd find anywhere, with just a spin of KW in each of them, nothing special. Its ridiculously expensive too. I definitely would not bring kids here unless it was maybe a monday/tuesday. Lots of free spirited characters. Next time we go, we plan less duval and more exploring. read more

Disgusting beaches! I went to the southernmost beach at the end of Duval Street and Higgs Beach; both of which were seaweed laden and muddy like piles of cow manure, where the water meets the so-called sand. Instead of a sight for sore eyes, it caused sore eyes and gagging. I much preferred the white sands and blue waters at South Beach and Miami. As for walking and other sightseeing: shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and attractions- to each their own ratings. read more

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In a galaxy far, far away at the very southern tip of our country lies Key West, Florida with Cuba just a mere 90 miles away. What a tropical paradise! So much history here in this town. Visiting Ernest Hemingway's home with his six toed cat sanctuary was such a treat. We spent 6 days here and still didn't see it all. We started our visit walking down the famous Duval Street. This was during Covid19 so some businesses were closed but all of the restaurants were thriving. Masked people were out and about and social distancing was going strong. There were lots of shops with Floridian souvenirs overflowing and enticing you to buy. We enjoyed a day at Smathers Beach and yes we did swim. We checked out the weekly Farmers Market to check out the local produce which was some mighty delicious fruit. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast over at Sunset Key. Lots of artists live locally so many galleries and public art to view around town. We had a great time kayaking amongst the mangroves and had the opportunity to see and feel all kinds of sea creatures. One morning we had an opportunity to check out the hurricane weather station. This was interesting and educational. The beautiful pastel houses that line many of the residential streets are a must to see. After all, this is the Conch Republic! Did I tell you about all the roosters? They are the mascots for Key West and you will see them everywhere. Key West is known for fantastic snorkeling and diving all around the Keys. They also hold court every night at the local bars so all the tourists get loose and party. It can be little spendy here so be prepared to shell out some cash for hotels. We were lucky enough that our very good friends own a home here so we had a wonderful place to stay! Thank you friends. I highly recommend a trip here in your future, it is well worth the price of admission. read more

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Wouldn't spend my hard earned money on it. To stay there you have to book a place in advance which I understand but to fill out a form. I mean come on. I didn't pay you in advance to get harassed with forms. I don't know what's up with the Internet there but GPS gets totally F@CKD WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND DIRECTIONS TO A RESTAURANT THAT SERVES CONCH FRITTERS ! Then you finally find it. It's mostly batter . I will never go there again. read more

Interesting place to visit lots of things to see & do. Went with group there was a free bus ride to see the town, or trolly that was priced for 10 mins or 90 mins. Then there was a few other options read more

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The last of the keys and the farthest out west , the southernmost . Plenty of history , historical sites and lots of activities here are all kinds of water sports. Me and my wife came here last year, on thanks giving day and manage to do one tour. It was the light house. We also drove around a little bit. We had some unfinished business that's why we came back. Anyway. Key west is the lost popular keys and it's crowded. Plenty of variety of restaurants and night life as well. Finding parking is horrible. We parked at the City municipal garage when we got here for the national park. 40$ the whole which is not bad . So if you plan to come and visit. Plan and create an itinerary. Hotels along the way , we notice are "no vacancies. The jolted can be pricey here on the keys. read more

Awesome visit since the storm. We took an amazing hop on and hop off bus tour and surprisingly, the Keys still looks great with little to no building dilapidations. Mallory Square was busy as usual and it remains the primary location for tourists to get souvenirs and take tours. We saw the Carnival Cruise Glory ship docked behind Mallory Square and I can't remember ever seeing a cruise lines with a port of call in the Keys. I haven't been in the Keys since I was a kid so this was new to me but not much has changed (except for a couple of Starbuck stores around lol). However, having folks from the cruise did add more fun on our tours and the tour guide Louie was extremely hilarious. OMG! You guys wouldn't believe who was also in the Keys. The two love bird leaders from two countries: see pics lol. read more

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Gorgeous place with breathtaking views and beautiful architecture all over. Lots to see and do and great shopping and dining scene. Make sure to get some key lime pie before you leave! read more

Key West - Public Services & Government Near Me

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Just 90 miles from Cuba, Key West is the southernmost city in the U. S. It is a very low key interesting town with lots of history. President Truman's little White House and the Hemingway house offer tours. Duval Street is famous for all the shops, restaurants and bars. The beach and boardwalk is on the Atlantic Ocean side and we enjoyed walking the boardwalk. The opposite side of the island is the Gulf side famous for the sunsets. We took the Ferry from Marco Island to Key West round trip with one over night. The Hotel prices are outrageous. Over $500 for a Fairfield Inn. We rented an electric vehicle $227 for 24 hours for 4 of us. The roosters all over the island are a exciting to see. Overall a fun time. read more

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I am putting Key West on my bucket list to spend more than a day here !! One week!! Beautiful island, friendly people, fun shopping area, great seafood. The history lesson alone is priceless. But most of all I love the Rosters !!! Highly recommend for your bucket list !! read more

A bit run down and overrated compared to the normal expectations of someone who hasn't been there. Parking is difficult to find (and avoiding private lots scamming you and paying ridiculous $5/hr fees in other spots). We found some free parking in a couple of spots but it took some in depth research. Duval is your typical street for the cruise tourists to drink and spend those tourist dollars but I found it a bit corporate and likened it to a more boring version of Bourbon street. Just a street or two down from there are very sketchy neighborhoods, so love to see that /s. The ocean views are honestly better in the middle keys in my opinion but the mangroves around the island are nice. The southernmost buoy statue has a 1 mile line around it and absolutely has no infrastructure to handle the traffic (not that it's worth it to wait, it's a bit anticlimactic). Driving is terrible around here with everyone in a hurry and nowhere to go. Get ready for chumps tail gating. read more

I've coming here for 25 years, slowing watching KW becoming one of the dirtiest places to visit. The nicer hotels are overpriced, so have low expectations of getting what you're paying for. Make sure to cover your feet with good shoes you never know what you may be walking through (blood, vomit, or urine). Street parking is not bad, but budget for the fees. If you don't smoke pot, cigarettes, or cigars get use to the smell you cannot get away from it. Many of the young girls who vacay there are fine examples of what no class means. You'll love it or hate it there, no in between! Prepare yourself for the addition thousands of people that come to Key West on cruises, you don't get a break from the ships pulling in. If you're traveling without children find an all adult hotel you'll thank yourself later! read more

We parked at 411 Caroline St, and another lot in Ft. Laud. Both owned by Professional Parking Management. I believe this company has an actual scam going on there and other lots they manage. I ran my cc & the machine gave an hourly and daily rate. I choice hourly. It went through or it appeared to. And now I'm receiving a $90 parking bill for 2 hours of parking. A similar thing happened in FtL. Don't park in lots managed by Professional Parking Management!!!! read more

My friends have never visited Key West. It was eons since I have been there. They thought it was going to be a quaint island town which did not feel like that at all. It is heavy tourist attraction area. Since cruise ships do not go to Cuba anymore, they all dock here. Locals inundated during day. Best time to shop after 5:00/5:30 pm when all tourist board back on cruise ship. There are slew of bars. Tons of souvenir shops. Go off main drag of Duvall Street to get tee shirts for $5.00. So much bargains to be had. Parking around area maybe rough. Best to park in lot. read more

I think if I would have written a review of Key West back in 2012 when I first moved to Florida, I'd definitely given it five stars, and in many aspects it is still a five star town, but as much as I love this town, and will visit as often as I can, it's slightly losing some of its charm. Key West is essentially heaven on Earth in many ways. The air hits you and you know instantly that you'd not on your average vacation. You're truly in paradise in every sense of the word. With its one way in, one way out location, you feel like you're on your own private island with a few thousand of your soon-to-be closest friends, a few roosters and six-toed cats too. There is essentially something for everyone, especially if that everyone loves being outdoors. From scuba to snorkeling, kayaking and boating. If you want to be on the beach all day? Sure, they've got you covered too. You'd never know it was a manmade beach either. You can rent a house with friends, stay at a four star resort or slum it anywhere you'd like and you'll all enjoy it the same. Duval Street, the nucleus of it all is like a very sleepy Bourbon Street, but don't let that fool you. It's only sleepy because people just don't move as fast. In some ways, Key West is like one giant, "Margaritaville". Duval Street hosts dozens of restaurants, even more bars, and shops. Shops from the typical $5 t-shirt shops, drug stores like CVS, to even bigger brand names like The Gap and Banana Republic. In addition, Key West has theater (both movie and stage) as well as tours from the truly historic to those of the paranormal kind. The Keys is such a special place to so many people, especially the residents. Over time, the lovely town has become more and more of a tourist town, which is wonderful for tourists, but do you really need a Banana Republic in paradise? I don't necessarily think so. At what point does it all become too much and become it's mini version of Orlando or Vegas or any other overcrowded tourist town where the locals are forced to relocate all so I can enjoy my Miami Vice on the beach while celebrating Spring Break? All is welcome here, which I don't think that'll ever change. It's pretty much the foundation of what this place was built on. One Human Family. No matter how crowded it gets or how touristy it becomes, the Keys will always be my favorite place to visit and the one town that truly gets me to relax. read more

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Key West gets three stars from me only because of its name and where it's at. It is definitely not for me. The mayor should address the parking issue as there is little to no parking spaces and their police are just waiting to write tourists tickets for parking where we are not supposed to which is not clearly marked. We rented a golf cart for the five days we were there and it was the worst mistake ever; ride around forever to find a place to park then you have to pay five dollars an hour every time you park even if you have time left over from the previous parking area. So if you're just looking around the island and plan on getting off your cart know that you will have to pay at every stop you make. The other thing is although I am not homophobic I have children that are gay I do not appreciate a man's exposed sweaty stinky butt rubbing up against me in the stores in the restaurants wherever. It is super crowded if you are looking for relaxation and beaches this is not the place for you. The red tide had the beach when we visited in June 2022 and there is only two beaches that the locals use one being Smathers beach and the other Simonton beach. Simonton beach is minute teeny tiny. The locals are not very friendly something that I can understand as they are probably very tired of dealing on a daily basis with tourists; but we are their bread and butter you'd think they'd be welcoming. Another big negative is the taxi service. They charge you whatever they want to charge you they have meters but not all of them use it. Out of all the taxi rides we took only one used the meter and it came out to $9.95 where others were charging 20 or 25 to get us a mile away from our home. If I were ever to go back I would make sure to rent a hotel or home that has parking provided which are very few. So overall I would not recommend Key West to anyone looking for beach and relaxation. I would recommend it to my LGQTB community and to people who have the stamina to walk and wait in lines a lot. SNS but when I am paying you $40 for a piece of fish I expect the service to be a little more accommodating and not make it feel like such a burden to serve us. read more

My stay in Key West was fun. I think it's the most touristy vacation I've been on. There's a lot of history and local flavor. read more

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This was my by far our favorite on the entire vacation with several stops. Loved seeing the palm trees, key lime pie, sunset pier, fort taylor, butterfly exhibit, southernmost marker and lovely Mallory Square. Would love to return with more time. read more

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My first adult trip to Key West and it was much quieter than I would expect at any other time. The pandemic has made this bustling tourist hot spot more lukewarm. We made our way to Mile Marker Zero for our obligatory photo op and that was the biggest wait of the day. I found parking easily enough- there were markers on the sidewalk for social distance recommendations. Then we headed to Duval Street- we parked at a lot on the Southeast end of the street- which meant a good amount of walking. Parking was $25 for a day- our lot time expiration was the next day- 11am! However- we would not be there quite that long. When we first arrived- we were just getting hungry and after a few blocks of shops- we were getting to the hangry point of our lunchtime day. My sister insisted on a place, a must eat at in Key West- it was less than spectacular, but the hangry disappeared. Back to more shops, art galleries and just general sight seeing. We made our way to Mallory Square and then back down Duval. I was there with my mom and sister during the day on a Friday- nothing crazy. Key West is like most tourist towns- plenty of shopping, eating, drinking and other activities. Everything costs a little extra- for good reason. I've been to plenty of historic downtown touristy cities- so nothing really jumped out to make it grand, or special. My sister said I need to experience Duval St at night for the full adventure. Maybe another time~ still, we had fun! The random chickens were my fav! read more

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One the most amazing place to go visit and have fun. We drove Highway 1 from Miami for almost 5 hrs which seems alot but definetly worth it, you are driving through the ocean. read more

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I Love Key West! Especially when it comes to their annual Fantasy fest festival! It's usually the last 2 weeks of the month of October with a line up of events, music, activities, contests and more! Now it's not for the small minded, easily offended, or kids in my opinion. It's an adult festival period! We ususally attend the last Saturday of the event to catch the grande parade and more. If you plan on trying to stay here seriously try to book a year in advance and to book at least a minimum of 2 nights. My friends and I did this one year and there was about 13 of us and it was a blast! Now I'm a trooper and have busted the drive there that night and drive back in the morning. I don't recommend this to all and if you have to pull over on the side of the road and sleep it off,cops dont play in this county! And if you've been drinking dont try to drive at all, keep your ass right where your at! On this particular night we had some friends already posted up and they held down a parking for us ( this does not happen so be prepared to drive around looking and of course paying up). We made our drinks( brought bottles to curve some of the costs) and made our way out to Duval street where all the action is. People walked around in creative, store bought, lavish, and body paint costumes. Some walked around with just a litte cloth to cover their manhood (this is why I say this is an adult festival) there was just nakedness everywhere,lol. The parade started and it was awesome! The colors, the music, the costumes, all were just so talented. The Monopoly truck winded up winning but I loved the Candyland theme truck. Towards the end a soca music truck came out and thats when I hopped over the barricade and became part of the parade! It was so much fun. We took so mamy pictures,laughed, damced, walked around it was just such a good time. I highly recommend everyone to come put at least once to enjoy the fest! We look forward to this every damn year! Trust me, it is so worth the drive! read more

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I remember outdoor dining at a restaurant in Naples, FL with my grandparents when I was 13, & in the middle of our meal, a ferry arrived with a crew of daytrippers, unloading 30 feet away at the dock. "The Key West boat," my grandmother said. I'd been various places in the Carib back then, but that was my first contact with the islands existing off the tip of FL. Ooh, a Caribbean version of FL? Cool! Any prior visitor I've talked to just LOVES Key West. I have to wonder if they've been to some of the great places in the Carib that I have? The Grenadines (Bequia, Union Island, Canouan)? Remote Bahamas (Harbour Island, San Salvador)? Anguilla? Guadeloupe? These places have so much more ambiance & charm to me, such deeper peoples, & better foods. And they're a HECK of a lot cheaper! (...well, not Harbour Island) I digress. Having been elsewhere, I will say I loved the Key West climate, & I was fascinated + impressed to learn that ocean water currents bring mega-old waters up from the deepest depths of the sea, right to Key West, so you get some of the most unpolluted, pure water in the WORLD here. UNESCO should label this one! I got a kick out of the Hemingway references everywhere, b/c last year, I was in Ronda, Spain, & they had Hemingway references from his time there, too. The man was everywhere! ...at least everywhere I go. I certainly appreciated the many unique things about Key West, but there were a lot of downsides that made it feel like a touristy money-suck, & that is not how I spend a relaxing week. I am also on the fence about the liberal open container policy. Fun, but WAY unsafe, at once! Pros: There are a number of museums covering a variety of topics, & aimed at various audiences. This is much more culture than is offered in most parts of the Carib, or elsewhere in most of FL for that matter. Duval Loop bus is FREE all over downtown. A LOT of $ has been put into the upkeep & aesthetic of downtown Key West, & it is truly a beautiful place to visit. The old "conch house" architecture, mixed with other 19th- & 20th C styles, is breathtaking. Because of all the competition for tourist dollars, many restaurants have devised ways of going above & beyond for ambiance, & live music. On any given night, there are basically multiple free concerts to be had, just walking down the street & finding a public bench near any restaurant with live music. Some locals were extremely laid back & kind. (Others are on the cons list.) Cons: ANY & all of the restaurants in downtown Key West are overpriced. Drinks, especially, are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced. Too many bars EVERYWHERE. Food's pretty much just New American, with maybe one hit-or-miss example of each other genre of cuisine, that's it. Oodles of Key Lime pie shops, all claiming to be the best, but many are pretty processed & awful. Every square inch of the island is spoken for, even the roosters have their turf. It's built up & packed to the gills. The newer part of town is typical FL strip malls. Any decent beach is inside a national park, with PAID admission. Parking EVERYWHERE is paid. It's $4/hr for municipal parking in various places around town. Paid lots & garages are $3/hr, on up. It is MISERABLE trying to find a space, & then still have to walk 20min each way to your destination, which is almost an hour right there. The cruise ship element was a deterrent for me. MOBS of people milling around downtown. Many of them belligerent drunks, with obnoxious tacky behavior. Creepy men, & nasty women walking the shopping streets all day in cheap bikini tops & cut off jeans, while sloppy drunk, like this is MTV spring break. Yuk! I also saw some of these people being mean to cats or roosters, which is vile, illegal behavior. Some of the locals were miserable & unwelcoming; wanted to take your $ for being rude to you. --------------- What else? Things we did, & recommend... -Hemingway House & Museum -Latitudes Restaurant (take a ferry to Sunset Key for a meal in amazing ambiance) -Kermit's Key Lime Pops (choco covered key lime pie slice on a stick) -Taco Grilla (Stock Island food cart, EXCELLENT food for very little $) -Yahman's Jamaican Jerk (another amazing Stock Island food cart) -The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory Things on our list we didn't get to, but wish we had... -Stock Island Zoo -Bahia Honda State Park -Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Beach -KW Garden Club West Martello Towers -KW Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden -Oldest House & Garden Museum -KW Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters Museum -USCGC Ingham Memorial Museum -Mel Fisher Maritime Museum (that shipwreck treasure looks bomb) -Harry S Truman Little White House Museum -Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden -KW Firehouse Museum Things I would have done if I didn't have a baby with me... -Get drunk at Hemingway's house, for s&gs -Better Than Sex A Dessert Restaurant (though I doubt it can live up to its name) -Boca Chica Beach Area -Dry Tortugas National Park -Drag show read more

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Yes, there's only one road in or out (well Card Sound Road goes part of the way) so make sure to go with no rush. No, they don't have Uber or Lyft, so you will have to either hoof it (helps meet your fitness goals) or take the old taxis. With that out of the way, Key West makes for a fun and educational day trip. For starters, you have the bars in Duval Street where you can get a mojito, burger or wings and watch a cover band. Simonton appears to have the more foodie and high end restaurants. Mallory Square is a combination cruise ship pier, public stage and home of the most beautiful sunsets. Take a picture by the Southernmost Point, and yell "Daleeee!" To Cuba. Key West is a pet friendly town, whether from the free range roosters all over town to the Hemingway House's 6 toed cats. Go with friends. Go solo. You will have fun! read more

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Key West is definitely one of my favorite places and I've felt that way ever since my first visit here, it's almost impossible not to fall in love with this city and be a little envious of those that call this home. I can't tell you if it's the city's remoteness, the adventurous side of me or simply the spirit of freedom this self-proclaim Conch Republic so proudly boost, buts there's no doubt Key West is the best example of the "island escapism" lifestyle there is, basically the original Margaritaville. Sure this city has changed a lot in recent years as have most things but with a little research it's still possible to come down in the off season when the locals out number the tourist, this is when this place really exhibits it's true roots. Although this is becoming more difficult to do as each year passes it is possible and fortunately I know exactly when those dates are but I'm not saying... Many come to here relax, to get aways from it all, I say few accomplish that feat unless their a regular here, it's seems some may look at experiencing Key West like it's an item off their bucket list so it's very natural to want to experience it all In a few short days and that's just not possible. This laid back town isn't the kind of resort town that you come pay the price of admission and take a few photo opts and move on to the next, it's something you have to gradually sip on to get the real salt life experience. Sure there are lots of souvenirs and trinkets to hang on the fridge saying you were here but you can probably order most of that junk online and no one would ever know the difference ,the true value here is what you feel while you're here and that's impossible to share with anyone. So leave your frustration, ambitions and inhibitions at home, check your stress at the top of the Keys and loosen up a little- "like the saying go "What happens in Key West stays in Key West" because those that haven't been here won't believe most of the tales anyway. read more

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Tourist Trap alert. Key West is an incredibly beautiful island, but there are a number of reasons why I'm not sure if it's worth the 3.5 hour drive from Miami. There is a predominantly geriatric crowd. I can't stress this enough. This is not a fun party island. In fact, almost every bar on Duval street is grey hair with hokey music. You quickly get tired of the mediocre restaurants and the STRICT law enforcement. We got pulled over on our way into the island, and carded at every establishment we went to. There is an uptight energy surrounding many of the people here. You can tell that the locals are sick of the tourists. The plus sides are the local history and beauty of the island. It was cool to see the historic homes and take the 90 minute jet ski tour for 26 miles around the island (Barefoot Billy's Casa Marina). The Hemingway House is interesting too. Beautiful historic property, but it is very overpriced and mobbed with international tourists. Honestly, I feel that Key West used to be cooler. It feels very over-run with people. Maybe this would be more fun if you're used to vacationing at Disney World Orlando. read more

The Conch Republic is unique on this planet, unique in the universe truly. Where else can you experience a party atmosphere like no other? Come here for Fantasy Fest! It makes Mardis Gras seem tame! Come here for New Years and party it up on Duval! Visit the Dry Tortugas, including a massive fort in the middle of the ocean! Come here any evening of the week, enjoy sunset at Mallory Square, go out for a wonderful cheap or high-end seafood meal, and then hit the bars and hit them hard! Please bring your open mind as the scene is highly varied in both preferences and taste. read more

So touristy... No one who works in restaurants or shops really cares and makes you feel it. The only good thing we did was a Fury cruise- they were awesome. They need tourists but they don't want them here. You think after Covid -they'd be welcoming but no... High priced crappy food, stand offish employees- too many people read more

we are staying at pier house in key west. we paid a lot for a room that doesn't live up to the hype. dead end room with a balcony that overlooks a late night bar. add in the smell of bar food cooking from it. so very disappointing. be careful about booking here. I was promised a look at a first floor ocean view. this is what I got. sigh,,,, the amenities are fine, the tines deadened room is not. a read more

The views are nice but traffic going out and into Key West is draining and horrible. The overseas highway only has one lane on each side so if there's a car crash, be ready to be on the road for a really really long time. Also police officers are always on the road so be very careful to be within speed limit. Not worth it, there are better places with nice beaches. read more