Ahhh, Key West. That beautiful island in the Gulf with a laid-back Southern California surfer vibe plus a generous helping of hippie confidence and a dash of frat-boy antics, all in the same package.
It’s white trash – in the most endearing way possible. A place that’s the life of the party and where you can just be who you are without judgement.
A place that caters to revelers, romantics and families alike. But beyond the eclectic, free-spirited, Caribbean cool, here are some things that you might not know about the lovely Key West:
10. Key West was the richest city in the United States during the 1850’s thanks to it’s lucrative shipwrecking industry.
9. It’s the birthplace of Pan American Airways. Their original office is now Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, owned by Kelly McGillis of Top Gun fame. On October 28, 1927 Pan Am flight No. 1 took off from Key West to Havana, Cuba – the first U.S. International air flight.
8. It is illegal to harass the roosters and chickens that roam the island. Doing so could land you a fine up to $500!
7. Like the Vegas Strip and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Key West does not have open container laws. Meaning, it’s perfectly legal to walk down the street while sipping a beer, or any other alcoholic beverage for that matter.
6. Ernest Hemmingway called Key West home for nearly 20 years. You can visit his house, his favorite bar (Sloppy Joe’s) or ogle at the spectacle that is Hemmingway Days. Every July dozens of Hemmingway doppelgangers descend on the city to compete in writing and fishing competitions and vie for the honor of being crowned best look-a-like of the year!
5. Key West is home to the largest marine water sport company in the United States, Fury Water Adventures. They offer everything from sailing and snorkeling to paragliding and jet skiing.
4. Electric cars, scooters and bikes are extremely popular forms of transportation on the island. Many residents own electric cars in lieu of regular cars as they’re cheaper to own and easier to navigate through town.
3. At only 90 miles north of Cuba, Key West is the southernmost city in the United States. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, over 15,000 military personnel descended upon the island in preparation for war. Luckily, war was averted, but Key West maintains a strong Naval base to this day.
2. Residents of Key West are called Conches (the name derives from Bahamian immigrants) and the island is often referred to as the Conch Republic.
After a skirmish with the US Border Patrol, in the 1980’s, that forced Key West residents to prove their US citizenship before entering the mainland (the first ever border checkpoint within US – not at an actual border) the then Mayor of Key West succeeded. Though the action wasn’t recognized by the US Government, many islanders still consider the Conch Republic a sovereign territory – they even issue their own passports!
1. President Harry S. Truman was a huge fan of Key West. Today you can visit the Little White House, Truman’s winter home, which he visited 11 times during his time as Commander in Chief.
