Key West, FL
Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park
- Getting in
- Two federal pages say different things and Dry Tortugas is the stricter one. Servicewide, NPS says "In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that involves eight or fewer individuals" (https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/film-and-photo-permits.htm). Dry Tortugas' own permits page, last updated March 18, 2025 — after the EXPLORE Act took effect — says "Federal law requires a permit for all filming, no matter the size of the crew or the type of equipment." Call the park at 305-242-7700 and get the answer in writing before you book a photographer. Access is the other constraint: "Cars are not able to access the island. The only methods of transportation are by boat or seaplane" — the ferry and seaplane run once a day and book out weeks ahead (https://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/directions.htm).
How private it is
We haven’t rated privacy here yet.
Where to eat, drink and stay nearby
The moment is the fixed point; these are the hours either side of it. Real places in Key West, drawn from our destination catalog — not ranked, not sponsored, and not described by anything other than the catalog’s own words.
Dinner after
Cafe Sole
French Caribbean · $$$
Intimate French-Caribbean bistro with a legendary hogfish Hemingway — the under-the-radar elegant dinner option.
Louie's Backyard
American / Seafood · $$$$
Legendary oceanfront restaurant with the most beautiful deck in Key West — the splurge dinner that earns its price tag.
Latitudes at Sunset Key
American / Seafood · $$$$
Only accessible by private boat shuttle to Sunset Key — dinner arrives on a secluded island with lantern lighting.
A quiet drink
The Porch
wine-bar · $$
Off-the-beaten-path wine and craft beer bar with a genuine front porch — the antidote to the Duval chaos.
Mangoes Restaurant & Bar
cocktail-bar · $$
Outdoor tropical bar right on Duval with strong frozen drinks and live acoustic music — great early-evening stop.
Where to stay
The Gardens Hotel
boutique-hotel
Lush tropical garden boutique hotel in Old Town — five buildings connected by jasmine-scented pathways, saltwater pool.
Marquesa Hotel
boutique-hotel
Four 1884 Victorian houses connected around two garden pools — the most romantic small luxury hotel in Key West.
The morning after
Snorkeling the Coral Reef (Reef Express)
snorkeling
Private charter snorkeling trip to the only living coral reef in the continental US — gear, captain, and fresh fruit included.
Key West Bike Tour (Eaton Bikes)
walking-tour
Pedal through Old Town on cruiser bikes past pastel conch houses, the Hemingway Home, and the Southernmost Point buoy.
Shows the city and roughly when to keep free. Never the place, and never the word.
Source: www.nps.gov · confirmed 2026-08-06. Places change — check before you build a trip you cannot move.