Key West is the most southerly location in the continental US and a 3.5 hour drive south of Miami.
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| Miami |
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| Cue of cruise ships |
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| Miami |
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| Miami |
Accommodation in Key West is expensive, averaging $300-$500 USD (and UP) per night for a standard hotel room. It took me two weeks to find a deal under $200 Cdn per night, but I did it. The Fairfield Inn & Suites on the north end of Key West had a special for Super Bowl Sunday and I grabbed it. Great hotel. Cosy, comfy. Super wifi. Tasty breakfast and free parking. No complaints whatsoever.
By the time we arrived in Key West it was late afternoon and we hopped on the Old Town Trolley to get a feel for the lay of the land. We were fortunate to make the final round trip of the day and eventually we were the only two people onboard. Our driver, Jack, drove us back to our hotel and along the way provided a personalized tour just for us. Lovely!
Although we had tickets for the trolley for Monday we opted to park the van at the beach and explore the south end of the island on foot. The low-rise buildings have a definite Caribbean flair.
Chickens and roosters roam free on Key West. They are the descendants from the cock fights organized by the Cubans during the early part of the 20th century. Nowadays these fowl roam at will and are protected under Key West law.
This buoy marks the southern most point in the continental USA and the cue to have your photo taken next to it was quite long. Although we were told it was moving fairly quickly we decided against it and headed for Duval Street.
Duval is the main street with shops, galleries and restaurants. The next few photos give the impression it was a quiet, serene day, but that's far from a reality in Key West. Live music spills out onto the streets at any hour of the day and night and thousands of tourists arrive each day in cruise ships. It's a busy, busy place!
Museums and churches dot the landscape and outside this museum is this iconic sculpture made famous in a snapshot at the end of WWII.
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| Church |
The beach is narrow compared to other Florida beaches, but it offers a coziness I rather like. Check out the rooster and chickens in amongst the gulls in the second photo.
Just south of Higgs Beach is a small botanical gardens that in spite of its size is impressive and a tranquil retreat after the hustle and bustle of Duval Street.
I'm so glad John insisted we visit Key West. It was definitely worthwhile and provided more wonderful memories of our time in Florida.
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