Key West is a destination that offers an endless range of activities. Staying busy in this city is certainly never a problem. But, what about when you are NOT busy? Where will you spend the hours of the day when you want to rest and refresh so that you’re prepared for what the next day has in store?

Whether you’re in The Keys for a fast paced, water sports vacation or chilling on the beaches and cafes, you can choose a Key West inn, hotel or bed and breakfast in Key West that can accommodate your trip. There is truly something for every vacation style and budget. To help you choose the right place to stay, consider the following.

Know What You Want Ideally

You’ve heard it before: Location. Location. Location. Plan in advance and know where you’ll be spending most of your vacation time. Do you expect to be in the historic part of town? An historic Key West inn may be a nice selection. Do you have a “must see” landmark? Perhaps a bed and breakfast in Key West is just around the corner. A condo overlooking the water might be just answer for beachcombers. Because there is so much diversity packed into this little island, knowing where you want to stay can help you select your accommodations.

Health Issues And Your Choice

Knowing your own health limitations will also make a difference in your Key West inn selection. If for example, you have a sensitive stomach or a food allergy you wouldn’t want to choose a bed and breakfast in Key West that provides your morning meal every day. It may not be wise to select a hotel that offers a package that can’t accommodate your special dietary needs. Instead, a Key West inn or hotel that allows you to order from a menu and retain full control over your meals would be a better selection.

Weigh The Beauty Of Your Surroundings

If you are the kind of vacationer that goes, goes, goes all day long only to crash in a bed and get up at the crack of dawn and do it again, the aesthetics of your surrounds may not be as important to you as to some visitors. However, if WHERE you stay is as important to you as WHAT you do - consider exactly what it is that you are looking for.

If you’re looking for elegant, plush surroundings, a Key West inn suite may suit your needs. Looking for local charm and character? You may be interested in a bed and breakfast in Key West. A resort location may better fit the needs of a traveler who wants to lounge in a lush setting and drink margaritas from the pool side tiki bar.

From secluded, private settings to party crowds; know what you want, and you’ll surely find accommodations to meet your needs in Key West Inns, hotels, resorts and bed and breakfast in Key West.

Christine O’Kelly is an author for the specialists at Key West Inns. Whether you’re looking for a historic Key West inn or bed and breakfast in Key West, Key West Historic Inns offers a selection.

Key West, an island of sun and sand off the Florida coast, truly is the perfect vacation. With so much to see and just as much to do, it is no small wonder that this tiny island off Florida’s coast is a perennial favorite for families, groups of friends, and lovers of all ages. However, one thing that cannot be over looked is good accommodations. Without a nice place to lay your head, even the best planned vacation can suffer from fatigue, lethargy, and early burn out.

Finding the right Key West hotels and lodging options for you and your family doesn’t have to be hard. With a little planning and some information, anyone can make the right choice on Key West accommodations. This article looks at Key West inns, condos, and Key West hotels.

Key West Inns And Guest Houses

One of the truly unique features of a city like Key West is the number and variety of its guest houses and inns. There is a great business in renovating large Victorian homes and mansions into sprawling and intimate guest houses and inns.

When you stay at one of these homes, you are a guest as well as a patron. It is a great way to enjoy Key West as an individual and feel as though you are staying at the home of a friend. Inns and guest houses are meticulously decorated and feature beautiful amenities and stunning decoration.

Condominiums - For An Extended Stay Or When You Need Your Space

If you are planning to stay in Key West for more than a few weeks, you may want to consider longer term accommodations. Staying in a condo will give you flexibility if your departure date is subject to change. Most condos in Key West are rented on a month to month basis. However, if your stay is slightly less than that, there are still plenty of condominium options out there.

A condo will also give you the space you may desire during your stay on the island. Most come complete with a kitchenette, living quarters, private bathroom, and bedrooms. If privacy is important to you, this is not a bad option. Luxury condos and renovated lofts can be found in Key West beach front and downtown neighborhoods.

Key West Hotels - The Standard

There are many options when looking for Key West hotels. From the chain services to smaller mom and pop outfits to high rise luxury suites, there is no shortage of options when searching for Key West hotels.

Rooms at Key West hotels vary depending on which one you choose. Many offer a bedroom and bathroom with a small corner office. However, some go to the max and offer plush accommodations and lush decor. Finding the right one for you just takes knowing what you need and require from a room and knowing which Key West hotels your budget will afford. Other things to think about would be location and access to transportation. Many hotels are situated on taxi routes giving you access to the entire city.

Christine O’Kelly writes for the Key West hotels experts at Best on Key West. They provide information on lodging and booking day trips and activities in America’s southern most city.

The Dry Tortugas are a string of 7 islands about 70 miles off the coast of Key West. The islands are part of America’s National Park System. Visiting the island can be tricky - a private boat is not a feasible option - however charters, ferries, and catamaran services can get you right on to the island without any trouble.

Once on the islands, there are many things to do and to enjoy. From white sand beaches and spectacular swimming and snorkeling, to visiting two out of the way lighthouses, to witnessing the marvel that is Fort Jefferson, touring the Dry Tortugas is a fun way to learn a lot about history and nature. This article explores 3 of the island chain’s best attractions.

Snorkel The Dry Tortugas

Just off the coast of the island chain are some of the most pristine and well protected waters on the North American coast. The waters are the site of a protected marine sanctuary. This affords you the amazing opportunity to snorkel in some of the cleanest, clearest water in the Northern Hemisphere. The area is rich with tropical fish and living coral, it is a vast ecosystem just below our own.

Around the islands’ coasts also lie many sunken ships, which have been transformed by time and nature into beautiful marine habitats for the life below — a marvel to see.

The Lighthouses On Dry Tortugas

On the island chain, sit two lighthouses. On the island of Garden Key, the Tortug Harbour Light stands inoperable. The lighthouse was built in 1822 to help alleviate shipwrecks and guide vessels to port. However, it did not prove large enough so in 1858 the Dry Tortugas Lighthouse was finished on Loggerhead Key. The torch was first lit in 1858 and the lighthouse became fully automated in 1988.

The lighthouses hold the distinction of being the only two on the Gulf Coast to remain operational throughout the Civil War. A must see for history buffs and those interested in architecture.

The Great Fort On The Dry Tortugas

Fort Jefferson, a 16 million brick fortress is known as the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. It is a marvel of engineering and most notably a military ghost town.

Construction began in 1846 and was never completed, it simply continued until the fort was abandoned in 1874. During the Civil War, the fort became a military prison and housed 4 men convicted as co-conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In 1935, Fort Jefferson was named a national monument and in 1992, the fort was incorporated into the Dry Tortugas National Park in an effort to better preserve and protect this piece of military history.

A trip from Key West to the secluded island chain is not short. On average, the trip takes about 2 hours by sea. But with so much to see once you get there, it is well worth the boat ride. But in Key West, even the trips and traveling are part of the fun and adventure.

Christine O’Kelly writes for the Key West attractions experts at Best on Key West. They provide information on Key West activities like the Dry Tortugas.

With plenty of great sights and sounds, an innumerable amount of attractions to visit, and so many things to do in Key West, it is no wonder the island has become a vacation hot spot among families, friends, and couples looking for a tropical getaway, fun in the sun, or a relaxing reprieve from the busy world.

But with so much going on in Key West, it is hard to know what to see, where to visit, and which attractions, events, and locales are local favorites. If your vacation is not complete without some local flair, read on. These are four things to do in Key West are a little off the beaten path, and a whole lot of fun.

Visit A Baby Conch Farm

For the nature buff at heart, this is the perfect sightseeing trip. The Mote Marine Laboratory has been working for the past five decades to advance sea science and replenish the depleting number of conch in the oceans.

One of the most informational things to do in Key West, visitors to the laboratory get to see up close sciences battle to retain homeostasis in the Earth’s oceans. One of the biggest surprises, the tour’s price, it’s free — a great family outing.

Take In A Reading At The Robert Frost Poetry Festival

The listing of notable writers who have lived in Key West sounds like a reading of a Who’s Who of modern literature. Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and Robert Frost all spent time on the island’s sandy shores and sought inspiration from the sea air.

Since 1994, every April, the Key West Robert Frost Poetry Festival renders the island electric with verse. So of the best and brightest in the poetry world flock to the island for 5 days of readings, workshops, and awards. It is one of the most enlightening things to do in Key West.

Go To Sloppy Joe’s For A Pint And Some Inspiration

When you can list Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet as clientele, you know you’re doing something right. Since opening its doors on December 5, 1933 (the day prohibition was repealed), Sloppy Joe’s has been serving up suds in a relaxing, inviting environment. After opening, the bar changed its name twice and moved once before finally catching its stride. It has since become a favorite among locals and visitors, both of whom flock to the bar nightly.

Buffet and Hemingway have both come to Sloppy Joe’s in their respective searches for inspiration. This is one of the most relaxing things to do in Key West.

Get In Touch With Nature At The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

One of the newer things to do in Key West is Butterfly & Nature Conservatory. The conservatory is home to over 50 different species of exotic butterfly, along with tropical birds and diverse plant life.

The conservatory is kept at 85 degrees, which makes it one of the hottest things to do in Key West. It is a perfect daytime outing for families with small children, those who love nature, or anyone who wants to see something new.

Christine O’Kelly writes for the Key West inn experts at Key West Historic Inns. They provide lodging and information on things to do in Key West.

Swimming, snorkeling, and diving in Key West all involve the crystal clear waters. However, one of the most important factors they share in common is that you must take proper safety precautions so you are safe to enjoy your Key West adventure. Being aware of the rules and certifications required for swimming, snorkeling, and diving in Key West can mean the difference in having a fun experience and endangering your life.

To ensure your trip to Key West is not only fun, but also safe, consider the following three aspects of swimming, diving, or snorkeling in Key West. Whether you just want to take a dip or you’re scuba diving in Key West to the depths of the sea, these three things will ensure you are safe to swim again.

Get Certified If You Want To Scuba Dive

Scuba diving in Key West is a remarkable experience filled with incredible underwater sights that are almost hard to believe. However, before booking a trip for scuba diving in Key West, go ahead and get scuba certified. If you are already certified, check the qualifications required for every dive to make sure you have the qualifications necessary to participate. If you don’t have the required qualifications, seek additional training.

If you’re already in Key West, seeking additional certifications isn’t a problem because there are many companies that offer scuba certification courses right there. They can help you get scuba diving in Key West sooner than you might think. Ranging from refresher courses for vacationers or full certification courses for those serious about scuba diving in Key West, you will find the class that will get you under the water in no time.

Snorkeling In Key West Is Fun For Everyone

If you don’t want to take a class, but want to get in the water for an underwater experience, consider snorkeling in Key West. Since snorkeling in Key West doesn’t require any special training, it offers fun for everyone, regardless of age or skill level. With only a little basic instruction, you can be checking out underwater sea life quickly. Even though snorkeling in Key West doesn’t require training, getting some instruction is a good idea, especially if you will be snorkeling in Key West with children.

Enjoy Underwater While Staying Dry

If you’re traveling with someone who isn’t too thrilled about jumping in the water, consider taking a day to tour the waters on a glass bottomed boat. It’s the perfect solution if you don’t have three or four days to complete scuba certification and you’d like to get out on the open water to see dolphins and other sea creatures. You can view undersea life through the glass bottom of the boat on one of these tours and you’ll definitely meet up with a dolphin or two… or twenty. Since you don’t have to get in the water, it’s perfect for those companions who just aren’t feeling the water thing.

Regardless of which type of water adventure you desire, Key West has a little something that is sure to please everyone.

Christine O’Kelly writes for the diving in Key West experts at Key West Scuba Dive. They provide information and locations for snorkeling in Key West and more.