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Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The perfect romantic place to cuddle up with someone special, unwind, and watch the sun set as sailboats glide by... all without the crazy circus of Mallory Square. It doesn't get any more romantic in this crowded city. Nature trails, 1866 fort with a real moat, beaches, snack stand. Before Ballast Key was deeded to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2019, the beach area was the southernmost point in the continental US accessible to the general public, regardless of what the famous buoy at the corner of Whitehead and South Streets says.
The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, also known simply as Fort Taylor, is a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Truman Annex Waterfront. With its touch screens, stunning photos, and roomy theater showing a short high-definition film about the Keys ecosystems, this educational center has become a hit with families. It's a fun way to learn about reef and mangrove habitats before or after an excursion. The newest addition is the Living Reef exhibit, which features a 2,500-gallon reef aquarium. Free admission and parking on-site.
A historic retreat used by President Harry S. Truman. Guided tours are available, as well as a gift shop. It's still used as a retreat and place of business by US government officials today.
With a panoramic view of the island.
Hemingway lived and wrote here for a decade. He also raised cats, the descendants of which still roam the grounds and have extra toes.
A "buoy" (actually an old sewer junction painted to look like a buoy) placed at this point contains an inaccurate message that it is the southernmost point in the continental USA. The true southernmost point of Florida is on Ballast Key, an island about 9 miles (14 km) from Key West, which is open to boaters during daylight hours only for minimally invasive activities such as birdwatching and nature photography. The marker is also not the southernmost point on Key West island—a private yard is immediately southeast of the buoy, and the island's true southernmost point is in the Truman Annex west of the buoy, which is U.S. Navy property and can be entered only by authorized Navy personnel. Even before Ballast Key was opened to public access, the buoy wasn't even the southernmost point that could be accessed by the public—that would be the beach area of Fort Zachary Taylor (see above). Nonetheless, it's one of the city's most visited and photographed spots. Expect large crowds on the weekends, and waiting for your turn to take a picture is the norm.
Offers a panoramic view of the island from its observation tower.