A Spanish stone fort, Key lime pie and turquoise water at the end of a highway built over the sea. Florida is more than theme parks: old Spanish towns and laid-back island life.
Hemingway Home, shipwreck treasures and Fort Zachary Taylor give three days in Key West distinct shapes, with Old Town streets and waterfront evenings between them. Allow three full sightseeing days, with arrival and departure outside the plan, so the beach morning and daily accommodation breaks remain part of the stay. In this guide Your base, […]
Fort Jefferson’s vaulted gun chambers and brick ramparts give Dry Tortugas a reason to visit beyond the beach. On Garden Key, you can explore the fort independently, eat a picnic lunch and choose a swim or snorkel from South Swim Beach. The ferry excursion from Key West is a full day, with both sea crossings […]
Driving from Bayfront Park in Miami to Key West’s Historic Seaport suits you best if you want to choose your departure and stop along the Keys. Allow room for traffic and weather when planning your arrival. The coach offers a no-driving alternative, with taxi journeys needed at both ends. In this guide Driving or taking […]
Choose the first two weeks of December for a sightseeing-led stay in Key West, before the Christmas and New Year rush puts greater pressure on streets and accommodation. Winter suits time outdoors, but mild air does not promise warm water or calm seas. January offers a softer stretch between holiday surges, while February is generally […]
Pack lightweight casual clothes, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a removable light layer for Key West. Add rainwear for the wet season and water shoes if you plan to swim at Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. A compact wardrobe can cover town walks and dinner without a separate outfit for every evening. In this guide […]
Latitudes on Sunset Key calls for upscale resort attire, so choose a dining outfit rather than clothes for swimming. You can keep the look relaxed: a collared shirt with neat shorts or lightweight trousers, or a casual dress, makes a straightforward starting point. There is no need to turn the meal into a formalwear occasion. […]
Key West’s most rewarding first visits bring you inside Hemingway’s house, out to Fort Zachary Taylor’s fort and beach, and down to Mallory Square for sunset. Together, they offer literary history, a coastal break and the waterfront gathering that helps define the island. Choose a few substantial visits rather than trying to collect every landmark. […]
Finding parking for a visit to Mallory Square means choosing between a space you can drive straight to and a street space you may have to search for. A free space is only useful if the walk and the permitted stay suit your visit. Think about the return to the car as well as the […]
Key West Lobsterfest brings Florida spiny lobster to the stalls, bars and restaurant tables of Old Town. Duval Street hosts the public fair and live music, while the wider programme includes a lobster boil, pool parties and a reserved Sunday brunch. Choose the street fair for browsing and music, or a ticketed meal for a […]
Hemingway Days brings Ernest Hemingway’s writing and larger-than-life public image together in Key West each July, around his birthday. At Sloppy Joe’s Bar, bearded look-alikes compete onstage, while literary readings, a dockside Fish-Off and a comic bull procession offer different ways to join the celebration. You can enjoy the festival without entering the contest, whether […]
Christmas in Key West suits you if you want waterfront lights, community parades or a festive outing by boat or bicycle. The Key West Historic Seaport is the focus for nautical displays and decorated vessels, while hosted rides and inn tours offer other ways to join in. Christmas Day itself is different from the earlier […]
Higgs Beach in Key West suits a day built around sand, a pier walk and time outdoors with children. Choose it for a shore visit rather than a swim while the active health advisory applies. Its generally shallow water is part of its usual appeal, but shallow depth does not make water contact safe. Reynolds […]
The Saint Augustine Film Festival brings independent films from around the world to St Augustine, with screenings at Flagler College venues and opportunities to hear from visiting filmmakers. Choose the films you want to see before deciding how much of the festival to attend. Individual admission suits a selective visit, while the All Access Pass […]
Anastasia State Park gives you an Atlantic beach, a dune walk and paddling on Salt Run, while St Augustine’s smaller parks serve more specific purposes. Fort Mose adds historical interpretation and birdwatching, Hayling offers a riverside pause, and Davenport gives children room to play. Choose the outing that fits your interests rather than trying to […]
A museum visit in St Augustine can mean studying Tiffany glass, listening to a house tour or following a pirate treasure map. Choose Lightner Museum if you want one broad introduction to decorative arts and historic architecture. The other four choices suit more specific interests, from colonial homes to African American community history, so you […]
St Augustine’s live music gives you three quite different evenings: local bands at Colonial Oak Music Park, a downtown bar gig at Tradewinds Lounge, or a touring artist at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Choose the setting as well as the music: the downtown venues suit a casual evening out, while an island concert makes the […]
The Sprout Kitchen is the straightforward choice for a plant-based breakfast in St Augustine, with The Works sprouted bagel on its Charlotte Street menu. For a more substantial breakfast or lunch on West King Street, Buena Onda offers a Breakfast Burrito made vegan with specified substitutions. Crave Downtown and The Manatee Cafe offer two further […]
You can visit St Augustine without a car, especially if you stay near the historic centre. Castillo de San Marcos and the streets around Plaza de la Constitución fit into a visit on foot. Anastasia Island, the lighthouse and the beach call for a separate transport choice, with attention to the return journey as well […]
New Year’s Eve in St Augustine offers early beach fireworks as well as celebrations that carry on to midnight. St Augustine Beach and Vilano Beach have separate public displays, while Plaza de la Constitución gives you a starting point for an evening among the historic district’s holiday lights. Choose your evening base before choosing dinner […]
A coffee break in St Augustine can centre on a drink or on the place you sit. The Kookaburra’s original Cathedral Place shop has a honey-spiced signature latte, while Relámpago Coffee Lab puts its own roasting at the heart of the stop. Crucial Coffee Café offers a garden patio, City Perks brings Cuban coffee to […]
Dog Rose Brewing Co., Bog Brewing Company and Old Coast Ales give you three ways to sit down with a local beer in St Augustine. Choose Lincolnville for a drink with taproom games, West King for an ale made with smoked local peppers, or Anastasia Island for a coffee brown ale and a separate taco […]
At St. Augustine Beach, bring non-alcoholic beach drinks, keep your dog physically controlled and park off the sand if your vehicle cannot enter. City rules govern the central public beach, while St. Johns County rules govern county-managed beaches and vehicle access. The St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier park offers an off-sand alternative, with […]
You can take a pet dog onto the public beach at St Augustine Beach, provided you keep it restrained and follow the applicable access hours. City rules and St Johns County guidance give different time and lead conditions, so do not treat public-beach permission as unrestricted access. Anastasia State Park is different: its beach and […]
St Augustine’s history is not confined to ticketed attractions. At Mission Nombre de Dios you can explore a waterfront religious site, while the lawns outside Castillo de San Marcos reveal the fort’s defensive shape. Add Greek religious art, public history exhibitions and a community gallery, and you can build a varied first visit without buying […]
Hemingway Home, shipwreck treasures and Fort Zachary Taylor give three days in Key West distinct shapes, with Old Town streets and waterfront evenings between them. Allow three full sightseeing days, with arrival and departure outside the plan, so the beach morning and daily accommodation breaks remain part of the stay. In this guide Your base, […]
Fort Jefferson’s vaulted gun chambers and brick ramparts give Dry Tortugas a reason to visit beyond the beach. On Garden Key, you can explore the fort independently, eat a picnic lunch and choose a swim or snorkel from South Swim Beach. The ferry excursion from Key West is a full day, with both sea crossings […]
Driving from Bayfront Park in Miami to Key West’s Historic Seaport suits you best if you want to choose your departure and stop along the Keys. Allow room for traffic and weather when planning your arrival. The coach offers a no-driving alternative, with taxi journeys needed at both ends. In this guide Driving or taking […]
Choose the first two weeks of December for a sightseeing-led stay in Key West, before the Christmas and New Year rush puts greater pressure on streets and accommodation. Winter suits time outdoors, but mild air does not promise warm water or calm seas. January offers a softer stretch between holiday surges, while February is generally […]
Pack lightweight casual clothes, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a removable light layer for Key West. Add rainwear for the wet season and water shoes if you plan to swim at Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. A compact wardrobe can cover town walks and dinner without a separate outfit for every evening. In this guide […]
Latitudes on Sunset Key calls for upscale resort attire, so choose a dining outfit rather than clothes for swimming. You can keep the look relaxed: a collared shirt with neat shorts or lightweight trousers, or a casual dress, makes a straightforward starting point. There is no need to turn the meal into a formalwear occasion. […]
Key West’s most rewarding first visits bring you inside Hemingway’s house, out to Fort Zachary Taylor’s fort and beach, and down to Mallory Square for sunset. Together, they offer literary history, a coastal break and the waterfront gathering that helps define the island. Choose a few substantial visits rather than trying to collect every landmark. […]
Finding parking for a visit to Mallory Square means choosing between a space you can drive straight to and a street space you may have to search for. A free space is only useful if the walk and the permitted stay suit your visit. Think about the return to the car as well as the […]
Key West Lobsterfest brings Florida spiny lobster to the stalls, bars and restaurant tables of Old Town. Duval Street hosts the public fair and live music, while the wider programme includes a lobster boil, pool parties and a reserved Sunday brunch. Choose the street fair for browsing and music, or a ticketed meal for a […]
Hemingway Days brings Ernest Hemingway’s writing and larger-than-life public image together in Key West each July, around his birthday. At Sloppy Joe’s Bar, bearded look-alikes compete onstage, while literary readings, a dockside Fish-Off and a comic bull procession offer different ways to join the celebration. You can enjoy the festival without entering the contest, whether […]
