Dry Tortugas National Park consists of 7 islands about 70 miles west of Key West. It is one of the least visited National Parks in the system as the only way to get there is by ferry, seaplane, or boat. If you want to camp, the only way to get your gear there is by ferry or boat. Getting a spot on the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park is relatively easy, getting a spot for camping at Dry Tortugas National Park is not. But, if you do get a chance to camp there, take it, even though it can be daunting if you’ve never done primitive camping before. You’ll find an article or two online as to what to expect but they don’t really have everything that you would like to know, until now.

Dry Tortugas gets its name from a couple of different sources. The Tortugas is due to all the turtles on the island when Ponce de Leon (that’s right, the fountain of youth guy) landed there, he called the land “Las Tortugas”. Since there was no fresh water on the islands, they would be labeled as “dry” on the mariner charts of the day.

The Keys of Dry Tortugas National Park

There are seven keys, or islands, that make up Dry Tortugas National Park. Unfortunately, four of them are closed to the public.

Hospital Key

Hospital Key is a small island that had a (wait for it) hospital on it for the prisoners and residents of Fort Jefferson. Hospital Key is closed to the public, most likely to contain the leftover hospital zombies.

East Key

East Key is the smallest of the keys, it’s pretty much just a sandbar that sits about 6 feet above the surf and is also closed to the public. While small, it still has a purpose as various types of flora and fauna inhabit the key along with a small collection of wildlife.

Middle Key

Middle Key is closed to the public because there are times when it’s not even above water. Seasonal weather and tidal conditions will cover the island for weeks and sometimes months.

Long Key

Long Key is connected to the east end of Bush Key by a sandbar. It’s a mid-sized key at 8,000 square meters filled with sand and trees and it’s also closed to the public.

Bush Key

Bush Key is located right next to Garden Key, separated by a channel that disappears from time to time. Known as Hog Key during the fort’s tenure due to the raising of hogs there for fresh meat for the residents of Fort Jefferson.

No more hogs are raised on the island as it’s a bird sanctuary for Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies. Bush Key is open to the public…only part of the year. It’s closed between February and September during nesting season.

Loggerhead Key

Loggerhead Key is the largest of the keys in the park and it’s open to the public! That’s right, it’s open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. The only way to get there is by small boat. It’s a three-mile paddle from Garden Key if you came by ferry. If you come on a private or commercial boat, there are mooring buoys around the island for you to tie off and then take a small boat in.

On the island there is a lighthouse and a couple of small buildings, including one that’s been deposited on the beach and broken in half. You’re not allowed to go into any of the buildings and be sure to stay on any pathways.

The coral reefs that are around Loggerhead Key are spectacular for snorkeling and diving. There is also the Windjammer shipwreck about a mile southwest of the island. It’s under 20 feet of water and is perfect for scuba diving.

Garden Key

Garden Key is the second largest of the Dry Tortugas National Park islands. It’s 14 acres includes beaches, tropical island trees, campgrounds, a fort, and a moat around the fort. The park headquarters are located on Garden Key, and this is where the ferry, seaplanes, campers, and private boaters check in.

Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson takes up much of the land on Garden Key. Building of the fort started in 1846 and lasted for 30 years while never really being completed. That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t used though, it was one of the largest masonry forts in the nation at the time. During the Civil War, Fort Jefferson was used as a prison, it even housed four men involved with President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

The sheer size of the fort helped to keep the peace, as it was the biggest masonry fort built of its time. Why build such a massive fort in the middle of the ocean you ask? It’s actually in the middle of a very busy shipping lane and the Gulf Stream. All ships going to Europe and eastern North America from South America sail near there and any traffic that goes to the Mississippi River from the east passes by Fort Jefferson.

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Reservations for Camping at Dry Tortugas

This is the hard part. You don’t need reservations for the campsites, they’re first come, first serve, with an overflow area, but you have to get there! There are three ways to get to Dry Tortugas:

• The Yankee Freedom Ferry
• Private/commercial boat
• Charter a seaplane

Yankee Freedom Ferry

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The Yankee Freedom Ferry is the most economical way that campers get to Dry Tortugas. You’re allowed 60 lbs. of gear per person plus a cooler and all the water that you can carry. If you want to take a kayak with you (highly recommended!) they allow three kayaks per trip, and it costs $20 more. You’ll have to make sure that there is a slot available when you book your trip. They offer 1,2-, and 3-night trips and the cost is $240 per person, that includes the entrance fee into the park, but it doesn’t include the camp site cost, $15 per night.

To say that getting a camping reservation is hard would be an understatement. If you have a group of more than one then you will probably become very intimate with the Yankee Freedom staff through the phone. They do have an online reservation system right here. But go ahead and try to make reservations, you can do it now, that’s okay, I’ll wait…

Did you find any? Of course you didn’t, they are normally booked up at least six months in advance. They release openings at the beginning of the month for six months out. So, on May 1st, they will release campsite reservations for October. If you have flexibility, then you can log on every day and look for cancellations. One-night and two-night reservations do pop up regularly for one person, but multiple openings are rare and go quick. Three-night reservations are harder to come by, but they do show up time to time, just remember flexibility is the key.

If you keep in contact with the Yankee Freedom staff, they have an idea when there are going to be cancelations, so you’ll want to keep in contact with them. They won’t put you on a waiting list, there is no such thing.

There is a private Facebook account specifically for camping at Dry Tortugas, you should definitely join that one. People will post openings on that page. There are a couple more pages that you might want to look at, just do a Dry Tortugas Camping search.

Private/Commercial Boat

If you have a boat that can make it over 140 miles on one tank of fuel, you can camp in the park. There is no docking at the pier but there are buoys available to tie up to. Or you can charter a boat to take you to the island, there are outfitters that will take you for one or multiple days. You can check on Facebook for help on this also.

Seaplane Charter from Key West

Seaplane Adventures has regular half day and full day excursions, cost is about $800 per person. But due to weight and space restrictions, they won’t take campers.

Dry Tortugas Pre-Camping Prep

You’ve scored your tickets on Yankee Freedom, now what? For the most part, their Camping Information PDF that you can download is very informative and covers a lot of what you can and can’t take with you, but it still leaves some questions on a few subjects.

Disclaimer! What follows is what I have actually seen make it on to the boat, don’t blame me when you overload your bin by 50 pounds, and they make you leave your 1000-watt solar generator and your espresso machine on the dock because you “just can’t morning” without coffee!

Bins, Duffle Bags, Coolers, and Water

The Yankee Freedom Camping Information PDF actually shows you the best bins, duffle bags, and coolers to take. You don’t have to match them exactly, but you’ll want to get something within their size guidelines, so you make sure that it actually gets on the boat.

Bins

The Home Depot 27 Gallon yellow lid bin is by far the most popular, to prove it just take a look…

You can fit a lot of gear in it if you pack carefully, the only thing that you have to be watchful of is the weight. I was able to fit a four-person tent, 2 small tent fans (didn’t need them), flashlights, first aid kit, snorkel gear, extra camera gear, miscellaneous little camping gear, an air mattress, and battery powered inflator.

Duffle Bags

Go for the lightest bag that’ll fit your gear that you can find! If you load up that old canvas military bag that you’ve been lugging around for years, you’re probably losing 10% of your weight allowance.

Coolers

The max size of cooler that you can take is 100 quarts. The size of cooler that you take is going to depend on the size of your group, how long you’re staying, and what you’re planning to eat. Coolers don’t count against your total weight so you can pack as much ice and food as you want.

Water

You can take as much water as you need, do not put it in your bins, leave it separate. You can use refillable water jugs, or you can stock up on one, or five-gallon jugs at the grocery store. Figure at least 1 gallon per person per day.

Extras

Fishing gear, kayaks, and canopies are something that you see a lot of people take. The nice thing about having multiple people in your group going is you can redistribute weight and take some extra “luxury” stuff. There is great fishing around the island, just make sure that you have the proper license. Kayaks are limited to three per ferry trip, so you’ll really have to plan in advance for that. Even if they won’t fit in a bin, you can take a canopy, make sure that you keep your weight where it needs to be.

How Long to Camp at Dry Tortugas

The simplest answer is whatever’s available! Yankee Freedom offers trips of 1,2, and 3 nights. If you can only stay one night, pack as light as possible. I would use the first day for snorkeling and exploring the fort, it’s open until sundown, then you can take the guided Fort Jefferson Tour the second day.

Two nights is a good amount of time, the nice thing is after 5:00 P.M. the last of the seaplanes have gone for the day, and the park is left to you, your fellow campers and the park rangers.

Three nights is the best if you can get it. It gives you plenty of time to set up camp, explore the fort, seek out great photography shots, and get to know your neighbors.

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What Not to Pack When You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

There are a few things that are not allowed in the park. First off, the only fuel that you can use for cooking food is Match Light type charcoal or Sterno, so plan your food schedule accordingly. No weapons are allowed on the ferry, also no liquid fuel or propane, and leave the fireworks at home.

Not allowed:

• Compressed gas of any kind
• Weapons, including axes, hunting knives, firearms, and machetes.
• Kerosene, white gas, or gasoline
• And of course, fireworks

What to Pack for Camping at Dry Tortugas

This is pretty subjective as some things that are absolutely necessary for one group may mean nothing to another. But, there are some things that are needed when camping at Dry Tortugas, and there is no place to buy something once you’re there (for the most part, will be explained later). Of course you’re going to take your normal camping gear, first aid kit, flashlights, plates, towels, utensils, cookware if needed, here’s the official list here.

You are not allowed to camp on Garden Key without a tent, so don’t try to save those 3 pounds and say that you’re just going to sleep in the sand. Pack your tent with a ground cover and stakes if you want them, I don’t know how much they really help in the sand. Keep your cooler in your tent, that way if the wind really starts to whip up, that’ll help keep it on the ground. Then if you really had your heart set to sleep in the sand, go ahead, just be ready to wake up with hermit crabs crawling all over you.

You’ll want to pack a lightweight, comfortable camp chair, unless you really find picnic tables to be the most comfortable place to sit for three days.

Depending on the time of year that you’re going, a sleeping bag might be comfortable if you’re going in the winter. Or you could just take a sheet and a light blanket. In June I only used a single sheet.

Tent fans are great when you’re camping in the middle of summer. In south Florida, they’re pretty much needed all year long. You don’t really need one if the wind is blowing, but on the really calm nights it will get hot, so best to throw one in with your gear.

You’ll want to have a lightweight rain jacket for inclement weather. You can check the forecast before you leave, but in the middle of the ocean, storms do pop up out of nowhere.

If you’re going to cook, and you actually have the weight allowance available for it, take some Match light charcoal. You probably won’t need a 20 lb. bag, just take enough to cover the meals that you’re planning on cooking.

If you have your own snorkel gear you can pack it, if you don’t, Yankee Freedom will supply you with gear for your stay.

A book or something to read. Surprisingly, there might be down time when you’re not exploring the wonders of the park. If you’re planning on using your phone/Kindle/tablet, just remember there is no power once you’re off the boat.

Take some type of wet wipe, there’s no running water, and the only toilets are compost type after the ferry leaves.

Cash. The only way to pay for your campsite is to put cash in an envelope at the Park Service drop box.

Clothes needed? Bathing suits, coverups and a good pair of walking sandals/shoes is pretty much all you need. Most of your days will be spent in the water, so bring plenty of bathing suits.

Trekking to Your Campsite at Dry Tortugas

At the Yankee Freedom Dock

You need to be at the Yankee Freedom dock, 100 Grinnell St, by six a.m. with all your gear. You can leave your car parked on the street while you unload and wait for them to check you in. Unload your equipment on the red pavers in front of the stanchions.

The ferry captain and other staff will come down and check all your stuff, yes, they will go through it to make sure that you don’t have prohibited items. They’ll also check the weight of you bins and other gear, so it’s best to be as close to 60 lbs. as possible, and they will pull out a scale.

Once all the campers are checked in, you’ll load your bins, duffle bags, and whatever else that you have into wheelbarrows and take them to the loading area of the ferry. The crew loads your stuff onto the boat and now you’re free to park your vehicle. Just be back to the passenger check in by 7:15, you don’t want to be late and standing on the dock as your camping equipment goes to the park without you.

There is on street parking nearby, make sure that it’s a multi-day spot. If you don’t want to deal with the stress of leaving your car parked on the street for days, there is a city parking garage nearby for $40 a day. I worked out a deal with the hotel I stayed at to be able to leave my truck. They had plenty of parking spots, so it wasn’t a deal. Not all hotels and BNBs in Key West have that luxury though. And if you’re going to do something like that, make sure that your hotel is close enough so that you can get there and back before the ferry leaves.

Yankee Freedom, Your Ride to Camp at Dry Tortugas

This is the easy part. Board the ferry, and enjoy the ride, providing that it’s a calm day. Otherwise, load up on your Dramamine!

The trip from Key West to Dry Tortugas takes about 2.5 hours. They serve bagels, coffee, juice and water. You can sit inside and stand outside downstairs, or you can sit inside or outside upstairs.

The crew is knowledgeable and will have information on the fort and the surrounding keys. You can also buy t-shirts, towels, souvenirs, and other items that you might need.

Unloading and Setting up Camp

Once the ferry is docked and people are unloading, you’ll go upstairs and get a briefing from the captain. They’ll go over general information, such as where to get in contact with the rangers if there’s an emergency, what time to have your site packed up and on the dock, and how to dispose of your trash. Oh, and they’ll tell you about the rats. Actually, right now they are in the process of eradicating them, so they really shouldn’t be a problem anymore. I didn’t see or hear of any when I was there.

By the time the captain is done, they’ll have your gear unloaded from the ferry. Grab yourself a wheelbarrow and load it up with your gear. The campground is to the left of the dock about 100 yards. There are shaded spots, wind protected spots, and open spots. Each campsite is marked by a picnic table and grill. Be careful, some campsites will look empty, but the tents will actually be back in the trees. If there are no open campsites, then you’ll have to set up in the overflow area. You can always move into a better spot if one opens up while you’re there.

Set up your tent and canopy if you brought one. Just be aware that it could get windy, so you’ll want to make sure that everything is secured. DO NOT tie off any of your gear to a tree. That’s not allowed. If it’s really windy, it’s best to leave the rainfly off of your tent.

Exploring Dry Tortugas National Park

The Fort

There are two free tours offered by Yankee Freedom, one’s a short 20-minute general information tour that is given inside the fort. They go over the uses and history of the fort, as well as the building of the fort. If you don’t want to spend too much time on a tour, this one is very informative.

The second tour is a comprehensive tour around the fort, and if you’re camping at Dry Tortugas then you can hop on the tour any day that you are there. You’ll learn about the people who lived there and what they did during their days they spent at the fort. You’ll walk around the fort and learn about the buildings and what life was like living in the fort. This is a great learning experience, and you should definitely do it.

If you’d rather take your time and not have 20 people surrounding you and getting in your pics, then there is a self-guided tour that starts at the ranger office and museum. There are information stations throughout the fort and signs to guide you on your trip.

The Beaches

There are two main beaches on either side of the fort. The south side beach gives you the most room. It’s shallow so a lot of people like to hang out in the water. The north side is a smaller beach, so pick a side that suits your beach personality. Both offer great snorkeling with a chance to see unlimited marine life.

Snorkeling When You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

The best snorkeling is by the Coaling Dock Ruins. You’ll see big tarpon, plenty of reef fish, and amazing coral. Be careful around the coaling docks, it’s more open and the water will get choppy. Snorkeling along the moat wall is popular too. Reef fish, stingrays, anchors, sea turtles, even sharks will show up. If you can get out to Loggerhead Key there’s a great reef to snorkel there too. You can spend hours snorkeling around the reefs in Dry Tortugas National Park and not get bored!

Kayaking While You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

If you’re lucky enough to get your kayak on the ferry, then you are in for a treat, even if you don’t fish. You can take your kayak over to Loggerhead Key and check out the tranquility that island has to offer. Just make sure that the weather is favorable, it’s a three-mile paddle over open water and it can get rough. Even if it does get rough, you can still kayak in the harbored waters around Garden Key.

Fishing

Amberjack, grouper, snapper, and even barracuda are all fish that you can catch just fishing off the dock. Make sure that your license is up to date, and if you bring your own gear you can fish from the dock, take your kayak out, or just fish the surf.

After Hours While You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

The ferry heads back at 2:30, the Seaplane tours are off the island by 5:00 and the only people left are the campers and the rangers. If you ever wondered what it would be like to be on a secluded island, this is about as close as it gets!

You can explore the fort until the sun goes down. Speaking of the sun going down, find yourself a comfortable spot and enjoy the sunsets and sunrises as they are spectacular! Meet your fellow campers, this is a special trip, and most people enjoy talking about their experiences to get there.

After the sun goes down, be prepared for the best stargazing that you have ever seen. No light pollution means more stars are viewable in the sky. Shine a flashlight on the ground, you will see the most hermit crabs that you have ever seen in your life!

Yankee Freedom Ferry, Keeping Your Primitive Trip Semi-Primitive

The Yankee Freedom Ferry shows up every day around 10:30, this is like a floating general store showing up at the entrance to your tent. Running out of ice or water? You’re covered. Need a shower to rinse off? Yep, you can do that too.

If you’re tired of the trail mix and beef jerky that you’ve been eating for the last two days, climb the ramp and get yourself a made to order cheeseburger! There’s other food that you can order too. You can even belly up to the bar and order cocktails until the ferry leaves.

So, if you’re worried about not being able to make three nights of primitive camping, rest assured that there’s some help that shows up every day.

Be prepared to spend an extra night if the weather doesn’t cooperate. It doesn’t happen often, but there is a possibility, so don’t over gorge yourself and eat all that beef jerky the last night because you don’t want to take it back with you.

Heading Back to Key West

Break down your campsite and make sure that all the sand is off everything. Grab a wheelbarrow off the dock and cart all your gear and garbage bag to the picnic tables on the pier where they unloaded you. You need to have your equipment there before the ferry docks, or by 10:30.

It’s best to do it first thing in the morning, that way you don’t have to fight for a wheelbarrow and can do whatever you want before the ferry leaves at 2:30. Hang out at the beach one last time, snorkel the moat wall again, or take one of the tours.

If you are on the fence about camping at Dry Tortugas National Park, let me tell you that if you ever have a chance, take it! You will not regret it, and it will give you an experience that you will remember forever.

Did I miss something? Have you been there and have your own tips, or are you going and you still have questions? Drop a comment below and I’ll answer.

Looking for things to do while you’re in Key West? Check out 9 Awesome Things to do in Key West right here!

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As you’re traveling the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys, on the bridge between Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key, you’ll spot a small, wooded island to the east. That is Indian Key State Park and was once the Dade County seat. Now it’s a ghost town. Back in 1836 when the only way to get to and around the Florida Keys was by boat, Indian Key was prominent enough that it was named the county seat of Dade County. It may not look like much now but back then it had warehouses, housing, a hotel (with a bowling alley!), it even had a post office.

Indian Key was once a bustling island with families, shop owners, and “wreckers”, the men who salvaged the many shipwrecks in the Florida Keys. Now it’s deserted, and just like in the 1800s, the only way to get there is by boat.

What would it be like to live there? You ask. Well, grab yourself a kayak and take a short paddle over to Indian Key State Park and check out a real Florida Keys ghost town. Lucky for you, Indian Key is about a 1/2 mile from either Upper or Lower Matecumbe Key through shallow, fantastic turquoise clear water.

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To get to Indian Key, put your kayak in at MM 78. There’s a parking lot on the east side of the highway. It’s closed right now (9/22) because of construction, but you can still launch from there and park closer to the street. It’s about a twenty-minute paddle to the island over sea grass and shallow water. As you glide through the seagrass flats, keep an eye out for trunkfish. The seagrass is their favorite hangout. Once you get to the south side of the island, you’ll see an abandoned dock. Don’t go there, it’s closed. When you get close, you’ll see the “Kayak Landing” sign, that’s where you want to land.

Since Indian Key Historic State Park, is in fact a State Park, there’s a $2.50 entrance fee. You can either put cash in one of the supplied envelopes at the kiosk or use the QR code on the sign and pay with your phone.

You’ll want to do yourself a favor before you even leave for Indian Key State Park, go to the App Store or whatever the current name for Apple’s download service is and download the Florida Stories app to your phone. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll have a complete walking tour of the island in your hand, along with walking tours of other popular Florida sites. You can either listen to the audio or read the text as you go. You don’t have to use the app while you’re there, they have plaques on all the points of interest, but Florida Stories goes into a lot more detail of the sites and the families that lived there. Plus, there’s a bonus walking map.

Since there are no facilities or fresh water on the island, make sure that you load up plenty of water before you go. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that since there are no facilities or fresh water on the island, there are no mosquitos either.

Hurricane Irma did a number on the island, so the boat dock and observation towers are closed, but who wants to see a fantastic view of the keys anyway?

You can do a leisurely stroll around the island on the re-created gravel paths, there are even street signs! Don’t worry if you didn’t download the Florida Stories app all of the stops have signs that describe what was in the spot that you’re standing in front of. Start at the town square which used to have up to 18 buildings, now down to 0. From there you can walk over to the warehouse district and check out the foundations that are still there.

In the 1830s the straits of Florida were heavily trafficked by merchant ships. Unfortunately, the straits were also filled with shallow reefs and pirates. When ships would run aground on the shallow reefs, the wreckers from Indian Key, led by Jacob Houseman, would race to the stranded ship. The first wrecker to the ship would then retain the rights to salvage the ship and move the inventory to the warehouses on Indian Key. The contents from the ship would be stored in the warehouses on the island until it could be moved to the customs office in Key West. Once the inventory was in Key West, a federal judge would award the wrecker a fee, usually about 25%.

While there are no buildings that are still standing, they were burned during the 1840 American Indian attack, there are plenty of ruins to see. Mostly old foundations and fireplaces. There are a few cisterns that are still standing. It’s interesting to see the difference between the cisterns that were built in the beginning of the community, and the ones that were built later on when the US Navy had a hospital on the island.

Once you’ve toured the island, head on over to the east side. Just up Center Street, sit down on the convenient bench and enjoy the view of the Alligator Reef lighthouse. “What a stupid name!” You rant. “The Keys are surrounded by salt water, they’re crocodiles.” You rant on. Calm down my easily riled up reader, it was named after the ship that ran aground on the reef, the USS Alligator. It hit the reef as it was protecting merchant ships from pirates. The USS Alligator was then sunk to keep the very same pirates from pillaging the ship. That’s what happens when you “discover” reefs, your ship lives on in infamy.

After you’re done ranting amongst yourself, head to the shore and don your snorkel gear. One thing though, don’t think that you’re walking there barefoot, the island is made of fossilized coral and let me tell you, it will do a number on your feet. There’s nothing sandy about this beach, so, wear some type of water shoe or sandal to protect your feet.

This is absolutely one of the best places to snorkel nearshore in the Keys. In the water you’ll see schools of reef fish, including colorful French grunts, snappers, tons of parrotfish, little blue tangs, groupers, even the much-maligned barracuda. There is also a veritable conch playground, just don’t pick any up or try to take them, or any other shells, as the area is protected. And it goes without saying, don’t touch or take any coral.

After you’re done for the day, make sure that you pack out everything that you brought in. There’s no camping on the island, so leave the tents and hammocks at home. Want to know more about Indian Key State Park? Check out the Florida Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada. It’s a treasure trove of all Keys information, they even have a mockup of Indian Key in its heyday.

You think it sounds great, but you don’t have a kayak or boat? Put your floaties away, you can rent kayaks at Robbies, if you can pull yourself away from the shops. Or Backcountry Cowboys (giddy up!).

You Might be Interest in:

If you’re going to be kayaking around Miami and in the Florida Keys and check out our Kayaking in Biscayne Bay guide.

Looking for a gift for your favorite adventurer? Check out our line of planners and journals here. Easily ordered from Amazon.

Find out more about the Florida Keys at Adventure Florida Keys.

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What do crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, campgrounds, fishing, snorkeling, boating, an old railroad bridge, and picturesque sunsets have in common? They all come perfectly together in Bahia Honda State Park.

Located at mile marker 37 (almost to Key West!) on Bahia Honda Key. Bahia Honda is Spanish for “deep bay” because of the deep water surrounding the island. The state park has three separate campgrounds, three beaches, and one very old, spectacular bridge.

Heading to Key West after you visit Bahia Honda and need some ideas of what to do? The Ultimate Guide to Key West is right here!

Campgrounds

Good news, you can conveniently make reservations on the Florida State Parks website. Or you can call 800-326-3521 and actually talk to someone. Bad news, notice that I said conveniently and not easily. That’s because when you go to book your campsite, unless you’re booking 6 months in advance, you’ll see a wall of red X’s. That means that there aren’t any campsites available. So, you can do what I do (because who has time to plan 6 months in advance?) and check for cancellations weekly and hop on them when they become available. Or you can call the above number and set up your reservations that way.

Buttonwood

On the west side of the island Buttonwood is the largest of the campgrounds with 48 RV and tent camping sites that provide power and water, showers are available in a centrally located building. The campsites here are big and nicely wooded. There are approximately 15 campsites that are directly on the water.

Bayside

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Bayside Campground, also on the west side has 8 “primitive” (primitive because they don’t have electricity, and no, you can’t bring a generator) campsites and 6 cabins that you can rent. The cabins are directly on the lagoon, while the tent sites are across the gravel road from the lagoon. The lagoon is about 30 feet deep and was made when they when they quarried out the limestone to build the Overseas Highway. There is a nice, clean bathroom and dishwashing sink conveniently located near the campsites and all the campsites have running water.

Sandspur

Sandspur Campground is north of the park entrance. Sandspur campground is on the Atlantic side of the park and offers 23 tent and camper sites. Restrooms and showers are available. 19 are on the water, and they have electricity.

Boat Camping

That’s right, bring your boat and tie up at the marina. You can rent a slip with fresh water and electricity for your stay for up to two weeks. While you’re relaxing under your bimini in the afternoon, be sure to keep an eye out for the manatee that likes to swim in the marina.

Beaches

There are three main beaches in Bahia Honda State Park, one is on the Florida Bay side, and two are on the Atlantic side. Loggerhead and Calusa beach are on the southern end of the island, and the cool thing about this is that they’re just right across the street from each other. Where else can you jump in the Atlantic Ocean and five minutes later be cooling your heels in the Florida Bay? They both have white sandy beaches, incredibly clear water, and are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Loggerhead Beach

On the Atlantic side, Loggerhead Beach is the longer of the two. While it might look narrow near the parking lot, there is plenty of room to stretch out south below the bridge, or north of the parking lot. Right off the beach the water is shallow, and the sandy bottom is great for sitting on and cooling down on those hot days.

Be sure to bring your snorkel gear because beyond the sand you’ll find great snorkeling. Hidden in the sea grass are conch shells, star coral and a host of tropical fish including but not limited to, barracudas, angel fish, hog fish, and stingrays. Forgot your gear, or don’t have any? No problems, head across the street to the gift shop and you can purchase or rent any gear that you need. They even have underwater cameras for purchase, so you don’t have to wonder whether that “watertight” case that you bought off of Wish for your iPhone is really watertight.

Kayaks can be rented at the concession stand/gift shop. The kayaks are located north of the beach parking lot. Just drag one out to the water (after you pay for it) and you can kayak all the way around the key if you’re up to it. Just stay away from the designated swimming areas. Be careful around the bridges though, there are a lot of strong currents that’ll mess up your day if you get caught in them.

Sandspur Beach

Located on the northeast side of the island, sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, invite you in and the balmy breeze keeps you there.

Calusa Beach

On the Florida Bay side of the island of Bahia Honda State Park is Calusa Beach. It’s similar to Loggerhead Beach but you get views of two bridges from this beach. You can work on your tan on the beach while the kids are building sandcastles. When it’s time to cool off just jump in the water. Haha fooled you! If you’re there in August, that water’s warm! In that case grab your snorkel gear and head to deeper cooler water and check out the underwater sights.

Keep your Florida Keys memories close in one of our amazing journals! Available in hardcover or paperback, these are great for jotting down your vacation memories. Click here to buy one today!

Or check out our Planners and Journals page for more options!

The Old Overseas Railroad Bridge at Bahia Honda State Park

Built by Henry Flagler and completed in 1912, the Overseas Railroad connected Key West to mainland Florida. It was such an engineering feat that it was known as the eighth wonder of the world. Before that the only way to get to anywhere in the Keys was by boat. This opened up Key West and the other Keys for tourism and fishing charters.

The railway was in use until 1935 when a Labor Day hurricane did a number on it and rendered it unusable. The State of Florida purchased it and converted it into the Overseas Highway. The bridge in Bahia Honda State Park was used for automobile traffic until 1972 when they opened up the new four lane bridge that you drive over today.

There is a trail to the top of the old bridge where you can watch amazing sunsets, get a spectacular view of the Atlantic, or just watch the boats wander by. Fun fact: the top of the bridge is where the cars used to drive, the train tracks were actually on the lower level. The structure was too narrow for two lanes of cars, so they just poured concrete on top of the old bridge structure.

Snorkeling and Snorkeling Tours

Bahia Honda State Park has clear blue water surrounding it that is fantastic for snorkeling. You can literally walk out to the seagrass put your face in the water (don’t forget your snorkel and goggles!) and you’ll be immersed in a tropical wonder. Spiny lobster, soft corals, queen conch, puffer fish and stingrays, just to name a few. Just a reminder, everything is protected so when you spy that perfect conch shell for the shelf in your bathroom, don’t pick it up!

Want to get away from the island and do some real reef snorkeling, maybe even see a shark? Then head on over to the concession and sign up for the Looe Key snorkel trip. After a short ride out to Looe Key, you’ll be unleashed to snorkel your heart out for 1 1/2 hours in 5 feet to 70 feet of water. It’s relatively inexpensive and it’s a great time for the family.

Kayaking

There are two boat ramps at the marina that you can put in at, or you can launch off of Loggerhead Beach. Steer clear of the swimming areas and you’ll be alright. Kayak along the shoreline and see a ton of birds as it’s located along Florida’s Great Birding Trail. Of course, due to the crystal-clear waters there are plenty of fish to view. Once you’ve had your fill of fish and birds then you can head to the south end of the island and get a great closeup of the bridge. You might even get to kayak alongside the local manatee.

Depending on the weather you might have to choose one side or the other. If the conditions are perfect, then either side will do. Just remember that the tides and current under the railroad bridge can be tricky, so unless you’re a seasoned kayaker steer clear. Even if you are a seasoned kayaker, keep a heads up because debris has been known to fall from the bridge. Bring your own kayak or you can rent one at… you guessed it, the concession.

Fishing

Tarpon, Barracuda and grouper are popular sportfish in the area. You can fish from the shoreline in many places. Bring a boat and you can get close to bridges and deeper water for the big fish. There are also many charter boats in the area waiting to take you out.

Stargazing While You’re Camping at Bahia Honda State Park

Where is the darkest location in the Keys for scoping out the stars? Why, it’s right here in Bahia Honda! Check out their two stargazing programs and view the skies under perfect circumstances with knowledgeable people. Or just look up in the sky when night falls and you will be amazed.

If you’re going to be in the Miami area, don’t forget to check out our guide to Kayaking in Biscayne Bay.

You don’t have to be camping, or just there for the day enjoying the great beaches around the island to take advantage of Bahia Honda. If you’re passing through on your way to Key West, do yourself a favor, bring a picnic lunch and park yourself at one of the many picnic tables and pavilions scattered around. Sit down enjoy your lunch as you take in the wonderful scenery of the park.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right Here!

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People have been doing awesome things in Key West ever since there were pirates prowling the waters around the infamous island. From deep sea fishing to rambling down Duval Street until four in the morning, there is something for everyone. Use this handy guide whether you’re going to Key West for a day or a week.

Not enough for you here? That’s great! Then you’re the perfect person to check out our guide to the Ultimate Key West.

Snorkel Tours

There are some awesome reefs around Key West, be sure to snorkel one of them. You can do an all day adventure or just do a morning or afternoon tour. Better yet, take one of the dolphin watching and snorkel combos and be the envy of your friends back home.

Scuba Diving

Key West waters are littered with sunken ships. They’ve been sunken both by accident and on purpose. Maybe you’ll find that sunken pirate booty and become famous! Or you can dive the USS Vanderberg and fin-walk the decks of a famous warship.

Want to scuba dive and don’t have a PADI Certification? No problem, there are plenty of PADI authorized shops that can teach you or you can do a Discover Scuba Course and start on the path to your dream of living underwater.

Deep Sea Fishing

One of the more awesome things to do in Key West is getting on a charter fishing boat and heading out to sea to land a big one, fish that is. Just imagine how excited your wife will be when you bring home that Sailfish and mount him in the living room! Grouper, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, you can even exact revenge for Amity Island and catch a shark.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Do yourself a favor and take a day and get over to Dry Tortugas. It’s about 70 miles from Key West and is only accessible by boat or seaplane. Surrounded by crystal clear waters is the historic Fort Jefferson, built in the 1800’s. Spectacular snorkeling abounds in the majestic blue waters encompassing the island. If you want to spend more than a day there pack your tent and stay at the campgrounds.

Want to keep track of what you did on your vacation? How about having a convenient place to jot down all your vacation thoughts? Maybe keep track of everywhere that you’ve been in one book? Check out our stylish journals to record all of your thoughts.

Each page has a black and white image of the cover on it. Available in hardcover or paperback.

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Not only could Ernest Hemingway write, he was also an avid outdoorsman, and he loved to drink. He devoted his time in Key West to all three. He wrote 70 percent of his published works while he lived in this house. When he wasn’t writing you could find him on a boat deep sea fishing. As for the drinking, one trip to Key West will tell you everything that you need to know about that.

Take one of the guided tours through this wonderfully maintained house and step back in time to the 1930’s. Learn about how Ernest spent his days writing, playing and drinking. You can head on over to Sloppy Joe’s after and maybe after drinking there you’ll become a prolific writer too.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historical State Park

Put Fort Zachary on your list of awesome things to do in Key West. It’s a Civil War era fort that was used continuously until 1947. At one time it was three stories but through retrofits over the years, today it’s down to one story. That still gives you enough to see how soldiers lived and worked in the late 1800’s. The fort is filled with Civil War canons and if you time it right you can visit when they do a living history weekend where they have re-enactors portraying what it was like to be a soldier in 1861.

Your admission into Fort Zachary also allows you access to the beach, hiking, and biking trails so load up the car with the beach gear and you can make a full day there. The snorkeling and fishing are great off the beach and the sunsets are fantastic!

If you’re only going to be in Key West for three days, here’s the perfect guide for that!

Key West Historic Seaport

While Duval Street gets all the hype, there’s another area of town that is a great place to hang out. Filled with restaurants and bars that line up along the waterfront is the Key West Historic Seaport.

Here you can enjoy your dinner and watch the fishing boats come in after a day on the water and separate their catch. Or, enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets in the only way that it knows how to in Key West, spectacular!

Most places have live entertainment that carries on through the night and it’s close enough to Mallory Square that you can pop on over there and catch the shenanigans going on there.

Key West Paddleboard/Kayak Tours

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What a great way to spend some time in Key West. Kayaking or paddleboarding among the many mangroves that are surrounding the Keys. Never been paddleboarding before? Don’t worry, they’ll teach you how!

Slicing through the shallow water on your stand up paddleboard at a nice leisurely pace, you can spot marine life below you. You think “how can this get any better?”. Well, it does, because as you’re cruising along you’ll also be getting a lesson on mangrove formation and the sea life that inhabits them from your guide.

Definitely take a morning or an afternoon to fit this in, you might even like it so much you’ll move up to paddleboard yoga!

Key West Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

Tired of walking? Spent too much time on Duval Street last night but you still want to go sightseeing? Then hop on board the Hop-on Hop- Off Trolley Tour!

You can buy one or two day unlimited passes that allow you to ride the trolley and get on and off as you please (just wait until the trolley comes to a full stop!). Get off at the stops that you want to see and while you’re on the trolley sit back and listen as the expert guides give you the history of the island and it’s attractions.

Don’t worry about being stranded at a stop for too long, usually another trolley arrives about every 20 minutes and the trolleys run from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right HERE!

The post 9 Awesome Things to do in Key West appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

When somebody says “tropical island” to you, what do you think of? Laid back people, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, scuba diving, snorkeling, people riding around on bikes and of course the sleepy little island that wakes up just in time for the night life. Well, Key West has all that. Don’t know where to start? Right here! Read the Ultimate Guide to Key West and you’ll know exactly where you’ll want to go and what to do.

161 miles south of Miami is the laid-back little island, Key West and it’s literally at the end of the road. It even has a “Mile 0” mile marker. This is where “island time” gets its reputation.

Don’t get the wrong idea. On one hand the island is laid back, on the other hand there is so much to explore and do it’ll wear you out. Oh, and they do like to party on the island. Check out Duval Street any night of the week!

Where to Stay in Key West

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The old section of Key West is filled with Bed and Breakfast type hotels. But what some people call B & B’s I call boutique hotels. Depending on the size of the property, there can be 10 – 30 rooms in a hotel. Mostly they’re multiple old houses on a lot and cut up into single room accommodations. The rooms will be small (think enough room to walk around the bed), but you’re not spending much time in your room anyway. There will usually be breakfast set out in the morning, hence the B part of the B & B.

The resort type hotels are by the airport on the northeastern side of the island. They’re big, it’s a quieter part of town, and little bit more of a family setting. There are also some traditional hotels by the marinas on the west side of the island.

What To Do in Key West

This list is practically endless there’s so much to do. You can kick back and relax, you can find heart pumping adventures, or you can hit Duval Street until 4 in the morning.

Scuba Diving

Reef diving, ship wreck diving, tropical fish, yeah, it’s all here. Don your BCD and scuba gear and live on the bottom of the ocean. The water is clear and you can dive sunken ships like the USS Vandenberg, a 524 foot decommissioned US Navy ship. Key West boasts the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Filled with spectacular coral and hundreds of species of fish.

Snorkeling

Haven’t made the leap to scuba diving, but you still want to get down with the fishes? Go snorkel on one of the many tours that will take you out to the Dry Tortugas National Park. Coral reefs and marine life are abundant so be prepared to be amazed! Aquatic wildlife, beautiful coral, and mangrove islands are all within reach.

Sport Fishing

Cruise on out to the deep sea and get your fishing fix in. Reel in that shark, sailfish, or Marlin and mount it above your fireplace. Fill the cooler with Grouper, Mahi Mahi, and snapper and take it to a local restaurant to have it cooked up just for you. Charter one of the many boats that sail out of Key West for a time you’ll never forget.

Dry Tortugas National Park

No guide to Key West would be complete without this gem of an island. Surrounded by crystal clear blue waters it’s where the old Fort Jefferson is located. It is located 68 miles east of Key West and only accessible by boat or seaplane (cool!). It’s a great day trip and you can even gear up and camp there overnight. Do not forget to take your snorkel or dive gear because you don’t want to miss the coral reefs and amazing marine wildlife.

The Forts

Fort Zachery Taylor, East and West Martello Towers. All three are Civil War era forts. Fort Taylor was in use from 1861 until 1947. Originally a three-story fort, it is now only one story but still impressive. East and West Martello were twin forts, about 2 miles from each other. The east fort is more intact and houses a museum. The west fort is run by the Key West Garden Club and it’s free to enter, but is not as complete as the east fort.

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

A Farewell To Arms, Death In The Afternoon, and For Whom The Bell Tolls (man, if he was alive and writing today, he would be the king of the hipsters!), were among the books Hemingway wrote while living in his house on Key West. A beautiful house (with a really cool pool), it was painstakingly renovated and is such a wonderful representation of a 1930s, you’ll think that you’ve step into a time warp, until that tour group from Wisconsin bumps into you. The descendants of his famous cats still live in the house to this day.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

“What’s up, guide to Key West?” You say. “This sounds boring.” Well, you might not think so when you’re running for your life from zombie butterflies! There are no zombie butterflies, unless you believe the 1000 cable channels that currently promote this possibility, but there are some amazing butterflies…and birds…and turtles, and even Rhett and Scarlet, the resident loud mouth Pink Flamingos.

Key West Light House

Right across the street from Ernest Hemingway’s humble abode is the old Key West Lighthouse. Do yourself a favor and climb to the top for some spectacular views of Key West. Spring extra for the Lighthouse Museum tour, it’s definitely worth it. And remember, it’s old, and it’s a lighthouse, so it’s most certainly haunted.

Key West Aquarium

Let’s just get this out now, aquariums are cool! Interactive exhibits, Sea Turtles, Sharks, and touch tanks. Seeing marine life without having to get wet is almost as good as actually being underwater. 10 “lucky” guests after each presentation get to have the opportunity to feed the resident nurse sharks! No word on what the aquarium says to the next of kin though.

Mel Fisher Maritime Musuem

Mel Fisher, one of the most famous shipwreck treasure hunters has his own museum. Check out the historical exhibits of treasures found from sunken ships. Not only that, you can also do a behind-the-scenes tour to see how they conserve the artifacts after they bring them to the surface.

The Harry S Truman Little Whitehouse

That’s right. Donald Trump is not the only president to spend his down time in Florida. Harry Truman was doing it long ago, he spent so much time here they called it The Little White House. Renovations started in 1988 in the home where Truman met many dignitaries and conducted official business.

Key West Shipwreck Museum

It’s a recreation of an 1800s shipwreck salvage warehouse. Employing actors, film, and artifacts, it weaves the tale of 400 years of shipwrecks in the Key West area. Real silver bars and authentic shipwreck recoveries are on display. After you’ve been through the exhibit be sure to climb the tower to get a feel for what the “wreckers” were looking for in the heyday of shipwreck recoveries. Plus, it’s a great view!

Key West Sunsets

Key West is famous for its sunsets, and there’s a reason why, look above. Charter one of the many sunset cruises and spend an evening mingling and enjoying a relaxing cruise, or get on one of the more party friendly ones and rock the night as the sun sets.

Duval Street

This is a guide to Key West, so of course we’re going to have Duval Street on here. Nice restaurants, historic bars, dive bars, and drag bars. And that’s just in one block! Open until 4 AM Duval Street is a historical walk with a non stop party going on. None of those fit your bill? Then check out The Garden of Eden, a clothing optional bar, this is the place to do some serious people watching! Just leave your phone in your pocket, they frown on picture taking.

How to Get Around

Park your car in that $20 a day lot and forget it, you won’t even need it. Taxis, Uber, bikes and scooters are the way to get around when you’re on the island. Buy a ticket for one of the “Hop On Hop Off” trolleys and hop on and hop off at your leisure (see how they did that?). Want to watch someone work as you sit with your tropical drink in your hand? Then jump on one of the pedicabs that are cruising by.

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What? You say that you only have three days to spend there and you can’t possibly fit all that in? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered right here.

Want to get to Key West but don’t want to spend a fortune on airfare? Check out our article on how to get cheap airline tickets.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right HERE!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Key West appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

I love Key West! I love the vibe of the island, I love all that there is to do, I love the people, about the only thing that I don’t like is getting there. You say that the drive there is beautiful. I agree, it is beautiful, but please don’t be one of those people poking around, going five miles under the speed limit. Then when they get to the passing lane, they speed up to 80 until it’s back down to one lane, then it’s back to five miles under the speed limit. It’s the damndest thing, it happens every time. Anyway, on to three perfect days in Key West.

You’ll want to find the perfect hotel to stay in while you spend your three perfect days. Find a list of hotels here.

Unless you’re flying into Key West early in the morning, these three days don’t include travel days. Key West is about four hours from Miami, so you pretty much waste a day traveling if you’re flying into one of the Miami airports. If you’re traveling from somewhere other than Homestead, you’ll do good to get to Key West, check into your hotel and spend the night relaxing.

Day 1 Walking and Exploring

Day one of three days in Key West has a lot of walking in it so make sure that you bring plenty of water, good walking shoes, and you can cut out attractions as you see fit.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

The number of butterflies in here is amazing! You learn all about butterflies with a butterfly primer in an outer room and then move into the butterfly room. Very tropically landscaped with butterflies and birds flying throughout. There are even two Pink Flamingos, Rhett and Scarlett, who’ll entertain you with their antics. Once you’re done, no rush, you end up in, you guessed it, the gift shop. But you already knew that because that’s where you started.

Admission is $15.50/12.50 for adults/children with discounts for military and seniors.

The Southernmost Point

Yeah, everybody who has been to Key West has their picture in front of The Southernmost Point sign on their Facebook page. What they don’t show you is the line that you have to wait in to get that pic, in the heat, with no shade. It’s on the way to the next attraction so you can stop, wait, and post it to your Facebook/Insta account, or not.

Due to construction of South and Whitehead Streets, the Southernmost Point Buoy has been temporarily moved to the end of Duval Street by the Southernmost House. There’s still a line, the best time to get a pic is early morning or late in the evening, bonus there’s better lighting at that time too.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

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Named after Zachary “Old Rough and Ready” Taylor, Fort Taylor was built in 1845 and held “active duty” status through 1947. When it was built it was three stories high and completely surrounded by water. Through the years it has been updated to suit the needs of the military. Today it’s only one story, but it still holds the largest cache of Civil War-era seacoast cannons.

But Wait, There’s More…

There’s more than just a fort, there’s also a beach area and nature trails. Bring your fishing gear and impress your family with how resourceful you are as you catch fish, clean it, and cook it on the convenient grills in the picnic area. After you’re done eating, wait the “mom required” 30 minutes and snorkel right off the beach. Don’t have snorkeling gear? Don’t worry they’ll rent it to you right there. After you’ve spent your day touring, fishing, and snorkeling, relax in one of the beach chairs that you rented when you returned the snorkel gear and enjoy a fantastic sunset.

Earnest Hemingway Home and Museum

Full of history, the house is well preserved with plenty of pictures. Get a guide or do the self-guided tour thing. Either way you’ll enjoy exploring the grounds and learning the history of Earnest Hemingway. He wrote about 70% of his books in this very house. One of the things that you’ll learn there is that ole Ern was a cat person and there are still descendants of his famous six-toed cats living at the house.

Admission is $19/$7 for adults/children. Tours are included in the price and start every 15 minutes.

Key West Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters

Go ahead, climb the 88 steps to the top of the lighthouse and get a bird’s eye view of the island. Key West is a notoriously hard island to navigate a boat around. And you’ll find that out when you tour the keeper’s quarters and explore the history of lighthouses on the island.

Admission is $15.50/$7.50 for adults/children, and there’s a $4 discount for seniors, locals, and college students.

Viva Saloon

What a better way to end the day than on the patio enjoying fresh seafood and a cold drink or two. Live music plays throughout the day. This is a great place to unwind, and the prices are reasonable.

Day 2 Sailing, Snorkeling, and Kayaking

Day two of three days in key west is on the water. If you bring sunscreen, make sure that it’s biodegradable.

Danger Charters Cruise

Cool name, but it’s not dangerous. That guy sitting across from you? He’s not a pirate, he’s just a hipster.

This is a fun trip, and you can do a morning trip, afternoon trip (which stays out for the sunset) or bring out the sailor in you and spring for the full day trip.

Leave from the Margaritaville Resort and Marina and set sail to Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Once the crew drops anchor it’s time to get your snorkel gear and jump into the water. Under water you’ll see some of the more than 600 tropical colored marine wildlife species, including sting rays among the coral reefs.

After everybody gets back on board it’s time for snacks, or lunch and drinks (oh yeah!). You can eat and socialize while you head to your next destination, the mangroves. Mangroves are essentially forests of shrubs and small trees that grow in the salt water. Once you’re there, everybody gets in their kayaks and the crew will guide you around the tree/shrub island and tell you about their formation.

Finally, enjoy the relaxing trip back to the marina as you mingle and enjoy the complimentary drinks.

Schooner Wharf Bar

After a day on the water head on over to the Schooner Wharf Bar. Cold drinks, great food, fun crowd, and live bands. Do yourself a favor and sit by the water so you can watch the fishing boats bring their catch in.

Day Three Biking and Exploring the Island

Day Three, the final day of three days on Key West is an exploring the island day.

Sunrise to Sunset

Wake up early and join the crowd (yes, there is a crowd) for the sunrise at the Edward B. Knight Pier. While you’re there, there’s a great bike/running path along the seawall that starts at Higgs Beach and goes to the airport.

Rent a bike or scooter and explore the island. Bike to Duval Street and pick up your souvenirs, T- shirts, and Fine Art. Cruise up and down the side streets and be amazed at how tight they pack their houses, then get even more amazed at how adverse they are to grass and actually landscape every inch of their yard.

Bike on over to Fort East Martello Museum and explore another Civil War era fort. Or go to the poor man’s West Martello Tower, which is the twin to East Martello. It’s not as intact but it’s free. It’s run by Key West Garden Club and funded on donations so don’t be a total tightwad, donate a couple of bucks.

Or let the adventurer in you out. Check out Fury’s Parasailing. Get awed when you’re floating above the crystal-clear waters that surround Key West. Get really awed when you see dolphins and sharks in the water and you realize how close that they swim to shore!

Commotion on the Ocean Sunset Sail

Find it on TripAdvisor as Key West Sunset Cruise with Fury Water Adventures. You might get lucky and get the appropriately named Captain Morgan. Be sure to ask him to do the Captain Morgan pose for you, he loves that.

Beer, wine, margaritas, and champagne flow continuously as a band plays on the main deck. Enjoy the sounds of 80s bar music floating in the background and laugh at the 20 other boats who don’t have music. Be prepared, because when the sun sets, it’s spectacular!

Once you get back to shore there’s still plenty of time to hit up one of the great restaurants on Duval Street. Go ahead and enjoy yourself, you’re going back to real life tomorrow.

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Not enough for you? Well, wander over to our Ultimate Guide to Key West then.

Okay, you’ve read about and now you want to get to Key West as fast as you can. Find out how to get the cheapest airfares here.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right HERE!

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