Key West Attractions — The Dry Tortugas And More Places To See

Finding things to do in Key West is easy. Finding the time to fit them all in, now that takes some serious skill. Unless you plan to move here for a few years, you simply can’t do everything there is to do on the island. If you don’t have a line on a new job or fabulous apartment in the area, you are going to have to prioritize your activities.

Some Key West attractions are simply too good to pass up. Some Key West attractions are perfect for any vacationer of any age. From visiting the Dry Tortugas to touring the homes of great writers to snapping a picture by a landmark, there is much to do on this little island. This article explores 3 such attractions.

See A Unique National Park At The Dry Tortugas

One thing not to miss when on a trip to Key West is the Dry Tortugas National Park. Because it is located 70 miles west of the coast of Key West, it may be your only chance. The island is home to the military ghost town that is Fort Jefferson. The fort on Dry Tortugas is known as the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere. To classify it as anything other than mammoth would be a gross understatement.

At 16 million bricks, the fort takes up a great deal of space on the island of Dry Tortugas. It was once home to a Civil War era prison. However, it was decommissioned shortly thereafter. Now, it sits uninhabited and unused, visited only by those who know of its existence. The Dry Tortugas is truly a sight to see.

From Hemingway’s House To Tennessee’s Townhome

Over the years, a few of the greatest minds in literature have called the island of Key West home. They found inspiration in the setting and wrote the sights, sounds, and their experiences into some of their greatest works. Both Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams called this island home for a few years. Poet Robert Frost also spent a great deal of time in Key West during the winter.

One of the most popular Key West attractions is a tour of the homes of these groundbreaking writers. Tours of the homes where Hemingway wrote The Sun Also Rises and where Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire are popular destinations for families and those in love with art and literature.

The Conch Republic Buoy - The Staple Of Key West

Perhaps the most popular of all Key West attractions is a trip and a picture at the Conch Republic Buoy. Just 90 miles from the island nation of Cuba, the Conch Republic Buoy is the southernmost public point in America’s southernmost city.

The buoy is the outgrowth of a series of signs announcing the point as the southernmost tip of the United States. However, after numerous signs were stolen, the Conch Republic Buoy was installed in their place. Now visitors flock from all over the country to have their picture taken next to this piece of local culture.

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