Key West Day Trips
July 5th, 2009 | 
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There are So Many Things to do in Key West! Visitors to Key West will find lots of things to do, from water sports, sunset cruises, fishing, snorkeling, diving and exploring Old Town and Duval Street. It’s such a great vacation spot for so many reasons, including world class salt water fishing, scuba diving the wrecks and coral reef, or just hanging out on Duval Street for shopping, dining, bars and entertainment if your’e a land lubber.
If you’re on land for the day, discover Key West’s past history of pirates, wrecking, US Naval history, Ernest Hemingway, and Cuban culture, all of which have been interwoven into today’s Key West. Venturing Outside of Key West If you crave an adventure and are willing to leave Key West for a day, a day trip to Dry Tortugas is a must. Built in the 1900s as a military structure for border defense, Fort Jefferson still stands today on what is known as the Dry Tortugas, a collection of small islands way out to sea.
Located about 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas are accessible by ferry out of Key West, with return trip same day. You can arrange to be left at the fort overnight for some tropical camping. Tents can be set up near the beach outside of the fort walls. A few rangers are there on the island as well. Getting to Dry Tortugas Take the Yankee Freedom, which leaves from docks at Key West’s Historic Seaport area. Dropoff point for the ferry is behind the Half Shell Raw Bar, next to Turtle Kraals restaurant.
There is no designated parking for Dry Tortugas visitors- you’ll have to either be dropped off or allow time to park your car in one of Key West’s public parking garages. The ferry leaves at 8:30, but don’t worry, you can just roll out of bed and hop onto the ferry. They serve breakfast! In fact, the price of your ferry ticket covers much more than just the two-hour ride out to the Dry Tortugas.
You get breakfast waiting for you once you board in the morning. You get a very knowledgeable naturalist tourguide to accompany you and who gives instructional talks on the way out. She’ll also give a guided tour of Fort Jefferson once you get there, too. Then she may set up her telescope so everyone can look through and see birds nesting on the smaller island surrounding the biggest island of the Dry Tortugas, which is the one where you’ll be exploring the fort. You also get lunch, served aboard the docked ferry, at midday. They also supply you with plenty of bottled water.
The ride home, you get to pourchase beer and snacks. And boy, will you be hungry after all that exploring, snorkeling, walking around the fort, the moat, and taking in the beautiful views from atop the fort walls, over the turquoise flats waters. Don’t forget to look for the lighthouse while you’re up on the fort walls.
(Author: jamiehanson)
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Find out more about Key West at kwflausa.com
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