Key West Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
county seat city of Monroe County, Florida, United States; island in Florida Keys
About Key West
In pre-Columbian times, Key West was inhabited by the Tequesta and Calusa peoples. The first European to visit was Juan Ponce de León in 1521. As Florida became a Spanish colony, a fishing and salvage village with a small garrison was established here. The island was used by fishermen from Cuba and from the British Bahamas, who were later joined by others from the United States after the latter nation's independence. While claimed by Spain, no nation exercisedde factocontrol over the community there for some time. The island was considered the "Gibraltar of the West" because of its strategic location on the 90-mile (140 km)–wide deep shipping lane, the Straits of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. On March 25, 1822, Matthew C. Perry sailed the schooner Shark to Key
Top Attractions in Key West
Explore the best things to see and do in Key West:
- ★Astro City
- ★Diving in Key West
- ★Ernest Hemingway House
- ★Fantasy Fest
- ★Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
- ★Floridays
- ★Fort Zachary Taylor
- ★Fury Water Adventures
Where to Eat in Key West
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴A & B Lobster House
- 🍴Conch Republic
- 🍴El Meson de Pepe
- 🍴El Siboney
- 🍴Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
- 🍴Louie's Backyard
Where to Stay in Key West
- 🏨Angelina Guesthouse
- 🏨At Home In Key West
- 🏨Atlantis House
- 🏨Bluewater Key - Clark's RV Lot Rentals
- 🏨Bluewater Key RV Resort
- 🏨Boyds Key West Campground
Key West Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: