Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
People of all ages flock to Mallory Square, the historic pier overlooking Key West Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico, to enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere as the sun sinks beneath the waves in orange-red splendor.
The Mallory Square performers offer a spectacle as vivid as the sunset itself. Visitors might encounter a sword swallower sliding blades down his gullet, a fire-eater with seemingly asbestos insides, a strongman balancing a motor scooter on his chin or a mime costumed as a living statue. Jugglers, musicians and masters of comic patter all share their talents with the crowds.
Most evenings, an Uncle Sam look-alike named Love 22 strolls along the pier giving away $22 bills. A kilted bagpiper paces solemnly, his pipes providing an oddly mournful accompaniment to the Sunset pageantry. And no one can overlook the tightrope walker who can be seen balanced high above his audience, silhouetted against the fiery glow of the setting sun.
Unique as they are, the street performers make up only one aspect of the Sunset Celebration. The festive, water's-edge market is equally appealing. Visitors might have their fortune told, buy jewelry or crafts handmade by local artisans, or sample some "Pretty Good Popcorn."
To enjoy the celebration to its fullest, it's best to arrive at Mallory Square at least 30 minutes before the sun actually sets and stay until it slips below the horizon. All the entertainment on the pier is free to watch, although entertainers pass the hat following their performances.
Southernmost Point
You can stand at the southernmost point of the continental United States in only one place: Key West. So go for it! And remember, you're only 90 miles from Cuba!
Key West Lighthouse Museum
Completed in 1847, the lighthouse guided mariners through the treacherous Key West waters until it was decommissioned in 1969. Today both the light and the Keeper's Quarters have been completely restored by the Key West Art & Historical Society to show visitors what life was like for a lighthouse keeper in the days before electricity and automation.
Visitors can climb an 88-step spiral staircase to the historic light's watchroom for a panoramic view of Key West, step inside a 12-foot "first order" lens circa 1858, learn the stories of two courageous female lighthouse keepers and observe historic artifacts, photos and journals.
The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
Visit the home of one of America's most honored and respected authors. Step back in time and visit the rooms and gardens where the Nobel Prize winner lived and wrote for over ten years.
Sloppy Joe's
There's only one Sloppy Joe's and this is your chance to experience the real thing. This well-known bar has been one of Key West's favorite "watering holes" since 1933. The place opens at 9:00 a.m., live music begins at noon, and the fun never stops!
Key West Aquarium
Landlubbers can discover the Florida Keys' coral reefs without getting their feet wet at the Key West Aquarium, the first tourist attraction in the Keys. Open since 1934, the historic facility adjacent to Mallory Square was one of the first open-air aquariums in the United States.
Today, the popular attraction offers visitors a window to the undersea world surrounding the Florida Keys. Among its residents are moray eels, sharks, sea turtles, barracuda, tropical fish, tarpon, parrotfish and grouper.
The aquarium's "Atlantic Shores" exhibit features a 50,000-gallon tank displaying a cross-section of a near-shore mangrove habitat. The tank's inhabitants include tropical and game fish, sea turtles and birds. The aquarium also has a touch tank for hands-on interaction between sea creatures and visitors.
During daily tours of the facility, visitors can observe feedings of resident sharks, rays and turtles while guides explain their habits and habitats. Participants in the guided tours have an opportunity to pet a live shark.
