Reef in the morning, the old fort at the end of the day
Key West, Florida · 3 nights · November–April · up to 6
Key West is small enough to do entirely by bicycle, and doing it any other way is a mistake. The reef is the only living barrier reef in the continental United States and it is an hour out; go on the first morning while you are still willing to get up. The island's sunset has a crowd and a schedule and a man who juggles fire. The fort at the end of the island does not.
The ending
A pine-shaded beach inside the walls of an old fort, at the far end of the island, where the water goes flat and orange and the crowd is somewhere else entirely.
We'll set the moment aside in the itinerary, but we won't name a spot we can't stand behind.
Do
- Snorkeling the Coral Reef (Reef Express)
- Key West Bike Tour (Eaton Bikes)
- Yoga on the Beach at Fort Zachary Taylor
- Luxe Beach Picnic (Spectacular Key West)
Eat
- Louie's Backyard
- Cafe Sole
Stay
- The Gardens Hotel
- Ocean Key Resort & Spa
Is the fort beach better than Mallory Square?
For this purpose, yes, and it is not close. Mallory Square is a performance with an audience. The fort is a state park that closes at sundown and empties before it.
Best months?
November through April. Summer is hot, wet, and hurricane season.