There is so much to do at Key West. We wanted to really get the feel of being out in the ocean, so we spent a minimal amount of time in T-shirt shops and walking Duval Street. The highlight of Key West is Zachary Taylor State Park. Here is one of the best, and only, beaches in Key West. Many Europeans frequent this beach, when they depart from cruise ships that dock only a mile away. Warning: some of them wear clothes, some don't. All are slim and trim. The beach is very nice and has lots of shaded areas. The water is beautiful. In the park is the fort. They give guided tours of the fort daily. Check the time of the tours at the entrance gate. Allow at least 1 hour to tour the fort, and as much time as you like at the beach. There is a nice snack bar at the beach. Cost is $5 to enter the park.
If you go to Key West, you must go to the southernmost point of the US and take a picture. Get a map in a tourist guidebook (you can pick them up in every restaurant in Key West) and it is marked on the map.
Duval Street is the place to go for dancing, nightlife, food, and shopping. It is very safe, but to tell you the truth, does not have much edge to it. Walk the side streets and see the beautiful churches and houses.
Historic Seaport - This is one of the more interesting places in Key West. It is at the end of Front Street. It is a great place to take photos of boats in the morning or late afternoon. Here the bars and restaurants have a lot of charm and character.
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration - This is a must-do in Key West, and doesn't cost a dime. The day we were there, thousands of people crammed the dock to watch the sun set. Cruise ships were coming and going, street performers were doing their thing, and street food vendors were cooking up a storm. This is a really neat thing to do in Key West.
Higgs Beach - This is a interesting little beach in Key West. Here there is a beautiful monument in memory of 1500 slaves that were rescued from a ship that wrecked just off the coast. Memorial opens at 9:30am and is free.