Nature and history lover’s guide to Key West

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Key West has some real gems for history and nature lovers. Not a big beach enthusiast myself, I spent a lot of time in Florida exploring the natural beauty and historic landmarks on offer in Key West and the surrounding area. Key West is part of the Florida Keys archipelago and the southernmost point of the U.S. I put this nature and history guide to Key West to help you plan your trip.

Nature and history guide to things to do in Key West

Ernest Hemingway House and Museum

As a history lover, I absolutely had to stop by the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum. The house is where most of Hemingway’s famous pieces were written. You’ll notice one feature of the house that is unique to the area. Ernest Hemingway’s house has a pool, which was quite costly to build at that time. The penny Hemingway pressed to the patio signifies that it took his last penny to build.

The museum features antique furniture, a typewriter, and a collection of art owned by the writer and his family. It is also home to Hemingway’s famous polydactyl (six-toed) cats. According to the legend, these polydactyl cats are descendants of Snow White, a cat given to Hemingway by a sea captain he befriended.

Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum

Across the street from the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum is the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters Museum. The lighthouse provides the best views of the island, but you do need to climb the stairs to get there. Stop by the Keeper’s Quarters Museum on your way out to learn more about the history of this lighthouse that dates all the way back to 1848.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Although popular for its beautiful beach, this state park is also home to a historic landmark, Fort Zachary Taylor. Narrated tours are offered daily where you can learn more about the fort’s construction, history, and use during the Civil War. If you plan to make it a day trip, bring some food and use one of the many barbecue grills available in the park.

Water Activities

The island also offers many water activities, many of which will appeal to the nature lover.

• You can hop on a sailboat or kayak and explore the water, looking for marine wildlife such as dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees.
• Get a fish’s perspective by snorkeling above the coral reefs!
• Get a unique view of the island with a helicopter ride or a jet ski tour.

Southernmost Point of the U.S.

Of interest is the most popular landmark on the island, a monument shaped like a buoy that marks the southernmost part of the island – and therefore the southernmost point of the continental U.S. There’s always a line of people waiting to take pictures with it, so you won’t miss it! Cuba is only about 90 miles south of this marker, so you’ll notice the Cuban cuisine available on the island.

Nature and history guide to national parks near Key West

Dry Tortugas National Park

One of the highlights of my Key West trip was a day trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park. It is 67 miles (108 kilometers) south of the Keys and is only accessible by boat or seaplane. The Key West ferry offers excursions every day, but as it takes over 2 hours to travel one way, you should expect the trip to take most of your day. I wouldn’t recommend the boat to anyone who gets very seasick, as I felt every move.

The park comprises seven Dry Tortugas islands with Fort Jefferson. The park offers white beaches and coral reefs and allows you to enjoy various water activities, including swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Fort Jefferson was initially built in the 19^th century as a military post to protect the U.S. southern coastline. It had almost 2,000 occupants at its busiest time. The fort served as a prison during and after the Civil War, after which its use declined. Eventually, the fort became a national monument in the early 20th century and later a national park. The place itself is very peaceful and quiet. As you wander the ruins of Fort Jefferson, you might wonder what life looked like when there were hundreds of military personnel and their families stationed here.

Everglades National Park

Since I’d never seen swamps, I decided to stop at the Everglades National Park on my trip from Miami to the Keys. Only an hour away, southwest of Miami, Everglades National Park consists of wetlands created to protect the ecosystem. The park is home to many species, including endangered American crocodiles, manatees, and Florida panthers.

I visited Everglades Alligator Farm, and I’ve never seen that many alligators in one spot! Taking a guided airboat tour to explore the wildlife hidden in the swamps felt very relaxing on a hot day. I barely scratched the surface of the park. Everglades National Park has a lot to offer, especially if you come in during the cooler winter months. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails, birdwatching, boating, canoeing, camping, fishing, and guided tours available.