Key West, Florida, USA Holiday Review - What an interesting place

Submitted by: Rebecca
Date of travel: 18-May-2009

We drove to Key West from Miami one Monday morning. I had wanted to go here for years and years and finally we had gotten around to it during a tour of Southern Florida. We took the overseas highway down through the Keys and were very excited about the prospect. About five hours later of 40mph single track road we arrived in Key West and decided that if we were to come again we would fly! You definately have to drive it once I think but once is enough! It is beautiful and there are some lovely stopping points for photo ops but the Key towns are overly pretty and are generally a line of shops and cafes before you get back to the road again. Key West though was a different matter. It had a real old US town feel about it. The older part with all the Conch styles of architecture was just lovely and we enjoyed wandering around the local streets just looking at the different styles. Duvall Street is the main tourist area and is a very long street full of bars and eateries! The Conch train goes from this road and you can sign up for one of the two local ghost tours. Really the tourism is centred around here and its a good place to start if that is what you are here for. We were only staying for two nights and had really come for one main thing, what Key West is about in my eyes, sunset from Mallory Square, just off of Duvall Street. We did the Conch train tour and I personally found it to be an extortionate waste of money! It cost $30 each to ride in an exceedingly cramped train for about an hour and a half. You couldn't get off to explore anywhere and it was definately just about getting your money. I think you're better off getting a good guide book and working it out for yourself to be honest. We also did one of the ghost tours,the one where they don't dress up! That was also expensive but really brilliant. We learnt more about Key West on that and had interaction with the guide who answered our questions (unlike the train driver who told people off for talking!). Ghost tour is very highly recommended. We had a drive around ourselves and managed to take the photos they wouldn't let us take on the train ride, obligatory photo next to Southernmost buoy showing 90 miles to Cuba etc. We did watch the sunset from Mallory Square and loved all the entertainment in the hour leading up to sunset. Also had a walk around Key West Cemetary looking for the headstone that says "See I told you I was sick". Didn't find it. I really loved the atmosphere in Key West. I can't wait to go back there. We didn't have long enough there really and I would like to explore a little more. I would also be more prepared for it next time. It is expensive and there is definitely a lot aimed and getting your tourist dollar out of you but it can be done cheaper if you are prepared. Definintely worth a visit.