Photographed and Written by Randy and Caly Behymer
Key West, Florida, is known for its Caribbean Island vibe, picture-perfect weather, colorful historic homes and the world-famous Duval Street. Many people visit Key West for its famous bar scene, but it’s more than just one street full of great restaurants, bars, shopping and art galleries. Key West offers everything, from laid-back days sunning on the beach to nights partying up and down Duval Street, from family-friendly to adult-only attractions. So, once you’ve had your share of Duval Street, check out these top 10 things to do in Key West; you might be surprised by what you find.
Be sure to download your FREE PDF copy of the Top 10 Things to do in Key West by clicking here! And join in on the fun as Randy and Caly talk about Key West on the RVD Podcast by clicking here!
10. Stand at the Bottom of the U.S. – A large black, red and yellow concrete buoy is located at the southernmost tip of the continental United States. Visitors line up to get pictures in front of this point, which is just a mere 90 miles from Cuba. Although there isn’t much to see outside the buoy, it’s worth a quick visit to grab the necessary southernmost point picture.
9. Step into Lush Gardens – You may be surprised to learn that Key West is home to several botanical gardens. The West Martello Tower on Higgs Beach is home to one such garden, the Key West Garden Club. Another is located just across the bridge on Stock Island on College Road. Here you’ll find the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Gardens, which has operated since 1936. It’s “the only frost-free, sub-tropical, natural conservation habitat, native plant botanical garden in the continental United States,” according to their website. If these two gardens aren’t enough to quench your botanical thirst, then be sure to visit the Key West Nature Preserve, located on Atlantic Boulevard. This small slice of land sandwiched between condos encompasses native flora, fauna, animals, insects and reptiles all wrapped up in a mangrove forest.
8. Climb the Historic Light House – Across the street from the Hemingway House is the historic Key West Lighthouse. Often overshadowed by the more famous house across the street, many visitors miss the lighthouse, but it deserves exploration. Visitors can climb to the top of the 73-foot lighthouse for spectacular views of the surrounding area. Also on site are the Keeper’s home and lighthouse museum, both open to exploring. The museum and Keeper’s home offer a glimpse into the life of a Keeper and the importance that lighthouses played in the past and today for safe sea voyages.
7. Explore the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum – The Nuestra Señora de Atocha, or just Atocha, was a famous treasure ship bound for Spain. Full of an estimated $250 to $500 million in gold, silver, copper, tobacco and gems, she sunk off the coast of Key West during a hurricane in 1622. For hundreds of years, she lay undiscovered until 1975, when Mel Fisher and his team finally uncovered the wreck. For more than 16 years, they continued to bring the Atocha’s hidden treasures to light. Today you can explore the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, dedicated to his work and many of the treasures recovered from the Atocha.
6. Dive into the Key West Shipwreck Museum – Shipwrecks and treasures go hand in hand. After exploring the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, head just a few streets to the Key West Shipwreck Museum. It’s easy to spot with its 65-foot-tall wooden tower, which gives climbers amazing 360-degree views of Mallory Square and much of Key West. The museum dives into the history of Wreckers, a lucrative business founded around the unlucky ships that ran ashore in the shallow waters off the coast of Key West. The ambiance inside the museum gives visitors a taste of what the inside of an old ship may have felt and looked like, complete with creaking wooden floors, dripping ceilings (only during heavy rains) and the musky smell of saltwater.
5. Explore Historic Forts – Key West is home to not one or two but three historic forts worthy of a visit. Situated in front of the Key West Airport lies East Martello Tower, known as the Fort East Martello Museum, a restored Civil War fort from the 1860s. Those daring enough to do the Ghosts & Gravestones trolley tour of Key West will know that this museum is also home to Robert the Doll. Located south at Higgs Beach lies East Martello’s twin tower, the West Martello Tower. This historic Civil War fort is now home to the Key West Garden Club and is free to the public. Walk among historic ruins backdropped by stunning tropical gardens. At the southwest tip of Key West is Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, another Civil War fort. This park covers 54 acres of prime real estate and includes the historic fort, beaches, nature trails and even a café.
4. Tour the Harry S. Truman Little White House – Located in the Northeast corner of Key West on Front Street lies a house Harry S. Truman once used to conduct presidential business. This home has an illustrious past, serving as a home for naval officers and a vacation home for several U.S. presidents, but it was Truman who used the house the longest. He conducted his presidential duties under the swaying palm trees and warm sun of the Key West skies. The Departments of Defense and State can use the home today for dinners and diplomatic missions. For those who don’t score an invite to one of these swanky dinners, no worries; the house doubles as a museum open to the public.
3. Visit the Ernest Hemingway House – Like so many others, when Ernest and his wife visited Key West for the first time, they fell in love with the town. Determined to call it home, they purchase a house. That historic home is now a museum open to the public for guided tours. Tours take guests through the home, filled with original furnishings, and tour guides bring to life the stories that filled the walls while Hemingway was alive. During the tour, you’ll likely pass several of the 59 cats living at the Hemingway House. Some are descendants of the original cat gifted to Hemingway by a sea captain and friend.
2. Book a Trolley Tour – If you’re interested in sticking to the sights and sounds of Old Town, there are a couple of options. The best way to get an overview of Key West, pass all the iconic sights and hear some of the town’s history is to book a Trolley Tour. On Key West, several trolley tours are available, and none will disappoint. A hop-on, hop-off tour allows the rider to traverse the island and explore Old Town, and it also takes riders through the newer sections of Key West. During the day, the Conch Tour Train crisscrosses the streets, passing by Old Town’s most famous sights. For something a little more ghoulish, the Ghosts & Gravestones night tour is a great way to learn about the dark past hidden behind the doors of many of Key West’s homes and establishments.
1. Venture to America’s Largest Brick Structure – The island of Key West is home to three historic Civil War forts, but Fort Jefferson, located in the Dry Tortugas some 68 miles off the shores of Key West, is a historic fort worthy of a visit. Accessible only by public ferry, private boat or seaplane, this massive brick fort is the largest brick structure in the Americas and covers an astounding 16 acres. Though never fully completed or used for its original intended purpose, the fort was eventually used as a prison for soldiers during the Civil War. In 1865, the government sent four civilians to the fort for imprisonment, including Samuel Mudd. Today visitors can take a guided tour of the fort, explore surrounding lands and islands, snorkel, bird watch, kayak and even tent camp.
No matter how many days you have in Key West, plenty keeps you busy on and off the famous Duval Street. While this list covers only the top 10 things to do on this tiny island, there’s still much more to explore.
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