KEY WEST
Area: Florida
Country: United States of America


Location:
Off the S tip of Florida State. 90 mls N of Cuba. 150 mls SW of Miami by road (which can take 4 hrs or more); however, a flight from Miami lasts about 45 mins.

Telephone code from UK:
1 305

Website:
http://www.see-keywest.com

Position:
At the end of a long string of small, low-lying coral Keys (or cays) connected to each other by US Route 1. Southernmost point of the continental United States.

Description:
This small, flat, attractive island, which measures only 4 mls by 1» mls, has a pleasant, laid-back atmosphere that has made it a firm favourite with writers, ageing hippies, would-be artists, sun-worshippers, gays and tourists alike. The Old Town, half rough seaport, half village, is characterised by pastel-hued, Caribbean-style houses; many of its historical attractions can be found in Whitehead Street, where Hemingway made his home. The restaurants and night-time revelry of the Old Town are the real draw. Cruise ships deposit thousands of passengers daily at the Cruise Ship Docks, yards from Old Town's Mallory Square.

Suitability:
Best suited to those wanting to cut loose, be lazy and bar hop _ it therefore attracts a youngish, lively crowd. Better for singles and couples than it is for families with young children.

Accommodation:
Wide range and choice. Cluster of large, more expensive, well-equipped hotels at the S end of the island and also around the historic seaport; a string of small motel-like properties on the bay side along the main road; a few resort-hotels/apartments close to the airport. Charming, more historical B&B properties in the Old Town. Some properties have small sandy, man-made beaches.

Shopping:
Old Key West Town is alive with neon signs and shops _ some tacky, selling anything made of shell, some selling designer items and priced accordingly. Greenpeace shop; souvenirs; jewellery; brand-name clothes; swim and water-sports gear; cigars. Numerous (sometimes overpriced) T-shirt retailers. Local Key West sandals are a good buy. A string of large supermarkets, video shops and the likes of K-Mart on the bayside main road.

Beach:
Being a coral island, Key West is not blessed with terrific natural beaches. Most are small, man-made affairs, the nicest of which is Smathers on the S side of the island. Many belong to the larger hotels.

Entertainments:
Daytime: a favourite sailing and water-sports destination, with fishing, snorkelling and diving. Glass-bottomed boat trips. Historic Whitehouse Street; Hemingway's home (a must-see, filled with his old furniture, books and several generations of 6-toed cats). Sightseeing tours on the Conch Train Tour and Old Town Trolley. Walking tours of the island are popular. For an overview, climb the 100 steps to the top of the Lighthouse Museum. The Old Key West City cemetery is a favourite excursion: some of the epitaphs are a hoot. Nightlife: plethora of bars all competing for business, with many discount cards and offers; bars stay open until the small hours. A few nightclubs. Focus in the evening is the sunset celebration at Mallory Square, which buzzes with street performers and stalls. Theatre and cinema.

Eating:
Huge range. Cuban cafeterias, where one downs a couple of buccis (thimble-sized cups of espresso) along with a Cuban pork and cheese sandwich. Focus on seafood and grills, with waterfront eateries known for clams and steamed shrimp. Gourmet delights. Sushi, Thai and Chinese food. A la carte dining, often in the larger hotels. Exclusive a la carte restaurant on island reached by free boat. If all these choices fail to appeal, there's always fast food.

Public-transport:
Leave the car at the hotel (or on the outskirts of town); instead travel by foot, moped, little bubble-type buggies or bicycle (many hire shops around town) to enjoy architecture and avoid getting caught in traffic jams or paying over the odds in small, packed car parks. Bone Island shuttle bus circles the island every half hour. Greyhound bus terminal at the airport. Taxis available.

Local-excursions:
Seaplane excursions to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson provide breathtaking all-round views of diving sites, shipwrecks and marine life.