My trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park required a ferry ride from Key West, the perfect excuse to spend a long weekend there! I live in South Florida so this was the perfect road trip for Labor Day Weekend. Technically not a part of Key West, Bahia Honda State Park was the first stop on this trip and did not disappoint!
I would highly recommend spending a day at this park. The beach is gorgeous with crystal clear water and plenty of real estate to lay out on a towel. People are always surprised to learn that the Keys are not known for great beaches, making Bahia Honda that much more special! History lovers will also enjoy this stop because of its association with Flagler’s quest to build a bridge to Key West. Here you can walk up to the old bridge and learn all about the construction process.
For my stay in Key West, I chose the Lighthouse Hotel. This hotel is a part of Key West Historic Inns. The property is well maintained and everyone was so helpful! It is located right next to the Key West Lighthouse, providing my room with a great view! The hotel is within walking distance of every fun tourist attraction you can imagine. Driving and parking in Key West is not the greatest, making this hotel a great choice to avoid those headaches.
By far, my favorite stop was The Hemingway House. Normally, I don’t find guided tours all that fun but this one was different. The guides are enthusiastic about the history of the home and its influence on Hemingway’s works. I love old homes, I think attention to detail during the building process was much better than it is today. Add this to your list of places to visit and see if you can count six toes on any of the cats!
I love pools that have a grassy “deck” rather than pavers, it adds a vibrant touch. If you take the tour, you will learn about how this pool came to be!
Walking around in the sun will help you work up an appetite. I have two suggestions for dinner! The first is Little Pearl. A small boutique restaurant with great decor, this restaurant requires a reservation. A four course, prix fixe meal is served that lives up to hype. Whatever you choose, make sure it includes the lobster vichyssoise.
My second recommendation is Blue Heaven. Make sure you read the back of the menu, the location of the restaurant has a wild history. Blue Heaven is known for its mile high merengue topped key lime pie, so I had to order a slice for fun!
Key West is a one-of-a-kind destination, I hope you enjoy my picks and include them in your next trip!
