Things to do in Key West, FL

Key West has one of the most notoriously mild climates in the country, with locals even claiming that the area has never experienced a single frost. The area has distinct wet and dry seasons, with rain falling most days through the wet season (May through October.) During the summer, the air can be quite humid, but temperatures rarely break 90 degrees.

Chances are, there’s some form of parade or celebration going on in Key West. Fantasy Fest kicks off in October when nearly 100,000 people attend the annual street party. The crowd dresses in the most outrageous costumes and a king and queen are crowned. The Key West Food and Wine Festival, held in January, has the city's best venues and chefs offering up tastings and samples all over the city, and it also offers a number of educational seminars. Lobsterfest, in August, is another food-themed festival with a more specific focus on, obviously, the lobster. There are also a number of notable gay and lesbian parades and festivals held throughout the year including Pridefest, which is held in June.

Key West has been beloved by a number of iconic figures over time. According to popular legend, Ernest Hemingway wrote A Farewell to...  

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Key West has one of the most notoriously mild climates in the country, with locals even claiming that the area has never experienced a single frost. The area has distinct wet and dry seasons, with rain falling most days through the wet season (May through October.) During the summer, the air can be quite humid, but temperatures rarely break 90 degrees.

Chances are, there’s some form of parade or celebration going on in Key West. Fantasy Fest kicks off in October when nearly 100,000 people attend the annual street party. The crowd dresses in the most outrageous costumes and a king and queen are crowned. The Key West Food and Wine Festival, held in January, has the city's best venues and chefs offering up tastings and samples all over the city, and it also offers a number of educational seminars. Lobsterfest, in August, is another food-themed festival with a more specific focus on, obviously, the lobster. There are also a number of notable gay and lesbian parades and festivals held throughout the year including Pridefest, which is held in June.

Key West has been beloved by a number of iconic figures over time. According to popular legend, Ernest Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms in Key West, along with a number of other pieces, including the Depression-era To Have and Have Not, his only novel set in the US. Playwright Tennessee Williams was also a regular visitor to Key West; he rented a number of residences throughout the country, but the only home he actually owned was located here. Key West is also sometimes referred to as the "Winter White House" owing to the fact that a number of US Presidents (Truman, Roosevelt, and Kennedy to name a few) spent extended amounts of time there.

Spring breakers flock to Duval Street’s dive bars each year, and cruise ship passengers pour into Margaritaville to search for their lost shaker of salt. (Jimmy Buffet’s hit song was written about Key West.) When walking down the street, the unofficial Florida drinking rule of “pour your drink in a plastic cup and you won’t get in trouble” reigns supreme. Pub crawls are a popular way to pass the time (and not remember much of it). Key West is, after all, an island in the sun, and there’s no shortage of refreshments.

As Key West is an island, it should come as no surprise that water activities are one of the prevalent past-times. Avid anglers will think they've died and gone to heaven with all the fishing options at their disposal. There are dozens of fishing charters poised to deliver an unparalleled experience on the water to amateurs and seasoned fishermen alike. There's also no end to the variety of kayak tours, snorkeling adventures, dolphin encounters, water skiing, and parasailing options. For a multifaceted experience, try taking a glass bottom boat sunset cruise and enjoy the breathtaking sights while you sip on champagne.

It’s easy enough to point to the weather, water, and nightlife as reasons to visit Key West, but without the people that live here, it wouldn’t be the same. Even in a city that depends on tourism to boost the local economy, the locals aren’t trying to nickel-and-dime visitors. Their welcoming demeanor is genuine, and the “One Human Family” motto is evident in the way that they accept all walks of life. The city is full of interesting, laid-back characters that are always willing to make new friends.

Even before visiting, most people have an image of Key West. Some picture Jimmy Buffet crooning about lazy days on the water, others envision Hemingway crouched over a typewriter. Still others picture throngs of Spring Break revelers. In truth, Key West is all of these and more. About 25,000 conchs — as the locals are known — live here year round. The next largest are the seasonal residents who stay for up to six months at a time. These are the two groups to thank for Key West's lively arts and entertainment scene including a world-class symphony orchestra and several theater companies. This is artsy, laid-back Key West. It is the tourists who give the island its liveliness. Intoxicated by margaritas and sunsets that the natives take for granted, the casual visitor to Key West inevitably embraces the city with a contagious joie de vivre.

Even before visiting, most people have an image of Key West. Some picture Jimmy Buffet crooning about lazy days on the water, others envision Hemingway crouched over a typewriter. Still others picture throngs of Spring Break revelers. In truth, Key West is all of these and more. About 25,000 conchs — as the locals are known — live here year round. The next largest are the seasonal residents who stay for up to six months at a time. These are the two groups to thank for Key West's lively arts and entertainment scene including a world-class symphony orchestra and several theater companies. This is artsy, laid-back Key West. It is the tourists who give the island its liveliness. Intoxicated by margaritas and sunsets that the natives take for granted, the casual visitor to Key West inevitably embraces the city with a contagious joie de vivre.