Visitors who think Key West “has been ruined” often blame the huge cruise ships that are frequent visitors spewing thousands of day-trippers onto the island. That might be changing, as Key West residents passed three referendums Nov. 3 requiring cruise ships to be smaller and fewer.
Florida Keys Getaways
Ernest Hemingway ended up in Key West like many others — by accident. He came for a day and stayed for a decade, and his influence is unmistakable.
I asked our friend, Key West guidebook writer Karuna Eberl, if she’d like to write about what it’s like being in the Florida Keys during this quarantine. She and her husband live on Cudjoe Key and I wondered how empty the Keys must feel without tourists. I didn’t expect this moving reply.
Once the site of a luxury resort for the rich and famous, Long Key State Park is a terrific place to spend a few hours hiking, beachcombing, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking in the Florida Keys. While most of its highly prized beachfront campsites are closed, a few tent sites are open.
You’re looking for inexpensive lodging and you find Key West houseboat rentals on Airbnb or VRBO. Before you book, read our tips & questions to ask.
The popular Lower Keys park is perfect for kayak outings. You can kayak around the island or head out to tiny picturesque Little Bahia Honda Island.
Lionfish are gobbling up native species on Florida Keys reefs. Now you can gobble them up instead. Several Florida restaurants are serving lionfish, said to be delicious.
In honor of the 100th birthday of US national parks, here’s a park that deserves to be on your must-see list. We loved camping at Dry Tortugas National Park off the Florida Keys. It takes some time, money and effort, but, wow, does it pay off.
Your drive down the Overseas Highway can be your own personal Florida Keys Road Trip for Animal Lovers. From endangered Key deer to colorful Key West chickens, here are eight places to delight in the animals and wildlife of the Florida Keys.
For a quick trip to the Keys, consider Gilbert’s Resort. The upgraded 1950s-era motel and tiki bar is the first lodging you reach on the road to Key Largo. Then, kayak nearby Garden Cove and discover its picturesque sunken barge, a good place to snorkel.
In the summer months, many campgrounds in the Florida Keys reduce their rates. We’ve picked out a few for you to consider on your next trip to paradise.
Tent camping in the Keys took a big hit from hurricanes Irma and Ian, but there are still a few places where you can drive a tent stake in the ground.
Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge and Campground offers a quiet lower Keys alternative to the hustle and bustle of Islamorada and Marathon.
Key West has so many restaurants that it’s hard to make a decision where to eat. Next time I go, though, I have an intriguing list of restaurants filled with local color and character– and I’m sharing it with you. It comes from a fellow blogger who ate his way through Key West recently.
Sure, the Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys is a scenic drive. But wouldn’t it be beautiful to take it really slowly and see everything? That’s what Tamara Scharf did. She walked from Key Largo to Key West, alone and in six days. Here’s her story, with tips on how you can walk the best sections she experienced.
The iconic blimp that has hovered over the Lower Keys for more than 30 years is being grounded on March 15, the apparent victim of Pentagon budget cuts.
This isolated cluster of islands 70 miles west of Key West is accessible only by boat or seaplane. But treasures await you, especially if you camp over for a few nights. Yes, you can camp here! Snorkeling and kayaking, too!