There are several ways to reach the southernmost part of the United States — Key West. There’s a drive along the Overseas Highway, also known a Florida Route 1. You can fly into the area’s airport. Or you can take a trip on the Key West Express.
The jet-powered catamarans take passengers from both Fort Meyers Beach and Marco Island on a 3.5-hour cruise to Key West. Once there, you can utilize private transportation to reach some of the area’s best attractions.
Whether it’s one day or several nights, there’s plenty to see once you depart from the Key West Express. Here are a few suggestions.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Tortugas means turtles in Spanish, and this national park is filled with them. This is also home to Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century structure constructed with 16-million handmade bricks.
There’s plenty to do at this National Park. You can get a 360-degree view of the island, Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico from the fort. You can bring your snorkel gear to discover the wealth of sunken ships in the area. You can also bring camping equipment and spend the night.
Ernest Hemmingway Home And Museum
Key West was home to the award-winning author for nearly a decade. Luckily, fans of his writing and curious visitors can take a tour of his two-story home. While there, they can look into rooms where he wrote some of his most famous works. Also, tour guides provide educative narratives on the author and the reasons he made the Florida Keys his home.
Also available for tours are the gardens that surround the home. The lush grounds feature native flora, fauna, and the 40 cats that reside there.
The Ernest Hemmingway Home and Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Key West, so visitors should book a tour ahead of time. Also, they might want to consider private transportation from Keys Luxury Transportation to avoid the frustration of finding a parking spot.
Southernmost Buoy
How do visitors know they’re located in the southernmost part of the United States? There’s a large buoy that says so. The famous marker is a top attraction and photo opportunity that clearly shows where visitors are.
Painted in large letters are the words “Southernmost Point in the Continental USA, 90 miles from Cuba.” In addition to the iconic buoy, the pier features an old phone house where lines once resided to connect Florida to Cuba via underwater cables.
The Custom House Museum
The Romanesque structure made of red brick was the port of call for those who came to the United States from the Caribbean. It served as the area’s custom house and post office as the city’s population continued to grow in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has been the home to many government offices since its construction. One of the tallest buildings on the island, The Custom House is not hard to find in its western location.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
As the southernmost point of the United States, Key West had to prepared for invasion. Hence, the reason multiple forts were created. Constructed in 1845, the fort was used to blockade the Gulf of Mexico during the Civil War.
Today, it’s part of a state park where visitors can walk through Fort Zachary. They also have an opportunity to visit the area’s beach and walk through some of its nature trails. While busy, it might have fewer visitors than the beach and fort at Dry Tortugas.
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
A trip to Key West isn’t complete without celebrating the sunset. In fact, its location allows you to cheer that as well as the sunrise from the eastern part of the island.
Mallory Square sits at the northernmost part of Duval Street near Old Town Key West. Here, visitors take in an amazing view of the Gulf of Mexico as the sun dips below the horizon. Street performers and local vendors line the street to keep people interested while they wait for the big show.
The Mallory Square Sunset Celebration is extremely popular. It’s suggested visitors arrive at least two hours before the event. They can also take advantage of the restaurants and bars in the area to get a good seat for the sunset.
These are only a few of the attractions visitors can go to when they depart the Key West Express. The drivers at Keys Luxury Transportation provides the best and most comfortable way to visit these sites. It’s done through private transportation for small families or large groups. Reach out to us before your visit so you can enjoy Key West in style.
