During your trip to Key West enjoy a scenic sightseeing trip through the Florida Keys and across significant expanses of water including the renowned Seven Mile Bridge. Exciting stops at Marathon, Florida and Florida’s beautiful city of Key West will give you the chance to explore Florida’s southern charm and Caribbean flavor.
Sightseeing on Florida Keys Scenic Highway
Your Key West excursion will start with a journey along the Florida Keys Scenic Highway. Highlighted by the crystal clear waters and tropical breezes, the drive is one of the greatest in America, its panoramic, scenic views in great abundance. See dolphins swimming next to their young, manatees floating along the shore and birds gliding through the brilliant blue sky.
A Stop in Marathon, Florida
Stop for lunch in the retro, nautical atmosphere of Marathon, Florida. Conveniently located in the heart of the Florida Keys, this island community is known for its abundance of fresh catches. Enjoy fresh local fish prepared simply or gourmet style at one of Marathon’s waterfront restaurants.
Florida Key’s Seven Mile Bridge
After lunch you will continue your drive along the Florida Keys Scenic Highway making your way across Florida’s renowned, Seven Mile Bridge, one of the longest bridges in America. Stretching out onto the open sea the Seven Mile Bridge connects Knight’s Keys to Little Duck Key. Two bridges can be seen in this location, the current Seven Mile Bridge and the older bridge known as the Knights Key-Pigeon Key-Moser Channel-Pacet Channel Bridge. Built between 1909 and 1912 as part of the Overseas Railroad, it was not until damage to the old bridge during Hurricane Donna in 1960 that it was decided the Seven Mile Bridge would be built. While the Seven Mile Bridge is now used for transportation, the vast majority of the old bridge still exists and is used as a fishing pier and for access to Pigeon Key.
Key West
Brimming with tropical foliage such as bougainvillea, coconut palms, banana trees and frangipani, step off your tour bus on Key West’s Duval Street, on the corner of Mallory Square for an afternoon of exploration. The hub of Key West’s social and commercial life since the time of the city’s beginnings, the area is known for its scenic and recreational abundance. It is also rich in culture and history. Learn about Key West’s literary greats like Ernest Hemingway, experience the eclectic variety of food, or explore the shops, museums and art galleries influenced by Conch, Cuban and Bahamian cultures.
Key West Attractions
While sunsets, temperate ocean breezes and warm sunshine are enough to satisfy, some of what makes Florida’s southernmost point so unique is its historical attractions. See what sparked Hemmingway’s imagination in his Key West Home, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. Stop at Key West’s famous giant concrete monument which marks the southernmost point in the United States. Or visit the Key West Cemetery where it is said that close to 100,000 original Key Westers are buried.
Shopping in Key West
From the endless T-shirt shops on Duval Street to Clinton Street Market at Mallory Square, Key West is a mecca for the unique, the affordable, the exceptional and even the outrageous. Delight in a dozen galleries and shops featuring Caribbean Art on Duval Street. Take a stroll down cigar alley where you will find the Conch Republic Cigar Factory, home to a large selection of imported and locally rolled cigars. From sweet to spicy experience the taste of Key West peppers at Peppers of Key West, the hot sauce lovers haven. Discover new, used and rare books at Key West Island Bookstore. Or enjoy great shopping at Fast Buck at Homes, boasting a selection of furniture, gifts, accessories and selected imports.
Key West’s Best Restaurants
Key West is home to an eclectic variety of food. Whether you want to try a piece of their award-winning key lime pie, or one of their world-famous cocktails, Sloppy Joe’s is a true Key West tradition not to be missed that has been serving locals, celebrities and travelers of all walks of life since 1933 . Head to Petronia Street for a little taste of Columbia, Columbian Grace serves fresh and authentic Columbian cuisine with African, Spanish and Indian influences. At Paseo you can indulge in Caribbean influenced sandwiches and rice bowls. Or if you are looking for American fare, Key West’s Hard Rock Café on Duval Street is the place to go, boasting typical American food and rock-music memorabilia.