The Conch Connection

Winter may mean snow, ice and heavy coats across much of the country. In Key West, it means sunshine,  swimsuits, waterfront dining, outdoor adventures and some of the island's most popular events.

December, January and February bring comfortable temperatures and plenty of reasons to spend the day outside. You can explore Old Town, head to the beach, listen to live music, tour historic homes or simply find a waterfront table and remember that somewhere else, someone is shoveling a driveway.

If you're traveling from Southwest Florida, Key West Express makes getting there part of the getaway. Relax on the ride across the Gulf and arrive in Key West near the Historic Seaport, ready to explore.

Key West, a vibrant island paradise known for its laid-back atmosphere and stunning sunsets, also boasts a thriving art scene that captivates visitors and locals alike. With its unique blend of Caribbean culture and artistic expression, Key West offers a diverse range of art forms, from traditional painting and sculpture to contemporary installations and performance art.

Fort Myers Beach is about to get loud—in the best possible way.

ROAR Offshore returns September 11–13, 2026, bringing a weekend of colorful catamarans, flying spray and close racing to the beach. There is even a welcome party on Thursday evening, September 10, for anyone who wants to start the fun a little early.

If you have never watched offshore powerboat racing, imagine a pack of boats charging across the water at more than 90 miles per hour. You hear the engines first. Then the boats burst into view, bounce across the chop and crowd together through the turns. It is fast, noisy and difficult to ignore.

This year's ROAR is different from the event of years past, so forget the old October dates and long list of racing classes. The 2026 weekend has been reimagined around one especially competitive class: APBA Super Stock. The official ROAR Offshore website is the best place to follow announcements as race day approaches.

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.

Key West does not ease you into its personality. It introduces itself all at once.

A rooster may strut across the street as if it owns the block. A six-toed cat may be lounging at a literary landmark. A man in pirate boots may pedal past a pastel conch house while a sunset crowd gathers to applaud the sky. Before long, none of this feels unusual. It simply feels like Key West.

That is the island's magic. Its eccentricity is not a carefully staged attraction—it comes from generations of sailors, artists, writers, rebels, dreamers and fiercely individual locals who decided that life could be more colorful at the end of the road.

Arrive aboard Key West Express from Fort Myers Beach, step into the Historic Seaport and start walking. The island's wonderfully unconventional spirit is waiting around nearly every corner.

Make your plans for the biggest party of the summer! The 27^th annual Key West LobsterFest is being held this year from August 8^th until the 11^th , 2024.

Spring in Key West doesn't arrive with melting snow and the first signs of green.

It's already green.

March, April and May bring warm tropical days, beautiful water, festivals, live music and some of the best opportunities of the year to spend your vacation outside. As winter crowds begin to change and the island moves toward summer, each spring month brings a different reason to visit.

You can explore Old Town, relax on the beach, snorkel, paddle, wander through tropical gardens or plan your trip around one of Key West's signature spring celebrations.

If you're traveling from Southwest Florida, Key West Express makes getting there part of the getaway. Relax on the ride across the Gulf and arrive near the Historic Seaport, ready to start exploring.

Ask someone for the best time to visit Key West and you'll probably get a different answer depending on who you ask.

For one traveler, it's a warm January afternoon while much of the country is shoveling snow. For another, it's the energy of Fantasy Fest in October. Families may love summer on the water, couples might prefer a quieter fall escape, and music lovers can build an entire trip around one of the island's festivals.

That's the beauty of Key West.

Every March, Key West trades a little of its tropical color for shamrock green. The island's original St. Patrick's Day Bar Stroll is not a newly invented pub crawl or a generic ticketed party dropped into Old Town. It is a homegrown Key West tradition with roots stretching back to 1979, a collectible shirt, a changing route and more than four decades of stories.

For visitors from Southwest Florida, Key West Express makes it possible to begin the celebration with a Gulf crossing instead of a long drive. Because the stroll continues into the afternoon and participating venues change from year to year, an overnight stay is the most relaxed way to enjoy it without watching the clock.

UNIMAGINABLE CUISINE AND KOOKY CULINARY CREATIONS 

Food trucks are no longer found only at carnivals and fairs.They no longer sell plastic wrapped pre-made sandwiches to construction workers. They are not just set up outside your local hardware stores, so weekend do-it-yourselfer's can grab a quick bite.