Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes…nothing remains quite the same. –Jimmy Buffet
Key West, the quintessential Magaritaville. It is probably the most spunky, colorful, and well known island of the Florida Keys. Highly recommend this fun place for more than a day if you can!
Recently, during my month long holiday as a travel nurse, I popped down to Miami and the Keys for an extended weekend to enjoy some sunshine! I ended up taking a day trip over to Key West from Miami.
Whether you are island hopping or on a stop from a cruise, here’s some must dos for your day trip to Key West! Ideally it’s best to spend a night here to fully enjoy your time with adult beverages, but there is still plenty to do aside from that for your day trip to Key West!
Getting around for your day trip to Key West: Bike is the way to go!
Biking around in my best and brightest Magaritaville-ish shirt. Key West, FL
If you are able, I highly recommend getting around by bike! I had SO much fun biking around Key West! The streets of the downtown area are fairly tiny and can be congested but are extremely bike friendly with plentiful bike lock stations. 🚲🚲
Biking the streets offers a much more unique and intimate way to explore Key West! This is also quite convenient and easy for a bar tour around Key West 😉. Stop off at one watering hole and bike to the next! I think I only had 5 drinks before this video…jk 😂(As always though, please drink responsibly!)
There are a few companies that offer bike rentals for reasonable prices!
Pro Tip : Check with the place you are staying, they may have discounts for their preferred bike rentals! I got connected with We Cycle on the cheap.
Bike Rentals
We Cycle – Free bike delivery and pickup!
BikeMan Bike Rentals – Good rates!
Eaton Bikes – full service bike rental and retail shop!
Fury Bike Rentals – Fury is really your one stop shop for all kinds of rentals including watercraft and they have tours as well!
Other ways to get around
If bikes aren’t your jam, no worries there’s plenty of other ways to get around and see Key West! Here’s a few to check out…
Hop on Hop off Trolley Tours
Hop on and hop off of this trolley tour at your leisure! Your ticket is good all day 😎
Golf Carts
Golf carts for the laid back pirates of Key West. Great option!
Jet skis/ watercraft
Not a land lover? Not sure there’s any pirate ships, but plenty of jet skis, kayaks, parasailing, and other sea fare. Check out Fury for your one stop shop!
Must See for your Day Trip to Key West
I’m going to give you the highlights of my 24 or so hours visit in Key West. I drove in from Miami and arrived around mid day and left early afternoon the following day, I am going to give you recommendations based on the time of day, but feel free to do any as you please!
Morning adventures for your day trip to Key West…
Grab your bike and start pedaling! There is no shortage of great food and drink in Key West. In the mood for brunch? Check out The Hot Tin Roof @ the Ocean Key Resort and Spa that boasts seaside views and Key Lime French Toast! Another good brunch spot of note is Bagatelle that has a delish brunch menu 7 days a week!
From there you can hop over to the Truman Little White House. Originally built in 1890 by the US Navy as officer living quarters, it was used by President Harry Truman in the 1940s as the winter White House. President Truman took respite there from the tough circumstances he had to deal with surrounding such events as World War II, the Cold War, and Civil Rights. They offer tours from 9a-430 pm daily.
The neighboring area know as the Truman Annex is beautiful to roam around with picturesque palms and perfectly manicured lawns.
Modest Little White House!
A short bike down Whitehead Street will lead you to the house of Ernest Hemingway. The famed author had a huge influence on both Miami and the Keys, particularly Key West where he resided in the 1930s with wife Pauline. Tours are available from 9am – 5pm daily!
Ernest Hemingway had quite a fascinating, albeit tragic and sad life, but he sure had some wise words!
(Pictures below are actually from Sala’os in Miami in Little Havana, a restaurant with all Ernest Hemingway vibes! Totally recommend this place, such a great ambience!)
Words well appreciated!
No truer words!
❤️
Ernest Hemingway House
Of note, watch out for Hemingway’s six toed cats that roam the grounds of his house in Key West and are rumored to be good luck! 🐈🐈
From there you head close to the Southernmost Point of the Continental USA. It is a small little area marked by a concrete buoy indicating it’s only 90 miles to Cuba! I actually recommend this as a great sunset spot for your day trip to Key West, as its small and crowded during the day but turns out a perfect photo op at sunset.
Well with all that biking, its time for a cocktail! Right around the corner from the Southermost Point is couple of cool spots right next to each other! Southernmost House Hotel is a beautiful Victorian looking bed and breakfast with great beachside sitting and delish drinks! Directly adjacent is the Southernmost Beach Resort with a beautiful open air bar and dining area with spectacular views of the sea. It also has a little curbside coffee shop if you need a pick me up!
The resort bar was packed, so I decided on the Southernmost House for my libations.
The gorgeous Southernmost House Hotel
Poolside @ The Southernmost House Hotel
Mai Tai @ The Southernmost House Hotel Bar
Afternoon
So you can have your drink at the bar or take it with you as it is legal to drink on the streets in Key West! There’s a lovely little pier next to the two hotels that offers some nice views and reflection time. (There’s also a beach, but it is mostly dedicated to hotel guests)
Enjoying the views
The hotels are right on the end of Duval Street so next up hit the bike again for a ride down Duval. It is Key West’s most lively and well known street with plentiful night life but also is a great ride during the day.
There are oodles of places to eat/partake in adult beverages along the way including Jimmy Buffet’s orginal Magaritaville (Cheesburger in Paradise anyone?) and Hard Rock Cafe. I decided to stop at the quaint Bagatelle and had a refreshing mango mojito…
Mango Mojito @ Bagatelle
There are also plenty of shops and other attractions such as Ripley’s Believe it or Not and the Oldest House Museum.
Happy Hour 🍷🍺
Pretty much everywhere has happy hour specials! Key West definitely likes to party. You can pretty much fall in any little place and find a good deal.
I ended up checking out Santiago’s Bodega on the quieter side of town ( a little out of the hubbub of Duval Street. Santiagos is all about the Spanish tapas and is a cozy and inviting environment! They offer 1/2 price drinks and $5 tapas. I got the ceviche and patatas braves and it was delish!
Another hopping happy hour is at Blue Heaven which is right around the corner from Santiago’s and also in the quieter part of town. Blue Heaven serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is home to the largest slice of Key Lime Pie you have ever seen! Once you step into the outside bar area, its as if you have stepped into a magical secret garden. Highly recommend putting this place on your list no matter what meal you go for!
A magic garden bar, Blue Heaven
Garden atmosphere of Blue Heaven
The Mile High Key Lime Pie, Blue Heaven
The magical Key Lime Pie ⬆️⬆️⬆️
This Key Lime Pie was pretty delicious indeed! Worth it just to see if you can take it down by yourself in all its’ glory! 😂
However, if the mile high key lime pie doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are plenty of other spots you can get it including The Key West Key Lime Pie Company, the Kermit’s Key West Lime Shop (all things Key Lime!) and Old Town Bakery as well as various other restaurants. You certainly can’t have a day trip to Key West and not get a slice before you go!
Early evening/sunset
As I mentioned earlier, a great sunset spot is the Southernmost Point. I found that at this time it was actually possible to get a photo there without throngs of people!
90 miles to Cuba baby!
Sunset at the Southernmost Point
Of course the sunset at the Southernmost House Hotel/Southernmost Beach Resort is also nice!
Sunset at the Pier next to the Southernmost House Hotel
Nightlife
Key West is notorious for its nightlife! Duval Street is the place to be for sure if you are spending the night. There is a free bus that does a route around Duval Street and is great mode of transportation for those partaking in the night life!
Bars of Note
- Rick’s Bar – 8 different bars in one!
- Sloppy Joe’s — a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s
- Green Parrot Bar – popular local dive bar
- Margaritaville – need I say more? Jimmy Buffett is known to make the occasional impromptu appearance
Other recommendations
Well you definitely can’t see it all in a day trip to Key West but you can certainly hit some hot spots and have a great time! I was able to spend the majority of one day and up to mid afternoon the following day before driving out. If you have more time here are some other things I recommend:
Beach
Smathers Beach – the nicest beach on the island that I could see and I pretty much biked across the whole island! Beautiful beach for a nice afternoon!
Smathers Beach 😎
As I was actually driving back to the Miami area, I got a great recommendation for another beach, but it’s about 30+ miles from Key West and thus a great one to do on the way out. I have been told this is THE BEST BEACH in the Keys, and I believe it!
Bahia Honda State Park is as the name states a state park! It does have a minimal entry fee, but you have restrooms, outside showers and changing rooms, a gift and snack shop, and watercraft rentals. The views are beautiful as well!
Bahia Honda State Park
Active sightseeing!
Snorkeling/Jet Skis/parasailing/other watercraft- it was actually too cold for me to go, but I was dying to go on a jet ski tour around the island! Fury is your one stop shop for that!
Sunset cruises
Here’s one I TOTALLY would have gone on if I had had more time. Sunset booze cruise on a schooner? Ok! ⬇️
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Endless amount of fun to be had! 😉
Where I stayed…
Just a little shout out to this beautiful little boutique Bed and Breakfast I stayed at. Heron House has two hotels, both steps away from all the action at Duval Street and both have beautifully garden side pools and delicious breakfast. They had friendly staff and such a laid back atmosphere. Also, it is adults only for those of you looking for a kid free zone!
I stayed at the Heron House Court and was pleasantly surprised. Clean, beautiful, wonderfully located, and reasonable price!
Main Heron House hotel pool
Looking in to the pool
My room
Looking out from my room to the pool
Morning coffee ❤️
Key takeaways:
Key West Takeaways
Well you certainly can’t see EVERYTHING in a day but you definitely hit some great spots! I hope you enjoy your trip to Key West and here are some of my tips:
Getting around: Bike!
Food: Hot Little Tin Roof, Bagatelle, Blue Heaven
Attractions: Hemingway’s house, Truman annex/Little White House, Southernmost Point and Hotel, Duval Street, Magaritaville
Can’t leave with out: A slice of Key Lime Pie
Don’t try at home: Biking and holding a beer 😂 ⬇️⬇️ It’s trickier than it looks!
“If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.” -Jimmy Buffet
CHEERS!
