When you step onto the 5.9 square miles of the Conch Republic, prepare to fall in love with this tropical landscape. Inhale the warm salt air, bask beneath the radiant sun, leave your cares behind and indulge yourself. Unparalleled hospitality and a wealth of attractions keep visitors flocking to America’s Southernmost City year after year for a taste of paradise. Key West has something for everyone, from sport fishing to treasure hunting, sunbathing to sailing, and fine dining to pub crawling. Whatever your interests, Key West’s mild climate ensures warm temperatures, cloudless days, and starlit nights.

Fresh seafood dishes prepared with Caribbean flair tempt discriminating diners at fine restaurants, while conch fritters and authentic key lime pie satisfy the more casual set. Whatever and wherever you choose to dine, Key West delivers ambiance. Balconied restaurants line Duval Street, affording a view of the activity below from a comfortable and relaxed vantage point. There are restaurants along the Key West Historic Bight, and one actually on a boat. Many sidewalk cafes are attended not only by wait staff but by Key West’s famous and protected wild chickens, too.

Photo of Key West Sunset from Mallory Square

Of course, no overview of Key West would be complete without mention of Duval Street and all the famous bars lining the avenue. Captain Tony’s Saloon and Sloppy Joe’s vie for the title of Hemingway’s official watering hole, but Hog’s Breath Saloon has always been content to draw locals to its open-air venue year after year. Bars that feature cross-dressers, bars in former turtle canneries, and bars that specialize in frozen cocktails line the streets of Old Town. Naturally, Margaritaville is here for the Parrot Heads, but you can drink with the locals at the Green Parrot, voted one of America’s best bars and the place to buy witty t-shirts. Perhaps best known for its vibrant nightlife and the Fantasy Fest bacchanalia in October, Key West has so much more to offer that it has become a premiere family destination in the past couple of years.

Don your snorkel and flippers and dive into the crystal-clear waters surrounding the brightly colored living reefs that lie just offshore. Or, glide above them in a glass bottom boat while sipping champagne and taking in the scenery. Key West supports myriad water sports: diving, snorkeling, swimming, fishing, boating, sailing, jet skiing, parasailing, and more. Instruction is available for first-timers, and seasoned local guides direct clients to the best spots for either fishing or diving. And Key West fishing is legendary, whether you’re thinking of Hemingway’s epic battles on the seas or the record-breaking tarpon, sailfish, dolphin, and sharks that modern anglers reel in every day.

Board a ferry or a seaplane for a quick trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson, one of America’s most unusual and beautiful parks, which serves as a bird nesting ground surrounded by pristine coral reefs. First spotted by Ponce de Leon around 1510, the seven islands of the Tortugas (“turtles”) hosted pirates until the U.S. acquired Florida and built a lighthouse on Garden Key in 1825. Intended as the primary of new coastline defenses built following the War of 1812, Fort Jefferson construction spanned 30 years and was finally abandoned when advances in military technology rendered the fort vulnerable. Since the Civil War, the 45-foot-tall fort has served as a prison, quarantine, and briefly as a navy outpost during World War I. The islands are now protected, and an excellent spot for exploring, snorkeling, and picnicking.

Those who prefer to remain on solid ground will find no shortage of recreational activities, either. Bicycling, hiking, eco-tours, walking historical tours, and camping increase your knowledge of the area while exercising your body. Arts enthusiasts will spend hours perusing the galleries and museums and taking in theatre, symphony, and orchestra performances. Outdoor festivals bring artists and musicians together in a relaxed environment, often with select dishes from local cafés.

Photo of Cruise Ship Docking in Key West

Historians can soak in Key West’s colored past, beginning with pirates and Indians and progressing through the wrecking and military periods. Key West was once America’s richest city per capita, and was also once known as “Cayo Hueso” – Island of Bones, for the remains of the Indian’s enemies left to bleach on the beaches. Avid readers will appreciate Key West’s literary legacy: Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Shel Silverstein, and hundreds of other published authors have called the island their home. Popular attractions include the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society Museum, Truman’s Little White House, the Key West Shipwreck Historeum Museum, the Hemingway House, and the Southernmost Point. There are also several art museums and an aquarium on the island.

From the posh luxury of the seaside resorts to the quaint comforts of the individual inns, Key West presents travelers with a wealth of accommodation options to suit every style and budget. Whether you’re searching for the perfect honeymoon hideaway or an exclusive gay resort, you’ll find it on Key West. Common amenities include private courtyard gardens and hot tubs, chef-prepared breakfasts, and complimentary poolside happy hours each evening.

As the sizzling sun sets into the sea, toast the day and join the nightly revelry along the historic seaport and Duval Street. There’s no other place on the planet like Key West.