There’s always something new to learn.
Key West feels like the kind of place a novel would run away to. With roosters in the streets, pastel cottages basking in Caribbean sun, and a sunset celebration that draws a crowd nightly, this southernmost slice of the U.S. defies the ordinary.
Writers, wanderers, and beach dreamers have all found something here — maybe it’s the tropical rhythm, or maybe it’s the margaritas. Either way, Key West doesn’t just ask you to slow down — it convinces you.
Let’s see what we discover.
Things you didn’t know about Key West.
5. It once declared independence — sort of.
In 1982, frustrated by a roadblock, locals formed the Conch Republic, tongue-in-cheek seceded from the U.S., and immediately applied for foreign aid. The stunt worked.
4. Hemingway’s six-toed cats still live there.
Dozens of polydactyl cats roam the Hemingway House grounds, descendants of the author’s original feline friend, Snow White.
3. The island is closer to Cuba than to Miami.
At just 90 miles from Havana, Key West is geographically — and culturally — closer to Cuba than its own state capital.
2. It’s home to one of the oldest lighthouses in Florida.
Built in 1848, the Key West Lighthouse offered panoramic ocean views long before rooftop bars made them trendy.
1. Jimmy Buffett launched his empire here.
Before Parrotheads and cheeseburgers in paradise, Buffett played local bars and found inspiration for the laid-back empire we now know as Margaritaville.
Bottom line.
Key West isn’t just a vacation — it’s a state of mind.
It’s where the sunsets pause time, and every porch tells a story.
The island might be small, but its charm is anything but.
One visit, and you’re already a local at heart.
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