Planning your next Key West trip? Scoping out the best places to eat or finding that perfectly, idyllic resort with all the amenities? Well, once you get there, you'll want to document your trip and all that you did and saw. There's nothing like making friends and family envious of your good fortune, while taking a wonderful sailing trip to the tropical oasis of Key West, Florida. To help you in your pursuit of finding that perfect spot, that is that " oh so " Instagram perfect, we have our recommendations on this very important issue!
A brick fortress, a rocky beach, tropical fish, shady picnic tables and one seriously good sunset spot—all in the same park? That is Fort Zachary Taylor.
Tucked away near Old Town and the Truman Annex, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is the kind of place where a quick visit can easily turn into most of the day. One minute you are wandering through Civil War-era passageways. The next, you are pulling on a snorkel mask, watching birds along the shoreline or settling into the shade with something cold to drink.
It is also an easy adventure for travelers arriving from Fort Myers Beach aboard Key West Express. The park is about 1.8 miles from the ferry terminal, so you can get there by taxi, rideshare or bicycle—or make the roughly 35-minute walk part of the experience.
Take a quick look at the Key West Express Fort Zachary Taylor guide, check the latest details on the official Florida State Parks page, and get ready for a day that can be as active—or as wonderfully lazy—as you want.
Few people are more closely associated with Key West than Ernest Hemingway. Long before the island became one of America's most popular tropical destinations, Hemingway helped put Key West on the map through his writing, adventurous lifestyle, and deep connection to the island.
Planning the perfect family vacation means finding a destination that offers something for everyone. From exciting outdoor adventures and fascinating history to beautiful beaches and unforgettable sunsets, Key West checks every box.
Whether you're traveling with toddlers, teenagers, grandparents, or the whole extended family, the island offers experiences that bring generations together. Better yet, if you're traveling from Southwest Florida, the vacation begins the moment you board the Key West Express, where the journey is just as memorable as the destination.
If you're searching for the best day trip from Fort Myers Beach, you're spoiled for choice. Southwest Florida offers beautiful beaches, nature preserves, and waterfront towns, but one destination delivers an experience unlike any other—Key West.
Located at the end of the Florida Keys, Key West offers a tropical island experience that's surprisingly easy to reach aboard the Key West Express from Fort Myers Beach. Colorful streets, historic landmarks, tropical scenery, fresh seafood, and a laid-back island atmosphere make it one of Florida's most unforgettable destinations. Better yet, you don't have to spend the day driving to get there.
Turn a Familiar Florida Drive Into an Unforgettable Adventure
A Florida road trip does not have to be a race from one hotel to the next. The most memorable itineraries mix scenery, wildlife, waterfront stops and different ways of traveling. That is what makes a road-and-ferry trip so appealing: you can explore at your own pace, park the car in Fort Myers Beach and finish the journey to Key West across the Gulf.
This flexible route works for couples, families, friends and solo travelers. Begin wherever your Florida plans take you, add one or two natural stops on the way to Southwest Florida, and then let Key West Express turn the final leg into part of the vacation. Instead of spending another long stretch behind the wheel, you can move between climate-controlled seating and open-air decks while the island gets closer.
Year round weather makes Key West an ideal vacation spot for outdoor adventure enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies alike. This special little island offers an abundance of opportunities for every indulgence and thrill seeker. Planning ahead allows you to get the most out of your Key West excursion. For your convenience, we have included a selection of details on a variety of heart pumping activities.
Back in 2012 a few industrious and rum loving folks had the wondrous idea to make a new rum and distill it right here in southwest Florida, Cape Coral to be exact. Utilizing Florida's very own sugar cane crops and other locally sourced ingredients, all of their rum is small batch, handcrafted using an American copper still pot. Rums are then placed into American Kentucky whiskey barrels and aged anywhere from 3 to 14 years. Wicked Dolphin is one of the most awarded craft distilleries in the USA and it's right here in southwest Florida!
Grab the kids and getaway!
Here in Florida, anytime is the time to plan a vacation. Key West is the ideal getaway filled with activities and adventure to make smiles and memories for any and everyone!
With all the different options that you have for a Key West Vacation, what should you do and see on your trip to paradise?
