Unearth The Voyage
Key West is more than just another beach town. This tiny island at the tip of Florida packs in incredible history, natural beauty, quirky culture, and enough activities to fill a week. Whether you’re chasing sunsets, exploring coral reefs, or walking in the footsteps of presidents and famous writers, Key West delivers memories you won’t forget.
1. Join the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Every evening, crowds drift to Mallory Square for the famous Sunset Celebration. This free open-air festival brings together street performers, local artists, food carts, and one of the most iconic sunset views in Florida. Arrive about an hour before sunset to watch jugglers, acrobats, musicians, and psychics set up along the waterfront.
Once the sun finally slips into the Gulf, everyone applauds. It might sound cheesy, but in the best way. The energy is contagious, and you’ll find yourself clapping right along with hundreds of strangers.
Grab a snack from one of the carts, browse handmade jewelry, or just lean against the railing and soak it all in. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this nightly tradition.
2. Tour the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
Ernest Hemingway’s former residence in Old Town is now a beautifully preserved museum. The property includes his writing studio and the famous colony of six-toed cats that roam freely around the grounds. Guided tours are included in your ticket and walk you through stories of his life in Key West, from boxing matches to late-night bar crawls.
Even if you’re not a big reader, the house and gardens are gorgeous and very photogenic. The cats are descendants of Hemingway’s own pets, and they’re friendly and fun to watch.
You’ll learn about his most productive writing years and see where classics like “For Whom the Bell Tolls” took shape. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of America’s greatest authors.
3. Stroll Duval Street from Ocean to Ocean
Duval Street runs just over a mile from the Atlantic to the Gulf. It’s Key West’s main artery, lined with historic conch houses, shops, galleries, cafés, and plenty of nightlife. Walk the whole stretch once in daylight to admire the pastel architecture and poke into galleries.
Then come back after dark for live music and a drink. Specific bars and restaurants come and go, but Duval itself is the experience. You’ll pass everything from upscale boutiques to dive bars, gelato shops to tattoo parlors.
Street performers often set up near intersections, and the people-watching is unbeatable. Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll want to wander slowly and take it all in without rushing.
4. Explore Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
On Key West’s southwestern tip, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park combines Civil War history with one of the island’s best beaches. You can wander the red-brick corridors, see historic cannons, and then head to the beach area for swimming and shore snorkeling.
A beach-renourishment project briefly closed parts of the shoreline in April 2025, but the beach has since reopened. Still, it’s smart to check current conditions before you go. The water here is clearer than most spots on the island, making it perfect for spotting fish near the rocks.
Bring your own snorkel gear if you have it, or rent from nearby shops. Pack a picnic because the park has shaded tables and grills.
5. Walk Among Hundreds of Butterflies
The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is an indoor tropical oasis filled with 50 to 60 species of butterflies, exotic birds, and even flamingos. It’s open daily year-round and makes a great stop in the heat of the day. The path winds through lush greenery with butterflies everywhere, landing on flowers and sometimes on visitors.
You’ll also spot colorful parrots and other tropical birds perched among the plants. The whole experience feels like stepping into a rainforest, but with air conditioning nearby. Kids especially love trying to count how many different butterfly colors they can find.
The attached gift shop is surprisingly big, so budget some time if you like pretty things. It’s stocked with butterfly-themed jewelry, home décor, and local art.
6. Step Back in Time at Truman’s Little White House
During his presidency, Harry S. Truman used this house as his winter White House. Today it’s a museum with guided tours that explore mid-20th-century politics and Key West’s role in it. Inside, you’ll see original furnishings, Truman’s desk and poker table, and hear the behind-the-scenes stories of working vacations, cabinet meetings, and post-war decision-making in paradise.
The guides are knowledgeable and bring history to life with anecdotes about Truman’s personality and habits. You’ll learn about his poker games with advisors and his love for the island’s laid-back vibe.
The house itself is charming and well-preserved, giving you a real sense of what presidential life looked like in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
7. Snap a Southernmost Selfie at the Temporary Buoy
Key West’s Southernmost Point Buoy, the famous marker reading 90 Miles to Cuba, has been temporarily removed from its original plaza for a year-long seawall and plaza restoration project. A full-size replica buoy now stands a block away at Duval Street Pocket Park, so visitors can still get the iconic photo.
Until the original returns (currently expected around late 2026), head to the Duval Street location instead. Lines still form, so go early morning or later at night to avoid long waits. The buoy is bright, colorful, and unmistakable.
It’s one of those must-do tourist moments, even if it feels a little silly. Everyone who visits Key West seems to have this photo, and now you can too.
8. Take a Day Trip to Dry Tortugas National Park
About 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park feels like a different world. Fort Jefferson rises out of turquoise water, surrounded by coral reefs and nesting seabirds. The high-speed Yankee Freedom ferry runs day trips from Key West and is the official park ferry.
It’s a full-day commitment, but you get time to tour the fort, snorkel over clear water, and wander sandy beaches you can only reach by boat or seaplane. The snorkeling here is some of the best in Florida, with excellent visibility and abundant marine life.
Book well in advance because trips often sell out, especially during peak season. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a sense of adventure for this unforgettable excursion.
9. Climb the Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters
For one of the best views on the island, climb the 88 steps of the Key West Lighthouse. The restored keeper’s quarters house exhibits about historic lighthouse life and Key West’s maritime history. The climb is fairly short by lighthouse standards, but you still get a 360-degree panorama over Old Town.
It’s great for sunrise or late afternoon photos when the light is soft and golden. You’ll see rooftops, church steeples, and the ocean stretching in every direction. On clear days, you can spot boats heading out to the reefs.
The keeper’s quarters museum downstairs is worth exploring too, with artifacts and stories about the families who lived and worked here. It’s a quick visit but a memorable one.
10. Snorkel the Living Coral Reef
Key West is a jumping-off point for North America’s only living coral barrier reef. Multiple operators run daily snorkel trips by catamaran or dive boat out to the reefs and sandbars for a few hours of swimming with tropical fish. Most tours include gear and drinks, and some combine snorkeling with sunset sails.
Choose a reputable company that follows reef-safe practices, and always avoid standing on or touching the coral. The reefs are fragile ecosystems that need our protection. You’ll see parrotfish, angelfish, rays, and maybe even sea turtles if you’re lucky.
The water is warm and calm most of the year, making it perfect for beginners. Even if you’ve never snorkeled before, guides will help you feel comfortable and confident.
11. Soak Up the Sun at Smathers Beach
If you want a classic beach day without leaving the island, Smathers Beach is Key West’s largest public beach. It stretches about half a mile along the south shore. Expect palm trees, soft sand, calm shallow water, volleyball nets, and vendors renting jet skis and paddleboards.
It’s liveliest during spring break, but at other times it’s popular with families and locals. The water is gentle and perfect for wading or floating on a raft. There’s plenty of free parking nearby, plus food trucks and restrooms.
Bring an umbrella or tent for shade because there isn’t much natural cover. It’s a great spot to relax, read a book, and watch the boats go by without any pressure to do anything else.
12. Visit Higgs Beach & the Key West Garden Club at West Martello
Near Higgs Beach, the Key West Garden Club maintains lush tropical gardens inside the ruins of the Civil War-era West Martello Tower. Admission is free, and you get beautiful ocean views along with the greenery. Combine a stroll through the garden rooms with a walk on the adjacent beach and pier.
It’s a quieter, more local-feeling slice of shoreline compared with Smathers. The gardens are divided into themed sections with native plants, orchids, bromeliads, and palms. Butterflies and hummingbirds flit between the blooms, making it a peaceful escape from the busier tourist areas.
Higgs Beach itself has a playground, picnic areas, and a dog park, so it’s great for families. The pier is popular with fishermen and sunset watchers.
13. Discover Treasure at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum showcases treasure recovered from 17th-century Spanish shipwrecks, along with thought-provoking exhibits on the transatlantic slave trade and Key West’s African Cemetery. You’ll see real gold and silver from the 1622 wrecks, including coins, jewelry, and ingots that spent centuries underwater.
But the museum is more than just shiny objects. It also explores the archaeology and human stories behind the artifacts. You’ll learn about the lives of sailors, enslaved people, and the treasure hunters who spent decades searching for these wrecks.
Interactive displays let you touch real pieces of eight and see how artifacts are conserved after being pulled from the ocean. It’s a fascinating mix of adventure, history, and science that appeals to all ages.
14. Learn Wrecker History at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum
In the 1800s, salvaging shipwrecks was a huge part of Key West’s economy. The Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum tells that story with interactive displays, artifacts, and costumed guides who bring the era to life. Climb the 65-foot lookout tower for island views and imagine spotters scanning the reef for ships in trouble.
Back when a single wreck could make a fortune, wreckers raced to be first on the scene. The museum explains the rules, rivalries, and risks of this dangerous trade. You’ll see salvaged cargo, ship parts, and tools used by these early entrepreneurs.
The costumed actors add humor and personality to the experience, making history feel immediate and real. It’s a fun, educational stop that kids and adults both enjoy.
