Things to Do in Key West, Florida

There are many fantastic things To Do in Key West, Florida. Everything from museums to deep sea fishing and from trolley tours to cemetery tours can be done within a relatively small area. In Key West, Florida, as in perhaps no where in the United States, there is actually something for everyone.

Famous Residents of Key West

For the active individual, renting a bike provides a great way to see the island�s attractions as well as an alternative for the cumbersome automobile. One of the attractions available daily is a tour of the home of Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway. This home, built in the Spanish colonial style, was the creation site for such novels as For Whom the Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms. Living in Key West from 1931 to 1961, Ernest Hemingway was the first important American writer to make this island his home. Another notable home in Key West is the Curry Mansion. Built in 1867 by Florida�s first millionaire, William Curry, the house is among the most elaborate of Key West. In 1989, the home was converted to an Inn and opened to visitors. Most recently, the Curry Mansion was named one of the ten best Bed and Breakfasts in the United States. In addition, the Curry Mansion has become a museum, holding many fine antique bookcases, chandeliers, and fireplaces.

Key West Attractions

Among the very first of Key West�s attractions, the Key West Aquarium was built in 1934. At the time, this was one of the first open-air aquariums in the United States. The Aquarium houses a Touch Tank, where visitors can enjoy learning about conchs, crabs, and sea urchins face to face. There are guided tours, shark and stingray feedings, and a 50,000 gallon Atlantic Shores exhibit. In this exhibit, visitors can view up-close the environment of the Key West coral reef, including barracudas, sea turtles, sharks, and birds. The Key West Aquarium is also home to a large movement to save the endangered sea turtle. The facility nurses and rehabilitates these beautiful reptiles back into the wild.

Key West Tours

Various tours also highlight a visit to Key West. The Conch Tour Train is by far the island�s most popular. For more than 25 years, this tour has highlighted some sixty unusual and historic Key West sites. Lasting over one and a half hours, this is also a good way for visitors to become familiar with the island�s layout. There is also a tour that specifically showcases the final resting places of some of Key West�s most famous and/or unusual citizens, known as the Cemetery Tour. The Old Town Trolley Tours are also worth a visit. On these authentically-styled trolleys, well-informed guides will take you back in time to a young Key West. Visitors may also be interested in obtaining information on the many personalized tours of the island.

Trips to famous eateries and night spots are also a "Must-Do" for the culinary visitor. Notable restaurants and pubs include Sloppy Joe�s, a well-known hangout for Ernest Hemingway, the Margaritaville Cafe, and Kelly�s, the restaurant of actress Kelly McGillis.