Is Key West worth visiting? It’s the question on your mind if you’re wondering if this vacation paradise is worth the hype. Friends who have visited Key West have probably told you about perfect weather, beautiful beaches, nightclubs spilling over with live music, sweet Key Lime Pie, and Ernest Hemingway’s famous cats. You’re almost curious enough to book your own Florida Keys vacation. However, you have questions about cost, hurricane season, distance, and the best things to do in Key West.
Let’s start by easing some worries. There are tons of direct flights to Key West International Airport from cities around the country. You can also drive in using U.S. Route 1 if you prefer. While hurricane season can sometimes bring storms, most travelers who come during the summer or fall don’t actually encounter storms. The rest of the year is almost 100% clear skies!
Is Key West worth it? Let’s just say there’s a reason why this is one of the most celebrated vacation spots in the United States. Visiting Key West means getting to explore a tropical island without updating your passport! As the main island of the Florida Keys, Key West offers more attractions and places to stay compared to other Florida Keys. Of course, regular visitors know that hopping from island to island is easy via the expansive Overseas Highway.
Key West Florida is the sweetest escape. Still need some convincing? Here’s a look at why so many people love Key West.
1) You Can Book Incredible Boat Excursions
Did you know that a hidden world is only a short boat ride away when you visit Key West? One of the best-kept secrets of Key West is its constellation of sandbars located away from main beaches. The only way to splash and prance among the sandbars is to book a private boat tour. The best part? This can be an affordable excursion for all!
We offer Key West’s best sandbar-hopping tours! Perfect for solo travelers, couples, families, or friend groups, our tours bring you out onto crystal-clear water to relax on peaceful sandbars amid Key West’s untouched, undiscovered beauty. There’s even a good chance you’ll encounter some marine life while you’re out there.
When Key West visitors voyage with Key West Boat Trips, they get away from the bustling beach crowds to enjoy snorkeling, swimming, scenic sunsets, and hopping from one sandbar to another. Only our experienced, friendly captains can whisk you away to experience:
The mangrove trails of Mud Key
Snipe Point
Lunch cruises that include a drift through backcountry waters, swimming, snorkeling, and a freshly made lunch!
Dinner cruises featuring a freshly prepared seafood dinner
Sunset cruises
Exploring remote Boca Grande Key with the option to go on to Woman Key and Ballast Key for more breathtaking sights
Make memories to last a lifetime with just a short boat ride to a hidden wonderland when you visit Key West. At Key West Boat Trips, our goal is to show you so many people love Key West. Book your excursion today!
2) It’s All About The Key West Beaches
Is Key West a good vacation spot for beaches? You bet! The island’s natural beauty rivals what you’d find at tropical and remote islands that require two to three times the cost and travel distance!
The great thing about Key West beaches is that there’s a little something for everyone. Almost all of the island’s beautiful beaches offer snorkeling. Most people consider Fort Zachary Taylor Beach the ultimate spot for snorkeling in Key West because it’s an easily accessible spot with a large variety of fish species and coral reefs. You can also easily pick up rental equipment nearby! Covering 54 acres, this beach area is teeming with soft coral, yellowtail snapper, parrotfish, and lobsters.
If you just want an easy public beach, Smathers Beach is the top pick. Key West’s largest public beach, Smathers lines the island’s south side along the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a top spot for beach volleyball, jet-ski rentals, and great swimming and sunbathing. The list of the best beaches in Key West also includes:
Higgs Beach
Rest Beach at C.B. Harvey Park
South Beach
Simonton Street Beach
3) You Will Fall In Love With The Lighthouse
No Key West landmark is as romanticized as the Key West Lighthouse. The original Key West Lighthouse was a 65-foot, 15-lamp tower built in 1825. The structure has a long history of ensuring the safe arrival of commercial and military vessels into the shallow waters of the Florida Keys. When you come today, you get the privilege of climbing 88 steps to the top to experience some of the most amazing views of Key West and its surrounding waters.
Sightseeing tip: If you love historic sites, the Key West Garden Club located at the West Martello Tower on Atlantic Blvd is a tropical paradise where beauty and history collide. Situated within a seaside Civil War-era fort, this attraction offers stunning garden rooms and clear coastal views for miles. It’s even listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
4) Conch Fritters Are Waiting
Is Key West worth visiting for the conch fritters alone? Many would tell you that biting into a juicy, flavorful fritter at a lively restaurant in Old Town Key West is more than worth the trip! Key West conch fritters are legendary.
They are made from conch chunks and vegetables that are fried in a rich, flavorful batter. These local delicacies are also typically served with a special chef’s sauce. Of course, no conch experience is complete without following up with a generous slice of Key Lime Pie.
5) There’s Nothing Like A Sunset At Mallory Square
The nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square is iconic, breathtaking, and absolutely FREE to the public. The crowds gather nightly about an hour before sunset to carry out a decades-long tradition of watching the sun go down just steps from the buzz of Duval Street.
Street performers and food trucks add some flair and flavor. This fun experience doesn’t cost a thing! Just show up!
6) Key West Will Give You Butterflies
While the sheer beauty of the beaches and architecture of Key West may put flutters in your stomach, that’s not what we’re talking about here! The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is an amazing place that will add to your list of reasons for being glad you chose a Key West vacation.
Conveniently located in the center of everything on Duval Street, the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is home to around 60 butterfly species from around the world. Guests get to bond with these winged creatures in a glass-enclosed, climate-controlled habitat. This is a great activity for families!
7) You Might See Sea Turtles
Is Key West a good vacation spot for animal lovers? Let’s just say that this is one of the only spots in the United States where you are very likely to see sea turtles in the wild.
Key West’s turtles nest from spring to fall. While visitors should never attempt to approach or disturb turtles, it’s not uncommon to stumble upon baby hatchlings crawling around!
8) There’s No Party Like A Duval Street Party
Running north to south from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean for a 1.25-mile stretch, Duval Street is Key West’s main downtown street. It’s also the hottest nightlife spot on the island.
You will still love Duval even if you prefer to settle in early. Duval’s location right in the heart of Old Town also makes it the main vein for getting to a long list of attractions that includes:
Old Town Trolley
World-famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar
Rick’s Bar (eight bars in one)
The Audubon House and Tropical Gardens
The Key West Aquarium
Old Town bars located between Simonton and Greene
9) Visiting Key West Florida Brings You To The Southernmost Point In The Continental United States
Talk about vacation bragging rights! There’s even a very photogenic landmark called the Southernmost Point Buoy anchored into the concrete at 1400 Whitehead Street.
Standing next to the buoy and taking a photo is a popular activity among visitors, it’s a tangible reminder of your trip to the Southernmost point. And did you know Key West is only 90 miles from Cuba?
Is Key West Worth It? Explore The Key West Area To Decide For Yourself
Getting down to Key West certainly can feel like a splurge compared to a trip that’s more “local.” However, no vacation experience gives you so much beauty and excitement per dollar! Of course, you don’t have to splurge every step of the way to have a great vacation. Many couples and families choose Key West for vacations because this destination offers so much value!
We keep the travel budgets of our clients in mind here at Key West Boat Trips. That’s why you may find our private sandbar boat trips to be surprisingly affordable. We can’t wait to pamper you with a few hours on the water. With so many itineraries to choose from, there’s a perfect option for everyone. Book your spot with us today!
The post Is Key West Worth Visiting? Discover The Charm Of This Tropical Paradise first appeared on Key West Boat Trips.
