Florida

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Key West Florida, USA. 

The city of Key West is located at the extreme end of the keys which can be reached with a car and is the southernmost point of the United States. To Cuba it is only 90 miles open sea and this is less mileage than to the continent.

Because of its location, its climate and its history the island has always been a magnet for diverse cultures and people. This led to a unique mixture of architecture, culture and cuisine. Today the island is an enclave for artists, New Age adherents and homosexuals and of course for tourism because of its special atmosphere of a never ending party.

The history of this island began in 1513 when the first pirate landed on this hideaway island. Later came the so-called Wreckers who were specialized on the rescue of stranded cargo. This industry brought many high-quality goods into Key West and it was to the richest city in the United States in the 19th Century.

The easiest way to explore Key West is walking because the sightseeing attractions are almost exclusively in the vicinity of Duval Street, the main street of the city. There are also organized tours by trolley or Conch train available for people who can not walk very well.

These tours drive on a fixed route through the entire city. You can hop on or drop off the vehicle on various points of the tour and visit the museums or sightseeing point. Later on you can complete the tour.

The most famous museum of Key West is the home of Ernest Hemingway. He lived and worked here in the'30s. His wife let build the first swimming pool on the island. Hemingway was a great cat lover and the descendants of his cats are still alive. Today there are currently over 50 cats still on the premises. 

A treasure from old Spanish ships which were found in the latest years is best shown in the Mel Fischer Maritime Museum. 1985 Mel Fisher discovered two Spanish wrecks which sunken in 1622 and lifted these treasures and presented them now in his museum exhibits.

An attraction which should not miss at your stay in Key West is the Sunset celebration. Every evening at sunset there are many artists and acrobats at Mallory Square. They show their talents while the sun spectacularly sinks

behind the horizon. The lively event happens depending on the season between 6pm and 8pm. The best end for such a spectacular day is a pub crawl along Duval Street which means you have to visit several bar and have fun in dancing and partying.

Another tourist attraction is the island group of the Dry Tortugas. These are 7 coral islands about 70 miles west of Key West. On the largest islands - Garden Key - lies Fort Jefferson, a stone fortress. It was built the middle of the 19th Century for the defense and control of the Straits of Florida. After the end of the civil war most soldiers were withdrawn and the fort served as a prison for deserters. Its most famous prisoner was Wilkes Booth the assassin of President Lincoln.

Today Fort Jefferson and the area around the fortress is a nature reserve for bird watching. But also swimmers and snorkelers can have their fun because small coral beach are locate in the immediate vicinity.

 

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