There’s no better way to experience Key West than by exploring it on foot. From colorful historic homes and legendary landmarks to lively waterfronts and tropical side streets, a walking tour allows visitors to fully experience the charm and personality of the island at their own pace.
Planning a Key West getaway? If you want to stay in the heart of Old Town with easy access to waterfront dining, historic attractions, sunset celebrations, and Duval Street, Opal Key Resort & Marina is one of the most convenient places to stay on the island.
Few destinations celebrate sunset quite like Key West. Every evening, visitors gather across the island to watch the sky transform into brilliant shades of orange, pink, and purple over the water. But while many travelers head to crowded waterfront locations or Mallory Square, there’s a quieter and more exclusive way to experience one of Florida’s most famous sunsets: the Key West Lighthouse Sunset Experience.
Key West is a place where "Island Time" isn't just a phrase—it's a way of life. While the neon lights of Duval Street have their charm, the true magic of the island lies in its quiet corners, the scent of blooming jasmine, and the steady rhythm of the tide. This guide is for those looking to trade the crowds for calm and find the soulful, relaxed side of the Conch Republic.
The Florida Keys are home to a national treasure: the only living coral reef in the continental United States. This year, Mote Marine Laboratory is inviting locals and visitors alike to step out of the daily grind and into the blue at Ocean Fest, a high-energy, family-friendly celebration of our marine environment.
Few landmarks symbolize Key West quite like the colorful Southernmost Point Buoy. Standing just 90 miles from Cuba, this instantly recognizable monument has become one of the most photographed attractions in Florida, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning to snap another unforgettable photo, the Southernmost Point offers far more than just a picture opportunity. Behind the painted concrete buoy is a fascinating story of island history, maritime heritage, engineering, and preservation.
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Beyond Key West’s colorful streets and lively waterfront lies a quieter world of mangrove islands, shallow turquoise water and wildlife moving through largely undisturbed habitat. Key West National Wildlife Refuge protects this remarkable backcountry landscape west of the island, offering nature lovers a chance to experience another side of the Florida Keys.
There are no roads leading into the refuge and no conventional visitor trails through it. Exploring means traveling by boat, kayak or permitted charter and respecting a landscape where wildlife—not sightseeing infrastructure—comes first.
Some Florida adventures begin where the pavement ends. Everglades City is one of them.
This small fishing town sits beside a seemingly endless puzzle of mangrove islands, twisting creeks and open bays. Step aboard a boat and the town quickly disappears behind you. Pelicans skim the water, dolphins may surface beside the wake and every narrow channel looks like it might lead somewhere completely new.
Everglades City and the Ten Thousand Islands are a natural addition to a Southwest Florida road trip—especially when the next chapter includes a Key West Express crossing from Fort Myers Beach. Give this wild corner of Florida its own day, and it may become one of the stories you tell most often after the trip.
Key West may have a reputation as a tropical paradise filled with world-class attractions, but you don't need a big vacation budget to experience everything that makes the island special. Some of the island's most memorable experiences are completely free—from watching the sun sink below the Gulf of Mexico to wandering colorful Old Town streets lined with historic homes, tropical gardens, and local art.
Whether you're visiting for a day or spending a week exploring, these free activities let you experience the authentic charm of Key West while saving your vacation budget for great food, watersports, or one of the island's many paid attractions.
No matter where you live or what you do, time seems to escape us. How many times have we referred to "time flying". Despite our best intentions, popular destinations and points of interest in our own backyard that are enjoyed by visitors are always on our "things to do and see list". One of the most common phrases we hear, at Key West Express is... " I've lived in Florida for XX number of years, but I've never been to Key West." Yes, we get it but, "Why NOT? What are you waiting for?" A staycation to Key West is just what the "ho-hum" doctor ordered.
