Key West [1] is an island in the Florida Keys.

Get in

Greyhound buses serve Key West with three departues 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.

Key West International Airport is 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

• 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.

Do

• Dry Tortugas National Park, Details daily trips to Fort Jeffersion.[2] Ferry and seaplane information via Key West.
• Swim With Dolphins, For ages 5 and older.[3] Key Largo / Key West Area.

Key West has some of the finest fishing in the US. Charter a boat for deep sea fishing or troll the backcountry for tarpon.

Buy

• Fairvilla Megastore, 520 Front Street, across from the Pier House, Phone: +1 305 292-0448, [4]. 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, [5]. 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.

Eat

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.

• Meteor Smokehouse, 404 Southard Street, +1 305 294 5602. The place to go for mouth watering ribs, pulled pork, and other BBQ fare. Indoor dining room is air conditioned.

Mid-range

• Mangia-Mangia Pasta

Splurge

• Square One

Drink

Sleep

• Wyndham Casa Marina Resort & Hotel, 1500 Reynolds Street. +1 305 296-3535. [6]

• Wyndham Reach Resort & Hotel, 1435 Simonton St. +1 305 296-5000. [7] 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. [8] 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. [9]. 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. [10]. 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.

Rentals:

• Florida Keys Luxury Resorts and Oceanside vacation rentals, [11]. 540 Greene Street, Suite A Key West, Florida 33040 Phone: +1 305 295-1271 Fax: +1 305 295-1283. Florida Keys resorts at Coral Hammock and Oceanside Condo Rentals and Marina feature spacious town homes and condos in a historic South Florida setting.

• Florida Keys vacation rentals by owner, [12]. Over 90 privately owned vacation homes in Florida Keys. Search by travel dates, number of bedrooms and other criteria.

Get out