Key West, FL

by Christina Tourigny

Being a “Conch” is a state of mind, a condition of the heart and a foreclosure on the soul. Many Key Westers wear that epitaph proudly.

This is a city that three times has threatened to secede from the Union and establish its own republic. It’s a city whose former mayor water-skied all the way to Cuba to emphasize the importance of the U.S. Navy’s presence. (And whose current one faces a federal charge of corruption.) It’s a city whose melting-pot character permits a large, liberal base to mingle with crusty natives (called Conchs) to mingle with Miami wheeler-dealers, out-of-work smugglers, and assorted other scallywags.

Key Westers take all of this in stride. They thrive on eccentricity as much as diversity. This is a city that is or has been a haven to poets and novelists, Anglos and Cubanos, rum-runners and treasure hunters, pirates and preachers; all of whom manage to live more or less peacefully on a 3.5-mile long sandbar the chamber of commerce types call “Paradise.”

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by Deborah Straw

A visit to the Conch Republic, a.k.a. Key West, does not require taking out a loan. Yes, prices are higher than they were just a year ago (particularly for inns and apartment rentals) and higher than those in many northern and central parts of Florida, but, a few bargains are readily available to travelers with imagination, flexible attitudes and an abiding curiosity about people, history and nature.

To satisfy merely the curiosity, no money is required. Studying people, nature and architecture are immensely rewarding. I’ve spent countless hours a) on the front porch of a guesthouse, b) on lower Duval Street or Mallory Square, sitting on a bench or a pier, and c) at any of the fine beaches, not spending a penny but watching pelicans, dogs and men and women in minuscule bikinis. In Key West, I generally walk five to ten miles a day, just for the sheer pleasure. I always carry a camera and perhaps a book and a bottle of water. Be sure to pick up an island map as some of the streets are tiny and confusing, especially near the cemetery. Read the rest…

by Valinda Almeida, Key West Correspondent

Long a haven for creative spirits, Key West is famous for its sensational sunsets, boisterous street festivals, divine cuisine, over-the-top tropical drinks, world-class diving and snorkeling, enchanting gingerbread houses, and its laid-back, anything-goes atmosphere.

This tiny island city - a scant two-mile by four-mile slice - offers just about anything you are looking for. Extremely tourist-friendly, it’s almost impossible to get lost here. Reflecting its hugely diverse resident population, Key West has an inherently tolerant personality. There is a sense of detachment from reality. It’s non-stop fun for everyone who visits the southernmost city in the continental U.S.

Maybe there’s something in the water here that boosts creativity. Eight Key West writers, including Ernest Hemingway, have won the Pulitzer Prize. Check out his watering hole, Sloppy Joe’s, at the corner of Duval and Greene Streets. The city still harbors plenty of poets, painters, and writers.

It was also a hideaway for presidents. Harry Truman spent lots of time on Front Street in the “Little White House.” John F. Kennedy stayed there during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Key West is on the doorstep of Fidel Castro’s Cuba. Also known as the Conch Republic, Key West is closer to Havana (90 miles) than it is to Miami (150 miles). Read the rest…

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…