Florida Vacations - Key West

Key West Florida

159 miles south west of Miami

The island of Key West was originally home to the early Spanish settlers in the area.  In 1821, ownership passed to John Simonton and development as a US naval base started in 1822. Key West became the home port for the Anti Pirate Squadron which was responsible for clearing piracy from the area during the early 1820's.

Until the advent of modern tourism, the fortunes of the island had traditionally been linked to having a military presence in the area, from the Spanish - American war of 1898 to World War II.

The southern-most town in the USA, Key West was for many years considered to be a low-key island retreat at the end of the line. It was popular with artists and  writers seeking seclusion.

Writers in particular have been drawn to Key West, the most famous being Ernest Hemingway who lived on the island from 1931 to 1940. While the lifestyle still exists, Key West is definitely no longer low-key. 

The town is now a major port for most of the cruise liners that operate between the Florida ports and the Bahamas, Caribbean and Latin America. Each day thousands of cruise ship passengers mill through the souvenir shops, tee shirt vendors, the local Hard Rock cafe and food franchises.

There is no up-town or down-town in Key West, no dress codes and tolerance of alterative lifestyles is the rule. Each day's sunset over the Gulf of Mexico is celebrated at Mallory Square to the accompaniment of musicians and street performers.

Key West accommodation caters for all tastes and budgets with chain motels, hotels, inns, bed & breakfast, beach resorts and condominiums. Visitors should note that while most accommodation accepts all guests, some lodgings cater exclusively for same sex guests.

Getting There & Getting Around

Key West International Airport has flights by American Eagle, Continental, Delta, and US Airways. The majority of visitors to Key West use the U.S. 1 Highway from Miami.  Greyhound has a service from Miami to all the Keys destinations.

There are no public transport services and visitors need to make use of car rentals to get around. With narrow streets, little parking and congested traffic, many vacationers opt for a bicycle or don a safety helmet and putter around on a moped. The island is small, flat and easy to negotiate.

  Key West vacation highlights :: getting the most from your Key West vacation

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