Key West has a reputation as a quirky place, and in many ways, it’s a well-deserved reputation. From Key West chickens crossing the road to wild adventure tours of epic proportions, this little island packs a lot of weird.
Here are six really unique things you can do in Key West that you can’t do anywhere else.
Uniquely Key West Things To Do in Key West
There are a lot of things you can spend your time doing in Key West. So, before you get too comfortable on that bar stool, check out this list of unique things you can do in Key West. Check a few off, and then come back to the bar stool to regroup.
If you’re on a tight three-day visit to Key West, you might not have enough time to try the interesting stuff. The challenge of each vacation is to balance the normal with the quirky. Can you check all six unique Key West activities off of your list? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s worth trying!
Captain Chester's Dinghy Drinking Tour
It just doesn’t get any more Keys-ey than hopping in your tiny inflatable boat and driving from bar to bar. Once the sole purview of seasoned locals, Captain Chester has figured out how to deliver this authentic Keys experience to the masses.
You’ll board your salty craft at the Garrison Bight Marina on the island’s north side. From there, you’ll head out on a tour of Key West like no other. You’ll cruise through mangrove tunnels, take a dip if it’s hot, and stop by a few of the best waterfront eateries and drinkeries we’ve got. Along the way, you’ll see birds, fish, and wildlife — maybe even dolphins, manatees, and sharks.
Commune with Ghosts and Visit the Cemetery
I cannot guarantee you’ll meet any ghosts, but then I cannot NOT guarantee that you won’t!
The Key West Cemetery has an unmistakable Key West vibe, the final resting place of many noteworthy local heroes and villains. The cemetery was founded in 1847 and is situated on the island’s highest point to protect it from hurricanes. There’s a memorial to the sailors of the USS Maine, sunk in Havana harbor in 1898.
An informative self-guided walking tour is available, making the trip more interesting and adding a history lesson element.
Meet a Parrot at Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden
Nancy runs a small facility from a house on Elizabeth Street that specializes in rescuing abused or orphaned parrots. It’s a fun spot to learn more about these feathered friends who are intelligent, long-lived, and pretty needy. For a donation of $10 (which goes to support the facility), you get to spend 90 or so minutes with the parrots and learn all about the life of these crazy critters.
Head to a Distant Sandbar with Captain Zaks
If you’ve never been out to the sandbars, you’re in for a real treat. The sandbars around Key West are the Keys’ best beaches. But the only way you can see them is by taking a boat ride, which makes the trip all the better: boat ride, wildlife tour, and sandbar excursion, all in one. You can even combine it with a spot of snorkeling or a quick swim if you’re inspired.
Some sandbars are known for rowdy parties, but it depends on the time of day and which sandbar you go for. That’s the advantage of heading out with a talented and knowledgeable captain to guide you. Captain Zak runs the Casual Monday and knows all the best spots and times to go. Tell him what you want to see, and he’ll make it happen.
Get Naked at the Garden
We know you’ve seen the signs on Duval, so why not give it a shot?
The Garden of Eden is Key West’s “clothing optional” bar and club. The third floor is where the advertised attraction lies. Employees enforce a no cell phones rule to ensure everyone’s privacy. Music, drinks, nakedness. You’re on vacation, so it makes sense to reduce the amount of laundry you need to do.
Drink a Beer and Watch the Sunset from a Coast Guard Ship that Sank a U-Boat!
+The US Coast Guard Cutter Ingram is a museum ship docked at Truman Waterfront Park at the end of Southard Street. The ship entered service in 1936 and operated during the Second World War. It’s the only American ship still afloat that sank a German U-boat.
The Ingram is 327 feet long and was in service until 1988. It has been preserved just as it appeared when it was decommissioned. It’s worth checking out for a tour anytime, but on Friday and Saturday evenings, it’s open for sunset viewings (and they serve wine and beer).
