Some people choose a ski resort in a powdery winter wonderland. Others prefer the wilderness, where camping, hiking and wildlife abound. Others may finally decide upon a huge city from which they can pick and choose any form of entertainment that their heart desires, from museums and musicals to amusement parks. And then there are the water lovers, the worshipers of the sea. They make a bee line for the beach and bask in the warm sun the moment they step out of the car. For them, nothing can compare to the ocean, so vast and so alive. Heavenly. If traveling to a tropical island paradise is on your agenda, you will not find a more leisurely vacation spot than Key West , Florida . 

Key west is the last of the inhabited islands in an archipelago of about 1700 individual islands off the coast of Florida at the southeastern-most corner of the United States. These islands are known as the Florida Keys, and they are the dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The southernmost tip of Key West , Florida , 33040 is a mere 94 miles from Cuba. This Caribbean influence is undoubtedly what gives Key West its laid back, Bohemian feel. Both residents and tourists alike will agree that relaxation is key in Key West .

Even though it is an island, there are plenty of easily accessible routs to choose from when planning your arrival in Key West , Florida , 33040 . You can choose to fly into the island itself, as there is an airport, though it is small. It is not nearly as scenic as some of the other options that you have, though. Rather than fly in, you could choose to cruise in on one of the massive cruise ship[s that dock its port each day. It is a little more glamorous, and a lot more fun than an airplane ride. You can also choose to take the passenger ferry, have a cocktail, and sit in the sun while you ride.

If you own a boat, you can travel along the Atlantic coast to reach the island, or coast through the Florida Bay. One you reach your destination, there are a number of full service marinas that welcome boaters. 
Who says that you cannot drive to an island? If you are taking a road trip, you can still reach Key West by taking what is perhaps one of the most beautiful drives in the United States, US 1. This 1oo mile over-water highway, with the tranquil azure sea on both sides of you the entire way, is a perfect prelude to what is to come. Watching the glimmering sunlight as it hits the ocean, you will scarcely be able to take your eyes off of the immeasurable beauty of the sparkling blue waters.

Key West , Florida 33040 is a small island, only four miles long and a tiny two miles wide. But please do not let the size of this little piece of tropical heaven fool you. There is enough to do here to keep one busy for much longer than a typical week long vacation. You might want to make arrangements to stay gone a while longer. 

One of the first things that many tourists want to do when they reach Key West is head to the beach. It is easy to do, too. You are mere minutes away from a beach no matter where on the island you happen to be. Plant your umbrella in the soft white sand and lie back, with full on ocean views and gorgeous palm trees swaying in the breezy air all around you. But do not stay camped out there too long, because there is much more to Key West than just the beaches.

There are a variety of water related activities that you can choose to enjoy. Some of the best snorkeling in the world can be found here. Scuba divers will discover this location to be an intriguing dive, complete with shipwrecks to explore, and an array of ocean life not to be experienced elsewhere. 

Feel like staying out of the salty ocean water? No worries. Why not take a day cruise? Or explore the undersea world through the window of a glass bottomed boat? If partying is on your mind, the hop onto one of the many party boats that do the cruising for you, so you and your gang can sit back, relax and drink tropical concoctions that will relax and invigorate your senses as you watch the sun go down.

Once you are out of the water, head inland, only a mile or so away, and take advantage of some of the walking tours and guided trolley rides that give tourists a true sense for the rich, and often unsavory history of Key West , Florida , 33040 . The area has quite a colorful past. Traveling the island in this day and age, one would be hard pressed to imagine the rough and rowdy lawlessness of days gone by. On these superbly narrated tours, the experience comes back to you.

No visit to Key West would be complete without taking part in the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Park. Key West has some of the most vibrant and romantic sunsets to be found anywhere on the planet, and they know it. Each night, at dusk, a celebration erupts as people gather in the streets to enjoy the breathtaking crimsons, pinks and oranges that light up the sky. It is a carnival like atmosphere, with street performers, musicians, vendors, fire-eaters and jugglers, and an experience not to be missed.

The food in Key West is a delight to the senses, with an Afro-Caribbean sweetness and flair that will please your palate. Dishes rich with yams, plantains, lentils, and coconut combines with meats and fish, lend a savory sweet taste that is exquisitely crafted, and sure to be thoroughly enjoyed.

Once the sun goes down and dinner has been eaten, the party begins. With numerous bars, pubs and nightclubs in the historic Old Town area, you can dance the night away to music that will inspire you to go all night. You may still be awake to watch the sun rise, as well. Why not? You can sleep when you get home.

There are also movie theaters, great shopping, fishing and even a golf course on the island, as if you needed anything more. There are not enough hours in a vacation to take it all in, are there?

The island of Key West , Florida , 33040 has an eclectic, relaxed attitude. You will notice that the island is regarded as being in two parts, Old Town and New Town.

Old Town is where the unique shops, the bars, the museums and the major tourist attractions such as the Sunset Festival are located. The architecture in Old Town is rich in Caribbean style and texture, with small, tropical bungalows, constructed roughly between the years 1886 and 1912. Some of these bungalows were fashioned from coral stone or salvaged boat scraps. There is an eclectic, artsy feel to these houses, featuring metal roofs, Bahama style shutters, and gingerbread trim, with large, covered porches. Walking these streets, you wonder how you could possibly still be in the United States. Keep your cameras handy.

New Town feels a bit different. The land, itself is relatively new, sort of an island add on. Through land filling, they have created more land mass upon which they have literally, expanded the island. New town is where you will find the airport, shopping malls, and newer residential areas. There are also schools, restaurants and other day to day retail needs to be found in New Town. 

As you might expect, Key West has great weather. It lives up to its claim that it is the only city in the lower 48 states that has never experienced a frost. Never. No snow, no ice, no frost. You can be sitting on the beach in January and the lowest the thermometer will read is sixty five degrees. Now that is mild. In fact, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Key West , Florida in all of its history was back in 1886 when the mercury reached a frigid forty one degrees.