picturesque Calusa Beach. RV, tent camping, and cabins are also available—though at alarmingly high prices. The ultimate objective of this spectacular road trip is, of course, Key West. Whether to call it a town or a city is something of moot point, but with a population barely topping 25,000, it is the largest community in the Keys. There’s no argument, however, that it’s the quirkiest, most colorful, exotic and captivating locality in the country. This will all become apparent the moment you enter Mallory Square to observe the much heralded nightly sunset celebration—an off-the-wall event that brings out hundreds of locals (who call themselves conchs after the mollusks that thrive in the waters here) to sing, dance, mime, do magic tricks, perform acrobatics, and peddle trinkets, and pot as the sun sinks below the horizon. Key West also has attracted some of the nation’s most iconic writers, artists, musicians, and politicians. Ernest Hemingway, for example, lived, worked and tippled here in the 1930s and his home at 907 Whitehead Street is a national historic landmark and the city’s number one tourist attraction. Artist Winslow Homer painted boating scenes here in the early 1900s and naturalist John James Audubon spent time in the city in the 1830s drawing and painting hundreds of the Key’s exotic bird species. A magnificent former sea captain’s mansion at the corner of Whitehead and Greene that was slated for demolition but saved and restored by local historians opened as the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens in 1960. It preserves a wonderful collection of Audubon’s art and personal effects. Singer-songwriter of universal fame, Jimmy Buffett, got his start here in Margaritaville in the 1960s—and even President Harry Truman took such a liking to Key West that he established the Little White House here in 1946 in a turn-of-the-century complex that originally served as housing for officers serving at the Key West Naval Station. It, too, is open for public tours. Pubs, bars, and restaurants of every stripe and color abound in Key West’s Old Town neighborhood so for certain you’ll never go hungry or thirsty during your visit.
Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, Credit Rails to Trails Conservancy
Not to break the reverie, but it must be said that significant stretches of this trail run very close to heavily traveled U.S. Highway 1—on the roadway itself or along narrow shoulders. This can be downright dangerous for inexperienced or careless trail users. So, take your time and exercise extreme caution when encountering high-traffic situations. Marathon, stretching from mile marker 65 to 46 sits in the middle of the Florida Keys and offers a couple of notable attractions and another popular restaurant. Crane Point (MM55) is one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the Keys. The area contains evidence of pre-Columbian Bahamian artifacts and was once the site of a large Native American village. The nearby Turtle Hospital is a worthy attraction as well. It’s a veterinary center, open to the public, that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sea turtles. Famed for its giant lobster Reuben sandwiches, Keys Fishery is a must-stop eatery and fish market at MM 50. Exiting Marathon, you’ll cross the famous 7-mile Bridge (MM47). Proclaimed as a miracle of engineering, it was one of the longest bridges in existence when it was constructed from 1909 to 1912. Southwest of Marathon, the Lower Keys stretch from MM45 to MM4. The sheer sweep of the Straights of Florida and the Gulf can be readily seen from Bahia Honda Bridge (MM38) at Bahia Honda State Park. The bridge is one of the most iconic of the derelict Flagler- era overpasses and it is maintained for recreational use by the state. The park features day-use activities that include hiking, snorkeling, and sunbathing on
Clearly, there’s something for everyone in Key West
RAILS TO TRAILS
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2025 | 15
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