Key West is about 160 miles from Miami along US Route 1 and is the southernmost tip of the U.S. With traffic and an average speed limit of about 40 miles/hour, though, the drive to Key West from Miami takes around 4 hours or more. The scenery along Rt. 1, though, makes the drive well worth it.
Key West is the biggest of the multiple islands chain that are collectively known as the Florida Keys. The northernmost Key (the closest to Miami) and the second largest is known as Key Largo. Key Largo and the rest of the keys are well-known for sport fishing and for diving in North America’s only living coral barrier reef on the East Coast. As you drive through, you’ll come across people setting up their fishing gear all along Rt. 1. The Keys also house various wildlife reserves with abundant alligators and iguanas. Driving through the Keys is truly a rewarding experience. My favorite moment during the drive was when the sun went down across the ocean—the view was just breathtaking!
When we reached Key West, I was surprised and glad at the same time to find it much quieter than I had imagined. I found out later that once spring break season is over, Key West pretty much becomes a low-key family resort area just like Miami. Also to my surprise, most of the bars I went to were dominated by country music. I found only one place around Duval St. that played trance music and felt nostalgic for the Miami Ultra Music festival of the day earlier.
There are lots of activities you can get involved in Key West, and since the island is very small, it's easy to get around, as well. Some of the highlights include jet skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, daily cruises, sightseeing, etc. For me, snorkeling will have to be the highlight of Key West, since there are few other places where you can do it. During this trip, however, I didn’t get to go snorkeling due to my time limit. If you want to fully relax, make sure you come here for a few days. Also, Key West is the perfect starting point for a lot of cruises to the Caribbean Islands.
Considering the breathtaking scenery, the warmth of the Florida sun, and the peace of Key West, I can see why Hemingway decided to make his home here.