Key West Attractions

Due to their proximity to the Keys (about 275 miles from Key West; 55 miles from the closest islands to mainland Florida), the islands of the Bahamas have always been a source of influence and immigration for Key West. The islands’ original inhabitants were the Lucayan, Arawakan-speaking Taino peoples; after Columbus made his first New […]

The next beach featured in our series on Key West public beaches is a relatively new addition to the list of Key West beaches. Called Rest Beach or C.B. Harvey by the locals, C.B. Harvey Memorial Rest Beach is named after Cornelius Bradford Harvey, a former Key West mayor and city commissioner. It is a […]

Imagine swimming along with hundreds of beautifully colored tropical fish, gliding in the water just above coral and sponge gardens, and observing a host of underwater marvels. Our snorkeling tour packages give you all this, plus more. No worries if this is your first time snorkeling, we provide one-on-one instruction and personal assistance. We find […]

Last but certainly not least in our series on Key West public beaches, we survey the beach-going possibilities for those who are traveling with their canine companions. In keeping with the tolerance for diversity that Key West is known for, the island has a reputation as a pet-friendly place. Many facilities, including a number of […]

Who doesn’t love dolphins? But being able to encounter and observe dolphins in the wild is extra special, and has become one of the most popular of all the various tours we offer. Several schools of wild dolphins live and play in the clear blue waters surrounding Key West. These magical creatures cherish the natural habitat found […]

For the first stop in our series on Key West public beaches, we visit the southern tip of Key West. Here we find a large, relatively undeveloped, partially forested patch of land surrounding Fort Zachary Taylor, a historic, pre-Civil War brick-built fort that originally sat on an offshore island connected to the mainland by a […]

Next up on our tour of Key West public beaches is Higgs Beach, a true all-in-one beach fun zone. Higgs Beach is the public beach at Clarence Higgs Beach Park, a Monroe County Park. Like Fort Zachary Taylor Beach and Smathers Beach, Higgs Beach stands out among Key West public beaches for offering an exceptional […]

The Key West Cemetery is a 19-acre (77,000 m2) cemetery at the foot of Solares Hill on the island of Key West, Florida, United States. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 people are buried there, many more than the 30,000 residents who currently live on the island. It is in the northwest section […]

One of the most popular pastimes for Key West locals and visitors alike is exploring the amazing marine environment around the island. Key West is well-known as a great destination for enjoying the underwater sports of snorkeling, SNUBA, and SCUBA. If you are visiting Key West, I highly recommend that you take advantage of the […]

Smathers Beach is a stand out among Key West beaches. It’s a long, narrow, palm-lined strip of white sand running along Roosevelt Boulevard (State Road A1A) on the south shore of the island. Smathers Beach offers convenient accessibility and plentiful parking, making it popular with tourists and locals alike. Easy access, bathrooms, showers, and picnic […]

In this installment in our series on Key West public beaches, we head west from Higgs Beach along the Atlantic shore to South Beach, one of the smallest of Key West public beaches. A 200-foot-long pocket beach tucked away at the lower end of Duval Street, South Beach is bounded by the back wall of […]

The Southernmost Point marker on the southwest shore of Key West is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. It’s just a simple, bouy-shaped painted concrete marker at the corner of Whitehead and South Streets, but most visitors consider it a must-see, and it is certainly one of the most photographed sights […]