As I have previously mentioned, it was not our favorite place in the world. We are big travelers, so there were a lot of elements that turned us off. But more on that in this post.
Today, I'm going to tell you about my favorite place, activities and moments in Key West!
Cuban Coffee Queen
There is no better way to start your day than with an iced cafe con leche from Cuban Coffee Queen. A lot of people told us about this place before we went and it absolutely did not disappoint. We grabbed a coffee pretty much every day we were there AND brought home some grounds to try and make it ourselves!
The iced coffee comes served complete with coffee ice cubes and we got ours flavored with caramel, which was delicious. The drink is about half and half coffee and milk with the syrup added and boy is it good. The food was good there as well! I enjoyed the guava bread, but they have plenty of Cubano treats to enjoy!
Butterfly Conservatory
This may have been one of my favorite places I have EVER visited. The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is located on the south end on Duvall Street. From the outside, it seems cute, but unassuming, but inside is an entirely different experience.
You're greeted with a small room teaching you about all of the butterflies of the world and showing you some cocoons, but then is the best part. You walk into the conservatory to hundreds of butterflies flitting around a large greenhouse.
We saw dozens of different types and some of them even landed on us! (That's good luck, btw). Not only are there tons of beautiful butterflies, but also some really cool birds, turtles and even some flamingos! Just the feeling of having tons of butterflies flying around you is amazing. I honestly can't put it into words, but it's something everyone should experience.
Sunset Celebration
The sunset celebration at Mallory Square is a tradition in Key West, so of course, we had to check it out. It was a bit unsettling because there were a lot of people and, well, coronavirus, but it was a really cool thing to be a part of!
People gather down by the water to shop from local vendors and artists, see some really cool performances and most importantly, watch the sunset over Sunset Key — a small island right near Key West. It was really a lot of fun! We got a huge pineapple drink to share that was truly a work of art, parked our bums on the dock and watched the sky turn into fire. It was memorable, that's for sure!
Two Friends Patio Restaurant
We got tons of restaurant recommendations, but happened to stumble upon this one on our own and it was by far our favorite! The patio restaurant is located on First Street in the downtown area and was totally up our ally. It was decorated like a tropical hideaway with bamboo and rope accents, tropical plants and even a really cool little waterfall!
It was super casual, but it was the food and drinks that really sold us. I consider myself a connoisseur of coconut shrimp and this dish was one of the better ones I've had! The fries were also really good and the tropical cocktails were yummy and refreshing!
Also our waiter was so kind and super sweet even though he dropped ketchup on our table haha. But basically, we had to stop ourselves from just going back there to eat multiple times because we wanted to try something new!
Fury Glass Bottom Boat Tour
The glass bottom boat ranks as my second favorite activity behind the Butterfly Conservatory, but it was close call! We booked this one at the last minute after a local recommended it and it was a really cool experience!
We rode out to the barrier reefs where we saw tons of fish, corals and even a little nurse shark! It was a beautiful day with a clear ocean so we really got to see a lot. Then on the ride back, we had champagne and watched what we could of the sunset. It had started to rain, so the clouds kind of took over, but it was still really nice and a fun time!
TIP: When it comes to Fury, check in with the salespeople scattered around the island. We were able to get a better price booking through them rather than online!
Wyland Art Gallery
While walking down and exploring Duvall Street, we stumbled upon an art gallery or two, but this one really caught our eye. You've likely heard of the Wyland Whaling Walls, which are all over the world from Myrtle Beach to Hawaii to Japan. I've always loved Robert Wyland's artwork and love of the ocean and his gallery is a wonderful example of that. The employees told us this is one of a few galleries, but that the Key West location is the best. The gallery not only showcases Wyland's work but work from other artist he has specifically curated. Sky and I fell in love with the art of Steve Barton and actually purchased our first fine art piece.
We are so excited to have it in our home! If you love the beach and the ocean or are just an art lover, I definitely recommend checking this place out, and if you're a serious buyer, the employees are very accommodating and informative. They'll take good care of you.
So those are my top things from our trip to Key West! Have you been to Key West? What are your favorite things to do there? If not, what travel recommendations do you have? Let me know in the comments!
XO, Briana
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