Key West, 90 miles from Havana in Cuba while further from Miami at a distance of 129 miles, is the southern most point of the United States. Should you take a Key West tour from Miami then it will travel by road (the Overseas Highway {US-1}) via the Seven-Mile-Bridge in Monroe County, Florida. (The spectacular bridge which is tall enough for shipping to pass under has been included in numerous films including scenes in True Lies, Licence to Kill – James Bond,  CrissCross, Up Close & Personal and 2 Fast 2 Furious. Therefore, you should not be surprised to know that Ernest Hemingway is famously associated with the island as well as Tennessee Williams.)

Many passenger cruise lines include Key West as a destination stop. Its international airport provides it with a fast alternative direct access with Miami and other parts of the mainland. The US Navy enjoys the use of Key West as an important all year round training base thanks to the superb weather. Hurricanes rarely hit and Key West claims that of the lower 48 states it is the only City that has never had frost.

There is a great deal to admire about the official city motto: "One Human Family." Maybe the sense of community in their motto typifies the local permanent population of 25,000 who welcome some 1 million visitors every year. The island has more than doubled in size via landfill since 1940 and many of the residents, since 1831, of Key West were immigrants from the Bahamas known as Conchs {pronounced 'conks'}.

The northwest corner of the island along Whitehead, Simonton, Front, Greene, Caroline, and Eaton Streets and Truman Avenue in addition to Duval Street are the primary parts of the Key West’s business district.

Hotel accommodation is readily available in the Keys but generally more expensive than on the mainland while camp sites are plentiful and less expensive.

Only a couple of buses per day between Miami and Key West provide the public transport service for the keys. 104.1FM is a useful information source regarding any Overseas Highway {US-1} traffic problems should you decide to use self-drive rental.

Also see Florida's Statewide 511 website for traffic and road information.

Very popular in Key West amongst visitors is the opportunity to Snorkel close up along the fantastic coral reefs. Along the entire stretch of the Florida Keys over 6000 coral reefs can be found while throughout Florida Keys Dolphins are common sights.

Once in Key West then bicycles are the best choice of transport on the island measuring roughly 3.5 miles by 1.5 miles. Therefore, many visitors rent a bike and explore the history and architecture of Key West’s Old Town. Boat tours and walking tours are readily available if you want to know a little more about the locality. Probably included in the tour will be information regarding, the most photographed and visited attraction in Key West, the brightly painted replica of a buoy which states the “SOUTHERNMOST POINT CONTINENTAL U.S.A.”