Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida is...well...different. The geographically most southern city in the continental United States, Key West has become known as the place to escape the stresses of daily life and live a more relaxed, island lifestyle. This isn't a trend. It is a philosophy that permeates Key West as naturally as the Gulf of Mexico. Individuality in Key West is valued as much as gold doubloons. Literary figures like Robert Frost, Archibald MacLeish, and Tennessee Williams have all found inspiration from Key West's eclectic atmosphere.You may feel like you are in a different country, but Key West shares a thirst for activity with the rest of the Keys. Beach lovers will want to sun themselves on the shores of Fort Zachary Beach, located beside the ruins of old Fort Zachary, a union outpost during the civil war. Smathers Beach is the area's largest beach, and has gone through a renovation that started in the spring of 2000.
All of the Keys are famous for their fishing, and Key West is no different. Anglers can catch bonefish, tarpon, dolphin, tuna, grouper, cobia, shark, and much more. You can choose from single hire or group charter boats, or you can mix fun with fun and jump on one of the many "party" boat excursions that operate in the area.
Literary fans will want to visit the Ernest Hemmingway Home and Museum. Built in 1851, this Spanish Colonial home was owned by the author until his death in 1961. For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, and the Snows of Kilimanjaro were all penned here. He lived here with approximately 50 cats, and some of their descendents still roam the property.
For those interested in stories about shipwrecks and lost treasure, visit the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum. This museum honors the work of Mel Fisher who located the richest wreck in U.S. history, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, a Spanish Galleon that sank off the coast of Key West in 1622. Fisher's crew brought up millions of dollars worth of doubloons, pieces of eight, precious gems, and solid-gold bars.
Sunset is treated a bit differently in Key West. Instead of just as a natural phenomenon, the people of Key West turn this daily occurrence into a social event in Mallory Square. Beginning about 2 hours before dusk, people congregate at the docks behind the square to enjoy the carnival atmosphere of street performers, portrait artists, animal acts, vendors, and other performances.
