If you ever visit Miami or other parts of South Florida you should not miss the Florida Keys, a chain of beautiful islands, which are connected from the mainland until the town of Key West through the “Overseas highway”. There are over 200 islands in the Keys, some of them inhabited and further away from the chain of islands that you can visit by car. Around and under the Keys lays one of the biggest coral reefs worldwide which makes out of it a great place for snorkelling and diving.
Key West is a cute little town, which marks the end of the Keys and also the end of the mainland of the United States. At the edge of the town there is a colourful concrete marker, which symbolizes the most southern point of the continental United States and which is a popular tourist attraction for taking pictures. From here it is only 90 kilometres to Cuba!
Just a short walk from there you will find the city center of Key West. The style of the buildings is very charming and makes you feel a little bit like in earlier times. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and cafes, as the town has become a favoured destination for tourists. Also white sanded beaches with turquoise water and palm trees are close to town and invite to lazy beach days in a paradise-like surrounding.
A delicacy that comes from the Keys and which you should definitely not miss on trying is the famous Key Lime Pie. The yummy desert is similar to a cheesecake with lime (of course originally from the Keys) and can be found in pretty much every restaurant and cafe in the area. A delicious treat, perfect for warm days under the sun of South Florida!
Another special advice of me is to visit the daily sunset celebration in Key West. From the Mallory Square Doc you have a spectacular view on the sun setting into the Gulf of Mexico. The people of Key West literally make a “celebration” out of the sunset every day! The Square is always full of people, already some hours before the daylight disappears. Daily there are street performers, people selling crafts and art and stands with food. A great way to end the day in the lovely town of Key West!
If you have more time you should also check out the other islands of the keys through which you drive to Key West. Many beautiful corners to discover, although Key West stays my overall favorite of the keys!
If it is just for a quick stop for one day, at the end of a trip through the Keys, or for a couple days of relaxed vacation, Key West is a great place for a visit: a beautiful town, which great beaches and good foods- always worth a visit!
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