We are the Southernmost city in the United States, 160 miles from Miami and 90 miles from Havana, Cuba. As far as islands go, Key West is relatively small. The distance from the Gulf of Mexico on one side to the Atlantic Ocean on the other is only five miles at its widest point, and in the downtown part on the island, the distance is only 20 blocks. Although land access to the Florida Keys ends in Key West, the chain of islands themselves extends another 68 miles to the West.

The island was visited by Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century and by aboriginal Indians before that. To the pirates of the early 1800's, Key West was a source for fresh water. To the present-day fleet of seagoing shrimpers, Key West is the home base for a source of "pink gold" shrimp harvested in the nighttime waters in the Gulf of Mexico. To nearly two million tourists a year, Key West is a tropical vacation stop and an artist colony filled with palm-lined beaches and historic architecture.

Only a few miles offshore is the only living coral reef in the United States, teeming with colorful sea life. But for many years before modern mapping and navagation, the reef spelled disaster for ships in the well-traveled waters. Spanish Galleons carrying gold and silver were reported lost on stormy seas near the island, and their treasure is still being sought and found today. At one time the reef brought so many shipwrecks to within sight of the shoreline, that it not only supported the economy, it made Key West the wealthiest town per capita in the United States. This is partly the reason for so many big beautiful homes that still grace the island.

Sightseeing is the past-time of many Key West visitors and residents. Fascinating flowers and fruits, that cannot be grown anywhere else in the United States, are found growing along the narrow streets of Old Town, Colonial-style Bahama houses built with decorative gingerbread make Key West the most historic city in South Florida. Cigarmaker houses now converted into shops offer crafts from all over the world. Homes of famous residents like Ernest Hemingway and John James Audebon are on display. An aquarium houses sharks, tarpon, morey eels and tropical fish. Restaurants and sidewalk cafes offer fresh seafood, traditional Cuban food and Key Lime Pie, made from the tart Key Lime is a local favorite. Even the silkshakes are exotic, made by Cubans from some of the home-grown fruits such as mamey, sapodilla, papaya and sugar apple.

There are thousands of nearby uninhabited mangrove islands to explore, and snorkeling and scuba at the reef offer fascinating underwater sights. Festival time is often, with Old Island Days in the Spring and Fantasy Fest in the fall, but festivity is an attitude in Key West. Junkanoo bands and Cuban Comparsa perform in the streets at evening time, and in clubs the Bahamian calypso and Cuban Rumba can be found alongside modern pop, jazz, reggae, country and rock and roll.