Key West, FL

by Deborah Straw

Visiting Key West is like stepping into an old picture postcard of Florida. Everything except the bright pink flamingos is here: the pastel cottages; the waving palms; the long, sandy beaches; and the red, languid sunsets.

Key West is a harmonious island, one where people feel free to express themselves — with their clothing, their haircuts, their lifestyles, and their bodies (i.e., tattoos and piercings). A recent Citizen of the Day in the local newspaper said, “If you don’t want to be yourself here, be someone else.”

Another way the natives express themselves is through their architecture and landscaping. Key West is full of startlingly beautiful architecture. Wooden houses in whites, pinks, salmons and yellows abound; elegant homes are surrounded by palms and hibiscus; two- and three-story houses with wrap-around porches, filigreed wrought iron balconies, hidden gardens and aquamarine pools. Many have white picket fences. The scent of frangipani, hibiscus and roses hangs heavy in the warm air. Read the rest…

Key West isn’t the only cool stop in the Florida Keys however. There are several more Keys to be found only a short drive northeast on US Highway 1. You can choose from Duck Key, Cow Key, Big Pine Key, Marathon, Islamorada and Key Largo, with the later three being the larger Keys to visit.

If you have a couple of days in which to explore, head on up Highway 1 to Miami. A hotspot for nightlife, the famous (or is it infamous?) South Beach is where most Miami visitors end up.

Ed. Note: If we had those extra days we would just slow down, kick back and enjoy a leisurely pace in the Keys — saving the Miami area for a “big city” vacation mindset.

Try to avoid Key West in March, when spring breakers line Duval Street — unless you are one of those people who are “on” spring break.  The high season is winter and costs are known to nearly triple during some “popular” weeks.

Summer, on the other hand, can be a bargain. Hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, and inns drop rates quite a bit in the summer months — often by nearly half the going rate.

The best way to get around in Key West is on the “shoe leather express” - your own two feet. But, instead of shoes, most people use sandals or flip-flops. Other popular means of transportation include the motor-scooter and the bicycle. Scooters, however, can be dangerous to yourself and to others - unless you are an experinced rider. The least favored way of getting around is in your car. Parking is hard to find in Key West and you may have to pay an arm and a leg for an all-day spot. If you’re flying in and plan to focus your vacation in Key West, you won’t need to rent a car. But if you’re planning day trips throughout the Florida Keys, you’ll need to rent one.