Key West, so many activities and not enough time to do them in one vacation. Simple solution. Call me to look at Florida Keys Homes for sale, buy one and you can take your time doing all the fun things our island has to offer. As an added bonus, just about everywhere in Key West gives a local's discount. There are countless things to do, other than the obvious, buying a house from me. Here are some of the activities I like to do. They are not necessaraly in the order of my favorite. Just things I like to do.
1. Fort Jefferson, "Dry Tortugas" National Park
This is one of the most historically rich tourist
attractions in Key West, Florida.
Encompassing seven little islands
and large expanses of water, it is just 50 miles off the land, so it won’t take
too long to get there.
The journey requires a boat,
ferry, or seaplane, but the moment you see the brilliant blue waters that flow
across the park, you’ll know that it was more than worth it.
Its most popular spot is likely
Fort Jefferson, built in the 19th century and teeming with a fascinating past
that you can uncover through a guided tour of the structure.
But it’s not just history that
you’ll find here.
The surrounding coral reefs are
packed with gorgeous plant and animal life.
Within certain areas, you can
even go swimming and snorkeling.
Bird watching is also a great
option, as large groups of exotic birds call this area their home.
2. Key West Historic Seaport and Harbor Walk
The Key West Historic Seaport and Harbor Walk is one of the most popular things
to see in this side of Florida.
Located on the famous Key West
Bright Marina, it boasts plenty of eateries, shops, and attractions to enjoy
for a short trip.
This seaport has a good amount of
history to it, being one of the region’s main sources of economic and cultural
life over the past 2 centuries.
Up until the 1990s, it was used
as a stop for shipping and fishing boats.
Known also by the name Inner
Harbor, it attracts countless tourists all year round who want to get a taste
of the seaside life.
Delicious, fresh dishes of
seafood are common fare among the many restaurants facing the waterfront.
Visitors can also enjoy a wide
range of exciting activities like parasailing, snorkeling, dolphin watching,
scuba diving, jet-skiing, kayaking, and more.
Address: 201 William St,
Key West, FL 33040, USA
3. Key West Seaplane Adventures
*This is my favorite thing to do
on the Island. Expensive but well worth every penny.
The Key West Seapland Adventures is one of the most loved ways to get to Dry
Tortugas National Park (and the only air service to go there in the first
place!).
But it’s more than just a
convenient mode of transportation.
You can find it sitting on the
South Roosevelt Boulevard, within the international airport housed in this
state.
Those who venture onboard will
receive a seat by a window and a headset for a narrated sightseeing tour.
You’ll be able to view the
incredible islands in this region of Florida from above.
Narrators will show you famed Key
West shipwrecks that you can spot from your vantage point, such as the Patricia
and the Arbutus.
If you’re lucky, you may even see
a variety of animals outside, including sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays, and
porpoises.
The sheer novelty of the
experience makes this flying experience one of the best things to do in Key
West.
Address: 3471 S Roosevelt
Blvd, Key West, FL 33040, USA
4. Mallory Square
This made the list because it is
one of the very few things to do in Key West that is free. Located in the Old
Town area, right on Wall Street, this plaza is situated on a waterfront and is
a mix of modern delights and historic richness.
The square faces the Gulf of
Mexico, allowing for some truly astonishing views and lending itself to the
Sunset Celebration, one of Key West’s most iconic recreational things to do.
This celebration begins on a
daily basis, two hours prior to the setting of the sun.
The tradition began back in the
1960s and is still going strong!
Visitors flock to the area during
that time to watch street performances from magicians, clowns, and more.
They buy food from street carts
and vendors, check out local arts and crafts exhibits, and finally, gather to
watch the sun go down.
Address: 400 Wall St, Key
West, FL 33040, USA
5. The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
This is one I put on the
"Must Do" list for everyone who comes to visit me for their first
trip to Key West. I love it.
Visiting the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum is easily one of the top 10 things to do in Key West,
Florida.
Built with stunning Spanish
Colonial architecture and design, this mansion was first completed in 1851,
carved out of native rock.
The house became well-known when
Ernest Hemingway moved into the home with his wife in the year 1931.
Even today, decades and decades
later, many of the personal effects of the famed author remain behind,
including a wide range of antiques from across Europe, each one purchased
during holidays and trips.
Today, you can wander around the
home and have fun taking a look at the various animal skins and trophies
displayed across the mansion, left behind from Hemingway’s many hunting trips.
You can even take a look around
his studio – the same one where he wrote ‘To Have and Have Not’, a tale of the
Great Depression’s effect on the Key West.
It also still houses a cat that
is directly descended from Hemingway’s own!
Address: 907 Whitehead
St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
6. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is one of the Best Places to Visit in Florida if you love nature and, of course, the
beautiful titular insect in question.
It spans 5000 square feet and
takes the shape of a gigantic dome.
Between 50 and 60 different
butterfly species live in this glass enclosure, so if you love these flying
creatures, visiting this is one of the must-do activities in Florida.
But it’s not just butterflies
that you can see here!
About 3,500 plants live here, and
over 20 bird species also share the environment with the insects.
This is a great place to go if
you’re looking for a break from the crowds outside.
It’s a calm and relaxing spot
that offers educational material on the animals that live within.
Address: 1316 Duval St,
Key West, FL 33040, USA
7. Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden
Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden is a more quiet location in Key West, and it’s
lesser-known than most of the other activities you may enjoy while in Florida.
But who, exactly, is Nancy
Forrester?
She’s an environmental artist and
is pretty well-known among the community in the region.
This secret garden is just as
whimsical and mystical as it sounds.
In a special backyard, she hosts
macaws and parrots, all rescued and all who love to talk and chirp and chat
with those they meet!
These very smart and lovely
animals live happily in this yard, and visiting them is easily among the top
things to do in Key West.
If you go at the right time,
you’ll be able to listen to Nancy’s special Parrot 101 talk, which she gives at
10 am every single day.
It’s a wonderful place for kids,
and also for musicians – if you bring your instruments, you can play music for
the birds, who love it!
Address: 518 Elizabeth
St, Key West, FL 33040, USA
8. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Th Fort Zachery Taylor State Park is one
of the more popular places to go in Key West.
You can find it along the
southern side of Key West in the Truman Annex, and it is actually an official
Florida State Park and a National Historic Landmark.
This park’s must-see popular
features are its beach and its titular fort, which dates back to the times of
the Civil War.
There are many different events
that you can enjoy, including reenactments of the war era that span across the
entire weeks.
Explore the fort area and take in
all that rich history!
If you’re not much of a history
buff, you can still head down to the beach, which is often hailed as the
greatest that Key West has to offer.
It has plenty of equipment for
water sports like snorkeling, and there are beach chairs to lounge on.
You can also stroll through the
park and try out the different eating spots!
Address: 601 Howard
England Way, Key West, FL 33040, USA
9. Harry S. Truman Little White House
The Harry S Truman Little White House is one of the best Key West attractions
to visit if you’re a fan of history and politics.
It was first built in the year
1890, during the Spanish-American War and became host to the naval station’s
command headquarters.
It continued to serve this
purpose throughout both of the World Wars.
Then, in 1946, this building
earned its name because none other than President Harry S. Truman used it as a
White House during the winter months.
From then, this spot became an
unofficial resting place for presidents to take a break from the stressful rush
of running a country during test times.
Today, this house is still used
by many national leaders, who often come down to this quaint Florida location
for business or as short vacation homes.
But it’s also now open to
tourists as a museum with some brilliant adventures and activities to do.
You can check out the official
logs of the house and find out exactly what President Truman did when he
visited this home 11 times!
Address: 8311, 111 Front
St, Key West, FL 33040, United States
10. Key West First Legal Rum Distillery
*Do not confuse this with the
Pilar Rum Company a block away. Pilar has a pretty building and good looking
Hemingway artifacts but why not go to the Hemingway House to see those? If you
want good rum go to the Key West First Legal Rum Distillery.
The Key West First Legal Rum Distillery is one of the best places in Florida if you love
your alcohol!
You can tour the whole are for
free and even enjoy special rum tastings and snacks made from rum.
There’s also an exciting class
that is offered on how to make mojitos if you’re interested!
Think this is a trip just for
adults? Think again!
Kids are welcomed on the property
and there are non-boozy snacks that they can sample while you kick back and
relax on this quiet and strangely beautiful Florida location, with lots of
things to see!
Address: 105 Simonton St,
Key West, FL 33040, USA
There you have it, my 10 favorite
“Non Touristy” things to do other than the obvious, looking at Key West Homes
for sale. Come on down to Key West, buy a house, become a local and do them
all.
Gary
