Florida how to get to the city of cats. Gay lesbian guide to key west florida
Key West online webcams make it possible to take a virtual trip to this city on the island of the same name in the Florida Keys archipelago, and the administrative center of Monroe County in the USA. See the weather and attractions on the island of Key West using web cameras in real time.
The island of Key West is a unique place that is the center of attraction for countless tourists. Here you can endlessly look at the local landscapes, which fascinate with their beauty and harmony, numerous attractions that vary in their focus, as well as take excursions to the most unusual and remote corners of the island.
Climate in Key West
The weather on the island is pure bliss. If we look at the history of weather observations in real time, it is impossible to find a single day when the temperature dropped below zero. This is real nonsense for the USA. Summer here is very long and hot, because the air temperature often warms up to 30-35 degrees above zero. Winter is short and without surprises: during the day the temperature reaches 20 degrees Celsius, at night it drops to 15-16 degrees.
Attractions and recreation in Key West
Today, Key West is a favorite destination for many world stars. For example, this island city was chosen by Madonna, who loves to retire here from the bustle of large American cities. Therefore, a trip here will give you many pleasant moments and acquaintances.
Duval Street is the main promenade of the city, where life does not stop even at night. Sloppy Joe's is one of the most famous landmarks on this street. This bar has gained its popularity today for the reason that it was here that Ernest Hemingway himself met. On the territory of Duval Street you can take part in the so-called Duval Crawl - an event that will allow guests of the city to go through many bars and restaurants, enjoying local cuisine and strong drinks as long as their health lasts.
The Ernest Hemingway Museum is an attraction for those city visitors who value traditional tourism. Here you can travel back several centuries, when the famous Hemingway lived. The museum complex is a two-story building made in the colonial style. You can also see six-fingered cats on the territory of the museum, which are the descendants of “Snowball,” the writer’s favorite cat.
Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most famous national parks, which is located some distance from Key West. Here you can endlessly enjoy the local landscapes and beauties, because it is here that civilization has not been able to destroy the amazing natural world, full of harmony and comfort.
Beaches in Key West
Smathers Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the city. This place will be an ideal choice for a quiet and measured family holiday, since all the necessary infrastructure is provided within walking distance (toilets, showers, sun loungers and umbrellas, changing areas, restaurants and cafes). There is also an area for snorkeling, windsurfing and parasailing.
Higgs Beach is a beach that will delight you with white sand. The beach area is clean and equipped, which will allow you to spend time comfortably and at ease. Fans of active games can show their skills on sports grounds that are organized for this. In addition, according to reviews from real tourists, this is where the most beautiful sunset on the entire island is.
South Beach is a beach that is famous for the fact that it is here that the buoy is installed - the southernmost point of the United States. The beach is covered with sand, but entering the water is difficult, as the bottom is covered with stones. Clients of hotels located in the coastal area have the opportunity to go down to the Atlantic via the stairs from the pier, avoiding such troubles.
Key West online webcams will give you the chance to watch the events taking place in this incredible city in real time.
Key West is a tropical paradise, a popular beach resort and the most fun city in the Florida Keys. Here you can relax and get into the spirit of old Florida.
Key West is an island city in Florida, photo dorinser-2
The city of Key West is called a “tropical paradise”, a tourist Mecca in the USA. This is the southernmost point of continental America. It is located in the state of Florida - on the small island of Key West, part of the coral archipelago of the Florida Keys.
This piece of land is connected to the mainland by the Overseas Highway, 188 km long, laid across islands and overpasses. The length of the main bridge of the route is 11 km.
An airport has been built in the city. Cruise ships call at the port of Key West. Residents work mainly in the tourism sector. Fishermen, artists, bohemians live here.
The climate is tropical, there is never snow or frost.
Attractions
Ernest Hemingway's house
Small White House of Harry Truman
Shipwreck Museum
Sloppy Joe's Bar
Fort Zachary Taylor
Southernmost point of the USA, photo teekay72
The main city attraction is a three-colored cement buoy, a symbol of the city’s extreme southern position, installed in 1983. On the concrete structure is written: “Republic of Conque. 90 miles to Cuba. The southernmost point of the continental United States. Key West, Florida. Where the sunset is." This is a monument to an event in 1982: the mayor staged a political rally for a few minutes, declaring the Florida Keys an “independent Conch Republic.”
Old city
Old Town Key West, photo by teekay72
Key West has its own Old Town - a tourist part with historical houses. The oldest building has survived since 1829.
Key West Lighthouse
There is a preserved lighthouse in the Old Town (Key West lighthouse). It serves as an observation deck, and the structure was built in 1848. For a long time, its caretaker was a local resident, Barbara Mabrity.
Small White House of Harry Truman
Small White House (Harry S. Truman Little White House) is the former home of the commandant of the US naval base, and later the winter residence of President Truman and other American presidents. Today there is a museum there and weddings are held there.
Ernest Hemingway's house
Ernest Hemingway House, photo by Andreas Lamecker
The pride of the city is the Ernest Hemingway House, declared a historical monument. In 1931, the writer visited the island and took a liking to the abandoned building of the 19th century. Ernest bought the building and settled in it.
Today, tourists visit Hemingway’s house, filled with the writer’s personal belongings and books, and explore the studio, the “haunted balcony,” the “birdhouse” office, the tropical garden, and the swimming pool. The writer's passion was cats: there are about fifty of them at the museum. One day Ernest was given an unusual six-toed kitten. The cat Snowball lived a long time and left offspring. Since then, many cats with dewclaws have lived in the city.
Sloppy Joe's Bar
Sloppy Joe's Bar
The writer loved Sloppy Joe’s Bar. Today the walls of the establishment are covered with photographs of Ernest, many drinks and dishes are named after him. The main “exhibit” is a stuffed huge fish caught by Hemingway.
Aquarium, photo Joe Parks
The City Aquarium is not an ordinary oceanarium with fish behind thick glass, but a petting marine zoo. You can watch the inhabitants feeding and touch safe animals with your hands.
Art Gallery
The city has many museums and galleries of various subjects. The most famous is Key West Gallery. Here you will find works by famous artists and discover new names. You can buy your favorite paintings.
Customs House Museum
Custom House Museum, photo dorinser
The Custom House Museum is popular among tourists. The red Romanesque building was built in 1891 as a customs office. It is distinguished by round arches and a sloping roof. Today it is the Museum of Art & History, which gives you a real picture of life in Key West in the past. The Custom House Museum regularly hosts exhibitions of contemporary artists.
Shipwreck Museum
Key West Shipwreck Museum, photo by Jim Rhodes
The Key West Shipwreck Museum is Key West's most visited institution. The exhibition is dedicated to the heyday - a glorious time when ships were lost on the coastal reefs, and residents successfully made a living by looting. The museum interestingly combines artifacts, acting and films about real events.
A little history
Since ancient times, the island belonged to the Calusa tribe. In 1513, the conquistador adelantado Ponce de Leon first visited it, and then the Spaniards tried for centuries to establish their power. For a long time, the island was inhabited only by fishermen, sea robbers, and marauders. Only from 1822 did permanent settlements appear.
In 1896, Key West received city status. He grew, became rich; Cigar factories opened. The year 1912 was marked by a historical event: a maritime railway was built from the mainland to the island. It was destroyed by the “Storm of the Century,” a terrible hurricane in 1935.
At the Hemingway Festival, photo by Andy Newman
Holidays and competitions at the resort are held every month. The main city event is a festival dedicated to Hemingway (Hemingway Days Festival). It is held in July.
Fort Zachary Taylor
At the southern tip of Key West is Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, a national monument and 87-hectare historical park. It was built in 1845–66. and until 1968 served as a military facility, and then was given to tourists. There is a beach in the park, where you can go diving, fish from the dam, and stroll along the sea in a kayak. Historical reenactments of the American Civil War are held annually in the park. During Halloween, Zachary Taylor turns into a "ghost fort."
Dry Tortugas
120 km to the west, on an archipelago of 7 coral reefs and the shallows surrounding them, is another Florida national park - Dry Tortugas National Park with Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts in the United States.
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Every resident of the United States considers it his duty at least once in his life to make a pilgrimage to the southernmost point of the United States, to the city of Key West, located on the island of the same name. Key West has become a mecca for Americans and tourists. If you haven't visited Key West, then you haven't been to Florida...
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If in America they sang a song similar to ours “Where does the Motherland begin?”, they would have no doubt - “Or maybe it begins...”. They know for sure that their homeland, America, begins exactly from this place - the zero starting point of the number one road running through the entire country - "US-1"
This is the southernmost tip of the United States, if you remember the map, then the state of Florida protrudes into the Atlantic Ocean like an appendix, and Key West is the southernmost of a series of islands starting from the southern tip of Florida. The road to this island is laid partly along these islands, partly along bridges between the islands (it is clearly visible in the film “True lies” with Schwarzenegger).
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From Wikipedia:
Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States. Among the 49 states (except Hawaii), it is the only city that has never recorded a temperature below 0°C.
The city's population is 25.4 thousand people () - approximately a third of the total population of the Florida Keys.
The climate in the city is tropical, clearly divided into two seasons - dry and wet.
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Key West is the southernmost point of the United States, an island located 150 km from Cuba and connected to land by a bridge 11 km away. The nearest major city is Miami.
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A distinctive feature of the island is its own airport. You can fly from Miami in 1 hour.
Airplane landing on Key West
Immediately upon arrival, right at the airport, Floridians set the tone for an acceptable attitude towards marine fauna. An installation has been created at the airport especially for arrivals: fish are rolled into a ram's horn and decorated with ornaments. .
Fishing in the Florida Keys, including Key West, with its rich underwater life, is one of the best in the world. An international fishing tournament is held annually on one of the islands.
You can also get there by car or bus in 4 hours (from Miami).
From time to time you pass different islands. Some of them are very tiny, like in the photo, and some of them take several minutes to drive
It was also unusual to see poles with wires stretched along the road and installed directly in the water.
From Miami to Key West (in a minute).
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Key West Island is the latest in a chain of Florida islands that are connected by one narrow causeway and very long bridges.
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The road to Key West from Miami is very picturesque and runs along a highway that connects the islands with dams and bridges, on one side of which is the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other the Gulf of Mexico. From here you can enjoy an incredible panorama - a bright blue sky and a dazzling turquoise ocean.
The road also passes over the world famous 7 Mile Bridge. From here a breathtaking panorama opens: blue sky and turquoise blue ocean. Have you seen the movie "True Lies" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger? The episode on the bridge was filmed here.
Not a single photo, not a single video can convey the full picture of the view and sensations when you are on the rise of this bridge. In reality, we see not only the road going into the sky, but at the same time we see with peripheral vision the oceanic mass: on the one hand, the Atlantic, and on the other, the Gulf of Mexico. Sky and ocean... all that remains of the earth is a strip leading to the sky...
If you make an effort and stretch your imagination a little, you can roughly imagine what this amateur was trying to film with his camera.
And when the imagination goes off scale, then computer games like this are created on the theme “Destruction of the Seven Mile Bridge.”
Computer games such as “Destruction of the Seven Mile Bridge” are created with sick imaginations.
And those who have a “healthy mind in a healthy body” organize sports runs across the famous bridge.
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Florida Keys - Bahia Honda State Park. Original (3008×2000)
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"Beauty And The Beast"
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At the beginning of the 18th century, this island belonged to the Spaniards, was sold for $2,000 to the American Matthew Perry, and he declared it property of the United States. These islands were discovered by the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon on May 13, 1513. He named the island that is now Key West "Cayo Hueso" - "Island of Bones". The fact is that the Calusa Indian tribe lived here, and the whole island was strewn with bones. The once disastrous place was at one time even considered a refuge for smugglers.
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Subsequently, in the 18th century, the name of the island turned into Key West, and it has nothing to do with the English word “West”. And the word "key" in the name of these islands comes from the Spanish word "cayo" "small island", and not from the English word "key" - "key".
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For almost 300 years, only fishermen, pirates, turtle hunters and treasure hunters on lost ships lived here. Shipwrecks occurred here quite often, and looting was a very profitable business. After the War of Independence, the islands went to Spain, and in 1815 they were presented for unknown services to the soldier Juan Pablo Salas, who in 1822 sold the island of Key West to a certain John Simonton in one of the bars in Havana for $2,000.
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Simonton quickly realized that he could get rich by dividing the island into plots and selling them. This is how the first permanent settlement appeared on the island. The city began to grow rapidly and by 1890 became the wealthiest in Florida with the highest per capita income in the country.
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There were more than 160 cigar factories here, more than 90% of sea sponges were mined, and a huge turtle processing plant was built (officially, turtle hunting was banned only in the 70s of the 20th century!).
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In addition, at that time Key West already had trams, had its own opera house, and had several banks, some of which still exist today in the same places. And the city of Miami at that time was a tiny, poor fishing village.
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So, Key West officially received city status and became part of Florida in 1896. At this time it was a fairly wealthy and populated city with a well-developed ship repair industry. And in 1912, a railway was built that connected the island with the mainland and breathed social life into it.
Life in the city began to calm down, only to be reborn again in another no less interesting form. Bohemian city!
The paradise island of Key West, located off the coast of Florida, has long been loved by connoisseurs of beauty.
Harry Truman Statue
Writers, artists and statesmen lived here from Hemingway and President Truman to Tennessee Williams and John James Auduwon, all of the houses in which they lived are now museums.
The city's reputation as the most intriguing city in the world has been strengthened, thanks to the fact that free artists, entertainers, gays, and eccentrics from the Bahamas, New England, Cuba and Africa have always flocked here, who lived by the philosophy of "Let it be" long before the appearance of the Beatles.
“Come to us for two hours and immediately leave back - otherwise you will stay for the rest of your life,” this is what the locals say, knowing how attractive the atmosphere of the island is. Many famous writers lived here and several US presidents vacationed in the Little White House, built by President Truman.
One of the bartenders said that he once lived in New York and had his own restaurant there, a lot of headaches and city bustle. Then he dropped everything, sold his house and moved here, where he now works as a bartender. When asked if he was happy, he laughed and said: “How can you not be happy here!? This is paradise!
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They say about Key West that “people disappear there”: when they come on vacation, they become defectors. The atmosphere of this city especially affects New Yorkers. Russian tourists don’t come to Key West often; our man likes Miami much more.
And the writer Hemingway disappeared in this bar.
Now there is practically a branch of the writer’s museum: on the wall hangs a stuffed fish caught by Hemingway himself and his photographs.
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Winslow Homer-Fishing Boats,Key West
Winslow Homer A North - Key West
Winslow Homer. Coconut-Palms,-Key-West.
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Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West from 1931 to 1940. Here's what Ernest Hemingway wrote about Key West: "... this is the best place I've ever been, flowers, tamarinds, guavas, coconut palms." The famous “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” were written here. The city's biggest attraction is the Ernest Hemingway House Museum.
The friend of the Cuban dictator and the famous American writer loved Key West, loved its quiet and measured life, the comfort of its bars and the beauty of its ocean landscapes. Key West hosts the Hemingway Festival every July.
"He (Hemingway) raced in a car with all the windows open. Dense waves of thick air rushed through the windows with a roar, ruffled his hair and clothes, chapped his face, and it seemed to him that it was easier to breathe. Birds flew high above his head - the wings of an eagle and the road was covered with a wide black shadow, the screeching of a stork was heard, and then, looking up for a second from the road, he managed to follow its long, elongated silhouette with his eyes.
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The heat gradually subsided, and he felt that he was beginning to run out of steam. He no longer wanted to sit clutching the steering wheel, and he slowed down. As soon as the car began to go slower, a blue light rushed into his eyes, like a robber from around the corner. It was an ocean that shimmered in the sun like an outlandish emerald. Never before had he seen so many shades of green-blue-blue, stretching into some hopeless, unimaginable distance. Sen's old girlfriend, whom he sometimes looked at for hours, unable to take his eyes off the water, now seemed like a small colorless gray sparrow compared to the colorful splendor of the ocean.
Now he was riding along a thin path of shore, surrounded by water. There was water everywhere you looked - both to the right and to the left. The road only went straight, and for a minute he became afraid that he would not be able to resist and would fall into this blue-green abyss. But the Sun, gradually sinking towards sunset, was still shining brightly, and he could clearly see the road rushing straight ahead. He remembered that old John had been waiting for him in the morning, but he didn’t want to drive the car anymore. Deafened by the cries of numerous birds and the whistling of the wind in his ears, he abruptly stopped the car and got out, barely straightening his legs. 13 years passed after the war, and the pain from the wounds still made itself felt.
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The ocean was surprisingly shallow near the shore, and the water, overgrown with mud, smelled of mold, and he thought that he really liked this image of a huge sea giant with the smell of a quiet village dam.
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Having looked around at the blue endless expanse and the tiny green island in the distance, he was already heading towards the car when he involuntarily stopped.
Not far from the island, three dark triangles appeared above the surface of the water, smoothly floating along the horizon. He stood by the water for a long time, watching the dolphins, and felt how delight slowly grew in his soul and the long-awaited feeling of peace and joy came after so many years of trials - war and injury, the suicide of his father and friend, and most importantly - unrequited and rejected love... .
On that summer day in 1931, Hemingway drove to Key West in the dead of night and spent the night at the house of his friend, writer John Dos Passos. In the morning he woke up from the desperate cry of a rooster climbing onto the veranda. There was a banana tree in front of Joe's window, the large, bright purple flowers, laden with fruit, dripping with juice and fragrance. He wanted to live and write with renewed vigor, this stupid writer’s itch returned to him, which he had not felt so strongly since the days of Paris.”
To be continued...
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Holidays on the island (or Key West, which translates as “Western Key”) is traditionally considered more elite - the mere fact that it is most convenient to get to them by air raises the price bar. Plus, hotels and entertainment here are not cheap, and the “season” doesn’t last that long. The rest of the time, Key West experiences disgusting weather and the danger of hurricanes and tsunamis. But in the off-season, tourists come here because the weather is not the main thing.
is a world isolated from the modern frantic rhythm of the rest of America, its problems and crises. The most important thing that distinguishes it from all other resort towns is its exquisite charm, combined with lazy negligence, a special mixture of freedom of spirit and frozen blissful inaction.
Life here flows measuredly and leisurely, as it did half a century ago, ever since the “gay revolution of the 60s” in the United States made it a home and refuge for a huge number of informals: hippies, beatniks, gays, lesbians, and queers of all stripes. Since then, LGBT aristocracy, writers, musicians, designers, architects, lawyers, doctors, hairdressers, bartenders, waiters, actors and just people who are different from others have traditionally flocked to this tiny paradise. Whether you want to relax by the pool, spending days and weeks in sweet idleness, or hang out, explore the world, nature, culture, architecture - there is an offer for every taste. The island is also considered one of the best options for a relaxing and secluded honeymoon.
Travel guides proclaim that among places on the planet that boast diversity, Key West is one of the most vibrant. This is a place where any “closets” do not have doors.
How to get there
The island is connected to the American mainland by a bridge 11 km away and is geographically located 150 km away. from cubes. Previously, there was a railway from the mainland, but it was washed away by one of the disasters, but now there is a highway with no less picturesque views. A distinctive feature of the island is its own airport. In 1 hour you can fly from Miami, the nearest large city, or get there by bus in 4 hours (ticket about $40), or by car. The main street of the island is Duval st- goes directly to the pier, where cruise ships arrive 2-3 times a week.
Not very popular (or rather, not popular at all) among Russian LGBT travelers for two simple reasons:
1) required American visa, and this is much troublesome and more expensive than European Schengen, while there is visa-free Cuba or the Dominican Republic almost there,
2) cost air travel from Russia bites more than - against which again Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica or the countries of South America win.
But if you are still interested, let's take a closer look at what this recognized corner of LGBT paradise offers us -.
Short 2 minute video:
Weather
The climate in the city is tropical, clearly divided into two seasons - dry and wet. November to April usually has plenty of sunshine and less than 25% of the annual precipitation falls during this period. The period from May to October is considered the rainy season, accounting for approximately 53% of annual precipitation. Showers, rains and thunderstorms occur early in the morning. But anyway, Key West characterized by the lowest level of precipitation compared to other cities Florida.
Key West is the only “frost-free” city in the continental United States, it never gets cold here and has never snowed. It is the year-round sun that invariably attracts gays and lesbians from all American states and other countries. When the sun is hot, the temperature is cooled by a fresh sea breeze, so there is no sweltering heat here.
Island Key West, like most other islands in the Florida Keys, lies on the border between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The currents in them are different. In the Gulf of Mexico it is calmer and warmer, and sea grass grows there.
| Key West Climate | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | But I | Dec | Year |
| Absolute maximum, °C | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 36 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 38 |
| Average maximum, °C | 24,1 | 24,4 | 26,0 | 27,7 | 29,7 | 31,2 | 31,9 | 31,9 | 31,2 | 29,3 | 27,0 | 24,8 | 28,3 |
| Average temperature, °C | 21,3 | 21,6 | 23,2 | 25,0 | 27,1 | 28,6 | 29,2 | 29,1 | 28,6 | 26,8 | 24,6 | 22,2 | 25,6 |
| Average minimum, °C | 18,4 | 18,7 | 20,4 | 22,3 | 24,4 | 25,9 | 26,4 | 26,2 | 25,8 | 24,3 | 22,2 | 19,6 | 22,9 |
| Absolute minimum, °C | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| Precipitation rate, mm | 56,4 | 38,4 | 47,2 | 52,3 | 88,4 | 116,1 | 83,1 | 137,2 | 138,4 | 110,2 | 67,1 | 54,4 | 989,1 |
And, of course, the night temperature is always maintained at the proper level by parties, restaurants, bars, clubs with the best New York DJs, cafes, night shopping centers - for every taste and budget. And, most importantly, everything is within walking distance. Guidebooks warn: “You may not need a car, like an evening dress!”
Attractions
The main street is Duval. Life here does not calm down until the morning. Old-timers joke that the main duty of the inhabitants of the island is to relax, fish, scuba dive, walk along the embankment and watch the sunset.
Sunset is a spectacle, a whole performance and a holiday that never ends. Every evening a crowd of tourists gathers at Mallory Pier to watch the sun set on the ocean. Here's the trick: you look west and see the sun sink into the ocean waters. What does it matter if there is a continent hidden behind the waters? The impression is amazing. You sit with a beer or Cuban coffee on the promenade or stroll around, watching the performances of clowns, musicians and magicians, and wait for the sunset. Finally, to the stormy applause of those gathered, the last reflections of the fireball disappear into the darkened waves and the nightlife of the city begins.
Bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues are literally at every turn here. Each of them offers its own exotic specialty dish or drink. Below we will tell you in more detail about the most interesting places.
As a city where artists love to create, it is also interesting for its art galleries. There are five of them on Duval Street alone.
As for museums, there are more than a dozen of them. For example, dedicated to fishing, ship repair, or famous artists who lived and worked here. There is even a museum-bar-restaurant under the romantic name Schooner Wharf (and next to it there is a bar of the same name, see below).
Key West is associated with the names of such outstanding personalities as American President Truman, who often vacationed in, located on one of the central streets of Key West. Writers Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost and, of course, Ernest Hemingway lived here, whose house-museum is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. The Hemingway Days festival is held annually.
The old part of the city is rich in historical sights, architectural monuments and small, but very cozy and romantic small hotels (inns). You should definitely check out the store, for example, at 419 Duval Street, where they sell beauty products made from Florida aloe.
After walking along the main street of Duval (called the longest street in the world, since it runs from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico), purchasing souvenirs as a souvenir, you can walk to the southernmost point of America and take a photo at the “90 miles to Cuba” buoy.
The city's population is 25.4 thousand people (statistics for 2000) - approximately a third of the total population of the Florida Keys.
There are a huge number of cats living in Key West, and local residents happily feed them. The mild, warm climate and the proximity of the sea, and, accordingly, sailors, are the main reason for such a large population; on average, there are 4 cats per resident of Key West. Most of these animals in Key West have six toes on their front feet.
More information about important attractions:
Hemingway House Museum. Information Official (English) A beautiful garden, the six-toed descendants of Hemingway's beloved cat Snowball (Snowball) have lived happily and carefree in the house for more than 70 years. By the way, you can hold a wedding ceremony or just a celebration there.
Mallory Square. Information Official website on Key West (English). .
Butterfly Conservatory (Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory). Information Official (English)
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum). Information Official (English)
Bar Sentimental Joe (Sloppy Joe’s Bar). The legendary bar of the early 20th century at 201 Duval Street. Its most famous, frequent guest and patron was Hemingway, a big fan of Cuban rum. By the way, he was directly involved in the real name of the bar, which did not immediately become that. Since 1981, “Ernest look-alike” competitions have been held here, and in 2006 the place was included in the US Historical Heritage List. The bar has many loyal fans around the world. The location is also mentioned in the film Citizen Kane. Official. with sound.
Gay beaches of Key West
Higgs Beach
a lively sandy beach with warm water currents on the western side of the island. Possibility of fishing from the pier. Rental of sunbeds and umbrellas. Free parking. Hetero-friendly beach.
Address: Atlantic Blvd. (between White Street and Reynolds Boulevard).
LGBT events
Blue carriage
An interesting entertainment was invented many years ago in Key West: a tour of the city on a train, including visits to the most interesting places. Of course, gays and lesbians immediately organized a “blue flight”: with songs, flags, jokes and, of course, themselves as passengers.
Time: the schedule may change, but for now the order is as follows: the “blue flight” starts every Saturday at 16:00 from the corner of Duval Street and Angela Street. The flight is hetero-friendly, so everyone is welcome, not just LGBT passengers. The duration of the trip is 75 minutes, the ticket price is $18-$25, you can buy it on the spot, order by phone 305-294-4603 or online.
During the flight, from the lips of the guide, you will learn about the history of the city, its architecture, and main attractions. You will see the memorial to HIV victims, Mallory Square, the ghosts of Tennessee Williams, hear about the life of Hemingway, plus a lot of other interesting things that you are unlikely to read in books somewhere. This is the only LGBT history tour of its kind in the US, don't miss it.
Gay Spring Break
(Gay Spring Break)
An annual traditional celebration of LGBT students and their friends who come to have fun on the beaches and clubs of Key West, where special discounts and hot offers await them. Comfortable, safe, fun!
Time: March and April 2013
Official.
Headdress Festival
(Headdress Ball an Official Event of Fantasy Fest)
Time: October 23, 2012.
This year the annual competition for extravagant headdresses will be held for the 30th time. You can participate as a competitor or as a spectator. Tickets for the show are sold on the official website, cost from $30 to $320 (VIP table). Video from the 2010 festival:
Contestants do not need to pay anything for themselves; on the contrary, if they win, they will be paid: $1500 for the best headdress, and $300, $200 for 2nd and 3rd place. Registration of participants ends on the day of the show. “Headdress” is considered to be everything from the shoulders and above. Costumes do not count, but are highly encouraged by both the audience and the jury. Remember: the headdress must not only be demonstrated, but also moved in it, and no assistants are allowed. In general, the conditions are extremely creative, go for it!
Official.
Gay Pride in Key West
Time: from 5 to 9 June 2013.
Traditionally, it includes not only a street procession (families are welcome, there are a lot of them here), but also a whole week of events: a cultural festival, film screenings, comedy performances, exhibitions, club parties. During the day, events take place on Duval Street, and towards night they move to clubs.
Official, where a detailed program will be published the day before. Video from Gay Pride 2012:
Time: August 15-18, 2013.
A 4-day annual festival “only for men”, during which there are sports competitions, games, as well as foam and cocktail parties, where they do God knows what, not fully dressed (or even at all...) In a word, in August on Key West is hot in every sense of the word. Usually by this time all the places in popular guesthouses are completely booked, so if you want to join in, book in advance.
Official.
Women's Festival
Time: September 3-8, 2013.
Key West is a place that lesbians love, and this festival is for them. The festival took place for the 25th time in 2012. These are traditional parties, clothing-optional pool parties (clothing optional), water excursions (girls only), where you can watch dolphins and whales, water sports, auctions of all sorts of fetish rarities, live concerts (from country to jazz) , comedy performances starring famous actresses, speed dating nights for Facebook nerds, film screenings, art classes, and much more. After all, if you don’t feed gays bread - let them show off their muscles, then lesbians like to laugh and dance. The participants themselves call their festival the southernmost point of the USA “Close to perfect and far from normal”(“Close to perfect, far from normal.” Join us, sisters!
Official.
Bear Festival
An annual gathering of hairy men in the prime of their lives) That’s why they are loved!
A flannel shirt is optional.
Time: October 4-7, 2012.
Official.
Gay bars and clubs
A dance club with drag performances and a variety of show programs (the nearest one, for example, a fashion show for pets), and DJ sets. You can get discounts with the festival Gay Spring Break Card.
Open: Show start times vary by show, check here. Life is in full swing there!
Address: 711 Duval Street. . Account in Facebook.
A small gay club, interesting with amateur striptease competitions. There are happy hours with discounts. There is also a small liquor store (not a bar).
Open: daily from 15:00 until the last visitor.
Address: 705 Duval Street. There was a site, but it stopped working, we don’t provide the link.
Gay dance pub with video. The best male striptease, themed parties, trendy club music. Outdoors, guests will find a “guys only” swimming pool. Look for discount flyers at parties and at your hotel.
Open: daily 22:00 - 04:00.
Address: 724 Duval Street. . Video .
801 Bourbon Bar
One of the oldest gay places, it includes a complex of a drag cabaret bar and a front bar overlooking Duval Street.
Open: daily front bar from 10 to 16, cabaret bar from 17 to 4 am. Drag shows in the cabaret are on from 21 to 23.
Address: 801 Duval St. . Video .
Pearl's Patio Women's Bar 
A bar for lesbians on the courtyard of the Pearl’s lesbian hotel (see below about the hotel). Cocktails are served during the day. On Sundays you can get your fill of $2 Bloody Marys! Gay and straight friendly establishment.
Open: Sunday to Wednesday from 12:00 to 20:00, Thursday and Friday - until 22:00, Saturday - the bar is open until midnight.
Address: 525 United Street. .
“Leather” bar, where real macho people look for their own kind. Previously, they say, there was a “dark room”, but now there is not. The largest influx of visitors is in the evenings/nights of Friday and Saturday. Entry is possible from the bar 801 Bourbon or from Petronia street. In some sources it appears as Key West’s Leather & Levi bar.
Address: 504 Petronia St. Account in Facebook.
Bobby's Monkey Bar
Great bartenders, cheap drinks, pool and karaoke on Sunday nights. The right place to “get drunk and forget yourself.” Working hours? H.z. Come any time.
Address: 900 Simonton Street. . Account in Facebook.
Atlantic Shores
Every Sunday at this gay swing motel there are evening tea parties with sunset views (from 19 to 23). A DJ plays, cocktails are served, and you can dance. Great place for a pre-party before going to 801 Bourbon Bar.
Address: 510 South Street.
Gay-friendly wine and cigar boutique. The wines are mainly Californian (but there are also South America and Italy), the cigars are Cuban and local. You can enjoy what you have purchased right here, watching the measured street life from the large veranda. However, no old-world snobbery: show up in beach flip-flops and no one will notice. There is music on weekends.
Open: daily 10:00 -23:00.
Address: 1218 Duval St. .
d'Vine Gallery - The Gardens Hotel
Gay-friendly establishment - a unique luxury wine tasting bar. The automatic dispenser system allows you to choose your own wine from 32 bottles, at one and a half dollars per measuring cup. Of course, you already know, but let us remind you anyway: the tasting sequence is as follows - from simple to complex, from white to red, from young to aged, from dry to sweet, from less strong to stronger.
Address: 526 Angela Street, in the hotel building Gardens. hotel.
Grand Vin Wine Shop & Bar
Nice wine store on Duval Street. You can taste it right here, sitting on the veranda. Wine is sold by the glass and by the bottle.
Address: 1107 Duval Street.
Key West's most famous live music bar with a rich history. #1 Live Music Bar in Florida by Playboy Magazine.
Open: daily from 10am to 4am. Happy hour with discounts from 16:00 to 19:00.
Address: 601 Whitehead St. . . Video channel on YouTube. Facebook.
Hog's Breath Saloon
The bar owners believe that Hog's Breath is better than no breath at all. In addition to tasty drinks, a nutritious snack is offered. There is a store with funny things, where piggy appears everywhere.
Address: 400 Front Street. .
Island House Bar + Cafe
Men's only cafe and bar set in lush tropical gardens next to the hotel pool Island House Key West(see below about the hotel), where clothing is optional.
Address: 1129 Fleming.
JDL's Big Ten Pub
Sports bar with large TV panels. Private viewing rooms. Food and drinks.
Open: daily 11:00 - 02:00.
Address: 920 Caroline Street. . 
Eco-cafe, where any product - for example, coffee, wine, cheese, chocolate - is only grown and produced in compliance with eco-standards and the principles of preserving and renewing the environment. A very cozy place that any woman will like.
Address: 1130 Duval Street. . Links to places where you can still eat environmentally friendly are in your account on Facebook.
Rick's & Durty Harry's
8 bars in 1 place! This is a whole entertainment complex: dance club, martini bar, cold drinks, live music, entertainment for adults, karaoke - choose one or all at once.
Address: 202 Duval Street. .
The Schooner at the Dock is an outdoor bar offering a Woodstock atmosphere, live music, fresh seafood, and a variety of themed parties and competitions.
Address: 202 William Street. .
Great place for an experience. Local freshest grilled seafood, evening shows and costume parties, pleasant bartenders, magnificent sunset views.
Open: bar 10:00 - 02:00, bar-restaurant 11:00 - 22:00, company store 10:00 - 21:00.
Address: 4 Charles Street (look for the tuna sign). . .
Bottle Cap Lounge & Liquor
Lounge bar, DJ sets and live bands.
Address: 1128 Simonton Street. .
La Te Da
Gay-friendly cabaret in the hotel of the same name. Live music from Tuesday to Sunday. There is a front bar separate from the cabaret if you just want to enjoy a drink and views of Duval Street at night.
Address: 1125 Duval Street.
Virgillio's - La Trattoria
Gay-friendly establishment. Live music - from jazz to salsa. They claim to have the best martini in town. There is an Italian restaurant in the back. Open since 1984.
Address: 524 Duval St. .
Where to stay
Housing in Key West is plentiful and varied. You can stay in large hotels offering standard service, or (more interestingly) in small gay-friendly boarding houses, guest houses and apartments. Stay in a restored Victorian mansion, providing all the necessary conditions for comfort, or a secluded cottage among a tropical garden, for two or with a group - what could be better for an unforgettable holiday?
Private LGBT apartments and guest houses
According to online surveys on gay sites, it leads the list of “Best Gay Hotels for Men.” Heated swimming pool, cafe, bar, jacuzzi, spa club and rocking chair, sauna, luxury rooms. The hotel, as the name suggests, is only for men.
Address: 1129 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 33040. (caution, pictures 18+)
The Cypress House is one of the hotel's 6 "historic" guest houses located in the picturesque old part of Key West. Built in the 19th century, it belonged to the family of Richard Kemp, an avid fisherman and naturalist (there was even a species of sea turtle named after him). The building is surrounded by pine and cypress trees. This guesthouse has 22 rooms, all for adults only. This home is ideal for couples. Watch a funny video about him.
Address: 601 Caroline Street Key West, FL 33040. .
Part of the same 6 “historic” houses as the “Cypress House” in the old town. Chelsea House is two beautiful Victorian mansions, built in 1888 and 1906, surrounded by large tropical gardens. The heated pool makes this the perfect place to laze around to your heart's content. The property is ideal for couples, some rooms include a guest bed, and some rooms allow pets. Look video.
Address: 707 & 709 Truman Avenue Key West, FL 33040. .
8 historic buildings surrounded by tropical gardens and within walking distance of Duval Street. It is possible to stay with children over 16 years old. There are a couple of rooms available for tourists with pets.
Address: 419 Amelia Street Key West, FL 33040. .
Historic Hideaways, Inc.
Private apartments with a swimming pool in the historical part of the city. You can choose a house, cottage or condominium to live in, with different views from the windows. Depending on the number of people in your party, accommodation with 1-4 bedrooms is offered. Some houses allow pets. Rent for a minimum of a week, rental for the whole season is possible with good discounts.
Address: 1109 Duval St Key West, FL 33040. .
A restored Victorian mansion with a tranquil ambiance, located in the historic district, a short walk from Duval Street. Heated pool and jacuzzi. 26 rooms with a variety of features, such as a veranda, a separate staircase to the garden or a personal loft.
Address: 410 Fleming Street Key West, FL 33040. .
The Mermaid and the Alligator is a restored and elegantly decorated Victorian mansion offering the comforts of home, located in the heart of Old Town, just minutes from Duval Street. There is a swimming pool and sun terrace, private parking. According to a very long-standing family tradition, good-natured, cute dogs live in the house. If you love animals, this is your place!
Address: 729 Truman Avenue Key West, FL 33040. .
A boarding house loved by lesbians, which has received several awards in previous years as the best boarding house for lesbians. It’s not surprising, because lesbians also own it)
The hotel is located in the historical part of the city in the converted former buildings of a 19th century cigar workshop, a cigar shop and a surf motel. Look small video reports on YouTube, very nice. There is also a gym, 2 heated pools (swimsuit optional), free Wi-Fi, and a bar and grill. Adults only. Hetero-friendly. Some rooms allow pets.
Address: 525 United Street Key West, FL 33040. .
Luxury gay apartments. Heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, fitness room, restaurant. By the pool there is a clothing-optional area (clothing is not required). Great place to meet people!
Address: 409 Appelrouth Lane Key West, FL 33040. .
A luxury guest house for LGBT guests, offering rooms, apartments and suites to suit different tastes and budgets. Located in the old part of the city. There is a swimming pool, spa, sun terraces, restaurant, Wi-Fi. Only for people over 21 years of age.
Address: 1118 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040. .
A gay men's only hotel located on Duval Street in the thick of things. Swimming pool clothing-optional (clothing not required), bar in a picturesque garden, breakfast served on the balcony. Some rooms are located above the pub and dance floor, which is open until 4am, but there are also quieter rooms where you won't have to bounce in bed to the beats of disco. As a bonus, there are regular themed parties held in the same pub, like swimsuit parties, live shows, and the best go-go dancers in Florida.
Address: 24 Duval Street, Key West, Florida 33040. .
Coconut Grove & Shasis Guesthouse
Two guesthouses “for men only.”
Address: 822/823 Fleming St., Key West, FL 33040.
Gay-friendly hotels
Address: 990 South Roosevelt Blvd. ..
1-800-771-KEYS (5397)
Interactive map of Key West (flash required): .
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