Blog

Key West boasts a live music scene that is sometimes said to rival those of Nashville and New Orleans. The island is home to many talented musicians, and many more visit each year. Local artists and world class acts alike can be found on stage any day of the year in a multitude of venues. […]

No visit to Key West is complete without a stop at the Five Brothers corner store for a Cuban café con leche and maybe a mixto sandwich as well. This classic little neighborhood grocery occupies a vintage building at Southard and Grinnell (930 Southard St.) in the heart of town, and locals and tourists alike […]

“Dedicated to the fundamentally American spirit of a people unafraid to stand up to ‘government gone mad with power’ that embodied the founding of the Conch Republic in 1982. As the world’s first fifth world nation, a sovereign state of mind seeking only to bring more humor, warmth and respect to a world in sore […]

Depending on your personal perspective and proclivities, this post may be taken as either an invitation or a warning, so read and heed or disregard at your own risk. For better or worse, the Spring Break season opens in Key West (and Florida in general) in early March. Although Spring Break is a nation-wide phenomenon, […]

Next weekend, the Key West art community will celebrate a historic Cuban-American art exchange that will bridge a 50-year gap between Key West and it’s 90-mile distant neighboring island. Thursday through Saturday, February 20-22, eleven of Cuba’s leading contemporary artists will be in Key West to make and install original pieces at a variety of […]

American history buffs and anyone interested in the lives of US presidents or tales of old Key West will want to spend an afternoon visiting the Harry S. Truman Little White House at 111 Front Street in Key West. Originally constructed in 1890 on the island’s western shoreline, the building was the first officer’s quarters […]

Key West is home to one of Florida’s oldest aquariums, the Key West Aquarium. The only public aquarium in Key West, it was built between 1932 and 1934 during the Great Depression. The original Key West Aquarium project was the vision of Dr. Robert O. Van Deusen, a marine biologist and director of Philadelphia’s Fairmount […]

Perhaps due to its history as a free-wheeling port city on a remote island, Key West has long been a place where tolerant, liberal attitudes set the tone for eccentric, creative lifestyle choices. The island has always hosted multiple racial and cultural groups, a mix of seafarers and landlubbers, travelers and permanent residents, fishermen and […]

Winter in Key West is the busy season as frozen northerners flock to the island for a tropical respite to tide them over until the spring thaw hits. With arctic blasts and record cold spells covering much of the continental US this winter, and even reaching down into Florida, there is more reason than ever […]

The island of Key West is small – only 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. It is flat, and the city itself is very compact. In addition, most things that visitors want to see and do are located in close proximity, so moving from one to another is quick and easy even by walking. […]

The Florida Keys are surrounded by one of the richest marine environments in the continental US, with the majority of local waters carefully managed and protected by nature reserves like the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It is therefore no surprise that the sea around Key West produces a world-famous bounty of delicious seafood items. […]

Although Key West is a tiny city, it is home to a large creative community and a strong arts and culture scene. The good weather and beautiful environment of Key West has always drawn talented people, from Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway to Jimmy Buffet and a host of other celebrities, artists, and performers. The […]

Key West is known as a sun-and-sand party town where Water Sports, shopping, dining, and Partying are the draws that pull millions of tourists every year. However, the island does have a more refined side that is cherished by many locals even if it is missed by most visitors: a thriving theater and concert scene […]

Key West is a hot, humid place in the summer, and it is hard to imagine what it was like to live here in the days before widespread air conditioning. For example, during the 1930’s, when American literary great and all-around man’s man Ernest Hemingway called the island and its ocean environs home. Obviously, Hemingway, […]

If you are going to be in Key West during the second week of December, there is one special event that you will not want to miss. The 23rd annual Schooner Wharf Bar and Galley Lighted Boat Parade is an island tradition that will help you get the holidays started with some tropical festivities that […]

A major part of Key West’s charm is the colorful mix of quaint and historical buildings on the island. In fact, Old Town Key West and the surrounding environs contain over 3,000 structures that are on the National Historical Registery. These buildings reflect both the incredible carpentry skills of sea-faring ship wrights turned homebuilders and […]

Parasailing in Key West is among the very favorite activities for those visiting Key West. It’s safe and very popular and one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and you can join in the fun. People unfamiliar with parasailing assume it’s scary but actually, it’s quite the opposite. Parasailing is very serene and […]

Opening on New Year’s Eve of 1920, Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort where luxury and history blend to create an environment of exceptional charms. Enjoy a taste of tropical living at the legendary Casa Marina; a flawless merging of old Key West ambiance and contemporary luxury. Book a stay at this “house by the […]

The beachfront Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa is located in the Old Town district with Duval Street only a block away, and Mallory Square within two blocks, both an easy walk from your room. Guests often refer to this resort as the “Oasis off Duval”. The beautifully landscaped grounds feature a charming courtyard with […]

Sheraton Suites Key West is an all-suite hotel that is centrally located directly across the street from Smathers Beach and all guests are offered a short complimentary shuttle service to bustling Duval Street, making this hotel an oasis within the unrivaled paradise of Key West Florida. Each of the hotel’s 180 spacious suites is embellished […]

When you visit Key West Florida,  you will notice several things. First, you’ll find an island that  runs on its  own sense of time. If you’re accustomed to rushing about, this is not the place to do it, so leave the past-pace at home, because time grinds to a halt. But even so, Key West Florida is also home […]