One Day in Key West
Going to the Keys is definitely an experience. There is only one road that takes you to Key West. Take the Overseas Highway all the way down. Once you get to Key West, park your car for the day. You can rent bikes anywhere. Honestly, the island is not really big and it is the best way to discover it. Key West is a cute colorful place with the typical laid-back lifestyle of the Caribbean Islands.
I have to say I was a bit scared to ride a bike all day. I thought I was going to be so tired since I hadn’t ridden a bike for such a long time. But it went pretty smoothly. People – let me tell you – biking in Key West is definitely the way to go. We rode around the island to see as much as we could.
Key West is full of little typical houses of every color. I love it I wanted to take pictures of each one. The island feels like you are somewhere in the Caribbean. Don’t be afraid to venture off the busiest streets. Every little street, every corner has its own charm. It feels like you just stepped into a Caribbean Paradise.
What to do in Key West?
Duval Street
Duval Street is probably the most popular place of Key West and also one of the busiest. About 1.5 miles long, the street is the heartbeat of the city. You will find a lot of shops, bars, and restaurants. You will find a lot of rooster running around the island.
Southernmost Point of the United States
It is only 90 miles from Cuba. This is a required stop for a picture. I have to tell you, the line to take a picture next to the point can be pretty long, and luckily for us we only waited around 15 minutes.
Hemingway House
We didn’t have time to visit it but I would honestly come back just for that. The famous author lived in the property for more than ten years. Located at 907 Whitehead Street, you will easily find it in the heart of Key West. Tour guides give you insights of this beautiful mansion, museum, and life of one of the greatest authors. Browse around the house and the museum as long as you like. No wonder why Hemingway has decided to live in Key West. This island is just out of this world.
Higgs Beach
We rode our bike to Higgs Beach. Parking is not something you have to worry about when biking in Key West. There is plenty of space to lock your bike. You must know that Key West is not known for its beautiful beaches but more for diving and snorkeling. Higgs Beach is a man-made beach with sands imported from the Caribbean. The beach is nice, and there is a pier. You can rent umbrellas, chairs, kayak… It is a great place to relax in the beautiful turquoise water.
Sunset at Mallory Square
If you go to Key West even just for a day you need to stay to admire the sunset. Mallory Square is the best place to do so. It was beautiful. Be aware that a lot of people are waiting for the sunset as well. You might want to arrive a bit in advance so you can get the best spot for the pictures. The square is full of street performers: musicians, painters, dancers as well as food stands.
Where to eat?
There are plenty of great restaurants. You can find pretty much anything you want.
Lunch at Conch Republic
We decided to have lunch at Conch Republic, which is located by the Marina. The place was packed. We choose to try the Fish and Chips and the Fish of the day, which was a Yellow Snapper with some veggies and mash potatoes. It was really good. The restaurant is overlooking the Marina. There is also a store inside the restaurant where you can buy souvenirs and other food items.
Key Lime Pie at Blue Haven
The server at Conch Republic told us that Blue Haven has won the best key lime pie contest for the longest so we chose to go there and try the best Key Lime Pie of the island. And I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. It was so good. I was a bit surprised about this white egg foam, but the pie was delicious.
Flamingo Crossing Ice Cream
As you may know, I have a sweet addiction to Ice Cream. Whenever I go I like to try Ice Creams. Of course, I had to try one in Key West as well. I stopped at Flamingo Ice Cream, because they have homemade ice cream and I won’t lie, isn’t the building the cutest? I tried the Coconut one. I loved it it was very good and they have plenty of different flavors.
The ride to Key West is pretty long. It is 4hours away from Miami, so I suggested stopping to sleep somewhere so you can enjoy your vacation without stressing about the drive. We were in the Keys for 3 days and we stayed in Marathon, which is only 1 hour away from Key West. We were able to enjoy the town to the fullest. It was amazing! I would love to retire there, live without a car, and just ride around the island. I plan on going to visit the Hemingway house and try Fort Zachery Beach.
Have you been to Key West? What were your favorite things to do there?