I have heard that there is an entire underground in Key West that many visitors never experience. Does anyone know anything about this?

I've never heard of them.

Since Key West is at sea level (start digging and water water everywhere) I would imagine the only one with the technology to build tunnels would have been the military.

Also being that Key West is so strategically placed to Cuba, our military may have very well stored munitions and other things in tunnels.

Since our military has pulled out of Key West, who knows?

All I know is if I'm going to Key West, I'm not spending my time underground! I go to Key West for the sun and the sea!

Never heard of the "underground" in Key West....there are certainly places off the beaten path that first time visitors, or returning visitors for that matter, might not ever see....but I've never really heard of an underground...

Is this like the "Basement at the Alamo"?

Is it possible that the poster is misinterpreting the word "underground" -- having heard of a figurative, not literal underground?

That's how I took it.....maybe the OP means more "local's only" hangouts as opposed to the usual tourist places...?

Well, Googling it brought up nothing, and the only thing literally underground that I can think of is the basement of the Hemingway house, so I'm going to guess it's a figurative underground.

Thanks for all of your lively posts. I did not mean underground in the literal sense.......but in the sense it is 'alternative, subversive, and antiestablishment culture.

I think underground is where they place the tourists that spent too much time at Hog's Breath and/or Sloppy Joe's..........

That pretty much sums up the locals...you can pretty much find anything you want...

Most of Key West is underground. A city with a very colerful, alternative, put it out there, creative lifestyle.

Because I consider Key West so underground on the whole, I just figured you were speaking literally.

OK, now I get it. Yes, you have perfectly described what Key West is!

"I did not mean underground in the literal sense.......but in the sense it is 'alternative, subversive, and antiestablishment culture."

Until about twenty years ago, KW was the end of the world, where you could find colorful escapees from life, some willing to tell their stories for a beer... I used to tell my wife that she could find my remains there if i ever disappeared.... all of that changed with the parrothead generation making their treks to see what Buffett was talking about.... along came the big money, property values soared and Key West today is just an amusement park for middle-aged vacationers.

The salty characters are gone, many retreating to middle keys, where a shack or trailer can be had... there is a large transient population of tourist servers from restaurant workers to T-shirt hawkers, a shrinking gay population and pockets of Cuban and Island replants trying to hang on to their small piece of KW despite the huge real estate boom.

Key West twenty years ago was genuine charm... now its becoming Disney Key West Experience... now hiring Salty Characters...

Interestingly enough, many of the "old characters" who have left Key West have settled in the North Central Florida area. Maybe because they could buy more land than they ever dreamed of in the Keys? Don't know, but they definitely bought up plenty from Ocala to Lake City.

Here's a thread about a place in Key West you might enjoy, but keep an eye on your money, cell phone, keys, and clothes.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34704528

Thanks for all the spirited responces.
I love the one from Wally! His story is a hoot. I plan on visiting The Garden of Eden........!
And I love the Hog's Breath! Last time we got on the video cam and waved hello to all our friends back home.

Most of the touristy descriptions of things to do in Key West boil down to
-walk up/down Duval
-Sloppy Joe's
-Margueritaville
-T-shirt
-sunset at the Mallory Docks
-done

Underground Key West might include
-Santiago's Bodega
-Eric's Bodega
-West Martello Tower
-Salud!
-White Street Pier
-bruinch at Sunset Key
-sunset at the La Concha

"Undergrounds" Key West is pretty much non-Duval Street.

Pjk