Welcome to Key West, capital of the Conch Republic. Even though this island is brimming with tourists during the peak travel season, this is no ordinary Florida vacation spot. Key West combines beautiful natural scenery with a laid back island attitude and a unique sense of history that is unlike any other destination in the Sunshine State, so it is no wonder that Key West vacation rentals are in such high demand.
Key West’s independent nature sets the island apart from the mainland peninsula in more ways than one. In 1982, the Florida Keys symbolically–and temporarily–seceded from the Union after the US Border Patrol set up roadblocks and checkpoints between the Keys and the Mainland. The checkpoints are long gone, but Key West residents refer to themselves as “Conchs” to this day. Conch also refers to a type of seafood–one of the Florida Keys most abundant natural resources.
Travelers looking for vacation homes in Key West should keep in mind that most of the buildings on the island–especially the historic Bahamian structures–are relatively small. Key West vacation homes that are close to Duval Street are right near the epicenter of all of the island’s activity, where a trip to the beach is more of an afterthought.
While the sun is up, centuries of Florida history can be found all around Key West. The Mel Fisher museum displays priceless treasures from the shipwrecked Spanish galleon Atocha, and right along the coast visitors can tour the Key West lighthouse or pose by the striped buoy marking the southernmost point in the continental United States. For those who like guided tours, there is Harry S Truman’s Little White House and the Hemingway House where the legendary author lived for a decade.
Sunsets are best enjoyed at Mallory Square, on the Gulf end of Duval Street. Every evening (weather permitting) crafters, musicians, artists and other vendors entertain crowd and sell their wares tight before the sun goes down. In the evening, the bars and restaurants of Duval Street come alive with fun-loving crowds.
For those travelers who are staying at Key West vacation homes, life couldn’t be sweeter if the property is just a few blocks away. Key West is a pedestrian paradise, and parking is at a premium, so being able to walk from a Key West vacation home to one of the local nightclubs or restaurants would be ideal. Sample some conch fritters, order stone crabs (when they are in season) and finish off dinner with a slice of key lime pie for the ultimate Key West experience–and then leisurely stroll back to your Key West vacation rental.
