

On a side note, something that did surprise me (but in reality probably shouldn’t have due to its location) was how much of Key West is taken up by the ‘military’. The fort never came under attack but it did have cannons with a 3 mile radius which helped keep it safe! The fort dates back to 1845 and acted as first defence/protection for other ports within the Gulf of Mexico.
#Key west beaches for free
With entrance to the State Park, you can also visit Fort Zachary Taylor for free too! It’s self guided unless you join the free daily 11am walking tour with a guide. There’s also a concession stand selling snacks and drinks as well as toilet facilities. I took my own snorkel, but you can also rent them (along with fins) from the Chickee Hut Beach Rentals, the same place that rents the sun loungers. I got out as far as my knees and gave up!


Part of the reason I didn’t try to go snorkelling, was because it was just too damn painful…trying to find pain-free footing while getting battered by waves was a battle that defeated me. As it is a coral island, the sea bed around Key West can be quite rocky. I’d also advise you to take those attractive items of footwear, water shoes. If all else fails, you could go on a Key West snorkelling tour instead! However typically on the day that I visited, it was really windy so the usual ‘calm waters’ didn’t exist so I didn’t attempt to snorkel.
#Key west beaches plus
Or if rented as a package: 1x lounger plus an umbrella – $20, 2x loungers plus an umbrella – $30įort Zachary Beach is also said to be the best beach in Key West to go snorkelling. There are plenty of public picnic benches in the shade, that you are free to use, or if you want to get a little more comfortable, sun loungers and umbrellas are available to rent. You have to walk through a small woodland area, there aren’t any big imposing buildings, you can’t even really see Fort Zachary Taylor (an actual giant fort!) until you are pretty much standing right next to it, and of course the sea is a lovely blue colour! The path to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach Chickee Hut Beach Rentals It’s away from the main roads and traffic on the island. What I love about Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is that it LOOKS like a desert island beach. This still works out to be a fairly cheap parking option in Key West, if you plan on being parked there for most of the day. If you are walking or cycling, it’s $2.50 per person or if you plan to drive and park, 1 person in a vehicle is $4.50, $7 for 2 and $0.50 for each extra person. There is an entrance fee to the State Park that varies depending on your mode of transport. It’s a popular spot with cruise passengers due to the close walking distance from the port. In my opinion, the best beach in Key West is Fort Zachary Beach, which can be found in Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. My tour guide told me that all the sand in Key West is actually transported down from Miami and so man-made beaches have been created! The Best Beach in Key West: Fort Zachary Beach It’s a coral island so is essentially a big hard rock in the sea (they can’t even dig that far into the ground to bury people in the cemetery). Now for the science part, Key West isn’t naturally a beach island. For more information visit Privacy & Disclosure Policy. Key West is Florida's southernmost subtropical paradise.Yay! You’ve made it to Key West, the Southernmost point in the USA! It’s a stones throw away from Cuba, there’s palm trees, cocktails everywhere, pies made from lime, all that’s left is to relax on the beach right?! In this post I share with you some of the Key West beaches that you’ll find on this island!ĭisclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

ART & CULTUREĮxperience film, museums, galleries and visual arts, and literature.Īccess to the great outdoors – from an island.įlorida Keys cuisine melds diverse, local, and delicious influences. Start in the center of town at the Key West City Cemetery, which offers a glimpse of Key West's past and its offbeat sense of humor, as exhibited by gravestones that read, "I told you I was sick," and "At least I know where he's sleeping tonight."įor more information, click HERE. Walking tours of Key West are the best way to see the island's intriguing homes, courtyards and gardens. Key West, the southernmost point in the United States, is famous for watersports, lively nightlife, beaches, historic sites and its pastel, conch-style architechture.ĭuval Street, one of the most energetic strips of shops, bars and cafes anywhere, offers Sloppy Joe’s bar, a favorite Key West hangout of novelist Ernest Hemingway.Īnd, for the more sober-minded, there's Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.
