Why Key West is a Top Spot for Tourists
Why Key West is a Top Spot for Tourists: If you’re looking for a fresh and exciting warm weather destination with lots of sun and fun for all ages, look no further than Key West, Florida. From exciting activities to enticing cuisine, eclectic shopping, and engaging museums, this location offers a great time all year long. Here are some of the best reasons to book your next vacation in Key West.
It’s Always a Good Time to Visit
Everyone’s schedule is different but in Key West, there’s always something fun going on. So even if your only opportunity to travel is during a random weekend, you can be assured that you’ll have a great experience. There’s an active festival scene here that celebrates the arts, sports, nature, and more. While the Hemingway Days honoring American literary legend Ernest Hemingway may be the most well-known event, Fantasy Fest in October isn’t far behind. At holiday time, be charmed by the annual “Bight” Before Christmas every December or marvel at all the talent you’ll find at the songwriters’ festival. Whether you’re a participant or enjoy cheering on others, you’ll find several marathons, tournaments, and competitions that will surely capture your attention. And even if your visit to Key West doesn’t align with one of these events, there’s always the nightly Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square where you can party as the sun goes down. It’s a street fair like no other, with live music and entertainment, food and drink vendors, arts and crafts, and performers. And some of the fishing tournaments are ongoing, so you can book a fishing charter through All In Fishing Charters for deep water, flats, wreck or reef fishing and enter your catch for a prize no matter what time of year you visit.
Exploring Local Culture and Art is Easy
In Key West, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in arts and culture. In February, you can tour the most exquisite and interesting private homes during the annual home tour events to benefit charity; homes are selected for their stand-out decor, architecture or aesthetic. There’s also a food and wine festival, film festival, and several garden festivals. Local events often include key lime pie-making, hands-on art projects, presentations, exhibits, and lectures or talks by knowledgeable speakers. It’s worth exploring available arts programs in advance to make sure you can get tickets for musical performances, theater performances, and art gallery events. Be sure to check out the package offers from area hotels, which can include extra perks oriented around these special events.
Everyone Can Enjoy Fishing and Sports
Start off the new year on the right foot with the annual half-marathon and 5K hosted every January. It’s the perfect time of year, as the humidity is low and the weather is overwhelmingly sunny and pleasant. If you miss this, you’ll have many other opportunities for similar events throughout the year, including at the famous Hemingway Sunset 5K. Many of these sporting events welcome athletes of all fitness and experience levels, and some even have dedicated fun runs for kids. Even if you’re not running, the thrill of competition is exciting as you cheer on the runners. Fishing tournaments like the Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series, the Southernmost Light Tackle Anglers Masters (SLAM) event, and the Key West Fishing Tournament accept entries over a period of several months. These sport and recreational fishing tournaments are often catch-and-release events, and charter fishing guests are typically eligible to enter. If health and wellness are more aligned with your interests, check out the annual yoga and wellness festival that includes classes and workshops, lectures, a marketplace, and specialty spa treatments.
Families Are Welcome, Too
Embrace ocean discoveries during OceanFest, where hands-on activities like fishing clinics and touch tanks can engage kids with sea life of all kinds. The program includes shopping, arts and crafts vendors, and food vendors, plus live performances. At the annual mermaid festival, learn about marine life and the importance of conservation in preserving it. And one of the most intriguing events is the Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade, an annual event that spotlights the creativity of folk artist Stanley Papio. If you miss this event, you can still view the artist’s work at Fort East Martello, operated by the Key West Art & Historical Society.
It’s easy to see why Key West is so attractive to travelers. It presents a wide range of activities beyond the traditional favorites like dining on fresh seafood at Eaton Street Seafood Market, biking around town, and visiting local beaches. No matter when you come to Key West, you can be assured of fun-filled days and exciting nights full of activities for all ages. From the arts, sports, theatre, music, and family-oriented programs to film festivals, and food and wine showcases, there really is something for everyone.
