Key West (pop 30,000) is actually located much closer to Cuba than to mainland Florida. It is the last and most exciting of the Florida Keys. There are many fun attractions and recreational activities to explore here.

Audobon House and Gardens
205 Whitehead St, Key West FL 33040; (305) 294-2116;
Hours 9:30AM-5PM Daily; Gardens Website;
19th century home of Captain Geiger housing museum dedicated to the 1832 visit by John James Audubon. Many 18th and 19th century furnisings and Audubon engravings and porcelain bird sculptures.

East Mortello Museum and Art Gallery
3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33050; (305) 296-3913;
Open: 9:30AM-5PM Daily; Society Website;
This brick civil-war era fort houses a museum, historical collections and art gallery.

Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Museum
200 Greene Street, Key West, FL 33040; (305) 294-2633;
Open: 9:30AM-5PM Daily; Museum Website;
This museum houses many priceless treasures and artifacts recovered from shipwrecked Spanish galleons. Include gold and silver doubloons, jewelry and bar ingots.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Site
PO Box 6560, Key West, FL 33041; Open 8AM-Sunset daily; (305) 292-6713;
Located off Southard St. is this Union Army fort that served as a Civil War stronghold. Recent excavations have uncovered a hidden arsenal. Largest collection of Civil War cannons.

Old Town

Hemingway House and Museum
938 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040; (305) 294-1136;
Open: Hours 9AM-5PM; Museum Website;
Home and gardens of the late Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Hemingway. Designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Key West Lighthouse Museum
938 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040; Museum Website;
Open: 9:30AM-4PM Daily. (305) 294-0012;
Florida's third-oldest brick lighthouse, built in 1847. Features include 88 steps to the observation level with a terrific view of the island city.

Dry Tortugas National Park
A clustor of seven tiny, uninhabited coral reef islands located about 70 miles west of Key West, in the Gulf of Mexico. These islands are the crowded home to thousands of nesting and migrating sea birds.

"The Southernmost Point"
Mile Marker 0, so named at the very end of the Overseas Highway (US Hwy 1) in the Florida Keys.

Wrecker's Museum -
322 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040; Hours 10AM-4PM Daily; (305) 294-9502;
Former sea captain's home now houses a museum of artifacts from 19th century shipwrecks.

Harry S. Truman Museum
111 Front St, Key West, FL 33041; Open 9AM-5PM Daily; (305) 294-9911;
Also know as the Little White House. Maintained by the US Navy as a Winter White House from 1946 to 1974 and used by Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy. Guided tours and exhibits.

Flagler Station Overseas Railway Historeum
901 Caroline St, Key West, FL 33040; (305) 295-3562;
Artifacts and photos of Henry Flagler's first overseas railroad project.

Ripley's Odditorium
527 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040; Open 10AM-11PM Daily. (305) 293-9686;
Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium contains many oddities, unique and exotic. Wall-to-wall amazement.

Yankee Fleet / Dry Tortugas Ferry
Ferry Website; (305) 294-7009;
Guided daily excursion to the Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas. Also has whale-watching and deep-sea fishing charters available.

A Key Encounter
Clinton Square Market and 291 Front Street, Key West; (305) 292-2070; Website;
Open: 11AM-6PM Sun-Fri; Free Admission;
A twenty-five minute na triple-screen movie takes viewers to the coral reef to learn about marine life. In addition to Key's marine ecology, viewers get to experience "Jungle Walk", a glimpse of the wildlife, flora and fauna of the Keys, pet live parrots, enjoy macaws and toucans, feel the soft feather of cockatoos, life like jungle walk

Tour The Lower Keys
Major wildlife refuges for Great Heron, Key Deer and marine mammals.

Tourism Services - Key West FL
Key West Travel Guide - Extensive guide to the island, written by local concierges, for visitors planning a Key West vacation. 877-INFO-KEY (877-463-6539).
Key West Restaurants - Reviews, menus, specials and pricelist.
Key West Hotels - Room search and reservation service.
Key West International Airport [EYW] - (305) 296-7223;

Cudjoe Key
A small island on the Oversea Highway found between Sugarloaf Key and Big Pine Key. Visitors can find relaxing seclusion in the many beachfront vacation rental properties here.

Summerland Key
Another tropical getaway with many vacation cottages, boat rentals and is home to the Mote Marine Laboratory and Brinton Environmental Center.

Mallory Square Festival Marketplace
Located in the center of the historic Key West waterfront is this collection of attractions, restaurants and world-famous sunset celebration. Major facilities include the Key West Aquarium and where they'll let you pet a live shark and many other exotic creatures. The Shipwreck Historeum and Schooner Western Union, last tall ship built in Key West, are also based here.

Special Events for Key West, FL:

Old Island Days - Jan - April.
Conch Republic Celebration - April.
Fantasy Fest [Mid-Oct] 296-1817. Caribbean Carnival revelry with halloween parades, costume contests and more.
Columbus Day Regatta [Mid-Oct] 858-1733. Two day sailing regatta with over 500 racers sail from Miami to Key West.