Key West

We holiday in Key West, Florida every year.  You may have heard of Key West, it is the last of a chain of islands off the coast of the USA.  The island is the most southernmost point in the States but it is actually closer to Cuba then to the mainland of America.  It is 90 miles from Cuba (by boat) and 150 miles drive from Miami - the chain of the Florida Keys are joined by bridges from island to island (or key to key).

For such a small island (4 miles by 2 miles) it is surprisingly historic.  Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West for awhile along with Tennessee Williams and Robert Frost.  You can visit the house that Hemingway lived in with his wife Pauline.  It is a really interesting tour and the polydactyl cats living on the grounds are quite a sight!

President Truman managed to base himself in Key West for much of his presidential term.  The house that he lived in is now a museum and I thoroughly recommend a visit.  I think I have been to see it 4 times and each time I learnt something new!

There are lots of other sights to see in Key West including the Southernmost Point, The Key West Lighthouse, The Butterfly Conservatory along with numerous art galleries.

Nightlife in Key West is mainly based on Duval Street and also along the bight.  There are so many different different bars that there is something for just about everyone.  I went to the Green Parrot Bar with my parents to watch a Blue Grass band which was a lot of fun. Sloppy Joes where Hemingway hung out also plays a mix of music with performers coming from all over the country to play here.

While on the island, we love to bike around checking out the sights and also getting out on the water and doing some fishing.  Nothing beats coming home and throwing your freshly caught fish on the bbq and having a cocktail while cooking dinner!

Probably my favourite thing about Key West is the choice of restaurants.  I love the fact that there are very few chain restaurants in Key West and an amazing selection of fresh seafood restaurants, little small quaint charming restaurants and also rough and ready casual eateries.  All serving up great food and wine!  My two favourite restaurants are 7 Fish and Santiago's Bodega.  We also (surprisingly!) love the vegetarian cafe in KW - great healthy food in a very chilled out venue with very friendly staff.

If you do ever get to Key West my recommendation on where to stay is either in one of the cute B&B's in old town or to rent a cute conchy cottage through Historic Hideaways.

All in all I think Key West is a place unlike any other and I think you need to visit to see what it is like to vacation in Paradise!!!

Here's something further to read about Key West.