In past blogs, I covered all the ways you can travel to Key West. But once you get here and we welcome you, how do you set about exploring?
Key West’s Old Town features scores of picturesque wood-frame houses. The island has the largest predominantly wooden historic district in the entire U.S. (Photo by Rob O’Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau)
Although Key West is less than two miles by four miles in size, there’s so much to see on our tiny subtropical island. The Old Town area, listed as a U.S. Historic District, is best enjoyed on foot. The island boasts well-preserved homes whose styles range from elegant Victorian and Caribbean-inspired “eyebrow” to humble cigar-makers’ cottages. Beyond Old Town are hidden white-sand beaches, historic forts and lushly planted parks just waiting to be enjoyed.
Taking an organized tour is a convenient and informative way to learn about Key West’s history and attractions. Walking, bike and trolley tours offer a number of options — house and garden, pub crawls, culinary and tasting, Florida Keys architecture and even ghost tours led by (what else?) a “ghost host.” Some of our local tour companies have LGBT staff members who can offer insights into Key West’s rich gay heritage.
No matter how you decide to tour the island, chances are you’ll learn about Key West’s fascinating history. Pirates, spongers, “wreckers,” rumrunners and the U.S. Navy all hold a special place in the island city’s “back story.” Tour lengths vary based on the itinerary, but plan on spending 90 minutes to three hours.
One of my favorite biking explorations is with Key Lime Bike Tours. At the end of the ride, reward yourself with a scrumptious Key lime dessert at the Key West Key Lime Pie Co. (conveniently located adjacent to the tour’s ending point).
Adventurous visitors can simply head out on their own to discover Key West. Self-guided walking tours can be found online, at hotels and guesthouses and at visitor centers around the island. The Pelican Path self-guided tour of Key West provides intriguing information about 51 historic buildings and sites, and can be followed at your own pace. It can be found on the Old Island Restoration Foundation’s website.
Bicycles are a great way to see Key West at your own pace, with plenty of opportunities for stopping at attractions, shops and sites that catch your eye. (Photo by Mike Freas, Florida Keys News Bureau)
Don’t miss the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, where former President Harry Truman enjoyed 11 working vacations. And Ernest Hemingway’s former Spanish Colonial home, where “Papa” lived and wrote literary classics during the 1930s, enthusiastically welcomes visitors as well.
Also, I always recommend a stop at our fabulous Gay Key West Visitor Center, 808 Duval St., for an LGBT Key West Business Guild Map & Directory.
The recently introduced Duval Loop provides free bus transportation around the world-famous Duval Street and Historic Seaport areas lined with shops, bars and restaurants. Its hop on/hop off convenience includes 16 stops throughout the heart of downtown Key West — ideal for a day filled with shopping or sightseeing, and/or a night of partying.
Other options include bicycle, scooter, electric car and even Jeep rentals. Key West is a very bike-friendly city and has numerous designated bicycle lanes, routes, and trails. For a four-wheel experience, Key West Adventures (located at 3424 North Roosevelt Blvd.) will rent you a Jeep Wrangler “door on or off/roof up or down” — an exhilarating way to venture beyond the southernmost city and into the neighboring islands.
However you choose to explore — by foot, trolley, bus, bicycle or other vehicle — our gay-friendly island paradise awaits your discovery.
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