Key West is paradise if you don’t get caught in the tourist trap

Key West is a pristine paradise surrounded by tourist traps that will suck you in.

Heading to Key West can be an exciting drive that builds the closer you get but it can be chaotic if you don’t know what to expect.

Paradise is what you make of it and if you have never been to Key West you may have an image in your head or a plan to trace the footsteps of former U.S. Presidents and one famous author. Just don’t get too sucked into what you think vs. what reality is. Key West is a tourist trap that you will need to escape.

Have a few days or even a week to visit the Southernmost Point in the United States? Then by all means get caught up in the mini-mall gift shop atmosphere and take a break at Sloppy Joes or Margaritaville’s so when you look back you can say, “I’ve been there!”

But if you really want to experience Key West, then get away from the traps of the tourist industry, skip the bus tours, park your car and go see Key West.

Yes, this is the old stomping grounds of Ernest Hemingway, and yes he used to sit around Sloppy Joes but not the Sloppy Joes that is there now, it was located elsewhere when he was around. Yes, Key West was the home of Tennessee Williams until his death. But it is so much more.

The Little White House is now a stop for tourists as well and it is rich in history. Home to several U.S. Presidents as a vacation spot, Ulysses S. Grant stayed there in 1880 and it has been a spot for the highest office all the way to Jimmy Carter who took a vacation there as well.

If you want to experience more than just the touristy spots, get off the beaten path.

Snorkeling

You are in Key West and surrounded by water. So get in it. This is one of the absolute best places to snorkel in the eastern United States. While there are better spots north in other parts of the Florida Keys, you can’t beat the crystal clear waters of Key West’s surrounding coast.

If you are a seasoned diver or snorkeler, you can rent out a charter for as low as $35.00 at some locations, I highly urge you to call ahead to check rates as they vary by season. You could spend a little more money to take the ferry out to Dry Tortugas where the snorkeling is insane around the fort.

Not that experienced? No worries and you are in luck. The best spot to snorkel for beginners is right there in Fort Zachary State Park. Admission is around $10.00 per carload and you can rent snorkel gear once you are there.

At the beach, there are three areas to snorkel freely. Two rock formations help form the cove and there are a myriad of tropical fish species to enjoy by the rocks as well as parrotfish. You could easily come face to face with young barracuda but don’t worry, they won’t bother you. Facing the rocks there is a smaller cove to the left and that shallow water is perfect for children learning for the first time.

I have taken all of my kids here to teach them how to snorkel and have driven hours from Fort Meyers to take them.

Hint: If you want to see some bigger fish, swim around the rocks in the cove and look out into the open water where you will see plenty of fishing boats. Look down into the deeper water where you could see groups of Tarpon and even groupers from time to time.

There only a couple of wreck diving spots if you are into it but plenty of dive charters to take you further out from shore if you are more experienced.

Key West is a diverse community that brings rich traditions that invite tourists.

Beach day in the sun.

On the south side of the island there are two particularly good beaches that if you want to just sit around all day and soak in the sun, and don’t want to pay the Z. Taylor’s admission price, is free.

Smathers Beach is a bit to the North and Higgs Beach is further south toward the Southernmost Point buoy. Both are great beaches to take the family to but Higgs beach has been known to have its share of topless bathing.

Key West is not supposed to be topless but it is Key West and those rules can often be relaxed when it comes to enforcement. As the years have gone by, some of the local laws have been left unenforced as the times change. Key West locals remain a good mix of conservatives and liberals but the mentality of the locals really is just, “whatever”. It’s a tropical destination and people are not in a hurry.

Both beaches are pretty shallow and safe with little or no surf so consider it a big pool and have fun!

Southernmost Point

We have all pretty much seen the aforementioned “Buoy” that is labled the Southernmost Point of the United States. Sadly, that isn’t the furthest South you can go in the Keys or the United States. It is simply the only one “you” can go to unless you have a military I.D.

The actual southernmost point is located on Whitehead Spit which is a bit to the west of the buoy. That point is located on the Naval base and off-limits to the public. The funny thing is this, if you go to Fort Zachary Taylor state park you will be further south than the marked buoy as well.

You can probably do a drive-by of the buoy and marvel at the long line of tourists standing in line. Still, Cuba is only 90 miles away.

Port of Key West

For grins check out the Key West port, depending on the day of the week, the port can be filled with cruise ships.

Old Town

West of Z. Taylor State Park you will find Old Town. Old Town has become the most visited tourist spot in Key West but this where the early days of Key West living began. The early neighborhoods are located here in this part of the historic district. So are Mallory Square and Duval Street.

Mallory Square is a market type area and Duval Street is where you will find many of the touristy restaraunts and such. It’s worth going to and walking around but if you are looking for souveniers, get off the main streets and check out some of the shops that are not on the main pathways. They tend to be cheaper. Also, avoid the endless T-shirt shops that you will run into, they can visibly reel you in like a shiny lure to a fish but the products don’t tend to be great quality and can be overpriced.

Festivals

Throughout the year you can expect a lot of different festivals. Given the diverse makeup of the local community, gay pride parades and festivals mix with the annual Fantasy Festival which usually is held the last week of October running through Halloween. For more of the ever-changing festival schedules, check the Key West Chamber of Commerce to plan your trips.