Key West is a famous cruise port of call on many Caribbean itineraries. Although many visitors rush to bustling Duval Street, the region provides outdoor activities and is unique outside the traditional tourist attractions. Cruise passengers will have little trouble locating the Ernest Hemingway House and Sloppy Joe’s Bar, but here are a few lesser-known sites worth seeing.
Best Things To Do In Key West
1. Snorkeling on the coral reef
The world’s third-largest live coral reef is six miles offshore of Key West. This massive undersea structure serves as a wave barrier for the island of Key West and is responsible for the island’s flat, calm near shore seas. The entire family will enjoy a tour of the coral reef. There will be seen schools of fish, elegant stingrays, colorful and complex sea fans and corals, and a plethora of crustaceans and other marine life.
2. Kayak Kings Key West
This tiny outfitter has a relaxed, experienced crew that guides visitors through the islands’ mangroves and secret nooks and crannies. They also offer “off-the-beaten-path” excursions and kayak fishing experiences, as well as personalized itineraries to get a sense of Key West’s natural side.
3. Do the Duval Crawl
Duval Street in Key West’s central nightlife district, packed with clubs, restaurants, and more than a few tourist trap t-shirt stores. Avoid the t-shirt stores, but enjoy the rest of the experience as you stroll up and down one of America’s most renowned avenues.
4. Fort Zachary Taylor
Because of the coral reef system that serves as a barrier and inhibits sand buildup, the Florida Keys are not renowned for famous beaches. Fort Zachary Taylor is an exception, and the park offers tourists a trifecta:
- A historic fort to explore.
- Covered woodlands with picnic tables.
- A length of the beach with stunning vistas.
It is accessible by foot from the cruise port (albeit a bit of a trek), and there is a modest admission charge.
5. Mallory Square
Every day, two hours before the sun sets, the Sunset Celebration comes together with buskers, street entertainers, and artisan merchants performing for a multitude of hundreds of people. The magnificent and gorgeous sunset over the water is breathtakingly beautiful and one of Key West’s most photographed sights.
6. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Keys for the autumn and winter, as well as for the summer in Wyoming. His best-known book, To Have and Have Not, is set during the Great Depression in Key West. (An excellent book to bring on your trip!) The author was a well-known figure in town with his love of marlin fishing, heavy drinking, and mutant cats. Hemingway’s Key West home is now a museum, with many artifacts from those tumultuous years on display.
7. Hogfish Bar and Grill
Meander over to Stock Island to the Hogfish Bar and Grill, situated directly on the water, for some of the finest seafood. This hidden treasure will take some effort to locate (the local bus stops nearby, so plan), but the restaurant seems worlds away from the cruise terminal.
REFERENCE
Guide to the Cruise Port of Key West, Florida
Key West Port Guide: 9 Attractions to Check Out
About The Author
With a commitment to helping others actualize their greatest potential and well-being, Dr. East has been a licensed acupuncturist since 1999 and professor of Chinese Medicine at the Pacific College of Health Sciences since 2004. Specializing in MIE: Motivation, Inspiration, and Encouragement, Dr. East helps practitioners of alternative medicine align with their three P’s: Purpose, Passion, and Prosperity. In 2019 she published the book More Than a Treatment, which held the Amazon bestseller’s list in Practice Management for several weeks. She currently resides in Del Mar, CA with her husband and two kids and continues to help patients, students, other practitioners, and the general public with her lectures, workshops, books, events, coaching programs, and wellness-related products.
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