TRAVEL
WHERE THE LIVING IS EASY ...
Liz Kavanagh kicks off her shoes in laid-back Key West
At Key West airport we were welcomed by a long-haired , deeply-tanned arrivals official sporting shorts . “ Kick off your shoes folks ,” he said . “ It ’ s time to relax .”
Key West has long been a destination for those who want to get away from it all . The two-by-four-mile island is connected to a string of picture-perfect keys which run south from the Florida mainland . It ’ s the most southerly island of the archipelago and North America ’ s most southerly point . And the weather is wonderful – pretty much all year round .
Prosperity put Key West on the map , with its proximity to both the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico encouraging industries like wrecking , salvaging , salt manufacturing and turtling . By the mid-1800s it was one of the richest places in the US .
There is a plethora of hotels in Key West and we opted for the colonial-style Margarita Beach House , situated opposite the powdery white sand of Smathers Beach .
Rooms here are large and airy – big enough for all the family . Breakfast at the Tin Cup Chalice restaurant is a must for its stacks of pancakes . Soak up the sun around the pool and you ’ ll see huge iguanas basking in the rays .
An easy way to discover Key West is on an Old Town Trolley Bus Tour . Trundling through town we learnt how shipwreck recovery brought riches to the island , how former resident Ernest Hemingway helped create legendary Sloppy Joe ’ s bar , and why Cuban cock fighting has left so many ( now protected ) roosters living on the island .
Out in calm blue waters sheltered by coral reef , we set off with Barefoot Billy ’ s chilled-out catamaran cruise , spotting dolphins as we went . As the sun set , we watched people dancing at Mallory Square – a nightly hotspot for street performers .
Back in the harbour we feasted on conch fritters and fried oysters from Half Shell Raw Bar – one of many excellent eateries in the old town . Key lime pie is a must-do , with Kermit ’ s regarded as one of the best places for the zesty treat .
Shopping in Key West is an eclectic mix . There ’ s a lot of tat , but the further you walk down Duval Street the more interesting the choice becomes . You ’ ll see shops dedicated to flipflops , local art and all-things Cuban . And lots and lots of bars .
Because Key West ’ s big draw is its live music , you ’ ll hear it in bars and restaurants from midday onwards – from country and western to silky-smooth soul .
They say in Key West you won ’ t leave without sand in your shoes . The same man at Key West airport in arrivals was on dispatch when we left . “ You ’ ll be back ” he said .
Holidays to Florida with stays in Key West , including flights , hotels , car hire and activities can be booked with independent Travel Counsellor Zoe Palmer .
01962 690006 www . travelcounsellors . co . uk / zoe . palmer www . fla-keys . co . uk
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