Activities in the Keys
Mallory Square
Mallory Square is THE place to be in Key West for the sunset. Located on the water, this big space is filled with performers of all kinds as well as some funky booths selling homemade wares and even some fortune tellers! There is a sunset festival here every night, and everyone comes out for the fun. We saw an interesting performer called the "Cat Man" who does a show filled with a series of tricks by his highly trained cats. Walking down the square is so much fun because there are so many sights and sounds: calypso music, ships sailing on the water, people watching, and more. We got the cutest fresh pineapple drink served in a carved pineapple! It was so delicious, and looked even cuter in pictures...what can I say, I do it for the snap/gram half the time lol. Before dinner, we went inside a few gift shops, including a cigar shop that sold some cigars that were as close to authentic "Cubans"as you can get in the United States. We were only 90 miles from Cuba, after all!
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Duval Street
Pretty much synonymous with Key West, Duval Street is the happening spot all day, every day in this fun city. Duval is where you'll find bars galore, including Hog's Breath Saloon, Dante's, and Sloppy Joe's, as well as a few eccentric shops, tons of delicious restaurants, places to pick up a last minute souvenir, and much more! There are always so many sights to see on this lively street no matter what time of day it is!
Museums & Such
While exploring Key West, we went to a few museums. There is so much art and history in this city, and it's all showcased throughout. We visited the Shipwreck Museum, which had a lot of cool things found in the waters around Key West on display, as well as history of specific boats, scuba diving, and famous sailors. It reminded me of The Little Mermaid inside and was super neat! With our tickets to that museum, we got tickets to the aquarium next door, then headed over to the Audubon gallery. As a daughter of parents from Louisiana, I am familiar with Audubon's prints, so this was a beautiful gallery to wander around in. Also next door is Audubon's Key West home, which we did not get to see this trip, although it was beautiful outside.
Hemingway House
If you like stunning decor, 6-toed cats, and books, then you'll love touring Ernest Hemingway's Key West home. This was by far my favorite thing that we did in Key West. His house is absolutely beautiful and wonderfully preserved. Tour the home either with a guide or on your own and learn about the life of one of the most famous writers of the 20th century. Prices of admission are $14 for adults and $6 for children. On your tour, you will get to read all about Hemingway and his famous novels, tour inside and outside the gorgeous home, and maybe even run into one of the famous 6-toed cats, or 12! My favorite area of the house was his separate writing room. I loved the rattan furniture and Cuban vibes. This is a must-do in Key West!
