Key West: Southernmost Point USA
Where in the Keys can you actually take the best photo? The Facebook fans were unanimous: At Southernmost Point in Key West, because: It doesn’t get any more southern than that. Key West is not only the southernmost city in the continental U.S., a large black-and-red buoy also marks the southernmost point of the U.S. mainland at the end of Whitehead Street at the corner of South Street. The buoy is the photo motif of the Keys par excellence and has marked Southernmost Point since 1983. From here, it’s just under 90 miles (145 km) to Cuba, making the island closer to Key West than Miami.
www.southernmostpointwebcam.com
Key West: Cats in the Hemingway House
When Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West in the 1930s, he was given a white cat by a sailor who went by the name Snow White and had six toes on her paws. The 40-50 cats that live in the Hemingway house today are probably all descendants of Snow White and most have the same harmless mutation, mostly on their front paws. A real highlight in the famous writer’s home, which is already well worth seeing, and for Facebook fans, the most beautiful animal encounter in the Keys.
www.hemingwayhome.com/cats
Key West: Pride Parade
There are quite a few offbeat festivals in the Florida Keys. Most popular with the Facebook community is Key West Pride. This is the prelude to a series of LGBT events in the subtropical paradise. Key West shows its most colorful side and the festivities are held under the motto of the island chain – “One Human Family”. In addition to a street festival and parade, variety and drag shows and a Mr. Pride contest await.
www.keywestpride.org
Marathon: Lighthouse Grill at Faro Blanco
Overlooking the historic Faro Blanco lighthouse in the small harbor, the cocktails at Lighthouse Grill taste best the Facebook fan community has decided. In addition to strawberry daiquiries, you can also order a martini spiked with key lime juice, rim of cookie crumbs included.
www.faroblancoresort.com/restaurant
Florida Keys: Key Lime Pie
THE dessert par excellence in the Florida Keys & Key West and also the “signature dessert” of the state of Florida – the Key Lime Pie. Facebook fans also think there’s no way around this delicious sin when it comes to the best food in the Keys. Made with cookies, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and the tart juice of the Key Lime, the pie is served in just about every restaurant in a wide variety of ways. In Key West, be sure to try it at Blue Heaven and in Key Largo at Mrs. Mac’s.
http://www.blueheavenkw.com
Key Largo: Kayaking at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
At the first underwater state park in the United States, visitors can enjoy the colorful world of the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. and explore it on scuba diving and snorkeling tours. Those who prefer to stay afloat can kayak four kilometers through the dense mangrove forests of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. For Facebook fans, the greatest way to get active in the Florida Keys.
www.floridastateparks.org/park/Pennekamp
Key West: Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
As soon as the sun prepares to set, Key West locals and visitors flock to Mallory Square. The old pier offers a wonderful view of the harbor, the Gulf of Mexico and the small island of Sunset Key. Street performers provide entertainment that is as colorful and lively as the sunset itself. Here you’ll meet acrobats, musicians, dogs and cats performing tricks, and magicians only too happy to show off their talents to an astonished audience. Not to be overlooked is Will Soto. The tightrope walker balances high above the heads of the audience as his silhouette stands out against the darkening sky and colorful sunset. For Facebook fans, the sunset at Mallory Square is absolutely the most beautiful experience in Key West.
Key West: Watching dolphins in the wild
Surrounded by water as far as the eye can see are the Florida Keys. What could be more natural than a great experience in, on or around the water? What impressed Facebook friends the most was watching dolphins in the wild. If you’ve always wanted to do that, you can do it in Key West with Fury Water Adventures. The Dolphin Watch Eco Tour takes a catamaran out to the Playground of the Dolphins. Then it’s time to keep your eyes open and scan the surface of the water for suspicious dorsal fins. The crew will tell you exciting things about the smart animals and the chances to see the mammals are very high. Afterwards we go on a little snorkeling trip.
www.furycat.com/key-west/watch-dolphins
Key Largo: Boat tour on the African Queen from the movie of the same name
In the 1951 film “African Queen,” Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn are cruising the rivers of East Africa aboard the small steamboat African Queen. The mismatched couple learns to love each other in the film and together they overcome some dangerous hurdles. After its big screen debut, the steamboat, built in England in 1912, was used in San Francisco, Oregon and Florida, and since 1982 has been a popular destination for visitors from all over the world, who can cruise the canals of Port Largo aboard the African Queen and feel like Bogart and Hepburn once did. Facebook fans loved it, too, and voted this “filming location” in the Keys into first place.
www.africanqueenflkeys.com
Key West: Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is located about 113 kilometers west of Key West in the ocean and is the most remote national park in the USA. Reason enough for Facebook friends to vote the park as the best “Hidden Gem” of the island chain. Visitors can look forward to picturesque nature, pirate legends, the historic Civil War-era Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. A floatplane from Key West Seaplane Adventures provides a convenient 40-minute ride to the national park. Half- and full-day tours are offered. keywestseaplanecharters.com Those who prefer to stay on the water choose the full-day excursion with Yankee Freedom. The ferry takes just under two and a half hours to reach the national park.
www.drytortugas.com