Key West

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Geo: 24.5471, -81.8042

Today we traveled all the way down the Keys to Key West which is the southernmost point of the continental US. The trip down the Keys is about 120 miles each way. Key West is only 90 miles by water from Havana, Cuba. The Keys consist of about 100 islands the larger of which are connected by bridges and causeways - one of the bridges is 9 miles long. Key West has a long history having been originally settled by the Spanish. Henry Flagler built a railway connecting Key West to mainland Florida. Unfortunately a hurricane and 18 foot tidal wave wiped out the railway and much of the construction on the islands. For years Key West was only accessed by boat until Florida designated the area as a tourist area. Prior to that the Key West port was a center for salvage activities with a shipwreck almost weekly due to the reefs in the area. Now it is a tourist mecca with hotels, inns and several gated retirement communities. The beaches in the main tourist area looked to be very crowded but we were able to find a very nice small beach on the way back. Newer housing is built on cement piers well above the water line. Tomorrow we will head north and hope to revisit the Everglades and take an air-boat ride.

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