Continuing my stories on my first trip to the United States, the beach lover in me was excited beyond measure for the Key West leg to begin. Key West was one place I did not google or research before the trip, I heard a couple of people out on things to do and see but restricted the urge to delve any further into it. Of course, I couldn’t help myself from researching after the trip
Key West: A brief history
Key West is part of the Florida Keys Archipelago that was earlier a Spanish colony. The name is derived from the Spanish word “Cayo” meaning small island. While it could be geographically small, the islands are a major tourist hub and a pit-stop for most cruise ships sailing past the coast. It is also the
Spotting the first sight of the Oceans
Sure, I had heard the drive is the most beautiful part of the experience and for once the claims lived up to the expectations. So, all the way from Orlando all I was doing was pretty much putting my head out of the car like a dog, with eyes as big as popsicles, looking from left to right to ensure I miss no part of it. Of course, that was unnecessary, for it was not a tiny drop of blue, the waters were pretty much all you could see after one point.
It was like paradise for me. The roads and bridges go over and under with vast blue oceans with a slight tinge of green here and there, that makes you look back twice just to check if the water is actually green there or if it is just the sun playing games with your eyes.
The Breathtaking View
The 7-mile drive was just the cherry on top of an already very well iced, decorated cake. The stretch where you drive up the bridge almost feels like the end of the world. The bridge just stopping mid-way touching the skies with pristine blue ocean waters joining from all sides to the contrast of the clear sky blue skies with white clouds. It almost felt like nature coming in from all sides and engulfing the concrete and all man-made inflictions on earth in one swooping breath.
Intriguing Island Names
The names they kept for the key-shaped islands will always intrigue me. I spotted Florida Key, Fleming Key, Upper Key. But as we went further inside we actually found one that said “No Name Key”. It almost felt as though they got tired of naming these small islands.
Another unique thing to Key West is their pastel hued cottages that are a distinct signature to them. The whole city would be lined with conch style houses and shop front in varied pastel hues that give a feeling of a cool summer in my head.
View from the Key West Marriott Resort
We decided to splurge a little and encash our travel points with the Mariott Group and had booked the Mariott Beachside Resort at Key West and it was truly worth it! The view was mesmerizing. To wake up in the morning to the expanse of those blue waters and sails parked all around and the gradual tint in those skies as the sun comes up is enchanting. It was like a picture waiting to be painted, Alas, we all have our shortcomings, I had to make peace with capturing it on a mobile camera and Instagramming it.
Southernmost Tip
We set out on our day to explore the town starting with the Southern Most Buoy and it was a terrible disappointment. Thronged with tourists trying to take a picture with Buoy, there was actually a line to do that. So I did what i usually do when i see tourist crowds in huge numbers- run in the opposite direction
Mallory Square
Since we had more than enough of the touristy destinations we decided to make our way to Mallory Square. Now, that was a place you can spend hours and not know time passing by. The most happening part of Key West besides the famous sunset point. The sunset was nothing short of glorious!
Nightlife in Key West
After the gorgeous sunset, we decided to graze around the place and the nightlife at Key West in the middle of the week was admirable. There are just rows of pubs and places to hang out with brilliant live music. You could just continuously hop from one place to another and it was a scene that lasted all night.
There are a couple of other touristy spots in the heavily commercialized Key West but the 7 Mile Drive and Mallory Square would always be etched in my heart in a special little way.
What was your highlight in Key West Florida?