Key West, FL

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.

Key west is in the Sub-Tropics and as such exhibits near-tropical weather patterns, just a bit more seasonal than being closer to the equator. During the summer, the average highs reach into the low 90s. You can also expect a bit more rain in Key West, seen mostly in the form of quickly moving thunderstorms. These storms usually pass quickly, but driving in them can be a dit daunting, if not dangerous. Key West and the Florida Keys exhibits a pleasant climate througout the winter, with temperatures usually in the mid-70 degree range. The humidity is no where near the summer levels and The Gulf waters are at perfect temperatures for swimming and the humidity is no longer the “challenge” it may be in the summer.

According to at least one local, November is the best month to vacation in Key West. Crowding is at its lowest and the weather is fabulous. The high season in the Florida Keys is mid-December through late-March, and heavy traffic on the Overseas Highway and the Seven Mile Bridge will test your patience. However, from November to the middle of December, the crowds begin to thin out, the weather is still wonderful and prices have not yet risen to their highest. Summertime, however, even with heat and humidity, has become a very popular season in the Keys, especially among family travelers and people visiting from European Countries.

Hemmingway’s many cats provide an interesting, albeit somewhat strange, focus for a visit to the Ernest Hemmingway’s home in Key West.