Travel Review: NY temps are too cold.❄️ If you want to escape for President’s Day weekend, Key West is a great choice.☀️

By Daniel Garcia

If you’re like me, then you are sick of the below freezing temperatures we have been experiencing for over 2 weeks now. If you need a place to get away, and warm up, Key West is the place to go! The atmosphere of Key West stands apart from what visitors would expect to find in a standard Florida vacation spot. The area exists as its own vibrant relaxed environment which combines beachfront scenery with musical ambiance and scooter traffic and breathtaking sunset displays that make people pause. These five experiences demonstrate the important aspects which make the island an unforgettable destination for every visitor who spends either a brief time or a full week on the island.

A walk through Duval Street at night where the nightlife is very active. (Video: Daniel Garcia)

Rent a Moped or Golf Cart

The island provides its visitors with two main transportation options which include moped and golf cart rentals. HydroThunder was the brand I rented through during my visit. The streets of the island are narrow while parking spaces are scarce because the entire island can be traveled around within less than one hour. Rentals are available all over Key West, and cruising past pastel houses and palm trees quickly becomes part of the experience. The experience of traveling through these places becomes an essential part of the entire adventure.

“Know that the island of Key West is quite small: two miles wide by four miles long. If you decide to not have a car in Old Town, be assured that there are many ways to get around Key West, including: walking, bicycling, taxis, electric rental cars, mopeds, pedi-cabs, city buses, trolleys, and hotel shuttles.” — Key West Travel Guide

Shop on Duval Street

Duval Street is the heartbeat of Key West. The street of Duval features a continuous row of shops which sell souvenirs and restaurants and bars and performers who entertain the public. You can begin your journey at one end of the island before walking to the opposite end while you visit various shops and listen to music and try different foods. There’s always something happening.

Visit the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A.

The brightly painted buoy marking the Southernmost Point is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Key West. Visitors line up throughout the day to take photos at the spot that marks 90 miles to Cuba. The location lets visitors take one of the island’s most famous photos before they leave the island.

“Key West’s iconic yellow, black and red buoy is easily the Southernmost City’s most photographed spot.” – The Keys Collection

Visit Margaritaville

A stop at Margaritaville Key West is almost a rite of passage for visitors. The restaurant stands directly on Duval Street where it honors the island spirit which Jimmy Buffett popularized through its tropical beverages and musical performances. The restaurant operates as a well-known dining spot because it offers a relaxed dining experience and its famous song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” is well known.

Watch the Sunset

No matter where you are in Key West, the sunset becomes an event. People from the crowd move to the water’s edge to watch the display while photographers snap photos and everyone stops talking to observe the sky transform into different hues. The event creates a shared experience which unites all island residents who observe it from the pier or beach or while floating on a boat.

“You can watch the sunset on Long Island, but it is nothing like watching the sunset on a beach at the Southernmost point of the United States. It’s just breathtaking.” – Randy Garcia