Index of all posts

There are over 200 posts on this blog. This blog is designed and written by me to make you have a fantastic Key West vacation. Here's some of my better posts!

Me - Key West David - I vacation here, just like you!
About me, this blog (my hobby) and how I don't accept money, advertising, or paid links - unlike many of the other visitor blogs


Key West vacation 
What it's like to vacation  in Key West, the good things, the bad things, the unique things, what Key West is like depending on the TYPE of vacation you are seeking

Includes "THE 7 things you gotta do on a  Key West vacation"


 Very best month to visit Key West 
It's March. Why?.....
See here for full information on the best time to visit Key West.


 Best hotels and places to stay in Key West
Best large hotel: Pier House hotel

















Best boutique hotel: Marquesa hotel

Best guest house: Almond Inn

Best gay accommodation: Alexander's


Best things to do in Key West
#1: Take the  on the Conch train tour
Expensive but you can see all of Key West in a few hours - great live commentary

#2: Do the Duval Crawl
Walk up crazy and busy Duval Street, the main street of Key West

#3: Go for a leisurely walk on the pontoons around the harbor
Go at 3.30pm. See the sail boats departing for sunset cruise, see the tarpon feeding and the pelicans stealing the fish. Look at all the luxury yachts, forgetting for a moment that you can only afford one of the dinghies! READ: Click here to read more on the Key West harbor walk.

#4: Pop into the Custom House museum for a glimpse of the FASCINATING history of Key West.  
Bright red brick of the Key West Museum of Art and History in the Custom House
#5: Visit the historic Audubon House
4 different things in 1 house... Click here for pictures and review.

WANT MORE? Here's my longer list of the 11 best things to do in Key West.


Best restaurants in Key West

Blue Heaven - outdoor, wild chickens, great food, live music. One of a kind.
Cocktails, seafood crepe to die for, steak specialists and chocolate volcano. The best restaurant in Key West.
Unique dining experience in Key West's most famous restaurant. Great for breakfast.
The best views.
The friendliest.

#5: La Trattoria
Best Italian on the island.

#6: Sarabeth's
Fun.

READ: Here's the my full reviews of the best restaurants in Key West.

Best places for breakfast in Key West
#1: Blue Heaven
#2: Pepe's, Caroline Street
#3: Harpoon Harry's, Caroline Street

Best vegetarian restaurants in Key West
Fantastic place for lunch to take away - the veggie Help Yourself! in the heart of Key West.
#1 for lunch - Help Yourself!  Fleming Street, half way up.
#1 for dinner - The Cafe, A Mostly Vegetarian Place

READ: Vegetarian food on Key West

Best cocktail and martini bars in Key West
#1: La Ti Da terrace bar, Duval Street

#2: Virgilio’s at La Trattoria, Duval Street

READ: My full review on Key West cocktail bars.

Margaritaville Key West on Duval Street


Best "unique to Key West" things to do in Key West
1. Nancy's Secret Garden and parrot sanctuary - 518 Elizabeth Street (very difficult to find, looks like it's up someone's private road, stick at trying to find it!)
2. Daily tarpon and pelican feeding at the Key West harbor
3. Key West Eco discovery center - free
4. Key West history at the Custom House museum
5. Turtle Hospital at Marathon
6. Drink at Sloppy Joe's bar


Best jazz bar in Key West - maybe the only one?
#1: Little Room jazz club, 821 Duval Street
For my full review, pictures and videos of Little Room (highly recommended place) - click here. Live  music every night.


Best coffee shop in Key West
The front porch of Key West's best coffee house (good cakes too!) gets bright morning sunlight.
#1: Coffee Plantation - 713 Caroline Street - just 5 minutes from Duval and well worth the short walk - free wifi, relaxing areas to sit inside as well as porch. Home made pastries

Better than Starbucks Key West.

Best ice cream in Key West
#1: Flamingo Crossing home made ice cream, 1105 Duval Street
It’s way up Duval Street but well worth it.  The only ice cream made in KW (on these very premises) and not shipped in from miles away. No additives, all natural and delicious. The key lime flavour is fantastic.

#2: Kilwins, 505 Duval Street. Nothing to do with Key West as this is a national chain, but the ice cream is naughty and delicious. So much so I seem to end up in here every evening!

Best gay bars in Key West
#1: Bourbon Street pub complex (bars, pool, pop videos)
#2: La Ti Da bar
#3: Aqua night club and drag show
#4: Tea dance at La Ti Da every Sunday 4pm

READ: Key West gay scene

Top ways to get to Key West
#1. Drive all the way down the Keys from Miami to Key West
#2. Fly into Key West International Airport
#3. Find a friend and come by boat

It’s 155 miles from Miami to Key West.  The Overseas Highway (Highway 1) is the latter 113 miles of that, with 42 bridges including the world famous 7 mile bridge.  It’s stunning and beautiful drive.  The best bit is from MM (mile marker) 80 onwards.  You’ll want to make a few stops, if only for a photograph or 2 of the tacky/crazy/funny/pretty signs on route – so plan on the trip from Miami taking 5 hours with no major traffic issues.  Why would you fly?

READ: Planning a Key West vacation and FAQs about visiting Key West

Best Beaches in KeyWest
One third of Key West's best beach at Fort Zach.
#1. The beach at Fort Zach Taylor Historic State Park
#2. Smathers Beach
(no third place, that’s the lot, Key West is not big on beaches)

Click here for more pics of Fort Zach beach and a full review of my visit.

Top beaches on the trip down the Keys
#1. Bahia Honda state park
#2. Curry Hammock state park
#3. Long Key State Park

Also try out the Theater of the Sea. No beach, but a diverting stop for a few hours.

Prettiest and most interesting streets in Key West
1. Southard Street
2. Fleming Street
3. Elizabeth Street
4. Duval Street
5. Simonton Strret
6. Any of the streets around the cemetery (yes, really)


Best shopping in Key West (unique shops that you’ll only find in Key West)

#1: Peppers of Key West, on Caroline Street.  Read my visit report of the pepper sauce tasting sessions available for everyone at Peppers of Key West.

#2. Towels of Key West. Camp and lush towels and funny t-shirts. Been here on Duval Street for 25 years, so an institution!

#3: Hammock Company of Key West

RIP: Fast Buck Freddies, on Duval Street
Key West's iconic department store.  One of a kind.  Unfortunately, it closed in 2012. 

MORE: Full post and pictures of Key West's most interesting and unique stores

Best art galleries in Key West
#1. Gallery on Greene
#2. Key West Art Center, on Front Street
#3. Audubon House Fine Art Gallery, 205 Whitehead Street


Most beautiful Key West

Start here - beautiful Key West nature in it's ocean, trees, flower

Key West hibiscus
Fantastic flower of Key West - there are some amazing pictures here!



Other links on this Key West blog

Perfect weather in Key West

Visiting Key West alone, single and by yourself 

Key West very short history


Best tips about visiting Key West
  • Don’t let the first 6 blocks of Duval Street fool you – Duval Street gets (much) better so keep walking.  
  • The best bits of Key West are found by foot, walking and a few blocks back / away from Duval Street.
  • Locals are very friendly so ask for recommendations
  • Shorts, t-shirts and flip flops are fine, even in the evening and even in all but the really posh places.  Don’t feel bad about being mega casual and not wearing trousers/jeans - you won’t be out of place, only hot.
  • Walk as much as you can, forget the car. Parking is difficult anyway in Old Town.
  • Don't stay too close to Duval Steet, it's very noisy.
  • Don't come for the beach alone. If you do want the beach go to Fort Zach Taylor beach.
READ: Planning a Key West vacation and FAQs about visiting Key West


Best but gone / closed / finished - RIP of Key West

1 - Atlantic Shores tea dance, every Sunday in Key West - closed 2007

2 - Fast Buck Freddies department store on Duval Street

3 - View from the Top viewing area on the top (7th) floor of La Concha hotel - closed May 2014

4 - The take out pizza place on Duval Street - closed 2014


 Key West changes - a personal selection

Key West changes 2015

If you like change, here's some more!

2014 Key West changes

2013 Key West changes

2012 Key West changes


AT THE TOP, USEFUL BUT NOT THAT FUN......
.....AT THE BOTTOM, FUN BUT NOT THAT USEFUL




Finally, other Key West things you might like on my site....

Key West hotels - hints, tips and recommendations

Things to do in Key West - best of list, with lots of pictures and reviews

Planning a vacation in Key West - all the things you might be wondering

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