If you live in Fort Lauderdale, there’s no denying the wealth of attractions, activities and world-class amenities that you have within easy reach. However, a change is as good as a rest, they say, and if you’re keen to see what other wonders Florida has to offer, why not catch a short flight to Key West?
It takes just over an hour to fly between the two cities, and you can spend a fun-filled day exploring what Key West has to offer, and then catch an evening flight back to Fort Lauderdale to sleep in your own bed.
Read on to discover how to have an unforgettable one-day adventure in Key West, including recommendations for some sights you really don’t want to miss.
Find The Best Parking
If you’re heading to Fort Lauderdale Airport under your own steam, you will be in need of airport parking near Fort Lauderdale. There are a range of low-cost options available to you, many of which are open 24 hours a day throughout the year and provide a convenient airport shuttle service so you won’t have to worry about getting too or from your vehicle.
Fuel Up For The Day’s Adventures
You probably had breakfast before you left for Fort Lauderdale Airport but once you touch down in Key West, why not treat yourself to a second, hobbit-style?
Make your way to Truman Avenue and grab a table at Key West Cuban Coffee Shop, which offers a varied menu that melds Cuban and American flavours. Get yourself all revved up and ready for the day’s adventures with a cortadito or perhaps a doble espresso, and choose from the varied breakfast menu, which includes huevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, and an assortment of filling sandwiches.
Enjoy Some Retail Therapy At The Historic Seaport
After your flight and a hearty meal, it’s time for a picturesque walk, and the Historic Seaport is one of the best places for a stroll. While you’re exploring, you can soak up the sunshine, breathe in the salty sea air, and admire the yachts and sail boats moored in the port as they bob gently on the water.
You can also treat yourself to some retail therapy while you’re at it. Wander down the Lazy Way Lane and explore its colourful little shops and boutiques nestled among the palm trees. You never know what trinkets and treats you might find to take back to your loved ones.
Make A Literary Pilgrimage
If you’re a fan of the great American writers of the 20th century then you won’t want to spend a day in Key West without paying a visit to The Hemingway Home and Museum, which pays tribute to the legendary author who tragically met his end in 1961.
Open daily for walk-in visitors, the museum was Ernest Hemingway’s home in the 1930’s. It has been lovingly maintained, to ensure it looks very similar to when Hemingway roamed its hallways. The main highlights of a guided tour through the house and grounds will surely be the author’s writing studio, where he penned some of his most acclaimed works, and the lush gardens, where the descendants of Hemingway’s six-toed cat, Snow White, still lounge under the spreading palm fronds.
Savour A Fresh Seafood Lunch
To lift your spirits after musing on Hemingway’s turbulent life and death, make your way to the shores of Key West and indulge in local specialties of the freshest seafood. There are plenty of places to choose from, but among the most popular eateries is the likes of DJ’s Clam Shack, where you can dine al fresco and wash down your order of steamed clams or conch fritters with a frosty beer.
Alternatively, you may want to pull up a chair at The Lobster Shack, which features a lobster-centric menu that includes specialties such as the Diablo Lobster Roll or a Traditional New England Roll served with a dab of mayo.
Make The Most Of Sun, Sea, and Sand
After lunch, it’s high time you enjoyed Key West’s natural beauty – in particular, its crystalline waters, soft white sands and coral reefs. Key West is home to an assortment of beaches, each one with its own unique character and advantages.
However, since you only have a day to spare, perhaps you should make your way to the best-loved beach of all, Smathers, which offers two miles of sandy shoreline lapped by gentle waves. The mild currents make for ideal swimming conditions, but if you are in the mood for a little more excitement, kayaks, snorkelling gear, and even jet skis are available for hire.
Alternatively, if you want to absorb some history while enjoying the pristine waters of Key West, you may prefer to head to Higgs Beach, with its poignant monuments dedicated to preserving the memory of the 19th-century slave cemetery located here. Higgs Beach also features a picturesque pier jutting out into the sea, and if you are lucky you may spot some of the diverse local marine life that swims these waters; just watch out for stingrays, as you don’t want to get too close to these large barb-tailed fish.
Finish Off With A Delicious Dinner
Before you catch your flight back to Fort Lauderdale, hopefully you will have time for one last meal at a local hotspot. Nab a table at Hot Tin Roof – named for Tennessee Williams’ famous play – and sample from their menu of ‘Floribbean’ dishes, such as seared tiger shrimp with almond mole, plantain crusted swordfish, or a whole crispy yellowtail snapper.
Finish off with Key West’s eponymous dessert, Key Lime Pie, made with a cashew-graham cracker crust, washed down with an exotic cocktail or a glass of fine wine, and your Key West experience is complete.
Now all you have to do is make your way to the airport and enjoy a short flight back to Fort Lauderdale, musing on your day’s adventures in the southernmost tip of Florida.
