Florida Keys: Key West

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Key West

Seven Mile Bridge and old bridge side by side on the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys

Driving across the Seven Mile Bridge on the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys under blue skies

View from the car on the long Overseas Highway across the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys

Monday, March 19: Today we leave Key Largo and set off along the Overseas Highway toward Key West. We cross the famous Seven Mile Bridge and enjoy the breathtaking drive across the open sea.

At Big Pine Key we stop for breakfast, hoping to spot the rare Key Deer. This endangered deer-like animal is protected here and can occasionally be seen with a bit of luck. Unfortunately, luck is not on our side, so we drive on to Blue Hole — a former quarry that filled with water and is now home to turtles and alligators. (MM 30.5)

Before continuing to Key West, we grab one of the last rooms for "only" $146 on Big Pine Key (Spring Break sends its regards).
Along the way, we keep running into Harley-Davidson convoys heading south.

Onward to Key West

Southernmost Point, Ernest Hemingway House and start & end of US1 — Southernmost Point

Typical white Victorian-style wooden house on a tree-lined street in Key West, Florida — Ernest Hemingway House

Street sign US Highway 1 Mile 0 Begin — starting point of the longest US highway in Key West, Florida — Start & End of US1

In the early afternoon we arrive in Key West and barely manage to find a parking spot. The place is packed, even though it's only Tuesday. First, we head to the Southernmost Point, the southernmost spot in the continental USA. From here it's just 80 miles across the sea to Cuba.

We continue toward the harbor, pass Mile Marker 0 of US Route 1, and admire the Hemingway House from the outside.

Old Town Key West & Mallory Square

Giant Banyan Tree in Key West — Giant Banyan Tree

Pink Taxi at Mallory Square, Key West — Pink Taxi at Mallory Square

Next, we hit Duval Street for some shopping and strolling. After a coffee, we stock up on quarters (always good to have a supply for parking meters) and feed our meter.

Old Town — Mallory Square

We continue to Mallory Square, past the Old Town, the historic district at the end of Route 1 — sunset watching.

Every evening, hundreds of spectators from around the world gather here to celebrate the sunset. Street performers put on acrobatic shows and comedy acts, creating a festival-like atmosphere.

During this unique spectacle, we witness a sensational sunset and enjoy our cocktails on the pier with views of the small islands offshore.

Sunset at Mallory Square

Glowing orange sunset with sailboats and seagulls at Mallory Square in Key West, Florida

We stroll through the town a while longer in the evening and visit Hemingway's favorite watering hole, the world-famous Sloppy Joe's Bar, before heading back to our motel.