| Key West History Reading Room |
Click
here to read an excerpt
from Mike Bellow's new book.
CUBA INFORMATION MANUAL |
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The LaConcha
Hotel, circa 1930's |
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There
are many reasons to visit Key West this summer and the
biggest of them involves our island's history. Stay at the hotel
famous for its Nobel Prize winning customer Ernest Hemingway. |
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Mallory
Square, Key West, Fl. |
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Visit
Mallory Square for the daily Sunset Celebration The buildings surrounding
you they're former warehouses that date back to the island's
once-booming shipping industry. |
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Fort
Zachary Taylor (click to enlarge) |
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Go
to the beach and tour a civil
war fort while you're there. Originally positioned 1200 feet
off shore from Key West, today, Fort Taylor is now landlocked
and is a Florida
State Park, |
Dine outdoors on the same
historic waterfront that first hosted the sponging and shrimping
businesses. Join a SCUBA trip to dive to a Spanish merchant
ship from the 1600's. There's no escaping it we're a little
island with big history!
If you're a first-time visitor
to the Southernmost City, get ready to make some special memories.
Eat a fantastic dinner featuring seafood that was swimming in
the ocean this morning. Drool over more gold than you've ever
seen in one place or walk through a President's retreat. Everywhere
you go here, you're surrounded by the city's history you
can see it and touch it.
You've been here before? Then
you'll want to revisit some great old memories and also make
new ones. A favorite hotel or guesthouse where the world goes
away? A fantastic show that made you laugh until you cried? How
about recapturing the memories from a fishing trip or dolphin
watch or back country kayaking? Or do you merely want to explore
a few more blocks of the island city on foot and drink in the
fragrance of frangipani? There's lots to do. And with each activity,
you're adding to Key West's history by making some history of
your own.
Accommodations
Does your taste run to historical guesthouses whose tropical
gardens invoke your idea of paradise? Or are hotels or resorts
more your style? Do you like it quiet, or does your family want
a pool and a great restaurant on site? We've got them all in
Key West - and can accommodate any budget.
Restaurants/Nightlife
Whatever you'd like for dinner, Key West has it on a menu somewhere.
Cuban? Greek? Mexican? Japanese? No problem. Steak? Lobster?
A fresh and fabulous grouper sandwich? No problem there, either.
Just promise yourself you'll try something new while you're here.
And you can eat indoors or out, with a view of the water or of
the people walking along Duval Street.
And after dinner, when you'd
just like to hang out and get entertained for a few hours? That's
easy in the Southernmost City. Many of the clubs and bars feature
live entertainment that ranges from Broadway to country, Latin
to the blues, rock'n'roll to island rhythms. Feel free to ask
a local for recommendations and you won't go wrong.
Festivals & Events
What if you came to Key West and we threw you a party? That's
how it will feel when you visit during a specific event. Regardless
of your interest theatre, fishing, art, wild and craziness
at different times during the year we're celebrating it! Click
on our calendar for a complete rundown of parties, street fairs
and festivals to see what we've got planned for you.
Museums/Attractions
Take some of your Key West time to walk in the footprints of
our history. Want to see what brought the island out of the Depression?
go to the Aquarium. See where Presidents have stayed? visit
the Little White House. Revisit the pirate days? we've a
museum for that, too. And so much more . . .
Watersports/Marinas
If you're a fan of the water, you'll only have to choose how
you want to enjoy it by diving beneath the surface and exploring
the magnificent reef, by skimming the waves on your day trip
to Fort Jefferson, or by parasailing high above the water for
the view of a lifetime. Jetskis and kayaks are easy to come by.
You can join a charter for a sportfishing trip, or rent a boat
for your own private tour and there's no charge for the
gorgeous sunset.
Real Estate
We don't blame you if you fall in love and can't leave that
first happened to someone in the 1820's. Whether you choose to
seek a first or second home or are just looking for a vacation
rental, a click here will take you to Keys real estate professionals.
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Festivals
& Events
May 2009 -
The arrival and sinking of the Vandenberg - Key West's next attraction will soon be on her
way. Check for her schedule at www.Explore KeyWestHistory.com
and join us for the celebration.
July 4, 2009
- Independence Day Celebration. Fireworks after sunset launched from
the White Street pier. The island city celebrates with parties
and fireworks cruises.
July 14 -
19, 2009 - Hemingway Days - A week of celebrating all things Ernest, including
the look-alike contest, marlin tournament, and the not-so-dangerous
Running of the Bulls. For Hemingway fans with a literary bent,
author's readings and the annual short story contest are always
popular. Visit www.hemingwaydays.net
October 23
- November 1, 2009 - Fantasy Fest The theme is "Villians, Vixens and
Vampires." Join us for a ten day celebration bringing some
50,000 revelers to Duval Street, Fantasy Fest is the hottest
Halloween celebration in the country and the island city's most
outrageous party. The spectacle climaxes in a glittering grand
parade. Visit www.fantasyfest.net
more >>
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