Must-see spots in Key West
Traveling has been off the table for the past year, thanks to COVID. Now that things are opening back up and the weather has warmed up, I am restless and ready to start planning another trip. Getting that bug to travel again has me reminiscing about some of my favorite places.
I thought I would take you along with me on my trip down memory lane. I wanted to share some of my favorites spots and what I consider to be “Must-See” spots in Key West.
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?
One of the first things you will notice about Key West is the free-range chickens and roosters. It is quite common to see them roaming the streets, perched on fences, and crowing at all hours of the day and night.
Start Your Day with a Good Breakfast
It has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—my favorite place to eat breakfast while in Key West is Blue Heaven. I have only been here for breakfast, but they are open all day, have a full bar and live music in the evenings. I love their peach Bellinis and the outdoor dining. They do have indoor seating options, but their outdoor dining area is too wonderful to pass up.
The decor is amazing; from the brick and dirt patio to the palm tree canopy overhead, to the roosters and cats freely wandering about the courtyard, the bar with a built-in bathtub that acts as an ice chest, the rooster graveyard, the carousel pony, colorful artwork, the list goes on. There is something to see in every corner. I discover something new every time I visit. And the food is delicious as well!
Time to Explore; Iconic Spots
Once you are fueled up for the day it is time to head out to explore the island. Key West is a very walkable destination. You can easily visit most landmarks on foot, and the island is very bike-friendly. If you are comfortable biking it, I highly recommend a bike rental. On our first trip to the island, we were lucky enough to have access to bikes that were included with our VRBO. The bikes made it easy to maneuver around town.
Southernmost Point Buoy
There are many iconic spots on the island, but I think most would agree the most popular spot is the Southernmost Point Buoy. The concrete, handpainted buoy marks the southernmost point of the continental USA and is only 90 miles from Cuba. As you can imagine, this spot stays pretty busy. Depending on the time of year and time of day, there will be a line of folks waiting to take their photo in front of the buoy so be sure to plan accordingly. Standing in a long line under the hot Florida sun is not my idea of fun (speaking from experience); however, it does make for a great photo!
Hemingway House
Hemingway House was the home of writer Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. I fell in love with Hemingway in high school after reading The Sun Also Rises. I am still an avid reader of Hemingway and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the home where one of my favorite writers once lived. Hemingway House & Museum is open to the public for tours, and they do charge an admission to tour the home and gardens.
Upon entering the home, you are placed with a group for a tour. The tour guides are great storytellers and do an amazing job painting a picture of what life was like in the Hemingway house. The tour takes you throughout the two-story home and to the office that sits above the pool house. The house is not airconditioned, but the windows are typically open, and there are plenty of fans to help circulate air. Once the tour is over, you are free to explore the grounds and gardens.
Even if you aren’t a fan of Hemingway, there is another reason you should visit this attraction. CATS! Not just any ordinary cats, polydactyl cats. These cats are unique because they have 6 toes. I am a big fan of all things cat, and this place is full of them. You can find them throughout the house lounging on beds and sofas or out in the gardens in the shade of the plants.
Speaking of Hemingway….
Sloppy Joe’s Bar
Hemingway was a well-known figure on the island. You can find his name all over the island. One place where he left his mark is the famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar. He is actually credited with giving the bar its world-famous name. The bar sits on the corner of Duval and Greene Street. Like most bars and restaurants on Duval Street, the doors and windows are wide open, and you can hear the sounds of the musicians wafting out onto the street.
By day, the bar is a great place to stop for a cold beer and a sloppy joe. Yes, they actually serve sloppy joes here. And they are delicious. The sloppy joes are so good that I planned my last trip to Key West based on my craving for a sloppy joe. They have a full menu including seafood, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, the whole nine yards. I can’t speak to anything else on the menu, my sole purpose when visiting Sloppy Joe’s is the original Sloppy Joe Sandwich.
By night, the bar becomes more of a dance club. The music becomes livelier, and the dance floor becomes crowded with locals and tourists moving and grooving with the band’s beats.
If you visit at the right time of the year, you may be lucky enough to attend the Papa Look-alike Contest. Hemingway’s nickname was Papa, and each year contests vie to be the next winner. Check out some of the past winners here. The likeness is uncanny.
Route 1, the Beginning and the End
Route 1 runs along the east coast connecting Key West to Fort Kent, Maine. You can see both the beginning and end of this US Highway. Another great spot for photos. I haven’t had the opportunity to drive into Key West from the mainland, but I hear it is a beautiful, scenic route onto the island.
Mallory Square
More Feline Fun
Every evening in Mallory Square, about 30 minutes before sunset, you will find Dominique’s Circus Cats. Spectators gather around to see these amazing felines do tricks and perform on command. The ring leader, so to speak, encourages audience participation and is wildly entertaining. These house cats are amazing and certainly know how to please a crowd.
Sunset Celebration
Watching the sunset in Key West is unlike anything else. The sun sets every day, and if you are like most, you don’t give it a second thought. It just happens; most of the time, we can’t watch the splendor of occurrence because we don’t have the sightlines to do so. Ending the day at Mallory Square is one of my favorite things to do while in Key West. There are restaurants and bars in Mallory Square and plenty of room around the dock area to stand and watch the bright orange orb disappear below the horizon. It is a magnificent spectacle to witness.
If you prefer to be out on the water when the sunsets, there are plenty of boats and sailboats that offer sunset cruises.
Beaches
Key West is an island. One would think the island is acres and acres of sandy beaches. Not the case. There aren’t as many places that offer sandy beaches to sunbathe as you would think. The most convenient spot I found is a quaint beach area at the end of Duval Street. The beach area is located in front of the Southernmost Beach Cafe. It is a small area and can get pretty crowded.
Zachary Taylor State Park is another option that allows some more space to spread out. There is a fee to get into the park. I will admit it has been several years since I visited this beach. Still, I remember walking through a wooded area to get to the beach, where we found crystal clear water occasionally interrupted by rocks. The beach area did have some seaweed and pine straw from the nearby woods.
The State Park has much more to offer than just the beach. Our only goal was to lay out in the sun and dip our toes in the water. Check out their website if you are interested in exploring the park and all it has to offer.
Feeling Thristy?
Key West Watering Holes
As the sign says, this bar is world-famous. Willie T’s is known for its walls that are covered with dollar bills. They have markers and staple guns available for customers to mark their bills and attach to the walls. It is fun to peruse the walls and read the names and messages on the dollar bills.
Key West has a plethora of bars and restaurants. Most spots are open-air and offer seating with views of the street so you can enjoy a cold beverage while you listen to music and people-watch. You don’t have to walk far to find a place offering cold drink specials and upbeat music to lift your spirits.
If you have spent all day on the beach and watched the sunset at Mallory Square, you may be up for some entertaining nightlife brought to you like only Key West can deliver.
Night Life on the Island
Key West offers some of the best drag shows around. There are two nightclubs on Duval Street that will entertain your socks off. The dancers at Aqua Bar & Nightclub will give you a performance like you have never seen. As soon as the show starts, you will be swept away by the performers’ dedication to the singers they are imitating. The music is fun and familiar, and you may even find yourself singing along as you sway back and forth while you watch them perform. The show is funny and fabulous; the energy in the room is contagious. It is impossible not to have a good time.
On the same street, you will find another drag show that puts on an edgier type of performance. The performers deliver the same dedication to their craft but offer more of an adult show with sexier songs, costumes, and dance moves. Both shows are good; it just depends on what you are in the mood for.
Until Next Time
Reminiscing about this place has really kicked up my desire to travel again. The island has a vibe all its own. I look forward to returning to the Conch Republic and hanging out in my favorite bars, eating sloppy joes, petting the 6 toed cats, and making sure to get pics at all of the iconic spots. The locals are proud of their little town and it shows in their talents, their hospitality, and their welcoming spirit.
Ready to travel, check out these links for more destination ideas: Savannah, GA, Boone, NC, Baltimore, MD.
