The American Amsterdam

Key West is an awesome vacation spot. The weather is almost always perfect. You've got the sun, the beach, the people, the shopping. Who could want more?

Hemingway House--See where the man wrote some of his most famous works. You won't miss the cats.

Southernmost point of U.S.--Now you can say you've been there.

Crabby Dicks--People-watching place and cheap oysters.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville--Best margaritas in town, no, the country, no, the world.

Coconut Mallory's--We stayed in this huge time-share condo while we visited.

Quick Tips:

If you're going to be visiting on the weekend, be sure to book your hotel in advance. Since Key West is such a happening spot, there's always some kind of festival going on. We made the mistake of waiting till the last minute and paying a lot more than we planned on.

Best Way To Get Around:

The small key is only 2 miles by 4 miles. You won't need a car once you're here. Make sure you bring along a good pair of walking shoes for all the time you'll spend bar hopping.

I'm a people watcher so I really enjoyed Crabby Dick's. As you walk down Duval Street each restaurant is ushering you in to eat at their place. We picked this place because it looked inviting. My friend and I had a perfect spot overlooking the street. The weekend we went there was a gay festival so we got to watch a whole lot of drag queens strolling along. It was great. Who can beat the astounding price of $2.00 for raw oysters? I'd never tried them before and knew I couldn't pass up this deal. Cheap drinks and lots of fun people.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville can get crowded at times, but no matter what time it is, it's always time for a margarita. How can you resist? Margaritaville caters to the laid-back feeling of Key West--bare feet, shorts and a smile. Dance to the live band or sidle up to the bar to 'waste away'. Occasionally Jimmy makes an appearance too. Next door is the gift shop if you need to say, 'Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt.'

The Southernmost Point of the U.S. is marked by a gigantic buoy on the shore of the point.

Much debate has been discussed over what is the southernmost point in the continental U.S. because Key West is, in fact, an island. Therefore, is it considered part of the continent or not? Either way, the point gives you some perspective in how small you are on this gigantic planet.

At the Southernmost Point I stared out into the ocean and imagine how far it is to Cuba. A plaque next to the buoy explains about the cable in the water which, at one time, supplied power to Cuba.

The "point" of the whole experience is to take a picture to prove you have been there.