Weekend Guide: Key West, FL
There’s much more to a weekend in Key West, Florida, than Mallory Square sunsets and Ernest Hemingway look-alikes.
Sitting just 150 miles south of Miami and 90 miles north of Havana, Key West’s brightly painted homes and colorful crowds have become its calling card. And while the thriving nightlife is an obvious draw, don’t be surprised to find a number of fine art galleries and yachting pursuits. Whether enjoying an ocean view lunch in earshot of the famed local chickens or taking in street performers who throw flames in the square, you’ll find that the hidden highlights of this island only continue to grow year after year.
Friday
Check-In
Escaping from the hustle and bustle of downtown Key West is as easy as checking into The Laureate Key West. This coastal-chic, all-suite resort, located right on the bay, is the perfect starting point for exploring the vibrant culture of Key West. For the ultimate seclusion, Sunset Key Cottages is located on a 27-acre island seven minutes away by boat from Key West, so you too can have a private escape from the city.
Indulge
Simonton Street’s Better Than Sex restaurant reinforces the southernmost outpost’s free spirit and specializes in one type of food group: sweets. Staples items include Chocolate Grilled Cheese and Kinky Key Lime Pie, as well as drinks like Argentinean wines served in chocolate-rimmed goblets and apple-infused beer in caramel-lined glasses. That’s one way to start a trip.
Saturday
Detour
It may seem a bit morbid, but taking a tour of the 20-acre Key West Cemetery with the Key West Historical Society reveals the kooky, for-the-fun-of-it mentality that floats through the sweet, humid air – even in death. Quirky epitaphs include a large white crypt upon which the phrase “I told you I was sick” is inscribed and pink granite gravestones for three Yorkshire terriers and a pet deer named Elfina. Tours are offered twice a week by staff, call 305-292-6718 for reservations.
Underwater
Since it was scuttled in 2009, the 523-foot long USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg has become a popular diving site for its plethora of sponges, arrow crabs, and patrolling barracudas. This easily accessible – just seven miles south of Key West – wreck is the second largest artificial reef in the world with plenty of nooks to explore along its bridge, main deck, and giant dish antennas.
Big Fish
Veteran fisherman and Key West fishing guide, Captain Mark Schmidt, uses his 40+ years of experience to help guide both novice fishermen and seasoned anglers out at sea. Choose your own adventure on Sundance Charters and voyage out to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, depending on what catch you’re after. A day offshore makes for one reel good day.
Sunday
Caffeine Boost
Before heading home, a Cuban to-go is a must – that’s a coffee, anyway. The not-watered-down iced coffee at the Cuban Coffee Queen gives an extra perk to the average Joe. Here, cubes for iced coffee are actually frozen blocks of straight coffee. A morning staple for groggy locals, too, the colorful shack is within walking distance of the water and sports a scenic Key West postcard mural.
Where to Stay The Laureate Key West | Sunset Key Cottages | Opal Key Resort & Marina | The Capitana Key West
