Best Things to Do in Key West

Favorite Destinations, Southern US, US

If you have never been to The Florida Keys and Key West, you are really missing out! Start planning now. Fly into Miami, rent a car, and enjoy the view as you pass through the Upper and Lower Keys to get to Key West. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive from Miami, so don’t be in a hurry. (The great views start about an hour and a half into the drive.)

Stop in Islamorada and have lunch at Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar waterfront casual dining. Relax.

(Pictured here at Lunch at Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar!)

Once you get to Key West, you don’t need a car. We turned our car in as soon as we arrived in Key West and ubered to our hotel. (We flew back home out of Key West). If you stay on or near Duval Street (the main drag) you can walk everywhere. Most hotels have loaner bikes, which is a great way to get around Key West. While you are walking Duval Street be sure to stop for a beverage at the well known dives, Sloppy Joe’s, Hog’s Breath Saloon, and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Key West

“Hogs’ Breath is better than no breath at all.”

Watch the sunset at Mallory Square, where sunset watching is an event every night. Street performers, artists, and food carts, and craft vendors gather nightly to celebrate the views! Sunsets and people watching are my favorites in Key West!

Pedal your bike over to the southernmost point of Key West and get a picture with the buoy. Only 90 miles from Cuba.

We were there in January, and the weather was delightful. Warm and sunny, no humidity. I think it’s the best month to visit with less crowds. After you visit the buoy, pedal over to Louie’s Backyard for lunch, or just have a drink on their big deck and stare at the water. Life is good.

Key West is full of great adventures, from fishing to sightseeing tours, walking Duval Street, taking a trolley tour and enjoy!

There are many wonderful places to stay in Key West. We stayed at The Saint Hotel Key West, Autograph Collection, a quaint hotel in an excellent location on the corner of Duval and Eaton Street.

If you want to stay off the main drag try the Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel. You get a private beach, marina with jet ski tours, kayaking, and paddling. You can take the hotel shuttle to Duval street throughout the day!