The Cool Key West Blog — Discover The Southernmost City in the USA

Welcome to the Cool Key West Blog, where you can explore all Key West, Florida, has to offer. This island paradise has something for everyone, from its breathtaking beaches to its unique culture and vibrant nightlife. Our blog shares our favorite things about Key West and tips for getting the most out of your visit. You'll find it here whether you're looking for an adventure-filled day trip or a romantic getaway.

We have a variety of posts to choose from, such as “The Best Beaches in Key West” and “The Most Instagrammable Spots in Key West”. Our beach post highlights some of the best places to soak up the sun and enjoy the crystal-clear waters of Key West. We also provide visitors with tips on making the most of their beach day, like when is the best time to go and what activities are available nearby.

For those looking for a more active vacation experience, we offer posts like “The Best Places to Snorkel in Key West” and “How to Explore the Depths of the Gulf of Mexico”. We provide comprehensive guides on which snorkeling spots are best for beginners and experienced divers alike. We also discuss safety precautions, rules and regulations, and other helpful information needed before plunging into the deep blue sea.

When it comes to romantic getaways, look no further than our post titled “Romantic Things To Do in Key West”. Here we provide couples with a list of activities they can enjoy while visiting this tropical island paradise – from sunset cruises on a catamaran boat to a romantic stroll through Old Town Square – there's something for everyone!

Of course, no trip would be complete without exploring some of Key West's unique culture and history. This is why we've created posts such as “A Guide To Exploring Hemingway House” and “Exploring The Florida Keys' Shipwreck History” so visitors can learn more about this beloved destination's past.

We hope that through our blog posts, we can give our readers an insight into all that makes Key West so special – from its natural beauty to its vibrant culture – so they can experience it themselves!

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Key West Live Music – The Soundtrack of Paradise

Key West Live Music – The Soundtrack of Paradise

Being a resort island that is renowned for its nightlife and multitude of bars, clubs, and other types of party venues, it will come as no surprise that Key West has a very rich live music scene. Many local artists, as well as world-class acts, can be found performing on any day of the year, […]

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Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park

Seventy miles west of Key West lies Dry Tortugas National Park: the uninhabited Dry Tortugas islands and Fort Jefferson, a natural wonderland and important historical and cultural site. This group of small keys and semi-submerged sandbars currently includes seven islands and shoals: Garden, Loggerhead, Bush, Long, East, Hospital, and Middle Keys. In centuries past, the […]

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Key West Fishing – Try Saltwater Angling at its Best

Key West Fishing – Try Saltwater Angling at its Best

The Gulf and Atlantic waters around Key West were already well-known for incredible sport fishing by the time writer Ernest Hemingway’s angling exploits thrust Key West fishing firmly into the national spotlight. Hemingway first arrived in Key West from Cuba in April of 1928, and it was not long before he struck up a friendship […]

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The Ultimate Key West Beach Guide

The Ultimate Key West Beach Guide

Many visitors arrive in Key West with one question uppermost in their minds: Which way to the Key West beaches? Key West is a semi-tropical island surrounded by crystal blue waters and bathed in sunshine. Palm trees sway in the breeze and tropical flowers bloom exuberantly. First-time visitors and others who are unfamiliar with the […]

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Higgs Beach

Higgs Beach

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 […]

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South Beach

South Beach

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 […]

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C.B. Harvey Memorial Rest Beach

C.B. Harvey Memorial Rest Beach

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 […]

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Dog Beach

Dog Beach

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 […]

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The Ultimate Road Trip to Key West

The Ultimate Road Trip to Key West

Are you considering driving to Key West but are not sure if you are ready to commit the time, energy, and expense required for the trip? How would you like to experience the wonder of a road trip down to Key West by bus? You can enjoy the scenic Overseas Highway, and cross the amazing […]

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Fishing Charters – The Best in Key West

Fishing Charters – The Best in Key West

No matter which type of fishing you prefer, Cool Key West is sure to meet and exceed your expectations when it comes to the best fishing charters. Whether you prefer fishing with a small group or going solo we have the perfect package for you. Our goal at Cool Key West is to make your […]

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Drink Like Hemingway (and other famous literary boozers)

Drink Like Hemingway (and other famous literary boozers)

It’s a well-known stereotype that many literary authors are also raging boozers. Which, forgive us, doesn’t make us want to emulate them any less. In fact, at we can’t think of anything better than to sip a cool drink while typing away at our — er, laptops — out on the porch in the sweet […]

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Key West Parasailing Adventures

Key West Parasailing Adventures

See the entire island of Key West and the surrounding sapphire blue waters from the air as most visitors have never imagined. You’ll soar 300 ft. above the water (that’s 200 ft. higher than the tallest building in Key West). Panoramic vistas of Mallory Square, the marine sanctuary and Key West harbor are among the […]

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Key West Kayaking Adventures

Key West Kayaking Adventures

Kayaking the shallow water flats around Key West’s backcountry is an exciting, and at the same time, a very relaxing adventure. It may be the perfect method of exploring the spectacular coastal scenery that is abundant in the waterways around Key West since much of it is only accessible by kayak. Kayaking is a uniquely […]

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Dive Key West

Dive Key West

Are you up for a real adventure in Key West? Do you love the water and want to know more about the amazing coral reef environment unique to the Florida Keys? Have you ever dreamed of exploring the mysteries of a shipwreck? You can do it now with Cool Key West as your connection to […]

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Key West Sunset Cocktail Cruise

Key West Sunset Cocktail Cruise

From Key West, to Maui, to Tahiti and beyond, the sunset cocktail cruise is a tropical vacation resort staple. Some may even claim that it has been overdone… maybe they want to brush the experience off as “too touristy” or “just for old folks” or “boring”. The way I see it, after years of living […]

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Key West Snorkeling, SNUBA, or SCUBA – Which One is Right for You?

Key West Snorkeling, SNUBA, or SCUBA – Which One is Right for You?

Most everyone would agree that Key West is a scenic tropical paradise, with blue skies, turquoise water, exotic foliage, and an interesting urban and human landscape that catches the eye every way you turn. But what is often overlooked is the fact that, because Key West is a tiny island surrounded by a lot of […]

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See Key West on Land and Sea

See Key West on Land and Sea

One of the great things about visiting Key West is the fact that it is a small island with a multitude of interesting things packed close together, making it easy to take in the sights. Most everyone knows about strolling along Duval Street, walking to the Southernmost Point, riding the Old Town Trolley and Conch […]

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The Most Exciting Ways to See Key West

The Most Exciting Ways to See Key West

Let’s continue our look at great ways to see Key West with an introduction to some active and exciting tours that will let you catch the island from a different perspective. Key West snorkeling adventures, jet ski tours, and biplane flights combine scenic beauty with action and thrills to make for some of the most […]

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The Key West Water Sports Ultimate Adventure

The Key West Water Sports Ultimate Adventure

There is a lot to do in Key West, enough to fill several vacations. This is especially true of the Key West water sports scene that is arguably the island’s top attraction. Snorkeling, sailing, diving, jet skiing, kayaking, and just plain playing in crystal blue waters only cover about half of the wet and wild […]

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Key West Art Walks – Visit Creative Key West

Key West Art Walks – Visit Creative Key West

Key West has a reputation for being a quirky little town full of creative people, and the truth of this is borne out in the way people dress, the way they decorate the bikes, scooters, and cars they drive, and the way they approach the fun and festive side of island life. Creative Key West […]

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Why Visit Key West?

Why Visit Key West?

Key West, Florida is at the very tip of the Florida Keys. 90 miles from Cuba, this tropical island paradise has many quirks that make visiting the small island a memory that is not soon forgotten. 160 miles from Miami, it is connected to the mainland by a two lane highway, called US 1 that […]

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