Planning a Vacation to Key West? I’ve got a complete list of all the things you won’t want to miss while you’re there!
Key West is one of my favorite places to visit! I compiled a list of some of the best things to do in Key West so that you will have a great vacation too!
Key West is actually the first place I ever did a solo trip, and I’m so glad I did because it made for the best start to learning to travel alone.
I felt so safe and there was so much to do day and night. Whether you’re with friends, your significant other, family or just flying solo, I highly recommend you make Key West a vacation destination!
This post is all about the best things to do in Key West so that you have the best vacation!
Best Things To Do in Key West
1.) Visit Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
One thing you have to do for sure if you are visiting Key West is check out Fort Zachary Taylor! It may be my favorite beach in Key West. If you are looking to do any snorkeling this is definitely the spot for you. It also was amazing to watch the sunset over the water. So pretty! When I visited Key West, like I said, I was traveling alone.
My plan was honestly to just roam around by myself and sit and watch the sunset, but I ended up making a lot of friends there! They have grills throughout Fort Zach and some people had brought sons of food to grill out and invited me and and some other random people that were hanging on the beach to join in and eat with them! It was such a blast. Make sure you stop by, or maybe stay and grill some food during the sunset!
2.) Hang Out on Duval Street
One of the main attractions in Key West is Duval Street. There’s so much to do whether it’s day or night. I first ventured down to Duval Street with really no plan, just to roam around and see what I get myself into. My first stop was a little restaurant called Two Friends. To be honest, I stopped in only because I heard music…and being from Nashville there’s nothing I love more than grabbing a drink and listening to some good music. I had an amazing bloody mary to kick things off!
If you know me at all you know I will ALWAYS make sure I find oysters on vacation no matter where I’m at. Lucky for me, Key West has oysters everywhere! So, at Two friends I also made sure to grab some delicious Oysters.
If you’re a person who likes to make new friends on vacation or likes to have nice chats while grabbing a drink this may be a great spot for you! I sat at the bar (always helps to meet people!) and met such a nice older woman who was eating alone as well. She comes down with friends at least once every year and they were all resting and she wanted to get out and enjoy the island! I also met two fishermen that go out and catch oysters every day while drinking bloody marys. They actually invited me to go with them the next day, but I played it safe while being solo. Being in the middle of the ocean with two strangers seemed a little risky lol.
I highly recommend just walking around and see what kind of places speak to you. There is so much to do! At night there are ghost tours and plenty of bars and clubs to party the night away in!
3.) Mallory Square
Mallory Square is definitely known to be the best place to watch the sunset in Key West. If you spent the day on Duval Street, or plan to go out for the evening… Mallory Square is the perfect thing to do in between. Every night they do a “Key West Sunset Celebration.” If you check out their website you’ll find all the details, and also exactly what time the sun is supposed to set that night. There is live music, stunt performers, comedy shows, and local vendors. You name it, they’ve got it! Highly recommend spending at least an evening there!
4.) Ernest Hemingway House
I love Ernest Hemingway, so of course I had to stop by while I was there! It was a great tour and I learned so much I never knew before. It’s obviously a very old home, so the architecture is very interesting. My favorite part was the in-ground pool and the amazing gardens. I believe the tour took about 30 minutes. You can just walk up and buy tickets at their gate, so no need to plan for that in advance.
Another interesting thing is there are cats EVERYWHERE. There are somewhere around 60 cats…and they all have 6 toes. They have some kind of genetic trait that makes them this way. Hemingway was given one of these cats and now several of the cats on the estate are direct descendent of the original.
5.) Southernmost Point
This is something that won’t take you very long at all, but it’s worth it just to say you did it! It is literally just a concrete Buoy, but it marks the southernmost point of the continental US. You will see TONS of people taking photos with the Buoy. I just did a drive by and got a simple photo.
6.) Key West Aquarium
The Key West Aquarium is very small, so it’s another good thing if you’re looking for something to knock out a small piece of time. They’ve even got a touch tank if you want to touch some sea stars or hermit crabs and more!
7.) Take a Tiki Boat Tour
This is such a fun one! If you have a small group this is perfect for you. They provide water and cokes and ice and some small snacks but you can BYOB and bring even more food along if you want! And they’ll blast some music for you along the ride 🙂
8.) Shipwreck Treasure Museum
There are several shipwrecks that have happened in the waters surrounding Key West. It is so fascinating to learn about all their different stories. The museum was founded by a group of divers who have explored these shipwrecks themselves.
9.) Butterfly Conservatory
Want to see tons of exotic birds, butterflies, and maybe even a flamingo or two? Go check out the Butterfly Conservatory! It’s beautiful…and if you’re with kids it’s one of the best things in Key West to take them to!
10.) See the Views from the Key West Lighthouse
Do you want to get a good view of Key West? This is the perfect place for you if you’re down to walk up 88 steps 🙂
11.) Take A Picture with the Key West Postcard Mural
One last stop! Make sure you get your instaworthy picture with the Key West Postcard Mural! You can find it at the Cuban Coffee Queen in Old Town, so grab yourself a good cup of coffee while you’re there!
This post was all about the best things to do in Key West! I hope this helps you with planning your next vacation!
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