Key West

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Key West [1] is a city, the county seat of Monroe County, and an island in the Florida Keys.

[edit] Get in

Key West International Airport (IATA: EYW) (ICAO: KEYW), 3491 South Roosevelt Blvd., (305) 296-7223, [2]. Served by several airlines, though a short runway prevents big jets from landing. Direct flights are available from Atlanta, most major cities in Florida, and also some flights to the Bahamas. Fares tend to be quite high. A popular route to fly in is via Miami International Airport.

If you plan to rent a car be aware that both Enterprise and Alamo desks are not located at the airport. You have to call the shuttle bus and wait for 12 minutes to catch a ride to the Truman Av. location.

[edit] By bus

Greyhound buses serve Key West with three departures per day to Miami and beyond, stopping at various points along the Keys en route. Non concession fares are $35 one way. Journey time is around four and a half hours.

[edit] By car

The Overseas Highway terminates in Key West, and links all the towns in the Keys with mainland Florida, which provides links into the US Interstate network, so driving to Key West is straightforward, though driving around town can be difficult and long-term parking may be expensive.

[edit] Get around

Driving around Key West is difficult and parking is expensive. Many visitors choose to rent motor scooters, bicycles, or explore on foot.

There is a fairly comprehensive bus system with color-coded lines [3]. Unlimited travel tickets are available for periods between a day and a month and are good value.

Fares:

Single Trip: $1.00

1-Day $3.00/Unlimited Use (purchased from bus driver)

3-Day $6.00/Unlimited Use (purchased from bus driver)

7-Day $12.00/Unlimited Use

31-Day $25.00

Concessions are available for senior cititzens, students etc.

If you plan to rent a car be aware that both Enterprise and Alamo desks are not located at the airport. You have to call the shuttle bus and wait for 12 minutes to catch a ride to the Truman Ave location.

[edit] See

• Key West AIDS Memorial, White Street and Atlantic Boulevard on the beach. The City of Key West has lost more than a thousand of its citizens to the AIDS epidemic. Some of their names are inscribed on a memorial near the White Street Pier. The memorial is embedded in the sidewalk near the ocean, and made of flat smooth granite. The memorial was dedicated on World AIDS Day in 1997, and funded entirely throug private sources. At the time of dedicatio, there were 730 names engraved on the memorial. There are spaces for 1,500 names, and each year more are added and dedicated in a ceremony, also on World AIDS Day in December. A group called Friends of the Key West AIDS Memorial takes care of the memorial.
• Key West City Cemetery In Key West burial customs reflect combinations of African, Hispanic, Anglo and other mixed heritages. Due to the water table of the Keys, most burials are in above ground tombs. Grave makers with unusal inscriptions like "I told you I was sick.", are not unusal.[4]
  

  

  Key West Cemetery
• Wildlife Rescue of the Florida Keys, Atlantic Boulevard and White Streets.

• McCoy Indigenous Park is the setting for this rescue operation in Key West that has released more than 2,000 healed animals into the wild since 1993. They take care of any animal that needs attention, from sea birds to racoons, and at any given time you might see up to 100 creatures healing at the center. They come from all over, from the Seven Mile bridge to the Dry Tortugas. You can visit the patients any day from 9am to 5pm, and the park is open sunup to sundown. It's free, but they like donations and volunteers.

[edit] Do

• Fantasy Fest, annual event October 19-28, 2007. [5]
• Ghosts and Legends of Key West, 90 minute walking tour of Old Key West.[6] "Old Town Key West" Area. The most informative and historically correct versions of Key West ghostlore.
• Sebago Watersports, Reef Snorkeling, Sunset Sails and much more.[7] Waterfront Area. All things water. Sebago trips are always full of fun and a wonderful crew that will take good care of you. Sunset Sails, Parasailing, All Day adventures from the tame Island Ting to the active Power Adventure. The parasailing tends to be a bit brief (13 minutes), but the crew friendly.

• Dry Tortugas National Park, Details daily trips to Fort Jeffersion.[8] Ferry and seaplane information via Key West.
• Swim With Dolphins, For ages 5 and older. [9] Key Largo / Key West Area.
• Conch Tour Train, [10] The World Famous Conch Train sightseeing tour of Key West focuses on the historic Old Town area of the island. Highlights include the Hemingway House, Mallory Square, Duval Street and the Historic Seaport. Stops in Mallory Square and the Historic Seaport.
• Glass Bottom Boat, Snorkel, and Dolphin watch, For ages 5 and older.[11], Key West/ Key West Area.
• Diving in Key West, Offering Daily Dive trips to the reefs near Key West. [12]
• Sunset Watercraft At Cow Key Marina on Stock Island. Reasonable prices for the 28 mile round-the-island jet ski run(1.5 hours). The jet skis themselves are a bit beat up, but the motors hum right along at high speed. Guides are safe and knowledgeable, but give the renter plenty of rope to enjoy.
• Key West Fishing, Offers charters, guides, and fishing information for Key West. [13] Includes private and group fishing charters.
• Sunset Festival, at Mallory Square in Key West (where Duval Street meets the Gulf of Mexico). This event begins every evening a few hours before sunset and is much like a street carnival, with vendors, performers, food, and fun. Also a great photo op for some of the most beautiful sunsets.
• Trails of Margaritaville Tour, Jimmy Buffett spent his "formative" years in Key West, and this tour will regale you with tales of those days. I suspect you'll hear some Semi-True Stories (believe it or not), but it's a good time for Parrotheads and non-Buffett fans alike.

[edit] Buy

• Key Lime-N-More, 424 Greene Street, Next door to Captain Tony's Saloon, Phone: +1 305 296-9515, [14]. All things Key Lime. The only home made Key Lime pie on the island. Friendly shopkeepers that treat you as more than just another tourist. Hours vary.
• Fairvilla Megastore, 520 Front Street, across from the Pier House, Phone: +1 305 292-0448, [15]. Intimate apparel, exotic fashions, sensual accessories, romantic gifts, playful novelties, passionate books and tantalizing movies! M-Sa 9AM-2AM, Su 10AM-2AM.
• Fast Buck Freddie's, 500 Duval Street, Phone: +1 305 294-2007, [16]. The premier department store in Key West. Many items for sale are one of a kind or designed and built just for Fast Buck Freddie's. Also known for it's window displays.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Budget

• El Siboney, 900 Catherine Street, +1 305 296 4184. This Cuban restaurant, tucked into a quiet residential intersection, flies well below the tourist radar. Delicious food at very reasonable prices. To sum it up, this is where the locals go for Cuban. Bring your appetite and leave amex at home because they don't accept credit cards.
• Schooner Wharf, Caroline Street, a surprising choice for breakfast, this rough and ready landmark has a three-egg seafood omelette that, coupled with a bloody mary or two, will shock you back to life from a throw down night on Duval.
• Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, 500 Duval Street, +1 305 292-1435. Key West is pretty close to paradise, so you might as well have a cheeseburger while you're there. The prices were not jacked up. Less then 4 bucks for a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

[edit] Mid-range

• Mangia-Mangia Pasta, 900 Southard St, +1 305 294-2469, [17]. Every day 5:30PM-10PM.

[edit] Splurge

• Square One, 1075 Duval St # C12, +1 305 296-4300, [18].
• Seven Fish, 632 Olivia St., +1 305 296-2777, [19]. This very small restaurant tucked away on Olivia St, is a true delight. The staff is intelligent and polite, the fish dishes are always fresh and innovative. Reservations a must.

[edit] Drink

There are a large number of drinking establishments of various types. The main tourist strip on Duval Street has numerous watering holes.

• Bourbon Street Pub, 724 Duval St, (305) 294-9354, [20]. Part of the gay-oriented Bourbon St. Complex on the 700 block of Duval

• Captain Tony's Saloon, 428 Greene Street, [21]. Ernest Hemingway's old stomping grounds. Pirate's Punch in a 22 oz cup.

• Sloppy Joe's Bar, 201 Duval St, (305) 294-8759. Website blocked by spam filter, but it's (not surprisingly), sloppyjoes dot com. Ernest Hemingway's "new" stomping grounds. Sloppy Joe's used to sit at the current location of Captain Tony's, but the landlord raised the rent on the owner back in 1937. Legend has it that upon hearing the news, the bar owner and his customers (including Hemingway) moved the bar, barstools, alcohol, etc. across Duval Street to a former restaurant - its current location.

• Hog's Breath Saloon, 400 Front Street, (305) 292-2032 (email: bosshog@hogsbreath.com, [22]. Take a peek at the "hog cam" on their website.

• Irish Kevin's Pub, 211-C Duval Street, (305) 292-1262, [23]. Webcams here, too. Can be a lively place at times.

There are also plenty of places to wet your whistle that aren't necessarily right on Duval Street.

• Green Parrot Bar, 601 Whitehead St, (305) 294-6133, [24]. The last (or first, depending on your direction of travel) bar on US 1. Not your typical trop-rock bar, the Green Parrot leans more toward blues. Great bands, and an unbelievable selection of blues on the jukebox.

• Schooner Wharf Bar, 202 William St, (305) 294-3302 [25]. A last little piece of Old Key West, Schooner Wharf is an open air bar that sits on the Key West Bight. Grab a brew and watch the yachts.

• Rum Barrel Tavern, 528 Front St, (305) 292-7862 [26]. Pat Croce's place features the largest selection of rums in the world. Not a rum drinker? Plenty of other libations to be had. Several big-screen TVs (you'll never miss an event involving a Philadelphia team) and a deck overlooking Old Town.

[edit] Sleep

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Key West, (305) 296-5700, [27]. Discover the true spirit of the islands, as well as the area's best value.

• Key West Hotel Map, [28]. Shows Old Town and New Town locations of Key West hotels, motels, resorts, and B&Bs.

• Southern Cross Hotel, 326 Duval Street. 1-888-364-3200, [29]. A no-frills hotel with a great location. Located right on Duval Street between Eaton and Caroline. Just steps from everything that Key West has to offer.

• Casa Marina Resort, 1-866-397-6342, [30]. A sophisticated resort with its own private beach.

• Wyndham Reach Resort & Hotel, 1435 Simonton St, +1 305 296-5000, [31]. With the only natural beach on the island as a backyard, this hotel is located in charming Old Town, and Duval Street is just a block away.

• Island City House Hotel, 411 William Street, +1 305 294-5702. [32]. This charming and historical hotel offers 24 suites for lodging near Old Town Key West.

• Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa, One Duval Street, +1 305 296-4600, +1 800 327-8340, [33]. A tropical resort retreat nestled in lush gardens - located at the corner of Key West's legendary Duval Street and on the Gulf of Mexico - a prime location in the heart of Old Town Key West.

• Heron House Bed & Breakfast, 512 Simonton Street, +1 305 294-9227, +1 888 861-9066. [34]. In the heart of the historic district, this 23 room bed and breakfast is located near Duval Street. Complimentary breakfast is served in the mornings and a wine and cheese tasting each night.

• Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 1-888-844-0454, [35]. The newest resort-style property among luxury Key West hotels.

• La Concha, Crowne Plaza, The legendary hotel on Duval Street is unfortunately going through a noticeable decline in terms of service. Although the facility is beautiful and the rooms reasonably well maintained, the hotel front desk and restaurant (Jack's) staff positions are filled with young Europeans who lack English skills and have little or no understanding of American high-end hotel practices. Consequently, reservations are often mishandled and any request for service is the subject of a long and confusing conversation. The manager tries hard, but, frankly, is overwhelmed. The concierge is on her own special island. Sunset celebrated at The Top bar is fine but drink prices are right up there with the Duval St standard - 4 margaritas for $28. Unless you are supremely patient and willing to accept less value for considerable money give it a miss for now.

• The Reach Resort in Old Town Key West, 1435 Simonton St. 1-866-397-6427, [36]. An elegant choice for style and comfort.

• Key West Bed and Breakfasts, 0 Duval St. 1-877-243-2378, [37]. Offering the largest selection of private inns in Key West. Located throughout the island for individuals, couples, or families.

• Historic Key West Inns is a collection of six small historic hotels in Key West, Florida. Each inn has a prime location in the "Old Town" section of the island. Visitors can conveniently walk to the shopping and nightlife of Duval Street, stroll through the neighborhoods of the historic district, or reach the shoreline by walking, bicycling, or driving in any direction.

• Old Towne Suites A great choice for clean, elegant guesthomes.

[edit] Camping

There is no longer any camping in Key West, but you can still find some just outside the City limits on Stock Island. Within Key West itself, parking is very limited and RV's are generally discouraged, so your best shot is to stay somewhere outside the city and drive a smaller vehicle into town.

• Leo's Campground & RV Park , 5236 Suncrest Rd., 305-296-5260, [38].

• Boyds Key West Campground, 6401 Maloney Ave., 305-294-1465 [39].

There are a few more a little ways up the Keys that cater to RVs. The number of campsites are limited, so do not be shocked by the price. Make your reservations well in advance six months to a year so you are sure to get your spot. You will notice the use of "MM" or "Mile Marker" in the addresses. This is how US 1 is marked. MM 0 is in Old town Key West and the beginning of US 1. The numbers go up, so you can tell just how far an address is from Key West.

• Bluewater Key - Clark's RV Lot Rentals, Mile Marker 14.3, Sugarloaf, 305-744-0999 [40].

• Bluewater Key RV Resort, MM 14.3 U.S. 1 Sugarloaf Key, 305-745-2494, [41].

• Geiger Key Marina and RV Park, 5 Geiger Road, Big Coppitt Key, (305) 296-3553, [42].

• Sugarloaf Key Resort KOA Kampground, MM 20 Summerland Key, (305) 745-3549 (800) 562-7731, [43].

[edit] Get out

• Dry Tortugas National Park, Offers daily trips to Fort Jeffersion and the Dry Tortugas National Park.[44]

The only way out by land is back toward Miami. If you have a boat, there are numerous local islands to visit.

WikiPedia:Key West, Florida