Five Budget Key West Attractions
Free and Discounted Things to Do in Florida’s Southernmost Key
Apr 6, 2009
Visits to this southern island can take quite a bankroll. But there are inexpensive and even free things to do that can stretch the travel budget and add fun to any trip to this Florida Key.
Sunsets on Mallory Square
Key West sunsets are legendary and with the nightly Mallory Square celebration is a big reason why.
Every evening both visitors and locals alike gather at this dockside location on the northwestern side of the island for a daily celebration that includes a flea market, crafts fair, free shows by local artists and entertainers and, of course, plenty of margaritas and daiquiris.
Aside from the drinks, the mini-festival, which starts about an hour before sunset, is completely free to attend and should be a focal point of any trip to Key West.
Southernmost Point
On the southwestern corner of Key West, at the intersection of Whitehead and South Streets, is a large buoy painted with red, black and yellow stripes. On it, the lettering proclaims it marks the “southernmost point” of the continental U.S., and it is.
It’s also a free attraction and there are usually lines to have pictures taken with it. But where else can one say they were only 90 miles from Cuba and still be on dry land?
Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum
Literary fans will enjoy taking a tour of the writer’s Key West home, which is a registered historical landmark. Other visitors may enjoy the unique six-toed felines that openly roam the grounds of Hemingway’s Key West home. Either way, this is definitely a must-see attraction when visiting the island.
Ernest Hemingway lived here for more than ten years while he wrote some of his most famous works. Located at 907 Whitehead Street, it is open for touring daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission is $12 for adults and $7 for children.
Pirate Soul Pirate Museum
Three hundred years ago, the Caribbean was overrun with pirates who plundered the ships that sailed the seas. This museum pays tribute to them with what they claim is the largest and most authentic collection of artifacts ever displayed under one roof.
Items to be found on display include Blackbeard’s original blunderbuss (a muzzle-loading firearm) to Captain Thomas Tew’s authentic treasure chest, pirate fans will enjoy this visual trip through the history of these scourges of the seas.
The museum is located at 524 Front Street, a few blocks off Duval, next to the Rum Barrel restaurant and bar. Hours are 10am to 7pm daily, with tickets priced at $15 for adults and $9 for children.
Key West Cemetery
Over the centuries, Key West has been populated by some very eccentric characters, and many are buried in this cemetery, located at the corners of Margaret and Angela Streets.
Not just for the morbidly-obsessed visitor, this historic burial grounds was opened in 1847 and features a multitude of interesting markers, humorous inscriptions and final resting places for many of the unusual and even famous residents of the island. And yes, it is free to visit.
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