Key Largo is the first island of the Florida Keys, and also the largest at just over 30 miles long. Even though Key Largo is only 60 miles south of Miami, with the Everglades National Park to the west, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to the East, you’ll feel as if you’re a world away! Key Largo is truly encompassed with natural beauty and wonder. Not only that, its booming art scene, savory seafood dining, nightlife, and amazing annual events, like the Key Largo and Islamorada Food & Wine Festival, means this tiny tropical island is jam-packed with incredible experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Derived from Cayo in Spanish, Keys means small island, and that’s exactly the kind of atmosphere you’ll find in Key West. Spend your days lounging ocean-side or immersing yourself in the bohemian culture, and evenings soaking up the South Florida dining and nightlife. More of a thrill-seeker? Experience endless adventure with watersports, sport fishing, and one-of-a-kind sightseeing at the southernmost point in the continental USA. Whatever your desire, Key West is the perfect place to rest, relax, and re-energize while living your best life.

Geography

Key West is the westernmost island connected to the rest of the Keys by a highway. Key West and the surrounding Keys lie on the dividing line between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. While Key West is in the Straits of Florida, it’s actually closer to Havana than it is to Miami. Key West is 3.5 hours from Miami, 4.5 hours from West Palm Beach, and 6.5 hours from Orlando.

Neighborhoods

Garden Cove/Anglers Park is a suburban, coastal neighborhood that offers luxury resorts, dining, and entertainment.
Buccaneer Point is a waterfront community of homes with the majority being open water properties with sunset and bay views.

Old Town is one of the earliest neighborhoods in Key West. Dating back to the 1800s, the features that distinguish the local architecture are the wood frame construction of the structures set on foundation piers. The most popular building in Old Town includes the Ernest Hemingway House and the Harry S. Truman Little White House.
Downtown Key West is where the action is. It’s home to delicious restaurants, vibrant bars, and plenty of shopping.
Midtown Key West is a neighborhood that offers visitors large yards in which to relax and enjoy the sun, not to mention beautiful mid-century homes that are in close proximity to the beach. Many of these homes are rented out for a month or more at a time.

Top Places to Visit

John Pennenkamp Coral Reef State Park

This park is known for being the first undersea park in the USA, and expands 70 nautical square miles. Popular activities include canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing in designated areas where it is permitted.

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

The Botanical State Park has miles of shady trails through lush Florida landscape and the highest concentration of National Champion trees in the USA.

Mallory Square

Located on the northwest tip of Key West, Mallory Square offers nightly sunset celebrations where you can catch the most beautiful sunsets. Here, Mallory Square has plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment—making it the ideal place for you to spend your evenings.

Southernmost Point

The Southernmost Point is one of the most popular attractions in Key West. Located at the intersection of Whitehead and South streets, it’s an anchored colorful concrete buoy that marks the spot of the southernmost point in the United States.

Climate

In the Keys, summers are hot, rainy, and long, while the winters are comfortable, short, and mostly clear. The best time of the year to visit for warm-weather activities is from March to May and from October to November.