Located closer to Havana than Miami, Key West is synonymous with all that is fabulous. Whether it’s beaches, back country or just a brilliant time that you’re after, Florida’s most southern point holds a wealth of intrigue, both past and present. Famed for its unique originality, Key West is a condensation of the best of the Sunshine State – fantastic weather, laid-back attitude, deep-rooted history, and masses of fantastic, fresh seafood; it’s little wonder that nobody ever wants to leave. Floating in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, the island has two very definite personalities: bookish and bizarre. On the one hand, the literary festivals, exquisite Caribbean architecture, and splendid art galleries attract the bourgeoisie, while on the other, the eccentricity and reticence to be associated with “the mainland” attracts all kinds of “happies” –new era hippies. The two dichotomies live peacefully side by side and have done ever since travellers started arriving in the 1960s — Key West being one of the three big K’s on the hippie path to enlightenment (Kuta and Kathmandu are the others). But past the idiosyncrasies of the Key Westers, and you will find an island that is literally brimming over with spectacular sights and wonderful wilderness. From Henry S. Truman’s Little White House and Ernest Hemingway’s house and studio, to botanical gardens and marine sanctuaries, visitors will leave this fascinating island wanting more. Best seen by foot, bike, or boat, this is an island to be explored al fresco.

On a cruise to Key West, you’ll discover a tiny tropical island at the very tip of the Florida Keys, packed with quirky shops, cool pubs, and historic houses. You’ll find everything here from kitsch to karaoke and crab claws to Cuban-style cigars. 

There’s military history, the museum-house of literary legend Ernest Hemingway, and the daily festival scene of Mallory Square. And this is before you’ve spent time on one of the soft, white sand beaches, or browsed boho boutiques and galleries for local art and handmade jewelry. What’s more, Key West is enchantingly beautiful, with its tropical blooms and pastel-colored gingerbread houses. It’s easy to see why locals are so passionate about their little slice of paradise.