Rain in Key West does not have to ruin the day. Tropical showers often come and go quickly, and Old Town is filled with museums, galleries, shops, historic homes and restaurants where you can wait out the weather.
Whether the forecast calls for a passing shower or several wet hours, here are some of the best ways to enjoy Key West when the sunshine takes a break.
Forget the lazy river. This water park has actual waves.
Fury Water Adventures takes slides, climbing obstacles and slippery wipeouts, then floats the whole playground in the blue water off Key West. There is no concrete deck and no escaping the splash zone. Out here, the splash zone is everywhere.
The floating park is part of Fury’s Ultimate Adventure H2.0, a choose-your-own-thrill kind of day that can also include parasailing, jet skiing, a banana boat ride and—on the full-day trip—reef snorkeling. If your ideal vacation includes spending more time in a swimsuit than street clothes, you have found your people.
Definition of a "Buoy" - "an anchored FLOAT serving as a navigational mark, to indicate reefs or other hazards or for mooring". The southernmost buoy's claim to fame is being one of the most photographed and visited attractions in the United States. The buoy is an impressive 12' tall, 7' wide and made out of approximately 4 tons of solid concrete!
The current marker actually didn't exist until 1983 when it was commissioned and installed by the City of Key West and painted by local artist Danny Acosta.
Planning your first trip to Key West should feel exciting, not complicated. The island is compact, colorful and refreshingly easy to enjoy once you understand its rhythm. You can walk from a historic waterfront to lively Duval Street, tour a famous author's home, photograph the Southernmost Point, eat fresh seafood and watch the sun disappear into the Gulf—all without spending your vacation behind the wheel.
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While Key West can't take the crown for the oldest settled city in Florida, it does have one of the more interesting and wide ranging historical pasts of almost any place in the state. Whether you're looking for tales of pirates, shipwrecks, US Presidents or Civil War era historical significance, Key West has a little bit of it all.
Key West has inspired painters, sculptors, photographers, writers and performers for generations. Its tropical light, historic architecture, Caribbean influences and famously independent personality have helped shape an arts community that feels as colorful and original as the island itself.
Can you experience that creative spirit in just one day? Absolutely. Many of Key West's most interesting galleries, museums and historic sites are concentrated in walkable Old Town, making an art-focused day trip surprisingly easy to plan.
Arrive aboard Key West Express, step off near the Historic Seaport and follow this flexible itinerary through a day of local art, island history and waterfront flavor. Because gallery hours and exhibitions can change, check each venue's official website before your trip and leave a little room for spontaneous discoveries along the way.
Key West is known for its beautiful sunsets, colorful architecture and laid-back island lifestyle, but beneath its tropical charm lies a fascinating history that spans centuries. From Native American settlements and Spanish explorers to literary legends, presidents and treasure hunters, the island has countless stories waiting to be discovered.
Corona Virus has forced us all to adjust how we work & play. Key West provides the perfect respite with sand between your toes and sunshine on your face on this idyllic island oasis. Relax, rejuvenate, mask up and social distance as you escape to the vacation spot of Pirates, Poets & Presidents.
There are so many fun, exciting, and historical things to do in Key West, that even despite challenging times, tourism has stable growth!
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.
