Key West charms with activity, history, sun, sand, safety and a fun train to tour the town
- Cookie & Keller
- Jan 6, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 16
U.S. TRAVELERS ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THE LIVELY YET LAID BACK FLORIDA KEYS IN OUR BACK YARD
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
"The Carpe Diem Kids"
Editor's Note: This piece was updated July 17, 2026
WHEN ONE yearns for balmy breezes, fun food and the soothing sound of the sea, it's not necessary to book a ticket to Fiji, the Canaries or French Polynesia.
Those are beautiful places, but with the time, angst and red tape necessary to enjoy foreign travel, U.S. citizens looking for somewhere close can't do better than Key West, Florida.
Key West charms are abundant
OUR COUNTRY'S southernmost subtropical paradise is a unique blend of all that we seasoned travelers yearn for: perfect climate, the beauty of nature on both land and sea, flowers galore, cultural diversity, history, and a romantic appeal that one usually has to go to another continent to enjoy.
ALL OF THAT MAKES Key West attractive to us, with one huge additional advantage. We're still in the good old U.S., and don't have to fill out entry forms and paperwork to experience the new.
It's fairly easy to head for south Florida. The many Key West charms include its wide array of enticements. They combine to give the town enormous appeal.
There's the exotic amenities one looks for in foreign travel: interesting architecture, new food options, history with an opportunity to learn, top hotels, comforting familiar language and enlightening nature experiences. There's also a fine butterfly conservatory and world-famous museums, including Mel Fisher's fascinating one, where one views artfully curated treasures found on the shipwrecked Atocha.
If you want to see the sights without the expense of renting a car, the wonderful Old Town Trolley offers is a delightful way to get around with access to nearly everything of interest.
It picked us up at our Hampton Inn to transit famous Key West streets and squares, popular local places and tourist attractions ranging from the fine Key West Aquarium, Key West Lighthouse, the shops and restaurants of Mallory Square and other historical and entertaining places.
Key West's history is filled with drama and the amiable, well informed trolley guides share the history with colorful anecdotes, engaging stories and humorous asides. You'll see the coffee shop where President Harry Truman ditched the secret service at his Florida White House to share a morning cuppa with Florida friends. You'll see key lime pie adverts and get tips on the best places. You'll stop near Ernest Hemingway's lovely home and see how the writer lived and worked -- with his adored six-toed cats.
A wonderful museum is housed in a historic building run by the non-profit Key West Art and Historical Society.
Cigar making was once a huge industry in Key West and Island Cigar Company still sells them. Key West has a rich cigar history, but most stogies in the Keys are now made in other parts of Latin America with tobacco grown from Cuban seeds.
More highlights of Key West charms
Watersports abound in Key West, with sunset sails, dolphin and snorkel watching, eco and paddleboardours and many other options, including a wonderful rare opportunity to sail on General George Patton's custom made schooner
"When and If," which he designed and hoped to sail with his wife around the world "when and if" World War II ended. Sadly, Patton died in 1945 and didn't accomplish his world sailing tour. He did sail it up and down the East Coast, and Chesapeake Bay, and down into Key West, according to biographers. (More about this lovely boat later.)
OTHER TOWNS in the U.S. -- including our own San Diego -- have successfully introduced Old Town Trolley. The entertaining trolley operation also runs in Savannah, Washington D.C., St. Augustine, Boston and Nashville.
For more info: https://fla-keys.com/key-west/
UP NEXT: Our visit to Key West and the Florida Keys continues with a look at two famous fellows who loved the place. Famed author Ernest Hemingway lived many years in Key West, and President Harry S. Truman set up a White House in this charming Florida town. Both made friends with the locals and enjoyed the leisurely, warm and inviting life the climate and temperament offer. Descendants of Hemingway's famed six-toed cats roam the place as privileged, pampered pets. Truman's beloved vacation home gives insight into why he loved Key West. Both homes are interesting museums. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us each week for a fresh look at travel, nature, family, the arts: www.whereiscookie.com
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