JeanH Key West
 

We will be visiting Key West off a cruise ship can you tell me things to do and places see? Thanks

The key issue is how much time you'll have. Some cruise ships dock a full day and others only a half. How long will you be there?

There are lots of posts about Key West. If you click "Florida" above and then type "Key West" as your search parameter, you can be reading for hours!

Enjoy.

If you want to shop and get decent prices, head up Duval Street as far away from Mallory Square as you can. It will amaze you how much cheaper everything is, the farther away you get. You can bargain more, too.

Take a walk along Whitehead Street, it's great. You can also take one of the shuttles that will give you a tour of the entire island. The Bone Island Shuttle is air conditioned (which can be nice if it's a really hot day.) Head over to the seaport area and see the marina with all the boats and shops. It's a nice walk along the water. Lots of places to look at antiques in KW, also. You certainly won't be bored.

As Susan mentioned one of the biggest issues is time. I would consider Hemingway House a 'must see'. Take one of his books along on your cruise, I'd almost guarantee that you'll want to read one after taking the tour if you haven't read them before. Hemingway House is fairly close to Blue Heaven, if you're there around meal time, it's a fun place, if you don't mind chickens and cats around.

By the time you've walked that far from the cruise ship dock, it's probably time for a drink. La Te Da has a fun little open air bar that's good for people watching. Then head for the touristy 'southernmost point'. Just a giant sized buoy sitting there. Fun photo op. Says '90 miles to Cuba' on the buoy. Last time we were there we were just a couple months away from a journey to Havana, it's really hard to believe it's only 90 miles, Cuba is another world away. But, I digress.

Then I'd wander slowly back down the other side of Duval. There are some fun art galleries along there. Simonton Street also has some things to look at, if you want to walk back toward the ship on a different street (one block over).

After that long hike, I'd head to the docks. I just like the 'feel' down there. Friendly people, lots more locals. Nice place to hang out.

If you're a history buff we found the tour of the 'Little White House' to be pretty interesting. It's where Harry Truman spent his vacations. Good tour guides.

Another 'tourist' attraction is truly the cemetary. Lots of history, and lots of shall we say, interesting, epitaphs (sp). If you can get your hands on a copy of Sharon Well's walking tour magazine, there is truly a wealth of information. And it's free.

If it's still there, a great store for Key West souvenirs is a place on Simonton called, of all things, 'Pelican Poop'. Quite the name.

Hope you have a fun day in Key West.

Jean